Jurassic Park MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -1

Possibly the most highly promoted film in movie history, JURASSIC PARK is a violent, frightening action drama from famed director Steven Spielberg. As the story begins, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has just developed a massive dinosaur amusement park on an island off Costa Rica. Amazingly, it has many varieties of real dinosaurs developed through genetic engineering. Hammond invites two renowned dinosaur scientists, Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), to visit the park. He also brings along his two adolescent grandchildren, Tim (Joseph Maggello) and Lex (Ariana Richards). They soon discover that most of the dinosaurs are vicious creatures who destroy and eat both man and beasts. Terror erupts when the park's security system breaks down and the dinosaurs go on a rampage. Caught in the park, the scientists, the grandchildren and some assistants fight to survive the onslaught of the dinosaurs. JURASSIC PARK turns out to be a modern day, high-tech monster horror show with some of the most awesome, realistic dinosaurs ever created for the screen. It's special effects and scenic surroundings are spectacular and it will enthrall those who thrive on action and fright.

The film's PG-13 rating should be taken seriously. The terrifying dinosaur attacks with their calculated shock effects are likely to be too intense for those below the 11-13 age range. The dinosaurs eat humans, a steer and other dinosaurs. Most of these incidents, though, are graphically implied, not shown. However, on one occasion, a raging dinosaur eats a man and in some battles eats other smaller dinosaurs. Thankfully, the display of blood is held to a minimum. In a shocking incident, a bizarre smaller dinosaur spits poison in the eyes of a man and blinds him. In another, the severed arm of a man comes to rest on Ellie's shoulder. Action and terror build as the roaring dinosaurs pursue their victims and viewers are jolted with one frightening shock after another. With the emphasis on terror, the film has no sexual content. Rough language is confined to some mild and moderate crudities along with one s-word and one regular profanity. Although the violence is rarely bloody, it is intense and graphic. It becomes excessive and is used to shock and terrify in the same sense as a horror movie. It could certainly frighten younger children and we cannot encourage anyone to subject themselves to this type of violent mayhem.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal Blvd., Universal City, CA 91608