{"id":342,"date":"2018-06-26T23:07:17","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T23:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=342"},"modified":"2018-08-09T15:44:02","modified_gmt":"2018-08-09T15:44:02","slug":"342","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=342","title":{"rendered":"Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Steven Spielberg had us all convinced in 1993 that the dinosaurs were back, when \u201cJurassic Park\u201d roared onto summer movie screens and went bonkers in worldwide box office totals.<\/p>\n

Its 1997 sequel, \u201cThe Lost World: Jurassic Park\u201d didn\u2019t fare nearly as well, and 2001\u2019s \u201cJurassic Park III\u201d did even worse, pulling in paltry numbers by comparison.<\/p>\n

In 2015 the franchise got new life \u2013 and a new cast \u2013 when \u201cJurassic World\u201d<\/a> once again brought the dinos to the screen and subsequently resurrected ticket tallies.<\/p>\n

You\u2019d think that after four of these bad boys the lesson from them all would be as clear as amber: Don\u2019t\u2026 eff\u2026 with science.<\/p>\n

And if you do<\/em>, don\u2019t then eff with your experiment \u2013 because it most likely will tear off your limbs before devouring your entire body.<\/p>\n

Yet, here we are.<\/p>\n

In the latest, \u201cJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a correction,\u201d Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum, in his quirky Jeff Goldblum-ish manner) insists.<\/p>\n

But Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) wants to do \u201cthe right thing\u201d (sure, buddy) and transport 11 species \u2013 \u201cmore, if possible\u201d \u2013 to a new home, where they\u2019ll be secure and free.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 a sanctuary. No fences, no cages, no tourists \u2013 just as nature intended,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Umm\u2026<\/p>\n

If you assume everything will go smoothly, well then A) you\u2019ve clearly never seen one of these flicks, and B) I\u2019ve got news for you.<\/p>\n

Wink.<\/p>\n

The mayhem is pretty much similar to what we\u2019ve seen before but different enough that it\u2019s relevant, interesting, suspenseful \u2013 and even a little bit sad.<\/p>\n

Yep, you heard me. Sniffle.<\/p>\n

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<\/em> intense because of the effective shaky camera and accompanying score.<\/p>\n

It legitimately looks and feels like the end of the world, and the dinos are probably all, \u201cNot this<\/em>\u00a0crap again!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Systems analyst Franklin Webb\u2019s (Justice Smith) trepidation and over-exaggerated fear are completely understandable and entirely hilarious; dude\u2019s got the<\/em> best screams.<\/p>\n

And Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) is confident and tenacious AF; she\u2019s clearly not impressed with or intimidated by \u201cbeefcake\u201d raptor wrangler Owen.<\/p>\n

On that note, I\u2019ll see just about anything in which Pratt Pratt stars, and he once again turns on the charm and wit. Dig!<\/p>\n

I noticed several instances of images or sequences that seemed to pay homage to the original (and the best, let\u2019s be real) \u201cJP\u201d film in the series.\u00a0Some 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.<\/p>\n

This franchise set an insanely high standard for itself with that first flick, and while nothing will ever match the splendor of the original \u201cJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom\u201d definitely has enough action and energy and humor to justify giving it a look.<\/p>\n

\u201cLife\u2026 finds a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n