Written by: Kevin Berge
When does the T-Rex get the credit he deserves and his own top billing in a gritty solo film? (Image Courtesy of: hypebeast.com)
Quick Take: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has an identity problem, struggling to find its tone and genre. While beautifully shot and filled with strong individual moments, it lacks a cohesive narrative or strong enough characters to feel like anything more than a set-up for a better idea to come.
***This review will not contain spoilers for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom given it is still in theaters. Beyond the basic set-up, only references will be made to potential shifts in the narrative with no strong plot points discussed.***
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom wants to be many things. It wants to be the next great blockbuster, a grand follow-up to continue the legacy of Steven Spielberg's film series, a daring escape adventure, a philosophical final statement on man vs. nature, and a pure Gothic horror.
The label it completely encapsulates is mess, complete silly mess. That's not to say the second chapter in the new Jurassic trilogy is a bad film. It's a fun diversion that has many great ideas and so many beautiful shots, but it lacks all kinds of focus.
This story again follows Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) as she chooses to return to the park with Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to save Owen's trained raptor Blue from an impending volcano eruption, aided by Dinosaur Protection Group aids Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) and Franklin Webb (Justice Smith).
While the set-up of returning to the dinosaur island is once again central to the story, this film does take some interesting twists and turns. In fact, it may take too many because it feels like the film is told in at least three acts that all have their own complete arcs.
To its credit, the film does heavily tie back to its predecessor, relying on Jurassic World's story set-ups often. Colin Trevorrow returns to write the film, and he seems to have a strong vision for the three films with an overarching focus. It is tough to say though if his vision can work.
This movie often feels held down by its script that never gives much of anything to the characters. They are barely fleshed out with Franklin especially becoming an unnecessary nuisance. The only real arcs here are the romance of Claire and Owen and the story of Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon).
The story doesn't try that hard to avoid cliches with the primary romance a prime example as artificial tension is created to keep the characters separated. Meanwhile, all the villains in this story feel generic, barely amounting to more than obstacles and symbols of human greed.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom wants to be many things. It wants to be the next great blockbuster, a grand follow-up to continue the legacy of Steven Spielberg's film series, a daring escape adventure, a philosophical final statement on man vs. nature, and a pure Gothic horror.
The label it completely encapsulates is mess, complete silly mess. That's not to say the second chapter in the new Jurassic trilogy is a bad film. It's a fun diversion that has many great ideas and so many beautiful shots, but it lacks all kinds of focus.
This story again follows Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) as she chooses to return to the park with Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to save Owen's trained raptor Blue from an impending volcano eruption, aided by Dinosaur Protection Group aids Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) and Franklin Webb (Justice Smith).
While the set-up of returning to the dinosaur island is once again central to the story, this film does take some interesting twists and turns. In fact, it may take too many because it feels like the film is told in at least three acts that all have their own complete arcs.
To its credit, the film does heavily tie back to its predecessor, relying on Jurassic World's story set-ups often. Colin Trevorrow returns to write the film, and he seems to have a strong vision for the three films with an overarching focus. It is tough to say though if his vision can work.
This movie often feels held down by its script that never gives much of anything to the characters. They are barely fleshed out with Franklin especially becoming an unnecessary nuisance. The only real arcs here are the romance of Claire and Owen and the story of Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon).
The story doesn't try that hard to avoid cliches with the primary romance a prime example as artificial tension is created to keep the characters separated. Meanwhile, all the villains in this story feel generic, barely amounting to more than obstacles and symbols of human greed.
Just eat Franklin. No one will miss him. (Image Courtesy of: bloody-disgusting.com)
The cast try their best, but there's not much for them here. The film coasts on the charisma of the main pair, but Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help) seem to be playing the wrong roles in the story for long stretches.
Due to other commitments, Trevorrow did not direct the film with that honor going to J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls). Bayona often seems to be struggling to balance the script, and that may be why he cannot get more out of his star.
However, it is undeniable just how beautifully shot this film is. Bayona and his signature cinematographer Óscar Faura create some of the best imagery in any of the Jurassic films, sometimes with noticeable gusto and other times with quiet focus. This money is not heavily memorable, but I will never forget the framing of certain shots.
The actual imagery of this film could rival the original in terms of quality if not for a few noticeable issues. While the dinosaurs are impressive CGI creations, there are multiple CGI mishaps in the films coupled with editing oddities. The movie also struggles often to decide how to shoot and portray action, shifting between silly and visceral.
Jurassic World was a fun but forgettable ride that tried a little too hard to be a reboot of the original with multiple questionable storytelling decisions. Here again, the questionable decisions outweigh the presence of the tale, and it's hard to say if any of this film will stand the test of time.
However, the final act of this film does enough right to be excited about the third installment of the franchise, seemingly breaking all the rules establish by a fairly rigid formula. A strong central threat and invitingly dark cinematography frame the climax before setting up a huge change.
I do wonder how good this film would have been if it full embraced the tone and setting of the final act or even just pushed right into the world we are introduced to in the end. Trevorrow's vision is hard to fully trust, but he has some cool ideas.
Due to other commitments, Trevorrow did not direct the film with that honor going to J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls). Bayona often seems to be struggling to balance the script, and that may be why he cannot get more out of his star.
However, it is undeniable just how beautifully shot this film is. Bayona and his signature cinematographer Óscar Faura create some of the best imagery in any of the Jurassic films, sometimes with noticeable gusto and other times with quiet focus. This money is not heavily memorable, but I will never forget the framing of certain shots.
The actual imagery of this film could rival the original in terms of quality if not for a few noticeable issues. While the dinosaurs are impressive CGI creations, there are multiple CGI mishaps in the films coupled with editing oddities. The movie also struggles often to decide how to shoot and portray action, shifting between silly and visceral.
Jurassic World was a fun but forgettable ride that tried a little too hard to be a reboot of the original with multiple questionable storytelling decisions. Here again, the questionable decisions outweigh the presence of the tale, and it's hard to say if any of this film will stand the test of time.
However, the final act of this film does enough right to be excited about the third installment of the franchise, seemingly breaking all the rules establish by a fairly rigid formula. A strong central threat and invitingly dark cinematography frame the climax before setting up a huge change.
I do wonder how good this film would have been if it full embraced the tone and setting of the final act or even just pushed right into the world we are introduced to in the end. Trevorrow's vision is hard to fully trust, but he has some cool ideas.
