Movie Review: “Jurassic World” Has Bite
“Jurassic World”
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 123 minutes
Toscano’s Take:
Rating: B
Two decades after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond.
Let me start out right off telling you I am a big fan of “Jurassic Park” and even it’s sequels (which progressively got sillier and sillier), so you may think this was an easy score.
Think again!
Now comes “Jurassic World,” a good movie, but lacking the connection with the audience the first one had. There was true chemistry between the lead characters played by Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum. Spielberg knew that in order to win the audience he’d have to put people the audience liked into peril, then turn up the heat. And that’s why “Jurassic Park” works. The audience cares about everyone in the film.
Twenty two years later, with “Jurassic World,” the special effects and animation far exceeds the first film. Technically the movie is as perfect as it can be.
But the story itself suffers from too many idiotic situations.
The iGen Corporation, which as been losing money for a decade, decides to create a new exhibit called “Indominus Rex,” a designer dino with a talent for killing and thinking.
What could go wrong?
Well for one thing, it escapes and begins making it’s way to the populated area of the park. It needs to be stopped. So what do they do? They send four velociraptors after it to hunt it and kill it.
Wait… weren’t these the same deadly dinosaurs everyone ran from in the first two films?
It’s ok now… these velociraptors have a trainer, played by Chris Pratt, and they obey his commands.
Mostly.
Again, what could go wrong? This is like trying to stop a hurricane with a tornado.
And just for fun, the story throws two young boys into harms way because… well because we need them for dramatic effect and well you know how kids love dinosaurs.
I do get it, “Jurassic World” will make a ton of money and there probably be a sequel or two for this one as well. Just don’t think too much about the premise… if you do (and I promise you will) it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
But, again it’s the special effects that save this movie…
Jurassic World gets a B and is rated PG-13.
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Starring: Studio:
Chris Pratt Universal Pictures
Bryce Dallas Howard
Vincent D’Onofrio
