A monster smash that's no dinosaur

JURASSIC PARK, with Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough, Jeff Goldblum, Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Category II. Panasia circuit. THE problem with films that receive the hype Jurassic Park has over the past few months is they almost always disappoint. Batman by no means lived up to what the promoters were promising, and Terminator 2 was a pale imitation of the original.

Jurassic Park has proved to be the exception.

No amount of previous publicity can spoil the breathtaking nature of the special effects achieved in this latest Spielberg trip beyond the imagination.

There are moments when it is virtually impossible to imagine the creatures stalking the grounds of Jurassic Park are simply a combination of prosthetic and computer animation technologies. The scene where a Tyrannosaurus Rex sets about destroying a landcruiser containing two battered children is nothing short of remarkable. The car is crushed and battered by the dinosaur's bulk and jaws in a thoroughly convincing display of might.

It is a scene designed to give most children - and some adults - nightmares for weeks.

Already the do-gooders are up in arms about the effect Jurassic Park is going to have on children. Certainly, the film is frightening and there are some pretty gory moments, but the point is children like to be frightened; that is why many are fascinatedby dinosaurs in the first place.