Jurassic World (B or 3/4 stars)
'Jurassic World' - the 4th installment in the Jurassic Park franchise - is back on track after 2 mediocre sequels in this fun, if also terrifying dino blockbuster. Director Colin Trevorrow (an indie helmer taking on a big-budgeter) takes the reigns as director and, though he's no Spielberg, he knows how to wow an audience. 22 yrs. after the tragic events of the original masterpiece, Jurassic Park, that tropical island off the coast of Costa Rica known as Isla Nublar has now become Jurassic World, a dinosaur theme park with exciting safari-like excursions, rides on baby triceratopses, a Shamu-like attraction {think Jaws x1000}, a petting zoo, & the like.
Megalomaniacal CEO Simon Masrani (Irfan Khan) is a John Hammond-like visionary whose scientists, led by Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong, the only returning cast member from the original), are preparing to introduce their newest big attraction: a genetic hybrid called Indominus Rex (combining DNA of a T-Rex and, well, another top secret dino). None of this sits well with Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), a rogue 'dinosaur whisperer'/security consultant, who has been diligent in training a quartet of velociraptors to obey his every command. But constant improvements are an absolute necessity, stresses stressed-out Operations Manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), whose estranged visiting nephews (Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson) have just arrived for a VIP visit.
Claire explains, "The park needs a new attraction every few years to reinvigorate the public's interest". Problem is ... the ferocious Indominus Rex escapes from her vast, top-secret paddock, destroying anything & anyone in her path. AND, that's just what a scheming, agenda-happy military contractor (a vile Vincent D'Onofrio) has been waiting for. Why? Because he's longing to see if dinosaurs like Owen's trained velociraptors can trap the Indominus and, in the near future, be weaponized to supplement our troops in wartime. Needless to say, things spiral out of control quickly, dinosaurs wreak havoc, & bloody mayhem ensues as out 2 protagonists try to find Claire's nephews, stay alive, & the save the day -- with a little help from some 'toothy' friends.
Okay. So, despite Jurassic World's eye roll-inducing dialogue, its weak characterizations, & some sketchy sexual politics, I had a blast with this movie. In no way does ‘JW’ meet the expectations set by Spielberg's original masterpiece {I figured this going in}, but it does surpass those underwhelming sequels in 1997/2001, and it offers enough interest, humor, & arm-clutching thrills to make for a fun time at the theater. Director Trevorrow is no Spielberg. But Spielberg oversaw this film as executive producer and, Colin Trevorrow does stay true to that director's ability to drum up the suspense, make us lean forward in our seats, then cower in fear, & then laugh at our own reactions. I also dig this film's theme of bigger-is-better. We humans just can't be satisfied with the commonplace (in this case, dinosaurs). No, we are always satiating for bigger, better, meaner, scarier ... 'cooler'. And because nature is unpredictable, toying with it usually leads to disaster.
There is little character depth in this film {shocker}, but the necessary types are in place, and the actors playing those types do a good job. Chris Pratt - hot off of Guardians of the Galaxy - is suitably heroic; muscular, funny, clever, & courageous. I did find it odd, however, that his natural goofball charisma {you either like his brand of it or not} was neutered here to make way for a more stoic hero. And I found his chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard's character to be breezy, chock full of light banter, yet not overly romantic. BDH herself is fine as the uptight manager who turns into formulaic damsel-in-distress, before finally taking off her ridiculous heels to run from imminent danger. But her damsel-to-heroine-arc is welcomed, in any case.
But really, the stars of this thing are the dinosaurs; the sweet, lumbering apatosaurus, the soaring pterodactyls, the enigmatic velociraptors, & our adaptive hybrid, the Indominus Rex. Speaking for myself, I was tense throughout (me & my friend Michele gripped each other's arms during the suspense-laden, blood-racing action scenes). The CGI-work on the dinos is amazing; rivaling the 1993 film's ingenuity {but not quite attaining it}. I also loved the melodic throwbacks to John Williams' iconic/epic soundtrack. This movie includes many intense moments of sustained suspense, peril, & terror. People/dinos are eaten, torn, & trampled on ... so young kiddies may freak. So overall, while ‘JW’ doesn't re-invent the wheel, it does its job as a heart-quickening, re-invigorated thrill ride for Summer audiences to lap up.
