Technology and organization should give the human race the ultimate advantage. However, the dinosaurs (nature) continues to prove superior. In the beginning, the raptors use their intellect to try to escape. They almost succeed here and do succeed later. As Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) says, “life finds a way.” Even though humans have technology and research on their side, creatures still manage to win the war.
Also in the beginning, we are brought to a desert area where paleontologists are digging-up dinosaurs. Archetypally, desert and fossils mean death. Why start a story with death? The answer is to grab your attention and present situational irony. We, as the audience, expect the film to start with life.
In relation to this situational irony, the movie ends with the helicopter flying over the ocean. Water means life and reproduction. This is not a usual way of ending a movie. A movie is like a life: it starts with birth and growth, and then it ends with death and resolution. However, this film starts and ends backwards, presenting irony.
Alan Grant (Sam Neill) hates kids. He establishes in the beginning that he does not like or want kids. However, he chooses to take care of and defend the grandchildren of Hammond (Richard Attenborough). In the end, he holds them near and comforts the kids. He swears he will not leave them. Instead of pushing them away as the audience would expect, he embraces and protects them.
The fact that light is dangerous when it comes to T-Rexes is also ironic. Usually light is used to educate or enable. However, in this film, light attracts the predator and causes violence and danger. Malcolm ultimately gets injured because he uses light to attract the attention and aggression of the T-Rex.
Muldoon (Bob Peck) is the ultimate hunter. He has “hunt[ed] most things that can hunt you”. Therefore, he really knows his predators. That makes his death by raptors ironic towards the end. The audience expects him to be an expert and be able to defend himself no matter what. However, he dies from a raptor, the ultimate predator, attack.
One of the biggest pieces of verbal irony is “spared no expense”. The park may have had the best technology, food, personnel, and ideas. However, the park still failed. The attractions turned against the keepers. No matter how much money you spend, messing with nature will bite you in the butt.
This film presents many instances of situational irony. It keeps you guessing and intrigues audiences because it defies their expectations.
This film also begs the question of: if we can, should we? Is cloning or the rising of an extinct species progress or “the rape of the natural world”? What do you think???
Subtle clues can give away a movie if you know what to look for.
Wardrobe may seem like an afterthought, but it never is.
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