Some 22 years after the first disaster that was 'Jurassic Park', arisen from the ashes is a new park that has been re-built, redefined and re-imagined.
'Jurassic World' is complete with a baby dinosaur petty zoo, Stegosaurus rides and T-Rex feeding times. People are loving the revamped park and all is going well and the original park that was envisioned by John Hammond is going making profits.
When visitor numbers drop, the marketing team put pressure on the science lab to genetically engineer a dinosaur that will bring people back to the park. The only objective on the brief: make it bigger and scarier than any other dinosaur anyone has seen. With corporate pressure behind the project they develop the largest most intelligent dinosaur yet the Indominus Rex (a hybrid of Abelisaurus, Carnotaurus, cuttlefish, Gigantosaurus, Majungasaurus, Rugops, tree frog and Tyrannosaurus Rex DNA) is created by scientist Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) and his team of engineers.
On a trip to see the new dinosaur and visit the park’s operations manager are brothers Zac and Grey Mitchell (Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson) whose Aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) grants them VIP access to all the parks facilities. Leaving them in the care Claire’s assistant Zara, Claire is busy working on the release of the new dinosaur.Claire calls in the help of dinosaur expert and Velociraptor handler Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to check on the new enclosure and assess any possible problems. Owen has just been contacted by Vic Hoskins (Vincent D’ Onofrio) for a possible deal to turn the Raptors into military killing machines and he is just the expert that Claire needs in order to asses the parks newest asset. The Raptors that he raises view him as the Alpha of the pack and Hoskins wants to develop this further to his own advantage. He takes off to offer Claire his advice and see the creature for the first time.
While there, the Indominus Rex manages to trick Owen and staff into thinking she has escaped. As it turns out, the intelligent creature is a skilled and cunning trickster. She manages to escape and all hell breaks loose with Owen only just managing to escape and outwit the dinosaur.In the meantime, unaware of the terror that is unfolding, Zac and Grey are out enjoying the park in a hydro sphere when they decide to take it off-road. Unbeknownst to them the Indominus Rex is out of her cage and exploring her new-found freedom and place in the food chain. It’s now a race against time to find the boys and stop the dinosaur before it devours every living thing on Isla Nublar.
The first act brings viewers up to speed on life in the new amusement park, so first time viewers of the franchise can easily pick things up. But there are nods to the original film throughout in various guises, for fans of John Hammond's work. It introduces the boys as soft characters that are easy enough for the viewer to attach to and care about. Moving into the second act, fight or flight instincts kick in, and survival is paramount. The brothers are in danger, the dinosaur is unpredictable and things are going from bad to worse. As the final act commences, the hunter becomes the hunter in a final power struggle between man and beast.
A thrilling two hours of escapism, most of the cookie-cutter characters have predictable stories. Owen is the Indiana Jones-type hero, complete with leather vest and a large knife. Graduating from chubby, loveable comedian to buff, action star, Pratt really is the man of the moment, bringing his own brand to a character. Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire is his somewhat uptight, yet intelligent female counterpart with the ability to run for her life in high heels and manages not to break an ankle. Succumbing to his charms in the end, as any good female lead would. Playing the greedy antagonist, Hoskins is a corporate military man looking to exploit the dangerous Raptors. Everyone loves a good villain and D’Onofrio is ever-excellent as the villain, poetic justice ensues when he faces off against an angry Raptor.The real highlight are the special effects, and the dinosaurs realistic representation. It is a roller coaster ride of visual elements, action and there suspenseful moments that add to the entertainment – and some clichéd moments for a giggle. Not quite able to capture the awe and magic of the original movie, it is in all fairness enjoyable and will give viewers the their dinosaur action fix.
– written by Amanda Starkey
