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THURSDAY APRIL 11 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
HOLLYWOOD
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tim (Joseph Mazello) hides from a pair of ravenous velociraptors in Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park," the latest modern classic to receive a 3D re-release.
'Jurassic Park' in a new dimension
Just when you thought it was safe to plan a weekend excursion to a benevolent billionaire's newly completed theme park, life found a way to bring "Jurassic Park" back to the big screen. Nearly 20 years after dominating 1993's box office and demonstrating the shared miracle of CGI and Stan Winston's groundbreaking animatronics, I'm happy to report that Steven Spielberg's dinosaur opus has aged masterfully. In fact, it now bears the unmistakable whiff of a time-tested classic.
Watching "turacastic Park" at the age of four was a formative experience for me. I was crazy about dinosaurs at the time, and my older cousins had been raving about the movie for more than a year before. I finally convinced my parents to let me see it. I remember the whir of the VCR and the joy and dread that filled my heart when John Williams's ominous score kicked in. I remember a man in safari gear shouting orders while a member of his loading team was dragged and presumably eviscerated by an unseen monster. I remember the look of child-like wonder on the faces of two paleontologists (Sam Neill and Laura Dern) as park owner John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) to marvel at the impossible sight of a living, breathing brachiosaurus. I also remember hearing the concern in my dad's voice as he whispered in my ear. "It's only pretend, buddy." But it wasn't, not really. This was magic.
By the time the T. rex showed up to devour the hapless, toilet-bound Gennaro (martin Ferrero), I was head-over-heels in love, not only with "lurassic Park" but with cinema itself. One viewing was all it took to turn me into a lifelong movie geek (although Dern's khaki shorts didn't exactly hurt). True, I'd been weaned on Basil Ribbone and Nigel Bruce's "Sherlock Holmes" series and the full catalog of Universal Monster films, but "Jurassic Park" was what truly sealed my fate. I continued to watch it religiously for the balance of my childhood, or at least until I discovered the "Star Wars" trilogy.
Despite my Giganotosaurusized love for the film, or more than likely because of it, I was initially skeptical when it was first announced that "jurassic Park" would be receiving a 3-D re-release in honor of its 20th anniversary. On one hand, I'd never gotten the opportunity to see the original film in theaters, and I knew I would relish the chance to see it with a crowd, preferably at a fan convention dedicated to stammering chaos the theoretician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). On the other hand, post-converted 3-D has a well-founded reputation for either ruining the movie it's applied to or failing to register at all.
As it turns out, my fears were largely unfounded. In fact, "Jurassic Park" boasts the most spectacular use of post-conversion 3-D I've ever seen, narrowly edging out last year's re-release of James Cameron's "Titanic." It turns out the "Jurassic Park" conversion was done with Spielberg's blessing, and the craft and dexterity with which the film has been restored is truly a marvel to behold. The images, never blurry or darkened, as are crisp and defined as they appear on my Blu-ray. The two scenes that benefit most from the added dimension are definitely the initial encounter with the T. rex and the still-harrowing kitchen scene between John Hammond's precocious grandkids and two hungry velociraptors.
The film's technical brilliance continues to impress, but what really struck me about "Jurassic Park" this time is its pitch-perfect casting. Although he was initially aired as a glorified stand-in for
Harrison Ford, Naill Neill does an admirable job nailing Dr. Grant's progression from crusty bone-duster to selfless father figure. Goldblum's character remains a charming synthesis of sleaze and sincerity, and his warning about the dangers of flippantly tinkering with genetics carries even more weight than it did in 1993.
The scene that sticks with me the most, however, has nothing to do with dinosaurs or the pros and cons of 3-D conversion, but it has everything to do with where Spielberg was in his career in 1993, when "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List" premiered within a few short months of each other. It's a simple dinner scene between Hammond and Derns' character Ellie Sattler. Hammond could almost be channeling Spielberg himself when he speaks of his obsession with benefiting others beyond the realm of mere entertainment: "I wanted to give them something that wasn't an illusion. Something that was real. Something they could see and touch, an aim not devoid of merit." Rest assured, sir. When it came to the merits of "Jurassic Park," you spared no expense.
Edited by Megan Hinman
PUT A RING ON IT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Make the most of wedding season
Prince William and his bride Kate walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, following their marriage, in London. New bridal collections are dominated by dresses with no sleeves, even though that takes many women out of their comfort zone.
CALLAN REILLY creilly@kansan.com
Spring is in the air, which means wedding season is at its prime. If you're like me, then the biggest concern you have upon receiving a wedding invitation is what you're going to wear. Forget about the bride and groom, I need to go shopping. That very concern of mine has tripled — I've got three weddings to attend in a month and a half and zero idea of what to wear.
The main rule of dressing for weddings is to take the dress code to heart. You do not want to be the only one in a gown when everyone else is in sundresses and sandals. Take into consideration the venue or location as well. If it's a beach or outdoor wedding, the vibe will most likely be more casual, and you should definitely follow the rules.
Also a good note to take while choosing wedding guest attire is how appropriate an outfit choice is. The last thing you want is for the grandparents and the token creepy uncle staring at you instead of the bride. Despite the open bars and
massive amounts of fun, weddings are also sadly considered family events.
Most importantly, don't wear white. Or ivory, or eggshell, or tan for that matter. Bridezillas are real life creatures that still exist in today's society and you do not want to be responsible for creating another one. Be sure to feel confident and comfortable in whatever you're wearing, but remember, this isn't your moment to shine.
Avoid anything flamboyant or loud. Floral prints, lace and maxi length skirts and dresses are almost always safe options for weddings.
Allowing yourself plenty of time to find the right attire will help you avoid breaking any of these cardinal rules, and will surely have you find the perfect match. Your perfect match of clothing, that is.
Remember when this famous pair tied the knot in 2011? Probably not, because all of the buzz was about the bride's sister, Pipa Middleton. Don't be that girl this wedding season, and instead let the bride have her moment.
- Edited by Megan Hinman
OFF AIR
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — A week after the death of "Buckwild" reality-TV star Shain Gandee, MTV has decided to cancel the series.
MTV series ends in the most tragic way
Production on the show's second season was suspended after news broke last week that the 21-year-old had been found dead in his truck, along with his uncle and a friend, after going "mudding" (off-road), near Sissonville, WVa.
The network ultimately decided not to move forward with the series, and episodes that had already been shot will not be aired.
The network issued the following statement:
"After careful consideration,
MTV will not be moving forward with season two of 'Buckwild' in West Virginia. We love the cast and the show, and this was not an easy decision, but given Shain's tragic passing and essential presence on the show, we felt it was not appropriate to continue without him. Instead, we are working on a meaningful way to pay tribute to his memory on our air and privately."
MTV plans to run a special, "Buckwild: WV to the NYC," on Sunday. It was shot before production had begun on the sophomore season, and will follow a marathon showing of the first season's episodes.
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