Shrek the Third: Historical Texts (part 3/5)- 'Jurassic Park' (1993)

About the Text:

Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993) is one of the most successful films of all time. It is currently the tenth highest grossing film of all time. The film involves an amusement park inhabited by genetically engineered dinosaurs that escape and cause havoc.

Significance in the development of the genre/ achievements for the genre:

· Not only was ‘Jurassic Park’ one of the most successful films of all time but it was the film that proved to be the springboard for CGI animated. The films use of CGI stunned audiences all over the world and really brought the dinosaurs to life. Thanks to CGI the dinosaurs were made to look almost life-like. Before the film CGI was not fully recognised, however Jurassic Park demonstrated to the world the potential of CGI. This film was to change the movie industry forever.

Society at the time (in general):

1993

· The Great Blizzard of 1993
· Zambia national football team die in an air crash
· World Trade Center bombings

The film’s ideologies and values were to alert the public to the dangers of biotechnology, science and computers. ‘Jurassic Park’ was used to show what could go wrong and the consequences of ‘acting as god’ by creating life. In 1996, Dolly the Sheep, a cloned sheep, was created.