Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is better than its more predictable, nostalgia-exploiting, no show predecessor Jurassic World (2015).
That’s the least we expect from any movie sequel nowadays.
Run and scream! Another dinosaur movie!Â
A volcano has (conveniently) erupted at Isla Nublar and the US Senate decides to let the dinosaurs die.
Dr. Ian “I-told-you-so” Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) has an “I-am-wisdom” session at the Senate hearing. Cloning dinosaurs was a huge mistake, let nature correct man’s mistake, he prophetically states.
The park manager from Jurassic World, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) is now a dinosaur protection group head. She and her team are devastated by the Senate’s decision.
Right on cue, Claire is contacted by John Hammond’s former cloning technology partner Benjamin Lockwood. The old, ailing Lockwood wants Claire to help save as many dinosaurs with his team. He wants to relocate them to a safe natural reserve, or so he says.
Claire is also assigned to locate the last living Velociraptor, Blue. She is also convinced to reconnect with Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Claire’s former boyfriend and Velociraptor researcher to help in the search.
Saved by crisp, clever action and VFXÂ Â Â Â
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are the redeemers in a franchise now more dependent on the fluidity of the action sequences.
The story and emotional core here (or what’s left of it) are pruned from all previous franchise movies, especially Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997).
Old misguided philanthropist, greedy aide, cute children in danger, an indoor dinosaur-humans hide & seek sequence, a couple saving the day, dinosaurs exploited for human pleasure, are all revisited themes.
It is for the VFX and clever heart-stopping action, we still love Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993). But that masterful first part was a story of ambition, human capabilities, man vs. nature and an exploration of greed embedded in it. No such moments in this one.
There is lot of talk of saving dinosaurs, how they are going extinct, and how the partner of John Hammond comes forward to save the creatures. Of course, nothing is as it seems. There is a lot of contrived parts in the movie, that are saved only by the VFX. Take for example the initial erupting volcano scene, it is predictable that the main characters will not die in the eruption. Just like several average Hollywood action sequences, the hero and heroine are always saved in the last minute from dying – Again, and again and again.
There was a good writing opportinity to show man as the villian and dinosuars as the victims. This could have addressed the larger issue of how human beings are destroying the planet, and how the consequences could be scary. But the pressure to pull off the action bits is too strong to allow any such offbeat screenplay bit. Finally, it is the light tone of the movie, the actors, a couple of action choreography bits that keep this movie just about afloat.
Cool moments
The opening scenes involving a T.rex attack are nicely done. The Indominus rex attacking the little girl sequence begins masterfully, before falling away to illogical interruptions.
A climatic death scene is smart, as is a part-funny jaw-escaping act. A dinosaur calling out, even as volcanic lava swallows its world, is the film’s only poetic, poignant moment.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom review
Let go of some logic and depth and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has enough well-constructed action sequences and sudden surprises to make for a decent though loose, adventure-filled family entertainer.
Yes, by the looks of it (groan), another sequel incoming.
Unlike dinosaurs, sequels aren’t getting extinct anytime soon.
It's very much a regurgitation of the previous movies. Raptor and kids. Raptor and other dinos. Deadpan Ian Malcolm …
Yes, haha, deadpan is right!