Finally got to see Jurassic Park again. I love this movie. It’s exciting, and suspenseful, and sweet, and just barely over 2 hours long. (Take note, PJack!) It takes you to a world you simultaneously long to see and pray never exists. And it was the first PG-13 movie I ever saw in the theater—my rite of passage.
I had forgotten how scary those velociraptors could be, with those freaky claws, sneaky attacks, and shrieky calls. There’s the scene where the survivors are making sure everyone is safe, and Dr. Sattler jokes that they’re ok as long as raptors haven’t learned how to open doors. The camera cuts to the kitchen door handle, beyond which two helpless kids are hiding from the raptors on the other side. The handle slowly turns. Terror ensues.
Spielberg must have had kids.
Our own little veloci-toddler learned how to open doors this week. Not just the lever handles, like the ones the raptor opened in the kitchen. The twist and pull type. The first time it happened, Ryan and I felt a little like those helpless, hiding kids. We had just put him to bed (he’s in a big boy bed now, you know) and were settling down to relax a little for the night. We heard him get out of bed and approach what used to be a secure hallway door. The door handle jiggled a bit, and we sat smug, knowing what would happen next. He’d knock on the door a couple times, let out a frustrated cry, and then go back to bed.
Not this time. Clever boy.
The handle jiggled a bit more, and then the door opened a crack. We looked at each other in disbelief, eyes wide open, silently waiting. A minute later—I think he must have been in shock himself—a little hand reached out from the dark hallway and pushed the door open. He emerged, delighted as could be.
I’m not sure if we’re ready for this new phase of life. When he was in his crib, he was so contained. We knew he couldn’t go anywhere, and it was nice having that kind of control. Even when we moved him to a bed, we could still close the door at night or at naptime, knowing he would be safe inside. But if there’s one thing I learned from Jurassic Park, it’s this, courtesy of Dr. Ian Malcolm:
The kind of control you’re attempting simply is… it’s not possible. If there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it’s that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, uh… well, there it is.
Words of wisdom, parents and parents-to-be. Take heed, then hold on to your butts.
I am laughing so hard at “hold on to your butts.” Also, your tags. We are fast approaching the day when Everett will be a biped instead of a quadraped (I’m pretty sure I just made up at least one of those words). I better hold on to my butt!
Walking babies are so fun. You need to send us video when Everett makes his move.
Confession: I’ve never seen Jurassic Park. I’m pretty sure my mom wouldn’t let me watch it when it first came out because it was “too scary” and I’ve been afraid of it ever since. Other movies I have never seen: Lord of the Rings (any and all), The Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, and Sophie’s Choice (talk about terrifying).
What?! Go see it right now. Or tomorrow. I will buy you a ticket online. I am serious. Is it still in the theaters?
Wait. Tell me the scariest movie you’ve ever seen and enjoyed, and then I will gauge if you can handle it. What am I saying? Of course you can handle it. What city are you in? I’m buying you a ticket.
I love that you called Peter Jackson “P-Jack”
Also, I remember watching this scene and thinking, “JUST COVER YOURSELF WITH A BLANKET! AS LONG AS YOU’RE COVERED, NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!” How’s that for being stupid and naive? I really thought that if they hid under a blanket, they wouldn’t get hurt. So dumb.
That’s not dumb, that’s adorable. Adumbrable. Which could pass for a name in one of Lauren’s fantasy novels.
I just saw a show where a guy was filming his friends climb a snowy peak from his tent, and then an avalanche started. It was coming right toward him, but he was so petrified that he just zipped his tent up and waited inside. It stopped a couple yards from his tent, so I guess we’ll never know how the little nylon tent would have held up. I bet he wished he had had a blanket.
I’ll pitch in for the send-Amanda-to-Jurassic-Park fund. I read the book in about 11 hours (straight) and saw the movie 9 times in the theater, including on opening day. Make it 10 times now that I saw it in 3D a couple weeks ago.
Thank you! A worthy cause. Just waiting for your zip code, Amanda…
HA!
I’m pretty sure Carter’s obsession with Jurassic Park > My obsession with YA fantasy novels.
Just saying.