Many people are fascinated by dinosaurs as they’ve fostered their interest from childhood into adulthood with the help of TV shows, science exhibits and movies. They are mesmerized by their enormous size, likeness to contemporary beasts and thorough extinction of their pre-evolutionary form, which leads to an unquenchable curiosity of what it would be like to see them in person — or even live amongst them — beyond the obvious blood-curdling fear. Thus, Steven Spielberg‘s dinosaur theme park was destined to be an immediate hit and is now in its fifth iteration, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
The latest prehistoric vacation destination has been permanently closed for 10 years as the dinosaurs overtook the park and reclaimed the island for themselves. However, as the once dormant volcano threatens to once again wipeout these incredible creatures, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) leads a team of like-minded activists attempting to rescue the endangered species. Her prayers appear answered when a reclusive millionaire offers to enact a relocation plan with Claire’s and Owen’s (Chris Pratt) help. But returning to the island has unexpected consequences that will affect the future of the human race.
As noted earlier, the key attraction of these pictures is their portrayal of dinosaurs in the modern age. Unfortunately, this movie places greater focus on humanity’s flaws, further questioning whether people deserve to experience their magnificence. From politics to betrayal to warmongering, people fail at every turn to prove themselves worthy of the creatures, which in the meantime spend most of their time at a distance or off-screen. Jeff Goldblum makes a brief return in a still rather impactful capacity, while a host of new personalities emerge on either side of the dino rescue project. Filmmakers are sure to point out Claire has chosen sensible footwear for her latest adventure, though that would’ve been the least of the criticisms for this sequel.
The dinosaurs’ role in the film feels diminished in comparison to the other films. Moreover, they’re often more helpful than threatening — even the T-Rex does its part to inadvertently save the humans a couple of times. In the meantime, the impact of the covertly released Mosasaurus is also disappointing; hopefully this is remedied in the next picture. That said, the dinosaur effects are still seamlessly integrated into the narrative and are frequently the only beings on the screen for which the audience will feel sorry. Meanwhile Blue is once again the center of attention, gradually transitioning into one of the film’s main characters.
Director J.A. Bayona had experience working with larger-than-life CGI creatures, but this may not have been the best use of his primarily dramatic talents. The one positive takeaway from this movie is the next franchise installment has the potential to be incredibly entertaining — in the right hands, of course.
Do you remember the first time you saw a dinosaur? Tickets to @JurassicWorld #FallenKingdom are now available! pic.twitter.com/wk9zlB9dxV
— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) June 18, 2018
Director: J.A. Bayona
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Rafe Spall
