Movie Analysis

Hi there! Today, I re-watched "Jurassic Park," the 1993 blockbuster! I have watched this movie many times before, however this time, I saw it in a different light because of my knowledge on camera shots and angles. I included some of the scenes that stood out to me the most below:

Establishing Shot

In this establishing shot, the audience can see the island that the characters are headed to. Obviously, this is done to show people what the setting will be for the rest of the movie, but it has more meaning to it. For one, it shows how small they are compared to just a portion of a massive, forest-covered island. With so much to explore and the idea that the characters are heading to a remote island full of animals that can easily kill them if anything goes wrong, it adds foreshadowing to the rest of the movie. This helps evoke the suspenseful mood before any of the real action even begins!

Close-up

Here, Spielberg does an outstanding job to capture emotion flawlessly. He purposely zooms in on Alan Grant's face to emphasize his pure shock and astonishment as he sees a dinosaur for the first time. This close-up helps the audience gain a closer connection with the character's inner thoughts and emotions without needing him to say a word about it. The facial expression says more than enough of his flabbergasted state. The close-up allows us to truly see how much seeing a dinosaur in real life means to him and the sheer significance of the moment.

 

Low Angle

A popular scene amongst the franchise, this event required a low angle shot to precisely capture the power and might of the dinosaur, especially when compared to the two people in the frame with it. The low height of the camera makes the already huge animal seem even larger so that it doesn't even fit within the frame, creating this dominant appearance. With both the dinosaur and people in view, the audience can truly see the power difference between the two subjects, creating this strength divide between human and dinosaur that will linger throughout the rest of the movie.

Extreme Close-up

One of the most renowned scenes of the film, this extreme close-up of the water rippling in the cup is very significant to the scene. By recording extreme detail of the water, it adds great suspense to the plot as viewers begin wondering what is making the water shake in that manner. Especially since the camera remains fixed on the cup for a comfortable runtime, it emphasizes the importance of the moment. They expect something to happen, but the mere camera shot on the water builds up the dramatic effect as opposed to directly showing the T-Rex. 

Wide Shot

A very on-edge scene, this wide shot shows the protagonist encountering the T-Rex, the greatest threat in the movie. This shot is special in particular because it allows the audience to absorb many different aspects, such as the size difference of the T-Rex and Dr. Grant, the totaled and flipped-over car between them, and the stormy background with the destroyed electric fence. By allowing all this information to sink in with the audience, it adds to the tension in the movie's plot and makes people infer and prepare for what's to happen.