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Colin Trevorrow tackled a monster, a fan-favourite saga, and directed the fourth episode of Jurassic Park, called Jurassic World, almost 15 years after the release of the last movie. Jurassic World is an enormous theme park which has been built on the same island where the terrible events happened, 22 years ago. While trying to renew themselves to attract more visitors, scientists create a new kind of dinosaur with an unpredictable behavior called the Indominus Rex.
Much like Mad Max: Fury Road, I didn’t want to see Jurassic World. However, I ended up liking it a lot less than Mad Max.
First things first, if there’s one thing the original movies told us, is that cramming thousands of people with dinosaurs is not the best of ideas. So naturally, Jurassic World felt a little bit predictable – though I did not see that T-Rex showdown coming.
Jurassic World feels like an old movie with unfortunately old themes. Seriously though, the career-driven women who through the dangerous obstacle she faces, here dinosaurs, realizes that all she’s missing in life is to be a mother and be with someone? Come on. This underlying sexism that appears all the way through the film really bothered me.
And Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) as the savior of all situations, it quickly becomes annoying. It plays a lot with stereotypes and it gets lost in it. One of the last shots of the movie showing them kind of walking away … maybe it’s just me, but it felt like a setback.
In addition to that, the entire military plot also feels old, and I couldn’t help but think about too many other movies with the same exact theme: Avatar is probably the first that popped in my mind. It is nothing new.
However, all things considered, it’s spectacular entertainment. It really had that Jurassic Park feeling, and it didn’t try to imitate entirely what we had previously seen.
They implemented some elements of the old park as reminders of the past, clearly showing a desire to move forward with the legendary saga. As for the actors’ performance, there isn’t really a standout, apart maybe for Chris Pratt, who for once is completely serious and not goofy, and Jake Johnson, who is hilarious (that rejection, ouch).
There were 3 elements that I really liked in Jurassic World: Irrfan Khan, Omar Sy, and the T-Rex. Honorable mention to all the adorable baby triceratops. I just really love those actors, and every time I see Omar Sy in an American movie, it always makes me happy. Plus he speaks French for like half the movie, and I was laughing so hard. French pride did you say?
And the T-Rex! What an incredible cameo, and what an amazing way to take down the Indominus Rex! Totally unpredictable but totally worth it. I was just so happy with all the easter eggs from the other movies dispatched throughout Jurassic World.
Jurassic World is bad in his themes but visually great and entertaining. I would have loved to see the reverse situation: Chris Pratt as career-driven and Bryce Dallas Howard as the Raptor trainer. For a saga that got us used to characters such as Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) or Dr. Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore), I’m disappointed with Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Also how can she run that fast in heels, in a muddy forest, dressed the way she was? I guess we’ll never know!
Rating: 2/5
Click above for our in-depth episode with Charee, Dave, and Hadas. Spoilers start at 32 minutes.
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