The opening scene of the helicopter squadron battling Pteranodons came from a plot thread left at the end of the first Jurassic Park movie. As the protagonists escaped the island by helicopter, a group of Pteranodons, freed due to the damaged infrastructure, broke out of their cages and flew into the world beyond. The timeline for the sequel runs parallel to reality, set three years after the events on Dinosaur Island.
In that time, these ancient creatures, with no natural predators in the modern sky, rapidly reproduced and began attracting more attention, with bizarre sightings similar to those of mythical sea monsters reported worldwide.
Rumors of dinosaurs' resurrection also started to frequently appear in these reports.
The sequel opens with a dramatic escalation: a group of Pteranodons attacks a small town in Hawaii, causing severe casualties. The truth could no longer be concealed, and people around the globe demanded their governments reveal what was really happening. Meanwhile, animal rights groups condemned the U.S. military for its slaughter of the Pteranodons after the news broke.
Public outcry was in full swing.
On the big screen, the opening battle between modern technology and ancient creatures quickly immersed the audience. As the opening credits rolled, accompanied by TV news reports and newspaper clippings, the film summarized the various stories surrounding the dinosaur resurrection over the past three years.
The film proper begins with a closed congressional hearing in the U.S.
Dr. John Hammond, the owner of Dinosaur Island, is being questioned by Congress, primarily to explain the history behind the island and its dinosaurs.
This hearing is a direct continuation of the Pteranodon attack incident.
Federal authorities have uncovered the truth about the island, but there's sharp division over how to deal with these resurrected ancient creatures. Some believe they should be destroyed entirely, fearing that these giant beasts could wreak havoc on Earth's ecosystems, much like rabbits did when introduced to Australia. The rapid spread of Pteranodons across the globe over the past three years serves as proof of this danger. Others argue that the dinosaurs should be preserved, not only because they represent a miracle of human technology but also because they could bring numerous benefits to society.
Of course, lurking in the shadows are those who see a massive business opportunity.
The hearing itself takes up little screen time. After it concludes, Dr. Hammond leaves the Capitol with his friend, Senator Adrian Lantry. Their conversation reveals that the federal government has yet to make a final decision on how to handle Dinosaur Island. The senator suggests he could help sway the outcome, but only if he can personally visit the island to verify some matters.
Dr. Hammond agrees.
As they part ways, Hammond is stopped by a man who introduces himself as a representative from the Burkson Group, offering to buy Dinosaur Island, only to be predictably rejected.
Dinosaur Island is Dr. Hammond's life's work; he would never sell it so easily.
The scene transitions back to the familiar setting of Dinosaur Island, which fans of the first film would immediately recognize.
The chaos of the past has been restored.
Inside a simple metal building, a TV is still playing news reports about the Pteranodon attack, while the walls are covered with photographs of dinosaurs and related documents. The camera pans over to a special wedding photo: a couple, smiling brightly, sits on the back of a massive Brachiosaurus in their wedding attire. This couple is paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, played by Sam Neill, and paleobotanist Ellie Sattler, played by Renée Russo.
In the three years since the first film, the two have married and become the Grant family.
Driven by their passion for their professions, and despite nearly losing their lives during their first encounter on Dinosaur Island, they returned after receiving permission from Dr. Hammond and made the island their home, conducting deeper research into the biological miracle of dinosaur resurrection.
The camera then moves outside to the yard, where the Grants, along with a middle-aged Black man, are seen tending to a Triceratops. Surprisingly, the enormous Triceratops, as large as an adult elephant, is lying docilely on the grass with its mouth open. It's clear that the Black man, evidently a doctor, is examining the dinosaur's mouth, eventually using large pliers to extract a long thorn.
Through their conversation, the audience learns that this three-year-old Triceratops is named Toby. When the Grants first moved to the island, they found Toby near death after being attacked by a carnivorous dinosaur and took him in. Thanks to their care, Toby not only grew up healthy but also proved to be exceptionally intelligent. According to Dr. Alan Grant, Toby has the intelligence of a five-year-old child and is now considered part of the Grant family.
As they talk, a staff member from Dinosaur Island arrives in a jeep and asks Dr. Grant to meet with a senator. The staff member briefly explains the senator's background, emphasizing that his opinion could greatly influence the future of the island.
Dr. Grant agrees and heads off with the staff member, soon meeting Senator Adrian Lantry, whom we saw earlier in Washington.
More importantly, Senator Lantry has brought along his three children: 16-year-old Connie Lantry, 13-year-old Robert Lantry, and 11-year-old Wayne Lantry.
It's then that Dr. Grant realizes he's not hosting the senator but the three kids.
A look of horror crosses Dr. Grant's face, and he shakes his head, saying repeatedly, "No, children, no, no, no."
The Shrine Auditorium filled with laughter at Dr. Grant's series of "no's."
Thanks to the success of the first Jurassic Park, this had become an inside joke.
In the first film, Hammond's granddaughter, Lex, was arguably the most annoying character, screaming at all the wrong moments and causing several disasters. When action figures of the film's characters were released, Daenerys Entertainment's merchandise team deliberately skipped over Lex due to how much she irritated audiences.
Now, it seemed a new trio of troublemaking kids had entered the picture.
Out of respect for Spielberg's standing in Hollywood, Simon had refrained from interfering much with the first Jurassic Park, which led to several predictable jump scares more suited to horror films.
However, with this sequel now fully under Daenerys' control, such problems were eliminated.
The inclusion of the three children was a deliberate choice during the scriptwriting process.
Along with the Grants' pet Triceratops, Toby.
In short, it was all about selling merchandise.