Megalomaniacal CEO Simon Masrani (Irfan Khan) is a John Hammond-like visionary whose scientists, led by Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong, the only returning cast member from the original), are preparing to introduce their newest big attraction: a genetic hybrid called Indominus Rex (combining DNA of a T-Rex and, well, another top secret dino). None of this sits well with Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), a rogue 'dinosaur whisperer'/security consultant, who has been diligent in training a quartet of velociraptors to obey his every command. But constant improvements are an absolute necessity, stresses stressed-out Operations Manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), whose estranged visiting nephews (Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson) have just arrived for a VIP visit.
Claire explains, "The park needs a new attraction every few years to reinvigorate the public's interest". Problem is ... the ferocious Indominus Rex escapes from her vast, top-secret paddock, destroying anything & anyone in her path. AND, that's just what a scheming, agenda-happy military contractor (a vile Vincent D'Onofrio) has been waiting for. Why? Because he's longing to see if dinosaurs like Owen's trained velociraptors can trap the Indominus and, in the near future, be weaponized to supplement our troops in wartime. Needless to say, things spiral out of control quickly, dinosaurs wreak havoc, & bloody mayhem ensues as out 2 protagonists try to find Claire's nephews, stay alive, & the save the day -- with a little help from some 'toothy' friends.
Okay. So, despite Jurassic World's eye roll-inducing dialogue, its weak characterizations, & some sketchy sexual politics, I had a blast with this movie. In no way does ‘JW’ meet the expectations set by Spielberg's original masterpiece {I figured this going in}, but it does surpass those underwhelming sequels in 1997/2001, and it offers enough interest, humor, & arm-clutching thrills to make for a fun time at the theater. Director Trevorrow is no Spielberg. But Spielberg oversaw this film as executive producer and, Colin Trevorrow does stay true to that director's ability to drum up the suspense, make us lean forward in our seats, then cower in fear, & then laugh at our own reactions. I also dig this film's theme of bigger-is-better. We humans just can't be satisfied with the commonplace (in this case, dinosaurs). No, we are always satiating for bigger, better, meaner, scarier ... 'cooler'. And because nature is unpredictable, toying with it usually leads to disaster.
There is little character depth in this film {shocker}, but the necessary types are in place, and the actors playing those types do a good job. Chris Pratt - hot off of Guardians of the Galaxy - is suitably heroic; muscular, funny, clever, & courageous. I did find it odd, however, that his natural goofball charisma {you either like his brand of it or not} was neutered here to make way for a more stoic hero. And I found his chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard's character to be breezy, chock full of light banter, yet not overly romantic. BDH herself is fine as the uptight manager who turns into formulaic damsel-in-distress, before finally taking off her ridiculous heels to run from imminent danger. But her damsel-to-heroine-arc is welcomed, in any case.
But really, the stars of this thing are the dinosaurs; the sweet, lumbering apatosaurus, the soaring pterodactyls, the enigmatic velociraptors, & our adaptive hybrid, the Indominus Rex. Speaking for myself, I was tense throughout (me & my friend Michele gripped each other's arms during the suspense-laden, blood-racing action scenes). The CGI-work on the dinos is amazing; rivaling the 1993 film's ingenuity {but not quite attaining it}. I also loved the melodic throwbacks to John Williams' iconic/epic soundtrack. This movie includes many intense moments of sustained suspense, peril, & terror. People/dinos are eaten, torn, & trampled on ... so young kiddies may freak. So overall, while ‘JW’ doesn't re-invent the wheel, it does its job as a heart-quickening, re-invigorated thrill ride for Summer audiences to lap up.