Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. Such was the case for those ambitious types who want to control life as we know it the way scientist and the mega-rich in the Jurassic Park franchise seem to do. Warning, spoilers ahead…
It’s been three years since the events of the first Jurassic World theme park where it had gotten overtaken and destroyed by dinosaurs. Now the island of Isla Nublar is under a geological threat when a dormant volcano begins to show signs of imminent eruption. With the dinosaurs in danger going extinct yet again, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) organizes a campaign to rescue them and hopefully move them to safe habitat. Enter Mills (Rafe Spall) an ambitious pencil pusher who works for billionaire Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) who approaches Claire with an offer to save the dinos especially the raptor named Blue who shows a high level of intelligence. Claire then enlists Owen (Chris Pratt) to help rescue Blue and the others. Unfortunately it’s not saving them that Mills has in mind. Instead, it’s about profits and selling them to the highest all the while extracting their DNA to clone more to sell more. The ethics of cloning plays a huge role not only in this series but specifically in this film. So what could possibly go wrong?
With Claire, Owen and some students out trying to rescue Blue and the others, Mills has a strike team armed to extract the creatures and bring them stateside for auction. This is where things get dicey as the volcano now becomes an active threat spilling lava everywhere. With the island set to implode, the true nature of the mission becomes known. Now Claire and Owen not only have to save themselves but figure a way off the island and save their prehistoric friends.
So much time had passed between Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World that when it hit theaters, it was an exciting adventure that reminded us just how great the original and ground breaking Jurassic Park really was. There’s a lot to like about Fallen Kingdom even though it falls a tad short from his predecessor. Pratt is as charming as he always is and Howard is a bad ass with the proper footwear that became a huge debate after the first film.
The film directed by J.A. Bayona follows a typical formula found in many summer blockbuster films. Many critics like to call such films, popcorn films because they require little thinking and some popcorn to pass the time. Movies have been and always will be an escape. Such films are necessary. Some of the CGI ironically is not as realistic as the original from well over 25 years ago but still a lot of fun to watch nonetheless. If you are a Jeff Goldblum and let’s be honest, who isn’t because he’s a national treasure, his total screen time is less than you what you would hope for. Should they make another, I hope he’ll play a bigger role. Speaking of which, do I see a third chapter to Jurassic World? I would be very surprised if they didn’t.
Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones, Ted Levine and Jeff Goldblum
PG13 129 mins
JURASSIC WORLD FALLEN KINGDOM – *** (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
