Jurassic World Review

Chris Pratt essentially embodies the majority of Jurassic Park characters
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi   Director: Colin Trevorrow Writers: Rick Jaffa (screenplay), Amanda Silver (screenplay)  Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins
Action, Adventure, Sci-FiDirector: Colin Trevorrow

Writers: Rick Jaffa (screenplay), Amanda Silver (screenplay)

Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins

 

Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow directs the epic action-adventure based on characters created by Michael Crichton. The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly & Trevorrow, and the story is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers. (C) Universal

 

 

Jurassic World is good enough for what it accomplishes: a big budget, blockbuster spectacle. The production is top notch and it looks like every dollar is spent on screen. Compared to other Jurassic movies, the park gets an upgrade from the quaint safari and gift shop from the first movie into a Disneyland-caliber theme park with various shops including different tours where people kayak alongside or pet baby dinosaurs. We become acquainted with the park which takes a little bit to set up. People with short attention spans might find this part “slow,” but I like to refer to it as “plot development.”

 

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Jurassic World is good enough for what it accomplishes: a big budget, blockbuster spectacle.

 

My favorite part of this movie was the film making from director Colin Trevorrow. I was nervous that a little known director was virtually untested. He flirts with J.J. Abrams level of nostalgia with some “‪#‎Throw Back T‬hursday” moments I won’t spoil, yet shows restraint in avoiding sappy moments. His work in Jurassic World might be one of the most impressive directorial upgrades I’ve seen especially compared to his first movie which is the Sundance Film Festival award winning sci-fi romance Safety Not Guaranteed. (There’s even a funny reference to the previously mentioned movie when one of the characters says, “Your safety is not guaranteed.”)

 

I was disappointed when Jurassic World tried to do something different in characterization and plot points. America’s favorite goof-ball Chris Pratt, in a more serious role than his other movies, commands velociraptors into his own vicious, prehistoric Minions (with names and personalities who somewhat try to comically communicate). This aren’t like the grueling beasts we know raptors to be in the other movies and they are inconsistent through the course of the movie as well. I thought Bryce Dallas Howard delivered a terrible performance. Barely human, she comes across like one of the female robots in Ex Machina who gives blanks stares. She makes serious moments rather one dimensional like fighting with her sister, panicking on a cell phone, and running in high heels. She’s no Laura Dern, that’s for sure.

 

The script is to blame for some of the problems I had with Jurassic World. This is the biggest weakness especially compared to the original. Why? Nothing comes near the level of thrilling child endangerment like the kitchen scene in the first Jurassic Park. The third act is sometimes fun, sometimes a letdown and relentless in its sheer stupidity. Predictably, Jurassic World wanted to make a statement on corporate greed holding animals in captivity (think SeaWorld for a modern reference). None of this matters. Just like these new dinosaurs, audiences are conditioned for the genetically modified experience of louder, bigger, and ultimately, and scarier. Jurassic World is ideal for their sensibility. You will get your money worth of dinosaurs and thrills in one of the more entertaining blockbusters of the summer.

 

I rate Jurassic Park a 6.5 out 0f 10.

About Kenny Miles

Whether something is overlooked by Hollywood or whatever business trend has captured the Entertainment Industry’s attention, Kenny Miles loves to talk about movies (especially the cultural impact of a film). He covers various aspects of movies including specialty genre films, limited release, independent, foreign language, documentary features, and THE much infamous "awards season." Also, he likes to offer his opinion on the business of film, marketing strategy, and branding. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado and is a member of the Denver Film Critics Society critics group. When he isn’t writing, Kenny channels his passion for interacting with moviegoers (something most movie pundits lack) as a pollster for the market research company CinemaScore and working as floor staff/special events coordinator in the film community. You can follow him on Twitter @kmiles723.

  • Chris Rosa

    Jurassic World is action-packed, visually impressive, but lacking in substance. Probably because this movie was not based on a Michael Crichton book. That’s a bad sign. It’s all Hollywood formula and a regurgitation of previous Jurassic movie elements. I did like the idea of Velociraptors being used as allies via alpha male Chris Pratt, but in the end poorly executed and disappointing. The 7-25 age demographic will probably love this, but for me… forgettable.

  • http://www.movieman50.blogspot.com The Movie Man

    Good review. I especially agree with your issues with the screenplay and characterizations. Read my review if you get a chance. http://movieman50.blogspot.com/2015/06/jurassic-world-movie-review.html