Are the Jurassic Park sequels worth watching?

[Lonemagpie]

I liked the 3rd one way better than the 2nd.
The 3rd seemed like a better follow up story to the first.
2rd one just looses all credibility when they get to San Diego.

That bit has one of the best gags if you're a linguist and a kaiju fan - one of the Japanese tourists screaming "I left Tokyo to get away from this sort of thing!" as the T-Rex goes on the rampage...

 

[bigdaddy]

As for the sequels, my favourite is the second one. Didn't care too much for the 3rd. It seemed to be a bit off in tone, which isn't too surprising considering there never was a 3rd novel. I have an Uncle who's a paleontologist and was one of Crighton's sources when writing the sequel. I was talking to him recently and told him they did a good job with Robert Bakker. He told me, "Yeah, the actor that portrayed him did a great job of getting eaten."

Have you ever even read the second book? The only thing the movie takes from the second book is the name.

I don't know which one I like more, 2 or 3. Three was a rush job, it was going to be like a Castaway type movie but on a dinosaur island. I'm not sure why they didn't stick to that plan, but it was changed and the third movie did suffer a bit. My main complaints are that there aren't enough people on the plane and most die too quickly, they should have spread them out, the ending is a joke, and there is no sense of wonder, but still a sense you are on the island.

The second one was just really stupid at times, it could have benefited by a better editor and no stupid teenage girl, and the obvious Godzilla ripoff at the end. However the sense of adventure and wonderland feeling is perfect. With very little work they could have used 90% of the movie and refilmed a few parts and it would be a classic too.

I'm just glad they never made the 4th one they planned to with Teenage Mutant Ninja Dinosaurs trained by the Power Rangers.

 

[Eduardo]

I enjoy The Lost World, but the ending sequence is quite silly (and with a couple of huge plot holes).

The third one really shows that it didn't have much of a script or plot beyond "Let's run!".

All in all, they are enjoyable, but don't expect too much.

 

[Owain Taggart]

As for the sequels, my favourite is the second one. Didn't care too much for the 3rd. It seemed to be a bit off in tone, which isn't too surprising considering there never was a 3rd novel. I have an Uncle who's a paleontologist and was one of Crighton's sources when writing the sequel. I was talking to him recently and told him they did a good job with Robert Bakker. He told me, "Yeah, the actor that portrayed him did a great job of getting eaten."

Have you ever even read the second book? The only thing the movie takes from the second book is the name.

Yes, I did. As I said, my Uncle the paleontologist was one of Micheal Crighton's sources. He's credited at the end. I do agree that movie's very different though. About the only scene they kept from the book was the trailer scene.

 

[Holdfast]

I never saw the sequels.

I heard that they were pretty bad, but is there anything worth watching about them?

They're nothing special, but unless you have some vital piece of entertainment and/or world-domination plan you intend doing instead, they're not a bad way to kill a few hours.

 

[bigdaddy]

As for the sequels, my favourite is the second one. Didn't care too much for the 3rd. It seemed to be a bit off in tone, which isn't too surprising considering there never was a 3rd novel. I have an Uncle who's a paleontologist and was one of Crighton's sources when writing the sequel. I was talking to him recently and told him they did a good job with Robert Bakker. He told me, "Yeah, the actor that portrayed him did a great job of getting eaten."

Have you ever even read the second book? The only thing the movie takes from the second book is the name.

Yes, I did. As I said, my Uncle the paleontologist was one of Micheal Crighton's sources. He's credited at the end. I do agree that movie's very different though. About the only scene they kept from the book was the trailer scene.

I'm just saying I find it funny you think JP3 is off in tone because there isn't a 3rd book, when the second movie and the second book are nothing alike.

I think the third one had a different tone because it was rushed and should have never have been made.

 

[Gojira]

I think the third one had a different tone because it was rushed and should have never have been made.

Never been made!!?? I Think the third movie is a vast improvement over the second movie.

 

[Lapis Exilis]

I liked the 3rd one way better than the 2nd.
The 3rd seemed like a better follow up story to the first.
2rd one just looses all credibility when they get to San Diego.

No doubt - I'm particularly stupified by the idea of prehistoric creature leaning over and gulping water out of a chlorinated pool. I have almost no sense of smell and I can tell that water ain't for drinking!

The first is a fun adventure movie that dumbs down what was probably Chrichton's only really good book (although even the book takes a turn for the stupendously dumb at the end as the T-Rex ignores its natural prey to chase after the two kids - who would represent mere morsels to the creature). But it holds up for rewatchability the way Jaws does. It's just a damn good movie.

The second is just really dumb.

The third embraces its dumbness fully and as such achieves a so-bad-its-good level of Sunday afternoon B adventure movie. Which is weird, but true.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Have you ever even read the second book? The only thing the movie takes from the second book is the name.

Yes, I did. As I said, my Uncle the paleontologist was one of Micheal Crighton's sources. He's credited at the end. I do agree that movie's very different though. About the only scene they kept from the book was the trailer scene.

I'm just saying I find it funny you think JP3 is off in tone because there isn't a 3rd book, when the second movie and the second book are nothing alike.

I think the third one had a different tone because it was rushed and should have never have been made.

