Sunday, April 3, 2016

Character reflection - Robert Muldoon from Jurassic Park.

Character reflection - Robert Muldoon from Jurassic Park.

April 4th is a rough day. 17 years ago actor Bob Peck lost his battle with cancer. There are very few actors that for some strange unknown reason I feel emotionally attached to. I'm sure I'm speaking for others, but Jurassic Park was one of those movies that was a huge part of my childhood. Released in 1993, I was five years old. I still remember watching it constantly on tape, playing the impossible video game, and years later finding this one of the most quotable films of all time. A must to, watching with a group of friends with drinks. I think why this movie, no matter how many times I've seen it I always have to re-watch it. This movie brings back wonderful memories, a favorite of mine, and a total comfort film. Friends of mine who follow me here, on FB, or IG know how strongly I feel about this film. In fact it's in my top five. One of the biggest reasons why I love this movie is for one character.

Robert Muldoon.

Played by Bob Peck. Robert Muldoon was one Hell of an epic character from the novel in which the film was based off of. A game warden from Kenya who liked to drink, and take down T-rexs, and raptors with missiles, completely stole the show. Due to his brilliant performance in the BBC miniseries Edge Of Darkness, he caught the attention by director Steven Spielberg who decided several years later to cast him as the game warden of Jurassic Park. I believe this was Spielberg's most brilliant case of casting since Robert Shaw in Jaws. Born in 1945, Robert became a brilliantly trained theater actor where he met his wife fellow actress Jill Baker. Bob made a steady career in television and theater productions and had three children with Jill. His big breakout role was in Edge Of Darkness (directed by Martin Campbell of Casino Royal fame) Bob would act in several other films such as Slipstream, The Kitchen Toto, and Lord Of The Flies. In fact actor Sir. Ian McKellen has even stated that he learned the most from acting from Bob. A respected talented man of his craft, he continued with television work before landing the role that he would be best remembered for.

Robert Muldoon.

Going mostly against the novel, Spielberg did his own take with Muldoon. Originally from Kenya, Muldoon was good friends with Hammond and worked at John's other park Tiger World. Having hunted and trained most prey that could kill you, he was brought down to work on Island Nublar. Stealing most scenes he appeared in. Muldoon was the only man who had enough brains to understand how truly dangerous this park was. Giving zero fucks, calling John out in front of his guests on tour, seemed to be the only person who knew how dangerous these raptors were. Having some of the film's greatest lines "Shoot her! They should all be destroyed!" And "Clever girl." With amazing legs, piercing blue eyes, sharp handsome features, a killer accent, and brave enough to fetch Hammond's grandchildren, as well as drive standard...Robert Muldoon by far was one of the best characters in the entire Jurassic Park series. His tragic death is one of the most memorable in the movies and still quoted to this day. People even 20 + years dress up as his character, and honor him by always saying his famous final line "Clever girl..." What truly sucks is the fact he doesn't die in the novel, but meets a horrible bloody end in the film. Somehow The Lost World as well as the other movies don't seem the same after he's gone. In fact I downright started sobbing like a baby in Jurassic World when the two little kids went to the old visitor center. 


To honor Bob after watching Jurassic World, I decided to get a Robert Muldoon tattoo by my crazy talented tattoo artist Shane Murphy and still to this day claim it's my most beautiful and stunning piece on me. I can still dream that maybe in Jurassic World 2 they will have Muldoon's son or something come back for revenge. I find it sorta a slap in the face that in The Lost World they didn't even mention him. (There is a deleted scene about his family receiving a settlement over his death). Rumor had it that they deleted it in case of wanting to bring Muldoon back for future films wounded but still alive since he was such a fan favorite. Sadly, Bob died a few years later. 

Bob will forever be part of the Jurassic Park legacy and I am honored to have him tattooed on me. 17 years seems crazy, but my thoughts are with his family on this day. I will be watching Jurassic Park in his honor tonight. We miss and love you Robert. Thank you.




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