Jurassic Park III
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- Rated: PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Release Year: 2001
Common Sense Media says
For kids who can handle nonstop action, it's good scary fun.
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- Rated: PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Release Year: 2001
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like its prequels, Jurassic Park III is nonstop action and violence. There are jump-out-at-you surprises and some gross-out moments. Characters are in extreme peril and several are killed, but the movie is careful not to get rid of anyone we really care about. Some children will nevertheless find it very upsetting, especially because one of the characters is a child. But the child is brave, smart, and resilient, which some kids will find very satisfying. Divorced parents reunite and live happily ever after at the end of the movie, which might give kids the wrong idea about how divorce actually works.
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What's the story?
Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), now assisted by Billy (Alessandro Nivola), is tricked into flying over Isla Sorna by Paul and Amanda Kirby (William H. Macy and Tea Leoni). Unbeknownst to Grant, the Kirbys are searching for their son, who fell onto the island when he was parasailing. Grant's plane ends up crashing on the island, and Grant and company discover the resident dinosaurs are more advanced than previously thought.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
It may seem odd to speak of a made-to-be-blockbuster as unpretentious, but the aspirations of JURASSIC PARK III are remarkably -- almost endearingly -- modest. It does not waste time with chaos theory mumbo-jumbo or dumb "dinosaurs come to America" plot twists like the second episode, The Lost World. It just gets right down to business in 90 quick minutes of little people being chased by great big scary things, with just enough plot and character to provide breathing space and a reason to care who survives. It is not art, but it is fun.
There are few surprises. Two good things to have when fighting smart dinosaurs are opposable thumbs and a cell phone. When a man's ex-wife says that he never takes chances, you know what's coming, and you will probably be able to guess as we meet each character which ones will survive to the end of the movie. But the script it has clever moments, including some sly digs at The Lost World. There is a delicious variation on Peter Pan's crocodile that once swallowed a clock, so Captain Hook can always hear ticking when he is approaching. And there is a nice Blair Witch moment when some characters find a video camera dropped by another character and replay the footage to see what happened to him. The dinosaurs are bigger and better than ever. This time, they swim, they fly, and they fight each other. They appear to play a sort of kick-the-can with the downed plane's cabin. They also work together to trap the humans, so it is a war of brains, not just brawn.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about Dr. Grant's comment that "Some of the worst things imaginable are done with the best intentions." He also talks about the difference between astronomers and astronauts. Is he right in saying that the difference is between imagining and seeing?
Teens: Do you want a career full of action and excitement, or safety and time to think?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | July 18, 2001 |
| DVD release date: | December 11, 2001 |
| Cast: | Sam Neill, Tea Leoni, William H. Macy |
| Director: | Joe Johnston |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Topics: | Dinosaurs |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sci-fi terror and violence |
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QUALITY
GREAT MOVIE!
QUALITY
Better than Second Movie
Though still a far cry from the first movie, Jurassic Park III is way better than the tedious second movie. It was more fun, more exciting, but still was only average. The characters were somewhat stupid and the movie sometimes stretched believability.
As for the violence, it is sometimes a bit graphic and scary for young kids but older kids will handle it fine.
Good for kids: A mature 9+
QUALITY
very amazing movie I saw it when i was three
What other families should know
Too much violence