The main essential story is the same and many of the ideas and characters came from the book. JP3 had nothing of the sort to be based on and as far as I know, Crighton wasn't even an advisor for it. They had to create an original story based on Crighton's world, hence the different tone. It had no backbone to guide it. I'm sorry you don't agree, but I'm sticking by my comments.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I hate to be one of those, but this is getting on my nerves. It's Crichton, not Crighton. It's only really getting on my nerves because a.) first book I ever read was by him; b.) John Crichton from Farscape.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Fair enough. I can never remember how to spell his name. There are so many different ways one can spell it.

 

[Rett Mikhal]

I found the 2nd one to be a good action/suspense movie. What I like about it is no two scenes are remotely similar to one another. Some might call that a mess of film making, but I think it was intentional to show how FUBAR the mission was going. Notice when they return to the civilized world, the pace is much more normal. When they're on the island, things are always happening and usually happening in a bad way.

The 3rd movie holds the distinction for being one of only two movies I ever fell asleep in, the other being Batman Begins. Let's face it, it's a boring, stupid movie that was completely pointless in every way, even within its OWN story.

 

[Gaith]

The third does have the one non-annoying kid in the entire series.

The fact that he survives, on his own, for several days or maybe even a week or two, utterly ruins the movie, which is decent enough until he shows up alive, and completely terrible thereafter.

That bit has one of the best gags if you're a linguist and a kaiju fan - one of the Japanese tourists screaming "I left Tokyo to get away from this sort of thing!" as the T-Rex goes on the rampage...

That's one of my favorite pieces of IMDB trivia, but is it true? I've watched the scene looking for that guy, and I didn't see one who was audible for long enough to complete such a sentence.

I Think the third movie is a vast improvement over the second movie.

I'm so sorry.

I found the 2nd one to be a good action/suspense movie. What I like about it is no two scenes are remotely similar to one another. Some might call that a mess of film making, but I think it was intentional to show how FUBAR the mission was going. Notice when they return to the civilized world, the pace is much more normal. When they're on the island, things are always happening and usually happening in a bad way.

The 3rd movie holds the distinction for being one of only two movies I ever fell asleep in, the other being Batman Begins. Let's face it, it's a boring, stupid movie that was completely pointless in every way, even within its OWN story.

QFT. JPIII is one of my most-hated movies, from the bullshit, shark-jumping Spinosaurus retcon inclusion, the kid's survival, the wussification of raptors and the general pointlessness of the whole thing.


Definitely watch The Lost World. It's a solid adventure movie directed by Spielberg, after all.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Apart from the whole 'falling asleep during Batman Begins' thing, I totally echo Rett's sentiment.

Well, I didn't fall asleep during the film, but I really didn't like it.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

I hate to be one of those, but this is getting on my nerves. It's Crichton, not Crighton. It's only really getting on my nerves because a.) first book I ever read was by him; b.) John Crichton from Farscape.

I hear ya, Jeff.

Worth watching? Hmm. Depends what you want. The first one will always be the best, for a long list of reasons. But if you don't mind a campy-but-fun adventure movie that involves dinosaurs, The Lost World and JP3 are actually pretty good movies, with a few off moments. Such as...

Spoiler: things I don't like

The aforementioned Godzilla ripoff, the fact that a lot of the main cast in TLW are MAJOR Designated Heroes, the T-Rex in JP3 seeming to be a scavenger (I know it was to reflect current paeleontological theories but the first movies established that in-universe they were definite predators), and a lot of campiness.

Other than that, very entertaining movies.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

The first was a bit overrated. (I never got into the entire Jurassic Park thing).

The second had an interesting idea with Jeff Goldblum and his daughter; but, I watched it recently (a couple of months back, actually) and there is a lot of cheese and stuff that just doesn't work. (Jeff Goldblum is enjoyable, though).

Vince Vaughn and Julianne Moore are not that interesting. Pete Postelwaithe (yes, I spelled his name wrong) disappears through halfway...and a lot of other characters seem to appear than disappear when you think something is going to be done with them.

The third opens with a cliche of the brutha dying (not really 'opens,' but we do have that cliche going on)....but the film benefits more with a shorter running time...but the story feels very, very thin...like we've been through all this before.

I believe they (producers, writers) wanted to do a 4th film....with dinosaurs that are equipped with lasers??!!!

 

[bigdaddy]

^ Not lasers...

Guns, but not lasers.

The script was leaked and was so bashed by everyone it actually got the movie canceled.

Also the kid in JP3 (which I thought was cute at the time) was actually on the island for 6-8 weeks.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

^ Not lasers...

Guns, but not lasers.

The script was leaked and was so bashed by everyone it actually got the movie canceled.

Thanks for the correction, dude...

(That still sounds horrible, though!)

I must read that script someday.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The third does have the one non-annoying kid in the entire series.

The fact that he survives, on his own, for several days or maybe even a week or two, utterly ruins the movie, which is decent enough until he shows up alive, and completely terrible thereafter.

I like the kid's resourcefulness. It was much better than the screaming, whiny kids from the other movies. Did you want it to turn out he was dead?

Of course, he was actually much safer being away from the adults in the movie, but that's a whole different flaw.

 

[Caligula]

The Lost World: Jurassic Park is definitely worth a look. Jurassic Park III, on the other hand, is a waste of celluloid.