For me, it established the bond between these characters much more richly than you could accomplish with several shorter scenes and different contexts. Watching how they celebrate, and handle the skirmish at the bar, and deal with the changes awaiting them hours away - all while getting a sense for their culture (both the Russian heritage aspect, as well as the Pittsburgh aspect) . . . it really brought the characters, their background, and their friendship to life for me more than most films accomplish. And that made all of what came after hit home that much more.
I consider The Deer Hunter one of the greatest films I've ever seen; maybe top ten, almost definitely top twenty. I know lots of people complain about it being too long, and like you, they usually point to the wedding scene needing to be trimmed substantially. But I have the opposite takeaway. The wedding/celebration scene, and everything that goes with it, makes what happens later in the story more impactful for me.
By having the wedding and reception stuff go on for so long, and not really using cuts to trim away the atmosphere, it's like bringing the viewer in as if we were actual guests there for the whole thing.
One of the films I'm wowed by the most, and if it were trimmed down (even the wedding and reception scenes) I don't think I'd feel that way because of losing out on some of the "naturalness" of the character personalities, bonds, and friendships. Guess it's all about individual preferences in terms of how we each would rather have character building be developed. Shame you don't enjoy it more for what it is, JAWS, but you're definitely being fair and insightful about it. I can see why you (and others) wish it had been different, even if I personally wouldn't change a thing.
9 out of 10 from me.
Excellent production design, not much dialoged, some decent action and a film score that elevates it to another level 
Ya know.. As much as I love Last of the Mohicans... I can understand someone not liking it.
I personally love the look of the film and the locations.
More then anything I love the Musical Score. It takes the film to another level for me. That is one of a few other things that this film reminds me of Conan the Barbarian
I pulled a back to back triple feature last night.. Not done that in about 15 years.
Jurassic Park 9/10
The Lost World: Jurassic Park 9.5/10
Jurassic Park III 3/10
JP is still a classic. I don't love as much as I use to but the T-Rex scene alone is enough to guarantee that I will return to this film many more times in the future. Over the years I find my biggest issue is the look of the film. I cant put my finger on it. I love the T-Rex scene and how that looks but that's about it. Watched this in 4K also and the transfer was a huge step up over the old Blu ray.
The cast is good for the most part with Ian being the stand out. But here is my hot take.. I almost like TLW better
If I could combined elments of TLW with JP I would probably have a film that would easily break into my top 5 movies of all time.
I prefer the look of TLW over the first JP and think the score to TLW surpasses JPs score also. I like that Ian is the central character and love the field expert Eddie, and the big game Hunter Roland. Other then the Gymnast scene I love all the Velociraptor stuff in this one more then JP (Not counting the T-rex rescue)
My biggest issue with the film... Ian's Girlfriend Sarah and Vince Vaughn's character Nick.
Both IMO are just too stupid to live and are the real villains of the film. In fact every death in the film can be attributed to Nick and Sarah. It was Nick and Sarah who let all the Dino's out thus destroying any form of possible communication (which would lead to many deaths). It was Nick and Sarah who had to mend the baby t-Rex leg and thus got Eddie Killed because he had to rescue them from the Mama and Papa T-Rex. It was Nick who decided that the life of a Make T-Rex was more important then Roland's and sabotaged his ammo... How many died during that T-Rex Encounter when Roland could have taken out one or both of them? And then the fact had Roland just used his Ammo he would not have resorted to the tranquillizers and thus the Make T-Rex would have never been taken to SD.
"We came her to observe you came here to take... You have no Right" or something like that... Barf!!!
I guess the argument could be made that he saved lives by not allowing Dinos off the island but the thing is... At that time Ingen only had the plant eaters to take back.. Nah.. Nick you are a villain.
Sarah the freaking Dino expert walking around with Baby Dino blood on her jacket after telling everyone how good the smell of the T-rex is..
Then there is all the "scientific dialogue" that Julianne Moore gives that sounds like Denise Richards talking about Nuclear science in The World is not enough. She really drive me crazy.. Sarah also angers me when she defends the Ian's child's decision to hideaway and come on a freaking Dangerous island..
Blah... I really hate those two characters.
If you could take those two out and have a better ending.. I might like this one more then JP. Because even with all my complaints I find it an easier watch then JP even though its not as good a film as JP.
JPIII - Blah... Spino looked cool. I like Alan Grant.. That's it. Movie is ****.
Ya know.. As much as I love Last of the Mohicans... I can understand someone not liking it.
I personally love the look of the film and the locations.
More then anything I love the Musical Score. It takes the film to another level for me. That is one of a few other things that this film reminds me of Conan the Barbarian
