phinewines 's review for:

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

3.0

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Was different enough from the film that it kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next. A fun read, with a darkness to the violence that was unsettling in the book and absent in the movie. There was also a lot more action, and a wider variety of dinosaurs. However, the characters are thin, empty vessels that feel like they exist just to move the plot. The dialogue never captures the emotional weight of the horrifying situations the characters find themselves in. Hammonds prideful ignorance is maddening not because he is engaging as a character, but because it defies all logic at all times just so he can look like a villain. Lex’s immaturity and foolishness is similarly out of touch with how any child would behave…ever. 

Complaints aside, it was fun to visit the original text that inspired one of the greatest movies of all time. I really enjoyed it and look forward to checking out more of Crichton’s books. Would love to see a remake that blends the rich characterizations of Spielberg’s adaptation with the cruel, disturbing violence of the novel instead of the garbage that’s been pumped out in the  Jurassic World legacy sequels.