Jurassic Park III (2001)

Continuing to expand the boundaries of both technology and entertainment, Jurassic Park III builds on Steven Spielberg's dual hits, 1993's Jurassic Park and 1997's The Lost World: Jurassic Park. With the first film, Spielberg used ground-breaking technology to bring Michael Crichton's best-selling novel to life. The film captured three Academy Awards® for its technical achievements, including one for Best Visual Effects, and became the biggest grossing movie in the world up to that time.

In 1997, Spielberg followed with an enormously successful sequel, again based on a novel by Crichton, and again employing the latest enhancements in computer technology and animatronic effects. The Lost World: Jurassic Park still holds the record for the biggest grossing opening weekend in film history with $92.7 million, and earned an Academy Award® nomination for its visual effects.

Jurassic Park III adds to that legacy with an original story that continues to explore man' s fascination with dinosaurs. "I've been on three digs with (paleontologist) Jack Homer," said director Joe Johnston. "On the last one, I saw something on the ground that I thought might be a bone — turned out to be a rock but next to it, something was sticking out of the ground, about a quarter inch. I started scraping it out and it was a T-rex tooth, poking out of the ground where it had fallen maybe 65 million years ago, and no human being had ever touched it. Just the thought of that is amazing."

Oscar®-winning dinosaur designer Stan Winston agreed. "We've been in love with and curious about dinosaurs for as long as I can remember. They've been important to filmmaking since King Kong in 1933 and they're also an important part of our museums. Every child grows up wanting to know about these creatures that roamed the earth before we did."

That insatiable interest inspired Spielberg and producer Kathleen Kennedy to embark on a third trip to the Jurassic world, but this time with Johnston at the helm. He had approached Spielberg about directing the first Jurassic Park sequel, which Spielberg, of course, directed himself. "When we decided to go forward with this film, Joe was Steven's first choice," said Kennedy. "He has done a phenomenal job because he knows how to combine human drama and special effects without sacrificing one for the other."

Johnston sees them as part of the same package. "Every film should have characters you can relate to and believe in, whether it's dinosaurs or coal miners," he said. "And you still have to control everything that goes through the lens."

Alessandro Nivola, who portrays Grant's impetuous protege Billy Brennan, appreciated Johnston's respect for the story's integrity. "He never sacrificed the relationships among the central characters for the sake of a thrill."

Winston described his visual gifts. "Joe is a wonderful artist. He has a great eye and understands fantasy, and the elements that are vital to this kind of effects movie."

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