Jurassic Park: 8 Unbelievable Differences Between The Book And The Film
5. John. Hammond And His Demise
John Hammond is everyone's favourite rich guy, but it's quite unbelievable how different both he and his story are in the book.
The movie shows us a jolly, optimistic old man who cares for nothing more than bringing joy to children around the world with his dinosaurs. He wants to amaze them and show them the wonderful capabilities of science, and sees no other benefit from building Jurassic Park. He says so himself, the park is not just for the rich. He wants the world to enjoy it.
But Hammond is not like this in the book. There, he is ignorant to his staff's concerns, bossy, and consumed with commercial success. He is a completely different guy, and doesn't even spare a thought for the whereabouts of his grandchildren for most of the story. He sees the animals as attractions designed to make profits, and nothing more.
And it's not just the character that isn't the same. Whereas Spielberg decided to allow Hammond to escape on the helicopter with Grant and Ellie, the book's version dies! When the park's power is back and it seems that all danger has past, Hammond storms off in an arrogant tantrum, slips down a hill, and gets eaten by a group of small dinosaurs.
It's very different from the movie, but readers of the book will know just how bad a guy Hammond was, as well as how oddly satisfying it is to see him go out in this fashion.