"Jurassic World" Review

Title: Jurassic World

Directed by: Colin Trevorrow

Screenplay by: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Derek Connolly, and Colin Trevorrow

Year: 2015

I find it rather hard to believe that it's been 14 years since the last installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, and 22 years since the first one was released. The original is considered a magical and awesome film, and one of Steven Spielberg's most recognizable, while the sequels are often regarded as very disappointing follow-ups (though I am in the minority when I say that the second movie is actually pretty good). Can Jurassic World recapture the magic of the first, or is it time for this franchise to finally go extinct?

Following the events of the first film, Jurassic Park has been rebuilt and fully realized into a tremendous theme park. But sales have gone down since seeing dinosaurs is no longer interesting. So the scientists decide to genetically create their own dinosaur to boost park attendance. However, something goes wrong, the dinosaur is loose, and the lives of everyone in the park are at stake.

Ever since Guardians of the Galaxy last year, Chris Pratt has become one of the most popular male actors, to the point where he is being considered to play the next Indiana Jones. I must say that Jurassic World is a good part of his portfolio if he seeks to dawn the iconic fedora. Pratt proves that he is not a one-act man. He is a capable lead actor that does not always have to be a quirky or goofy character. He plays Owen, a more stern and serious kind of guy who is quick on his feet and is a Velociraptor trainer at the park (more on that later). Also surprisingly enjoyable is Bryce Dallas Howard. I thought for certain Howard would have been a damsel in distress, but that is not the case, thankfully. Howard's character, Claire, is a sort of director of the park whose nephews come to visit her. However, being as busy and unempathetic as she is, she brushes them aside and leaves them with a babysitter. Vincent D'Onofrio plays a cartoonish villain that fits the style of the film rather well. He is simple, and one-note, but he is a villain that we love to hate. From the moment he appears on screen, the audience is aware that he is the bad guy. D'Onofrio seems like he is having fun with the part, but the character's evil motivations are downright stupid (more on that later).

Jurassic World takes notes from the story of Frankenstein's monster as the Indominus Rex is a human creation and is, well, a monster. The film is also like many, many monster flicks that came before it in terms of its story. "Big monster runs amok causing havoc." Plain and simple, if unoriginal. But that's the thing about Jurassic World. It is not so much a Jurassic Park film as it is a monster movie or a thriller or a B-movie with a really big budget. What I mean is that it doesn't contain the magic nor the awe-factor of the first, but instead tries to compensate with a thrilling adventure. In terms of the thrills it delivers, Jurassic World succeeds on all fronts. The pacing, the camera work, the music, it all comes together to make for some heart pounding scenes. Some examples are when the Indominus Rex first escapes, when a team is tracking the dinosaur, and when the Pteranodons attack the civilians.

I guess I should get around to actually talking about the dinosaurs then. The dinosaurs in this film are beautifully designed and dazzling to see, but often times they don't appear as if they are there. Though they look great, the dinosaurs don't really feel like they are part of the environment in many parts. By far the best effect was the Apatosaurus, and that is because it was an animatronic. The filmmakers claim that they used many animatronics but digitally touched them up. I'd say they went too far because most of the dinosaurs came across as completely computer generated. I can say however that the rest of the movie is a pleasure for the eyes. The film is filled with vibrant colors and beautiful scenery that make it come alive.

Though thrilling and beautiful, this picture is not devoid of issues. One of the most glaring problems with the film is the villain's motivation. His evil scheme is to weaponize raptors...he wants to take velociraptors...and turn them into weapons to be used in wars...there is no amount of suspension of disbelief that could have me buying this as a valid idea. It is an incredibly stupid idea that lacks all logic and thought, which undermines D'Onofrio as the villain. Another problem with the film is its product placement. On the one hand, the movie seeks to make fun of product placement, and rather cleverly too. But then you see how shamelessly it advertises one company in particular. I will say this, though; Jurassic World is the greatest commercial Mercedes Benz will ever have. I swear that there are no less than three shots that begin with the logo perfectly in center frame. It becomes very distracting and irritating.

