The opening scene of Jurassic Park establishes the following: 1) A raptor almost escapes from its cage as it is unloaded, grabbing and killing a man in the process. 2) Muldoon is presented as a powerful opponent to the raptor through shot reverse shots between their eyes. However, he is beaten by the raptor. 3) The raptor is presented as almost sentient as it looks at Muldoon, aware of what it is doing to the man and who Muldoon is, beginning the underlying fear of intelligent dinosaurs in the film.

1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 3

2. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
• The distributor (Universal Pictures) usual logo and animation are shown at the beginning and the name of the second
distributor follows (Amblin Entertainment).
• The name of the film (Jurassic Park) follows.

3. NARRATIVE
• The guards unload the cage containing a raptor and it almost escapes. In the process it grabs a man and then has to be shot.
• It is chronological as to not confuse the audience.
• A single setting of Jurassic Park is established only briefly.
• No main characters are established in the opening.

4. REPRESENTATIONS
• Muldoon is presented as a powerful figure and a direct opponent to the raptor as a shot reverse shot is used between their ey es. He is
powerful yet is beaten by the raptor as it devours the man he tries to save.
• The raptor is an animal yet presented as almost sentient as it looks at Muldoon in knowing of what it’s doing to the man and who
Muldoon is. This begins the underlying fear of the sentient dinosaurs that is referenced throughout the film and its sequels.

5. GENRE
• The film is sci-fi and mild horror.
• An element of sci-fi is that the dinosaurs are genetically artificial hybrids.
• The characters are killed off one by one and the protagonists are chased within an inch of their life.
• The character of a mad scientist experimenting with hybrid dinosaurs.

6. USE OF CAMERA 1
• Close-ups, long shots, medium long shots, medium shots, and extreme close-ups are used.
• Low angles are used on the dinosaur cage and Muldoon to emphasize their opposing imposing characters.
High angles are used on the guards themselves to show how weak and fearful they are. They are also used
on Muldoon as he stares into the eye of the raptor.

7. USE OF CAMERA 3
• The first appearance of Muldoon has him framed almost left and his eye line is high up.
Together with a slow zoom and low angle, this shows how Muldoon has power over the
dinosaur and the rest of the guards. It also allows the audience to align with him immediately.

8. SOUND
• Branches snapping as the cage comes closer.
• Machinery sounds as the cage is brought over to the pen.
• Dinosaur breathing/snorting sounds as well as roaring.
• Buzzes and squeaks of the cattle prods/tasers.
• There is non-diegetic music in the background foreshadowing the escape attempt by the
raptor.