Movie Review: Jurassic World

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - They never learn.

Jurassic World is the fourth film in the Jurassic Park series that depicts yet another catastrophe that occurs when humans try messing with the dinosaurs.

The franchise’s new addition, directed by Colin Trevorrow, was released this past Friday on June 6. Jurassic World has already broken the box office record by earning $524.1 million globally since its release. Good enough reason to make you go see it? No? Well I’ll give you a couple more.

The movie is set on Isla Nublar 22 years after the events in Jurassic Park. InGen has completely remodeled and reopened the park under the name of Jurassic World. Brothers Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray Mitchell (Ty Simpkins) are sent to the park to visit their aunt, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as the park’s operations manager. Dearing can hardly find time to see her nephews because she is busy trying to find investors who will support new attractions. In order to maintain the park’s attendance, InGen has created a genetically modified dinosaur called the Indominus Rex that is made from the DNA of several different predatory species. However, the park’s geneticist, Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong), keeps the exact mixture of the Indominus Rex a secret. What a surprise…

On the other side of the park, head of InGen security, Vic Hoskins (Vincent D’Onofrio), is interested in using the Velociraptors as weapons for the military. However, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) who works at the park as a behavioral researcher and trainer of the Velociraptors informs Mr. Hoskins that these animals are not meant to be tamed. As you watch the film, you start to realize why Grady seems to be the only rational thinker in this bunch.

The owner of the park (Irrfan Khan) asks Grady to inspect the Indominus’ enclosure before they open it to the public. However, once Grady and Dearing arrive, they realize that the Indominus does not appear to be in his enclosure. That’s when Grady notices the claw marks on the wall that suggest the Indominus Rex has climbed over his walls and escaped. Hoskins uses this disaster to test and see if the Velociraptors can effectively be used as weapons against the Indominus Rex. Do I have you on the edge of your seat yet? Well I would continue, but that would spoil all the fun. The rest of the film entails Dearing searching around Jurassic World in hopes of reuniting with her nephews (who may or may not be in danger). As well as trying to kill the Indominus Rex that seems to be a lot smarter than anyone had anticipated.

Personally, I thought this film was a triumph for the Jurassic Park franchise. Not only did it have a solid storyline, but the thrill factor, effects, and acting were all executed excellently.

If you have seen any other Jurassic Park film you already know that you experience a thrill ride from beginning to end. The films are rated PG-13 due to violence and death, however I think Jurassic World was a higher level of PG-13…maybe PG-14. Not from blood and gore, but more from the sheer terror that this film brings to the screen. The theater I was in for the movie was packed at the beginning. However, by the end there were a lot of empty seats that once held young children whose parents hadn't anticipated the film to be so terrifying. I would say “spoiler: people are eaten by dinosaurs” but I just figured people knew that before going in…

For its time, the first three Jurassic Park films were really groundbreaking in terms of effects and animatronics. As expected, Jurassic World is just as impressive 22 years later. Compared to the other films you get to see a lot more movement and detail in the dinosaurs as well as more interaction between them and the characters. I associate that with the more advanced technology used on the film. Also, the beginning of the movie gives a sort of “grand tour” of the park that is pretty cool! You get to see each attraction that has been built for the new and improved park. So overall, the visual effects (and Chris Pratt) make the film really…attractive.

Lastly, I believe the cast of this movie is what makes it worth a (insert local theater price) ticket. From leading lad Chris Pratt to the hundreds of extras, this cast was fantastic! Pratt and Howard who play Grady and Dearing worked really well together; which is good since they were in about 80 percent of the movie. Dearing’s transition from poised and emotionless into the brave character she became was played effortlessly by Bryce Dallas Howard. Watching her and Chris Pratt work along side one another added a bit of humor and emotion to the sci-fi thriller. Also, young actors Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins were a real surprise. Most kids who are cast in a thriller are only there to scream a lot and make life-threatening mistakes. Not only was I wrong about their characters, but the actors who played Zach and Gray added a refreshing component to the film that was really sweet to watch. The whole cast really embraced their roles and made Jurassic World enjoyable to watch from beginning to end.

If you’ve already seen the last three films, Jurassic World will not let you down in bringing an epic resolution to the franchise. But if you have yet to see any, now is a perfect time to start. Jurassic World (and Chris Pratt’s face) will not disappoint.