Movie Review: Fallen Kingdom unleashes chaos

Wow. It's been forever since I did a post. Well, today I'm reviewing the movie Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Story:

It’s been three years since the Indominus Rex caused Jurassic World to be shut down, and across the world a heated debate rages on about whether or not dinosaurs should be granted the same rights as other endangered species. Claire Dearing, now running a dinosaur rights activist group, is approached by a stranger who offers a sanctuary for the dinosaurs in exchange for help locating Blue, who is the last Velociraptor on the planet. Putting together a team that includes Owen Grady, they return to the island so they can rescue as many dinosaurs as possible before the island blows up. However, all is not as it seems as a sinister plot is put into action that intends on exploiting the dinosaurs for personal gain. 

This movie does a terrific job at setting itself apart from its predecessors. I love the idea of a civil rights group for dinosaurs popping up, and the inclusion of several new species like the Carnotaurus which did appear in Michael Crichton’s second book. It would’ve been easy to make this a standard run-away-from-dinosaurs film, but instead they take what has been established and build up. As the books delve deep into chaos theory, so does this film in showing the consequences of having dinosaurs brought back into a world that is no longer theirs. It was also great to see Jeff Goldblum return as Ian Malcolm, even if it was just for a couple of scenes. This movie, to me, feels like the people took a lot of thought and consideration, and studied the books to get more of the feel and messages of Jurassic Park/World. 

I heard the director was a master of the horror element and that shows. Several times predators are enclosed in shadow, with just enough light at key moments to indicate their presence in the shadows creates a spirit of fear that reminds us several of these animals were apex predators in their time periods, and that just because humans brought them back from extinction doesn’t make them any less dangerous. The eruption of Isla Nublar’s volcano, which the promotional material from the Dinosaur Protection Group website confirmed the name as Mount Sibo, was probably one of the most terrifying moments in the film as it fills you with a sense of being trapped, and near the end led to the saddest scene in the entire film. However, it also brought back an old film trope with dinosaurs as several old dinosaur movies involved a volcano in some form or way. The music also helps with the scenes, evoking a sense of fear around the predators, and sadness for the pain of the animals. 

Overall, I feel this was a well done sequel, and did enjoy the film’s plot overall. I look forward to seeing how they top the events of this film in Jurassic World III. 

Caution:

Mild swearing, including the d-word and the g-word. A character almost says the s-word. The eruption of the volcano may terrify some viewers, and the dinosaurs in peril may sadden others. People shoot each other and adults and children are chased by predators. Dinosaurs are mistreated and abused, and the death of one is heartbreaking. A man has his arm bitten off before he is killed, and several people are killed offscreen. Blood is seen several times.

Lessons:

We have a duty and responsibility to care for our world and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Our actions and choices will have consequences, and we will have to accept them. 

Movie Review: Jurassic World brings the franchise back from extinction

Hi everyone. Sorry it's been so long. I'm still trying to get that book read and reviewed. I got back from seeing a movie that I've been waiting all summer to see and I've decided to blog about it. Those of you who know me can tell what it's going to be about, but I'm going to tell you anyway: Jurassic World.

Rating: Five out of five stars

Story:

            It’s been years since the initial disaster of Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar. Now, thanks to Simon Masrani, the park has finally come under control and is a popular attraction for families all over the world. While the brothers Zach and Gray Mitchell have come to Jurassic World to visit their workaholic aunt Claire Dearing, the staff behind the park is keeping an eye on their next attraction: a hybrid dinosaur dubbed the Indominus Rex. What they don’t anticipate is the skills this new species of dinosaur has, which it uses to escape and cause mayhem across the park. With the help of Velociraptor trainer Owen Grady they must stop the Indominus Rex from killing everyone and everything on the island.

            I am a big fan of dinosaurs and have loved all the Jurassic Park films. Each one keeps to the theme that the dinosaurs are animals, not monsters. This one, however, takes it all to the next level while keeping the formula that made the past films great. The majority of the original actors don’t appear, but we do get to see B.D. Wong reprise his role as Dr. Henry Wu, the geneticist who helped create the dinosaurs. Chris Pratt did an excellent job as Owen Wilson, providing humor and the voice of reason to the film. While moving on from the events of the first Jurassic Park films, this movie does contain plenty of Easter Eggs and references to the rest of the franchise. Most people were complaining about how the training of the Veliciraptors took away from the appeal, but that only helps to make them more realistic. Many animals, like lions, tigers, wolves, and bears, can be trained to do certain things and still be a wild animal at heart. Jurassic World takes that concept and incorporates it into one of the most popular dinosaurs of all time, which only became famous thanks to the films. One of the shocking things to me in the film was that we see a female character die for the first time. I had a feeling it was going to happen, and foolishly hoped that it wouldn’t. Still, to see it happen, it shocked me and weighed heavy through the film.

            Anyway, continuing on, we do have to bid good-bye to the Brachiosaurus. However we get to see a dinosaur that was written in Michael Crichton’s original novel but had yet to appear in the films: Apatosaurus. We also see other classic dinosaurs like Parasaurolophus, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. Dinosaurs like Pachycephalosaurus and Dilophosaurus are discussed and make cameos. I was really excited to see something that used to swim in the oceans finally make an appearance in the films, and it was one of the ocean’s apex predators: the Mosasaurus. The Indominus Rex, due to being a hybrid dinosaur, is quite literally insane. That does correspond to science because hybrid cows that have been created have been reported to be a little crazy. The film also sets up for potential sequels, which I have to say thanks to this film will certainly happen. If you haven’t seen it yet, then you should. It stays loyal to the spirit of the films, and evolves so much to the next level of prehistoric entertainment.

Caution:

            Dinosaurs attack people, and blood is seen plenty of times. A dinosaur attacks several other dinosaurs and kills them. Some Apatosaurs are seen injured and dying. Pteranodons carry off a woman who is eaten. Carnivores fight a hybrid dinosaur. Some mild swearing. A woman takes off her jacket while a man watches in shock.

Lessons:

            Our families can be a source of comfort and love when we are in our darkest moments and need strength. Animals are living, breathing creatures like us and deserve our respect. The only monsters are the ones we create. Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. Our actions have consequences, and if we’re not careful others will get hurt.

I realized too late I could've been using this month to blog about dinosaurs before the film was released. I may still do that. If I have time I'll update more and share with you more information about dinosaurs. Until next time, enjoy the film.