She Likes to Watch

The mid-1990s: When dinosaurs roamed the earth

Kids love dinosaurs.

Kids love carnage.

So when Hollywood decided to make a movie based on Michael Crichton’s best-selling novel, it was pretty much a sure bet that kids (and their parents) would absolutely adore “Jurassic Park.”

The SLO Rewind series kicks off tonight with a special screening of “Jurassic Park.”

When a bio research company creates an amusement park populated with cloned dinosaurs, InGen CEO John Hammond(Richard Attenborough) brings in a trio of scientists to check out the new attraction.

At first the experts — paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill), paleobotanist Ellie Satler (Laura Dern) and chaos theorist Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) — are thrilled by the dino zoo, dubbed Jurassic Park. It’s a marvelous place, a treat for animal lovers and history buffs alike. But is it safe?

The scientists’ doubts find ground when a tropical storm hits and the park loses power. Suddenly, the adults — and Hammond’s grandchildren — find themselves at the mercy of wild prehistoric critters in a modern playground.

An instant classic when it was released in 1993, “Jurassic Park” is a fast-paced theme park ride with plenty of creature features, jumpy moments and what were, for the time, groundbreaking special effects. The movie may have aged some, given advances in technology, but it remains solid entertainment.

“Jurassic Park” plays tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo.

Doors open at 7 p.m., but I’d advise moviegoers to get there early. Even this vast ’40s-era movie palace has a tendency to fill up quickly when there’s a good flick.

Tickets are $7.50.

*Never let it be said that dinosaurs are dumb animals. These clever carnivores eat the lawyer and Newman from “Seinfeld,” but let the nice kids and adults escape. (Oops! Was that a plot spoiler?!?)

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Meanwhile, could a fourth “Jurassic Park” movie be in the works?

In May, Laura Dern told TV Guide magazine that the fourth installment in the dino-centric series “is happening.”

“It isn’t just speculation,” she said in a much-quoted interview. “It’s a while away, but my understanding is it’s happening and my character is very involved. I know (director) Steven Spielberg is looking forward to getting it together over the next year.”

Making another “Jurassic Park” movie would be difficult following the death of special effects wizard Stan Winston in June. And it’s unsure whether movie producers could snag the original cast, now that they’re all busy pursuing their separate careers. (Okay, maybe not Jeff Goldblum. His “Raines” TV series was dismal.)

Neill skipped “The Lost World” but appeared in “Jurassic Park 3.” Would he be up for another adventure? That’s anyone’s guess.

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The SLO Rewind series continues next month with the following films:

• “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Oct. 14)
• “Space Balls” (Oct. 28)
• “Independence Day” (Nov. 18)
• “Ghostbusters” (Dec. 2)
• “Starship Troopers” (Jan. 27)