“Mystery Science Theater 200 Mil. BCE: Jurassic Park" at the Putnam Museum & Science Center -- October 8.
Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m.
Putnam Museum & Science Center, 1717 West 12th Street, Davenport IA
In a one-of-a-kind movie-riffing experience at Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center, one of the biggest hits in Hollywood history will be ribbed for nearly two full hours in the comedy event Mystery Science Theater 200 Mil. BCE: Jurassic Park. Putnam guests are invited to watch the dinosaur classic like never before as experts and comedians lovingly roast the movie’s prehistoric inaccuracies while celebrating everything that made the movie an iconic blockbuster.
Jurassic Park, of course, is the 1993 film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Michael Crichton and David Koepp, based on Crichton's 1990 novel. Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough, the film is set on the fictional island of Isla Nublar where industrialist John Hammond and a team of genetic scientists have created a wildlife park of de-extinct dinosaurs. After, however, a catastrophic shutdown of the park's power facilities and security precautions, a small group of visitors struggle to survive and escape the island.
Spielberg's adventure was a blockbuster hit and went on to gross more than $914 million worldwide in its original theatrical run, surpassing the director own E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) to become the highest-grossing film of all time until the release of Titanic (1997). The film received critical acclaim, with praise to its special effects, sound design, action sequences, John Williams' score, and Spielberg's direction. Among its numerous accolades, the film won three Oscars (Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects) at the 66th Academy Awards. Following its 20th anniversary re-release in 2013, Jurassic Park became the oldest film in history to surpass $1 billion in ticket sales and the 17th overall.
Since its release, many film critics and industry professionals have regarded Jurassic Park as one of the greatest films ever made. Its groundbreaking use of computer-generated imagery is widely seen as a turning point that shaped the visual effects techniques used in modern cinema. In 2018, the Library of Congress selected Jurassic Park for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film spawned a multimedia franchise that includes six sequels, video games, theme park attractions, comic books, and various merchandise.
On October 5, though, none of that will prevent Jurassic Park from getting a good ribbing in the Putnam's GIANT Screen Theater. Leading the expedition into cinematic chaos are “Dr. Marcus Eriksen," the expertise of science communicator, educator, and professional wrangler of questionable dinosaur facts; Chris Chandler, Putnam Museum paleontologist and resident fossil expert; and a lineup of local comedians armed with sharp wit, bad puns, and absolutely no fear of velociraptors
As giant dinosaurs thunder across the massive screen, the panel will provide live comedic commentary, scientific corrections, and fascinating real-world paleontology insights. They'll also ask pertinent questions. Could Velociraptors really open doors? Did T. rex actually see movement like a video game enemy? Why are the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park from the wrong time periods? And just how chaotic would a real dinosaur theme park be under OSHA regulations?
Expect an evening packed with laughs, movie trivia, audience reactions, and educational deep-dives disguised as comedy. Whether you’re a die-hard dinosaur nerd, a movie buff, or just someone who enjoys hearing scientists gently bully Hollywood, this event promises a prehistoric amount of fun.
Mystery Science Theater 200 Mil. BCE: Jurassic Park" will take place in Davenport on October 8, admission to the 7 p.m. event is $20, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)324-1933 and visiting Putnam.org.
