IMDb rating: 7/10
*Caution: Spoilers
Ahead
I didn’t really have a strong reaction when I heard the news
for this film, other than: Ugh,
seriously? Another reboot? But it was inevitable that I would eventually
see it, and the time has come.
First of all, I’m glad that Bryce Dallas Howards's character
had more screen time and character development than I thought she would. I was
assuming it was just going to be the Chris Pratt show (which isn’t necessarily
a bad thing). I knew Claire was a main character but I thought she was going to
have a soulless, greedy, naïve role with not much character depth, like so many
other Jurassic characters in the past. Luckily, that role was passed on to
someone else, and while Claire was a little cold and calculating in the
beginning, she definitely became a more likable character as the story
progressed, especially when she joins up with Owen and starts searching for her
nephews.
The film has a nice nostalgic feel to it, which is probably
what the filmmakers were going for. Gray’s excitement when he sees the part for
the first time is shared with the audience, since we’ve never actually seen a
fully functioning Jurassic Park in any of the previous films. I also think the
nostalgia is the reason that so many people are enjoying this movie. There are
so many nods to the first Jurassic movie, and no references the subpar sequels
at all.
The script was not very impressive, and it was full of
clichés. Like the typical bored teenager who is only interesting in listening
to music and texting his girlfriend. YOU ARE AT A DINOSAUR THEME PARK. How are
you not excited?!?! Overall, I thought the dialog and characters were not very
imaginative.
I loved Chris Pratt (who doesn’t?) and his relationship with
the Velociraptors, which was by far the most fascinating part of the movie. I
was severely disappointed when the raptors immediately teamed up with the
Indominus Rex as soon as they were out in the field. I was looking forward to
the raptors taking on the Rex in a huge battle. Thankfully, albeit predictably,
the raptors do turn back to the human side. And we also have a Rex-on-Rex
fight! It wasn’t as awesome as I thought it would be, but the moment leading up
to it was incredible, where Claire is finally the hero as she leads the T-Rex
into the fight (and in heels no less!)
I thought it was kind of convenient that the mosasaurus just
popped out of the water and killed the Indominus. It was also strange that the
T-Rex just walks away at the end of the battle. I get that there was some kind
of mutual respect thing between the raptor and the T-Rex, but it just seemed
out of place and unlikely. There wasn’t much of a conclusion to the film,
either. You don’t even know if they got off the island since there was no
helicopter-flying-over-water last shot like there usually is.
Lastly, I’ll end on a positive note. I wasn’t sure I wanted
to write a post this movie, but I changed my mind once I saw the animatronic
dinosaur, which made me so happy. A non-CGI dinosaur! I’m always pleasantly
surprised when films still make real things instead of taking the easy path
with computers. And what a good moment for it too: the moment when Claire sees
the dying brontosaurus and realizes that the dinosaurs are actual creatures and
not just park attractions. There was so much more emotion since there was an
actual dinosaur head to act with instead of just a dot that would be filled in
later with computer animation. Take notes, Hollywood.
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