The first Jurassic Park had fallen just short of breaking the $1 billion mark worldwide, grossing $980 million. However, by the time Jurassic Park 2 premiered, the first film had generated an astonishing $2.1 billion in merchandise sales over the past two years, yielding over $300 million in net profit. This didn't even include the revenue from theme park attractions based on Jurassic Park or the significant brand value the franchise brought to Daenerys Entertainment.
Why did every Jurassic Park movie, including the later Jurassic World films, feature one or two adolescent characters? Even if their presence felt out of place, they were essential. The reason is simple: children are the primary consumers of merchandise for the series.
If you want kids to buy your products, you need characters in the movie they can relate to.
Jurassic Park was, after all, a pure commercial blockbuster, and not even Simon would violate such industry rules.
On screen, after some back-and-forth, the Lantry siblings stayed on the island.
What followed was a classic high-concept storyline.
The high-concept premise of the first film could be summarized as Dr. Hammond inviting a group of experts to assess the feasibility of the Jurassic Park project.
The story of the second film could similarly be boiled down to the Grants and the Lantry kids working together to fight off poachers on Dinosaur Island.
High concept is king.
For commercial films, you can add details and product placements, but the most important thing is to provide the audience with a simple, straightforward, and cohesive story. If you look back at the history of Hollywood, many of the most successful blockbusters have very simple core storylines. Think of Terminator, E.T., or Independence Day—in all these films, audiences can easily recall the main plot even if they forget the details.
That's high concept.
Once the Lantry siblings arrive on Dinosaur Island, they initially appear well-behaved, but their mischievous nature soon emerges. On their first night, they sneak out of the safe zone where the staff live, eager to see the legendary Tyrannosaurus rex.
At this point, the film employs a classic "bait and switch" technique.
The three troublemakers, riding on the back of Toby the Triceratops, who has the intelligence of a five-year-old, venture into the heart of Dinosaur Island. However, instead of causing a disaster, they stumble upon a conspiracy: after failing to purchase the island, the Burkson Group has secretly sent poachers to capture dinosaurs.
This part of the story is filled with humorous and heartwarming moments between the kids and Toby, culminating in an exciting chase scene.
Though the children escape unharmed, Toby is shot with a tranquilizer dart by the poachers and captured.
Covered in dirt and exhausted, the three kids return to the Grant residence. Initially furious, Dr. Grant softens after hearing the truth and teams up with the children to rescue Toby and the other dinosaurs being captured and prepared for transport off the island.
Meanwhile, the poachers discover three Tyrannosaurus rex eggs, bringing back the true "star" of the first film.
At the same time, the fan-favorite Velociraptors make their appearance, causing severe casualties among the poacher crew.
Over the course of
the two-hour film, the thrilling and non-stop action leads the audience to the climactic battle.
In the final showdown between the poachers and the dinosaurs, Michael Bay once again demonstrates his mastery of dynamic filmmaking. Toby the Triceratops rallies an army of Triceratops, while other dinosaurs join in to rescue their offspring or reclaim stolen eggs, demolishing the poachers' hidden base on the far side of the island.
As expected, the ending is a happy one.
In true Michael Bay style, the film concludes with the Grant couple sharing a triumphant kiss at sunset.
The movie ended.
As the credits rolled, a post-credits scene appeared.
In the scene, Dr. Hammond, Senator Lantry, the Grants, and the three children stand at the highest point on Dinosaur Island, gazing at the peaceful coexistence of the various dinosaurs below. They conclude that dinosaurs can live harmoniously with humans and decide that the best way to protect the island from further exploitation is to open it to the world.
Clearly, this was setting the stage for the third film.
The screen went dark, and the lights came up.
Thunderous applause erupted simultaneously.
Since Jaws in the 1970s, Spielberg had become one of the most significant figures in American cinema. However, after watching the distinctively different Jurassic Park sequel, many in the audience—nostalgic as they were—had to admit that Michael Bay's follow-up was more thrilling and exciting than the original dinosaur film, which had leaned heavily into horror elements.
The sustained applause, which lasted over a minute, was the most direct proof.
The next day, many media outlets dedicated prime coverage to Jurassic Park 2.
The Hollywood Reporter even produced a special feature, with critics lavishly praising the film, calling it "a sequel that absolutely surpasses the original. New director Michael Bay has once again proven his extraordinary filmmaking talents."
Variety highlighted the awe-inspiring IMAX screen at the premiere: "After pioneering CGI effects, Daenerys Entertainment is once again leading the way in the global film industry. IMAX could very well be the future of cinema."
The Los Angeles Times gave the film an unabashedly positive review and turned its attention to the red carpet event, noting that the star-studded lineup from the previous afternoon's red carpet proved that Daenerys Entertainment held unparalleled influence in Hollywood. This influence had successfully translated into marketing power. No one could deny that the blanket advertising campaign had firmly cemented the Jurassic Park brand in the minds of the public. In an era where marketing was becoming increasingly important for films, this dominance gave Daenerys Entertainment an advantage that few other studios could match.
When the first Jurassic Park was released in late 1992, its initial aggregate media score was 9.3.
Despite the natural tendency for sequels to be judged more harshly, Jurassic Park 2 debuted with an aggregate score of 9.5 after its premiere, surpassing the original. Even the most critical reviewers couldn't find fault with a film that not only captured the essence of the franchise but also introduced enough innovation and improved its technical execution.
With anticipation at its peak, Jurassic Park 2 officially opened wide across North America on June 2, showing on 3,461 screens.
Out of fear of Jurassic Park 2, only a few small local releases shared the same date, leaving the heavyweight blockbuster to dominate the summer's most lucrative slot. This was just another sign of the increasing power dynamics in Hollywood, where the strong only grew stronger under Daenerys Entertainment's reign.
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