Spotlight - JURASSIC WORLD

It's finally here! For the first time in 14 years, Jurassic Park is back on the screen. I naturally wouldn't miss an opportunity like this for all the world, as a major fan of the original. So, opening day, I bought my ticket and sat in the theater for the 3D showing. I knew this movie had a lot riding on it- the history of everybody's favorite dinosaur franchise as well as the risks it took to change it up for a new generation. I knew everything I liked and didn't about the movie as soon as it was over, but work kept me from writing my review until now. Fans, I can gladly say that, for the first time since "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," we have a sequel that's truly worth your endorsement.
22 years after the original "Jurassic Park" took place, Masrani Corporation has bought out InGen and used their assets to complete the most advanced theme park ever built- Jurassic World, where man and dinosaur coexist for entertainment. All is going well until one day (during Christmas vacation, if you're interested,) when Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) is invited personally to supervise a new project by park manager Claire Dearling (Bryce Dallas Howard.) The attraction is nothing else than Indominus rex, the park's first hybrid, composed of T. rex DNA and samples of other classified animals. Everyone involved is concerned, but their fears are realized when it escapes, using abilities never before seen in the park. Now the race is on to compromise the new carnivore before any of the 20,000 lives on the island are lost.
Now, keep in mind, I love dinosaurs as much as any scientist watching this movie. I would like to see a completely scientifically accurate dinosaur film sometime in the future. However, I don't feel at liberty to judge this movie based on the facts it presents. It doesn't relish in its own science as much as it does its own legacy. In that respect, I can fully appreciate it in almost every way as a fan of the original movies. There are quite a few references for whose people to latch on, but it never feels like it's trying to shove nostalgia down your throat (except one scene in the middle where they visit the old visitors' center.) The result is something that establishes itself as a Jurassic Park film, but looks and acts so much more fresh and unique than the other sequels.
From the very beginning, director Colin Treverrow showcases some amazing cinematography and a strong hold on visuals. Every shot feels massive, with practicality and power behind every frame. Micheal Giachinno's score really helps each moment, but the use of John William's original theme really drives it home. Sure, the CG outweighs the animatronic effects by a fairly wide margin, but in all honesty, it's really convincing. They all come together to make some great, spectacular action shots, many of which creative, and some of which genuinely scary. As fun as the deaths in the first movie were, this one really lets you know that you do not want to die by dinosaur attack.
Now, in terms of character development, we have somewhat of a mixed bag. Chris Pratt nails his role as the macho Velociraptor trainer, which isn't as dumb in context as it sounds in the trailer- in fact it's somewhat heartwarming for killer bird-lizards. Bryce Dallas Howard's character, oddly enough, does a lot here and left me impressed, bringing home a bit of the theme of family bonding. Irrfan Khan plays Mr. Masrani, and I thought he did a good job capturing that cool grandpa, John Hammond Jr. feel. Besides that, though, there aren't really any standouts. Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson play two brothers who are interesting to watch, but have few ties to the actual plot. There's a fairly obvious villain here whom I won't spoil, but you may guess from his introduction. I also noticed a bit of focus on various members of park staff who, while they do get some good moments, aren't all that relevant. I never found myself disappointed or annoyed with this- I just wish we had a few more minutes to explore them a bit to more fully understand them.
That may be true for human characters, at least, but as I mentioned earlier, the dinosaurs have some great character moments for themselves. With the possible exclusion of the Pterosaur Attack sequence (which is still a metric ton of fun, mind you,) we really see these animals as, well, animals. As in the first one, we are given a lot of time to study them and find their personalities. For instance, they way they establish who the I. rex is really lets you buy into him more as a genuine monster. In some ways, he's lost and confused in a world he's never seen outside his pen. In another, he's a sort of Joker of dinosaurs, absolutely mad once he finds out what he can do. That's without saying that, once you see what he can do, the buildup to each of his scenes is really well crafted. Even if I can't call him my favorite dinosaur, he still works better than most of the dino-antagonists in the franchise so far.
I'm looking right at you, Spinosaurus...
It's not as flawless as the first film, to be sure. Ten or fifteen more minutes to the run time might have given us the character development we need, and some of the humor seems a little cheesy for an otherwise very serious story line. However, I never found myself thinking "Man, I hate it when they do that" to any of that. More so, what the film does well, it does really well. You care for the characters they do put enough time into, and you want to see them survive both the horror and the action. The second and third acts especially will have you on the edge of your seat, Right now, this film is doing well, and I'm glad it is. If you want a good Jurassic Park film, or even if you want some fun at a monster movie, go see it right now. You deserve this and any sequels we get from the new team.

...And a half. Somewhere between this and "Love it"

If this doesn't convince you, remember that it can never be as dumb as killing a dinosaur with gymnastics.

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