Another issue with the movie is the romance between Owen and Claire. There is no word to explain it other than forced. We get one scene explaining that they went on a date one time and nothing else really. They share one moment during the Aparosaurus scene (which admittedly is a very nice moment) but other than that they have no romantic relations throughout the film. And yet, by the end, they are kissing. This is a prime example of a shoehorned plot element. I also believe part of it comes from having four different people write the script. I could just envision one person liking the idea of weaponizing velociraptors, another insisting on a "blooming" romance between the leads, and yet another wanting Claire to learn the importance of family through her nephews. It just seems like a lot of ideas were thrown around and then they were all meshed together and labeled "story." Some of it works, but the rest falls flat.

B.D. Wong reprises his very small role as scientist Henry Wu. This was a very nice touch for fans of the first film, as he is the only familiar face in the movie. However, this takes a very strange and unexpected turn, in that the film makes Henry one of the bad guys. It has no build up, it makes little sense, and it is given very little time. Not only that, but it was also unnecessary. Though nice to see Henry, his screen time could have been used to develop other parts of the film, like the romance or the relationship between Claire and her nephews.

Going back to a more positive note, it is great to finally see Jurassic Park realized. To see this park fully constructed and operational is awesome. The attractions they have and the designs are very creative and realistic (aside from the dinosaurs being there). And as goofy as it may have appeared in the trailers, the raptor training actually works in the context of the film, and rather well I must say. In fact, it works so well, we actually begin to care for these animals. 

Another absolutely genius move was to make park attendance an issue. Why is attendance a problem? Because people are tired of dinosaurs. How brilliant is that? People would rather be checking their phones than watching these creatures because they are old news. However, they never really go anywhere with this. We get one or two scenes exemplifying this well, but that's about it. Other than that, business seems to be booming.

The Indominus Rex is also a magnificent creation. Its ability to change its body temperature (though used only once) and its camouflage capabilities make it a force to be reckoned with, not to mention the fact that it is roughly the size of T-Rex. There is also one other feature that makes it very threatening, but I'll leave that to you to find out.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* Now, I just have to talk about that ending. The climactic battle between the Indominus Rex, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the raptor is an absolute treat and was worth the price of admission alone. The funny thing is, I said to myself near the end of the film, "Wow! I'm surprised we haven't really seen the T-Rex much." Lo and behold, what followed was easily the most awesome and nostalgic part of the flick. Realizing the raptors are no match for the Indominus Rex, Claire runs to Paddock 9. As the door slowly opens, she lights a flare. Fans of the franchise know exactly what this means. The camera cuts back to the door, and then we see it. The glowing, yellow, beady eyes in the darkness. A hulking figure slowly approaches Claire. Not just any T-Rex, but the same one from the first Jurassic Park, with the raptor scars to prove it. What ensues is a very well put together fight between the Indominus Rex and the T-Rex. After a few blows, Blue, one of the raptors joins in, fighting alongside the T-Rex. They get the upper hand, pushing the Indominus Rex to the edge of the water, where the Mosasaurus ends the fight. This fight scene was spectacular and very adrenaline filled. Easily the best part of the film (perhaps matching the Aparosaurus scene), it is also the part most vividly remembered.

*SPOILER FREE* Jurassic World is a creature feature, providing a very fun adventure from start to finish. It delivers the most dinosaur screen time of all the films in the franchise, which is always a plus. The characters are simple, with little to no depth, but that also works to the film's benefit at times. The effects, though beautiful, are not always believable. The villain, though stupid in his motivations, is really fun to hate. The action and thrills deliver well, even if they lack the spark of the first film. Unfortunately, Jurassic World lacks any scenes of suspense that can rival that of the T-Rex in the rain or the kitchen sequence from the first film. But moments like when Owen must cut a gas line to mask his scent while hiding under car are really great on their own. The dinosaurs are fun to watch, with the Mosasaurus being a scene stealer (especially in one death scene) and the Indominus Rex being a legitimate threat. The movie has its moments of brilliance as well as its moments of idiocy. Honestly though, it is a great load of fun. And I mean really, really exciting. You'll just have to turn off your brain a couple of times and go in knowing you are watching what is essentially a B movie at its core.

Grade: B+