Direct sequel to 2015’s hugely successful Jurassic World and part five in the beloved Jurassic Park film series, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprising their respective roles as former raptor trainer Owen Grady and Jurassic World operations manager Claire Dearing as they set out to rescue the remaining dinosaurs left on the abandoned island of Isla Nublar following the events of the last film.
Featuring more dinosaurs seen on screen than any previous entry alongside the return of Jeff Goldblum’s as the iconic Dr. Ian Malcolm, the film promises to excite new and old fans alike. The action-packed popcorn thriller (though lacking in originality), is still packed all the excessive fun and excitement you would expect from the mammoth film franchise that continues to defy extinction. Timely released to celebrate the 25th anniversary since it all began with Steven Spielberg’s 1993 masterpiece, another prehistoric adventure from new director J.A. Bayona awaits your arrival.
Three years since the Jurassic World theme park and resort was destroyed by rampant dinosaurs out of containment, Isla Nublar now lies deserted by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the surrounding jungles. When the island’s dormant volcano begins to show signs of an impending eruption, Owen and Claire devise a mission to save the lives of the remaining species, relocating them to a new island uninhabited by man where they can roam free. Along the way discovering a conspiracy that threatens to disrupt the natural order of life as we know it, can the pair find Owen’s missing raptor Blue and prevent an extinction level event before dinosaurs vanish off the face of the earth once again?
“The park is gone” reads the film’s tagline and so too it seems are any memorable scenes worthy of becoming iconic staples of cinema. Thinking back to what a single cup of water and some footsteps were able to do in the groundbreaking first film or Owen riding a motorcycle alongside a pack of raptors in the last.
Making up for this by showcasing a plethora of unseen dinosaurs such as the Allosaurus, Stygimoloch and Carnotaurus all getting their big screen introduction. The series’ leading theme of corporate greed and ignorance to the man-shouldn’t-meddle medley also brings about the inclusion of the terrifying Indoraptor, a highly intelligent genetically modified predator designed for combat.
A crucial element of the film conveniently involves an active volcano erupting in a location which once contained a major theme park (a billion dollar risk which never was considered) and a subplot that involves selling dinosaurs at auction. You’ll have to suspend your belief for a moment or two with a number of things that don’t really make any sense potentially proving after twenty-five years the fresh ideas are in short supply. But then again, these movies are designed for its audience to leave their minds at the door and just enjoy the adventure.
With everybody’s favourite Tyrannosaurus-Rex Rexy making her return alongside B.D. Wong’s Dr. Henry Wu as the only other cast members beside Pratt and Howard back from Jurassic World, the jury’s still out on whether this chapter can be as successful as the last. Making all kinds of bank when it hit theatres this time three years ago and still currently the fifth highest grossing film of all time, this anticipated sequel enlists the help of new additions Rafe Spall, Toby Jones and James Cromwell as an old associate of John Hammond to try and make it happen.
Despite not evolving into much other than an easy going blockbuster reliant on its established name, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a silly, unnecessary film but also a humorous and enjoyable one full of genuine dino thrills. Thanks to the charm of Chris Pratt and the combination of very impressive visual effects and animatronics believably bringing dinosaurs back to life, fans of the series are sure to be left satisfied with a craving for the next instalment, already scheduled for release in 2021.
Hold on to your butts, life has found a way.
