Review of 'Jurassic World'

jurassic_world.jpg On the same island as the original Jurassic Park 22 years earlier a theme park has been built where thousands view the dinosaur exhibits. In an effort to attract even more visitors a “hybrid” dinosaur has been created that promises to be more violent and intelligent than all others. Of course, the inevitable happens as the genetic experiment escapes and eats his way through the island's inhabitants…four legged and other. It is up to “Owen” (Chris Pratt), who has had some success in “training” raptors, to save the day along with the unlikely help of “Claire” (Bryce Dallas Howard), a business-focused executive of the attraction who seriously fails in taking care of her visiting nephews…

It is very much a return to the theme of the first Jurassic Park movie - Corporate greed resulting in disaster. We have the visitors in peril and the unlikely hero. Amazing looking dinosaurs - Including, it has to be said, more amazing looking puppets in addition to some fantastic computer generated effects adding to the realism. All checkboxes checked. Of course, things are ramped up here somewhat with the 20,000 island visitors and a super-nasty dino on the loose but it is very much a retelling of the first story.

I appreciated the nods to the original film including revisiting some of the sites such as the visitor centre complete with decaying “What if dinosaurs ruled the world” banner on the ground and the original jeeps. Also we see some of the same dinos which the producers have said they have not changed despite the advances in dinosaur research since the original film - The tyrannosaurus rex and the raptors play a key role here. Quite a lot of imagination has gone into the attractions of the park including the particularly intriguing “hamster balls” that you can sit inside to travel amongst the dinos.

Chris Pratt does a good turn as Owen with his somewhat dry style and humour. I did find Bryce Dallas Howard (Claire) somewhat annoying and one-note with her high heels throughout her treks in the forest quite unbelievable and grating. Though, of course, people do not go here for in depth social commentary…

So, all this is fine and dandy, but what did I think of it? Well, a lot of fun, with a very fast pace and good, if very, very predictable, story. Amazing looking on the screen and it is fantastic to see how much things have advanced technically since Jurassic Park. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2015-08-22


Directed by: Colin Trevorrow

Studio: Universal Pictures

Year: 2015

Length: 124 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369610


Other reviewed films by Colin Trevorrow: