Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Steven Spielberg had us all convinced in 1993 that the dinosaurs were back, when “Jurassic Park” roared onto summer movie screens and went bonkers in worldwide box office totals.

Its 1997 sequel, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” didn’t fare nearly as well, and 2001’s “Jurassic Park III” did even worse, pulling in paltry numbers by comparison.

In 2015 the franchise got new life – and a new cast – when “Jurassic World” once again brought the dinos to the screen and subsequently resurrected ticket tallies.

You’d think that after four of these bad boys the lesson from them all would be as clear as amber: Don’t… eff… with science.

And if you do, don’t then eff with your experiment – because it most likely will tear off your limbs before devouring your entire body.

Yet, here we are.

In the latest, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” disaster threatens the prehistoric life on dino-island Isla Nublar, sparking debate over whether to save the dinosaurs or let nature right a human wrong.

“It’s a correction,” Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum, in his quirky Jeff Goldblum-ish manner) insists.

But Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) wants to do “the right thing” (sure, buddy) and transport 11 species – “more, if possible” – to a new home, where they’ll be secure and free.

“… a sanctuary. No fences, no cages, no tourists – just as nature intended,” he says.

Umm…

If you assume everything will go smoothly, well then A) you’ve clearly never seen one of these flicks, and B) I’ve got news for you.

Wink.

The mayhem is pretty much similar to what we’ve seen before but different enough that it’s relevant, interesting, suspenseful – and even a little bit sad.

Yep, you heard me. Sniffle.

Revisiting the island is really what sells this thing. The flowing lava and explosions, the shrieking and deep growls, the chases and close calls all are even more intense because of the effective shaky camera and accompanying score.

It legitimately looks and feels like the end of the world, and the dinos are probably all, “Not this crap again!”

I love the newbies tagging along this time with Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt, meow!!)

Systems analyst Franklin Webb’s (Justice Smith) trepidation and over-exaggerated fear are completely understandable and entirely hilarious; dude’s got the best screams.

And Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) is confident and tenacious AF; she’s clearly not impressed with or intimidated by “beefcake” raptor wrangler Owen.

On that note, I’ll see just about anything in which Pratt Pratt stars, and he once again turns on the charm and wit. Dig!

I noticed several instances of images or sequences that seemed to pay homage to the original (and the best, let’s be real) “JP” film in the series. Some of the over-the-monitor shots of Franklin recalled images of Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson); the close-up of that Jeep mirror, with its visible and reminiscent advisory; the tethered goat; the dumbwaiter.

This franchise set an insanely high standard for itself with that first flick, and while nothing will ever match the splendor of the original “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” definitely has enough action and energy and humor to justify giving it a look.

“Life… finds a way.”

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter @movieaddictmel, and “like” her Facebook page www.facebook.com/movieaddictmel. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com.

1 thought on “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

  1. Once more Movie Addict has to convince me to the sequel to the sequel to the sequel. I’m wondering when Hollywood quits resurrecting Citizen Kane and comes up with something new, entertaining, and becomes a classic. I suppose we would have to have no guns, no rappers, no overt sex, no racism, no homophobia, no drugs, no x-rated language, and no scatalogical humor. What does that leave? Re-runs of the Westminster Dog Show? MC, find new writers, original work, entertaining acting and dialogue, and something we haven’t seen since the 1920’s.
    But, based on all your previous reviews, i’ll drag myself to pee my pants again for the Jurassic Clan.

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