“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
– Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)
This is probably one of the most important and significant movies ever made. I feel like it took the entertainment industry by storm with the special effects and the unique concepts and inspired the imaginations of both my parents and my generation. Jurassic Park was based on the novel written by Michael Crichton and while the movie took a lot of liberties, they were still largely faithful to the source material.
Jurassic Park follows a group of individuals in the process of reviewing an entirely new type of theme park where the trip doesn’t quite go according to plan. It is a cautionary tale that serves as a reminder to all to have more respect for things and to never make assumptions about anything, even if you made it.
What I love about this quote is it makes you think. I never actually thought about science or invention that deeply. Jurassic Park sounded like a really cool idea and to think of the possibilities surrounding a park of its nature was inspiring, but there are other factors to consider that I think many people don’t. I love science and I love invention, but I believe there is no harm in a cautionary tale, fiction or not.
I like to believe that most scientists engage in their fields with good intentions, but sometimes that isn’t good enough. In another of the Jurassic Park movies, Grant talks about how some of the worst things imaginable had been done with the best intentions, and he wasn’t wrong. If anything, my takeaway from this movie was a healthy respect for things like nature, science, invention, and asking the right questions.
Journeyman's Legacy 