«When Jurassic Park was released in cinemas, it became the first film capable of transforming paleontological knowledge into a story that could reach millions of people,» explains Michela Cogo, Head of Education at Parco Natura Viva, where the two-hectare Jurassic Adventure trail near Verona tells the story of the evolution of dinosaur research through 35 life-sized reconstructions created under the scientific supervision of paleontologists Cristiano Dal Sasso, one of Europe’s leading dinosaur experts, and Simone Maganuco.
Many of the scenes and species that made Jurassic Park a cinematic icon would be portrayed very differently today. Starting with the famous line, «If you don’t move, it can’t see you,» spoken by Sam Neill as the legendary Dr. Alan Grant during the unforgettable first escape from the Tyrannosaurus rex.
«If you don’t move, it can’t see you»
«Since Spielberg’s first film, science has revised many of its conclusions in light of new discoveries. Just think of Alan Grant’s famous line during the unforgettable escape from the Tyrannosaurus rex: «If you don’t move, it can’t see you.» Today we know that Tyrannosaurus rex had exceptionally well-developed binocular vision, meaning that scene would not be supported by current scientific knowledge.
The same applies to the Velociraptor, which the film portrayed as a large, scaly reptile but is now reconstructed as a much smaller animal covered in dense feathers. Likewise, Dilophosaurus neither spat venom nor possessed the distinctive neck frill shown on screen, while the recovery of dinosaur DNA from insects preserved in amber, the premise on which the entire saga is based, is now considered scientifically implausible.
Even Spinosaurus, the giant predator that Alan Grant encounters in Jurassic Park III, is interpreted very differently today. Recent research describes it as a dinosaur with remarkable adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle, a scientific revolution to which Cristiano Dal Sasso himself has made a decisive contribution, being among the paleontologists whose discoveries have most significantly reshaped our understanding of this species.»
With the passing of Sam Neill, the world loses the face that introduced millions of people to the fascination of dinosaurs through the character of Dr. Alan Grant. Thirty-three years later, however, the greatest legacy of Jurassic Park remains alive: proving that paleontology can become a story capable of inspiring, educating and captivating audiences around the world.
