Jurassic Park (1993)
I think this is very cinematic blockbusters peaked. Sure, I have nostalgia goggles as this was one of the first proper movies I saw in a theater. I was only 8 and couldn’t really read the subtitles, but what an experience for all the senses. Like with Jaws this was made at a time with just the right amount of possibilities with special effects to make it work, but still with some limitations forcing Spielberg to be creative with how to create an exciting narrative. Everything here is just perfectly setup with natural exposition and foreshadowing. The pacing is utterly well balanced making the action scenes stand out better than if it was just full throttle. Of course, re-watching it today doesn’t quite get me riled up, as all the methods Spielberg applies here have since been the standard used by everyone else, so you can see the dramatic peaks coming from a mile away. But still, this is still gold and I don’t think any blockbuster since has surpassed this classic.
Rating: 5