Jurassic World (2015)

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In my 'Lost World' review, I ended up considering it to be probably (at least in my eyes) the "third best" of the 'Jurassic' series. While the top of the list feels like an obvious choice with the original film, it's probably 'Jurassic World' here that I would consider the second-place film in the series. That's saying a lot, because this one's not without its problems and irksome moments, but so help me, the nostalgic factor, along with a few new and interesting ideas, reeled me in.

The nostalic factor often plays a part in my enjoyment of a movie, successfully executed with movies like 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' and (I almost regret admitting) 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' but it must be noted that it doesn't always work, and even when it does, it's never anything "perfect." Still, though, there's something they get right with the balance of things, and I have to admit that 'Jurassic World' finds itself residing in that soft spot in my heart, which is far more than I can say for its sequels.

Taking place over twenty years after the disaster on Isla Nublar (the first film's island), the film offers a fun glimpse into what 'Jurassic Park' could have been with the new theme park "Jurassic World," where families can spend time among the coolest of prehistoric creatures. Kids can ride baby Triceratops, there's a petting zoo, an aviary full of Pterodactyls and the like, and it's all seen through the eyes of siblings Zach and Gray Mitchell (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins, respectively), who go there to visit their aunt Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard).

The boys, however, are passed over to her assistant, Zara (Katie McGrath), as Claire is just a litle too busy with her latest Jurassic World attraction; a new dinosaur they name the Indominous Rex, which is a hybrid dino combining the DNA of various dinos, mainly a T-Rex and a mystery dinosaur that you can probably already guess just knowing the Coles Notes about 'Jurassic Park.' Anyway, this thing, created mainly by Henry Wu (BD Wong), who some will remember from the first film, is meant to be a new, thrilling attraction, as by this point, regular dinosaurs seem to be "old news" for the Park.

In the meantime, Raptor expert, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) has been researching Velociraptors and their behaviour, when he is approached by head of InGen security, Vic Hoskins (Vincent D'Onofrio) who, in classic InGen villainy, wishes to weaponize the Raptors, which is a whole B-side to the film and dovetails with the central plot. Claire later approaches Owen to check out the Indominous Rex, its enclosure, and make sure things are up to snuff. Cutting to the chase, the Rex tricks him and the JW owner, Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan), only to make its escape, and bring us into a whole new disaster.

While part of the film is about searching out the escaped Indominous Rex, and offering up another disaster movie that is thematically about the dangers of playing God, the other part is mainly about finding and rescuing the two brothers, so it's abundantly clear that this is a whole lot of the same thing again. However, here, things are just done better, offering up things like a carnivor tag team death match as its climax instead of, let's say, the Ceratosaurus in 'JP III' who quite literally does nothing. And hey, let's not leave out Pratt playing Alpha Raptor and guiding a team of Velociraptors with his motorcycle. Silly, sure, but still badass.

While so much of the film is the same thing again, at least it could be said that this is a chapter that tries some new things like the Park coming to fruition, interesting (if poorly thought out) rides like the Gyrospheres, putting on a Mososaur show like its an Orcha at Sea World, and interesting things like that, which add to the whole concept's risk factor even without a crazy Frankendino on the loose. While the film isn't perfect, it certainly has my respect, and it's probably the only 'World' title I'd happily go back to watch. In short, this is just a lot of fun.

4/5

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