How does the movie “Jurassic Park” depict a huge dinosaur on a powerful scale?


by

Will Fisher

Steven Spielberg 's “ Jurassic Park ” is a panic movie in which a dinosaur revived in the present day attacks humans at a research facility on an isolated island. “Jurassic Park”, which is said to be the biggest hit among Spielberg ’s films, has been made with many sequels. In 2018, “ Jurassic World / The Kingdom of Fire ” was released. “ Films & Stuff ”, a YouTube channel that uploads movies such as movie commentary, explains in the movie “The first“ Jurassic Park ”is drawn on a more powerful scale than the subsequent series”.

Why Jurassic Park Looks Better Than Its Sequels-YouTube


One of the elements that are generating power in Jurassic Park is the screen frame.



In general movies, 2.35: 1 , a standard called “cinemascope”, is used for the

screen aspect ratio .



“Jurassic World / Kingdom of Fire” also has a cinemascope. A screen that is longer than 2: 1 is particularly powerful when projected on a cinema screen.



On the other hand, the screen aspect ratio of “Jurassic Park” is 1.85: 1 called “American Vista”.



Comparing the widths, it is calculated that American Vista increases the screen by 24% in the vertical direction compared to Cinemascope. Films & Stuff explains that the difference of 24% is the secret behind the movie.



For example, in “Jurassic World / The Kingdom of Fire”, the dinosaur scene begins with a

medium shot that reflects only the upper body of a human looking up at the dinosaur.




Next, it looks like this when the whole picture of the dinosaur is reflected. The size of the dinosaur is expressed by the terrain and buildings in the back.



And it will switch to the video that humans actually look up. However, because the screen becomes horizontally long, the shot looking up at the dinosaur is a little oblique and the composition is slightly unstable.



In addition, since the whole image of the dinosaur is not reflected on the screen unless the camera is pulled, the armored cars and people on the left side of the dinosaur cover most of the screen in the following scenes.



On the other hand, in Jurassic Park, medium shots are basically used only when you want to reflect the characters' conversations and expressions.



When a scientist arrives by car, a dinosaur appears in the back.



In this scene, first camera to the right

pan and reflects the human systemic walking trying to Chikayoro to dinosaurs while.



As it is, the camera pans up smoothly without switching cuts, and displays the whole body of the dinosaur.



Therefore, it is uncut from the first arrival under the dinosaur until the whole body of the dinosaur is reflected. In addition, the scene to look up has a stable composition with humans in the lower half of the screen and dinosaurs in the upper half.



Dr. Alan (act: Sam Neil) and Dr. Erie (act: Laura Dern), who are excited about meeting with dinosaurs, and the cuts of the dinosaurs that eat the leaves together, the humans are reflected at the bottom of the screen Half only. Since no other extras are reflected, the size of the dinosaur is conveyed firmly to the audience.



By adopting American Vista, the whole body of a huge dinosaur can be framed with a small person.



If you use a landscape cinemascope, not only will it be difficult to hold the whole body of the dinosaur, but people at your feet will also disappear from the screen.



By being photographed by American Vista, the information on the screen can be moved up and down to create various effects. For example, in the following scene, a shot of looking up at the huge gate of Jurassic Park from the ceiling window and windshield when going into Jurassic Park.



Also, in the scene where a Tyrannosaurus attacks a car from downpour and darkness, it depicts the fear that a dinosaur approaches while in a closed space called a car.



Films & Stuff argues that the “Jurassic Park” is key to the fear of the closure of a dinosaur attacking the trapped environment.



Dinosaurs are attacked by dinosaurs when they are in closed environments such as computer rooms, cars, and kitchens.




The same Spielberg director,

Raiders / The Lost Communion (Ark) , Indiana Jones defeats the enemy with a whip and punch even in a disadvantaged situation surrounded by walls ...



In the case of “Jurassic Park”, a panic horror movie, the opponent is a huge dinosaur, so it is almost impossible to fight. You must always escape and hide from dinosaurs.



The important point to escape from such a dinosaur is that the dinosaur reacts to movement.



Strategies that hide in breath and hide, and attack dinosaurs while avoiding loud noises add to the urgency in the play.




In such a tight closed environment, what is being done to draw dinosaurs is 'drawing dinosaurs in the frame inside the frame'.



For example, the Velociraptor scene that chases children who ran into the kitchen. Instead of the whole body of Velociraptor, it looks like a face peeking out of the round window at the entrance of the kitchen and clouding with nose breathing.



In addition, legs with sharp claws are reflected from the gap under the table in the kitchen.



Also, in the scene of escaping from the duct on the ceiling, the whole body of Velociraptor is reflected in the frame of the duct.



In other words, rather than projecting the dinosaur directly in the frame of the screen, the dinosaur is projected indirectly through the windows and gaps in the screen, thereby depicting the enormous size of the dinosaur and the approaching fear.


In addition, the frame inside the frame has important implications as a shooting technique. In Jurassic Park, many dinosaurs are photographed using

animatronics . In the following scene, the Tyrannosaurus on the car ceiling is shot using animatronics.



However, the tyrannosaurus reflected through the windshield was made with CG. By connecting Animatronics and CG smoothly, the presence of dinosaurs is made more realistic.



The method of “not directly depicting the dinosaurs that threaten” emphasizes existence by projecting shadows of dinosaurs on the wall.



It is also used to express how the Tyrannosaurus is approaching using only the vibration of water .



Films & Stuff is an example of how “movement” is used as an important production element in “Jurassic Park”. For example, when humans descend from a high place, they imply that dangerous things will happen ...



On the contrary, when climbing a high place, it seems to be “to go to a safe place”.



Films & Stuff, in the “

Jurassic World ” and “Jurassic World / Kingdom of Fire”, scenes where dinosaurs attacked humans, such as crowds escaping and dinosaurs attacking humans at tremendous speed, Pointed out that it is depicted as a scene.




However, “Jurassic Park” draws the scene that is tense by not moving by directing the movement and the closed environment. Films & Stuff claimed that 'Jurassic Park' is a wonderful work with stunning effects, stunning performance, and an amazingly sharp script.

in Video,   Movie, Posted by log1i_yk