Welcome…to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom that is! The sequel to the $1.6 billion-dollar box office taking Jurassic World (whispers…reboot) has arrived and hits NZ Cinemas today. There’s plenty of haters out there in the movie reviewing community and the wider movie viewing audience, that consider themselves cerebral and highbrow, that wanna dino poo-poo all over Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom but what do I think of it…well
I loved it! For me Jurassic Park is an important part of my childhood and my love of cinema, I mean we’re talking Spielberg here baby! So, I came into Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom with very little expectations. I like Chris Pratt, I like Bryce Dallas Howard (did you know Ron Howard is her Papa?!); and I like where we went in Jurassic World. I felt as long as I got some dino-fun, some Pratt antics and general popcorn blockbuster action, then I was all about it; and you know what, I wasn’t disappointed. What DOES disappoint me is movie pundits scoffing and sniping that it’s “not realistic enough”. Wait, what? Hold the motherflipping phone…you know you just asked for realism in a movie franchise about a world where it’s completely normalized for families to visit a living Dinosaur safari theme park? Riiiight. Michael Crichton was considered as a total whack-a-do when his books Jurassic Park (1990) and The Lost World (1995) were released, which this film franchise is based on. So, it’s in the spirit of crazy Sci-Fi fun that we should approach this new piece of Jurassic canon too.
Cool. Now we’ve got my finger waggling out of the way, let’s talk about all the cool parts in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, without being too spoilery of course! In terms of Jurassic franchise troupes there’s: an excellent couple of Dino-fights, a poor victimized goat, running through the plains surrounded by Cretaceous creatures and about three T-Rex triumph glamour roars (you can basically see the banner flutter behind them from JP 1 it’s so cool…). Chris Pratt has settled wonderfully into his role as Owen Grady and seriously, watching him – it looks like this is his fave role to play. Pratt gets to up the “Andy” physical comedy in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and touches lots of gross, sticky dinosaur bodily fluids, cue hilarious disgusted faces. Bryce Dallas Howard or BDH as she’ll be known hence forth, which could stand for her name or Badass.Dope.Heroine cause BDH is thrilling in this one and ‘saves the day’ as equally as Pratt does. With some Claire specific kickass action sequences and she even gets called a “Nasty Woman” by a returning evil scientist that shall remain nameless. Claire shows the continued rise of strong characters we’re starting to see post Wonder Woman, #MeToo / #TimesUp and I’m SO here for that.
A couple of PSA’s for you on this too – especially if you’re planning to take your kiddos along. I’m a vegetarian and I care a great deal about animal rights and protection; and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom had some HEAVY moments for me. There’s three separate times when I burst into tears and although I’m a deep feeler and a bit of a sook in movies at the best of times, the moral debate that takes place in JW:FK is a good one and a needed one; but it was tough going so if you’re a bit sensitive to that stuff, be warned. There’s also discussion on the weaponizing of the dinos as there was in Jurassic World; but we’re also reminded that humans have used animals in warfare for centuries…and that makes you feel like a stink human. I’m not staying don’t see it, I’m saying be prepared to maybe have a blub and to think about the greater implications that director J.A. Bayona and writer Colin Trevorrow (he directed Jurassic World btw); want you to think about after you’ve flossed the popcorn out ya teeth. Speaking about J.A. Bayona he has directed The Orphanage, A Monster Calls and a couple episodes of Penny Dreadful so Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom does go to some dark, spooky and horror-esque places in the last third of the film – there’s even a bit that was reminiscent of Get Out for me…but I’ll save that for you to figure out when you watch it for yourself.
Excitement and action from the first frame, incredible stunts, wondrous creatures that look SO good in comparison to when you go back and see the rubbery originals in Jurassic Park and some good ol’ dino times. If you’re a fan then you’ll have had your tickets sorted for ages, but if you’ve been sitting on the electrified perimeter fence questioning if you should spend the cash – I can confirm you should and make sure you see it on the biggest screen you possibly can!
Are you a Jurassic Park super fan? My faves are Jurassic Park, The Lost World:Jurassic Park, Jurassic World and any scene or cameo Dr. Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) is in. Which is your favourite installment in the Jurassic story-verse? Tell me!
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Rating: M (Violence) – anyone can view the film, but guidance from a parent or guardian is recommended.
Thanks so much Universal Pictures NZ for inviting me along to the NZ Premiere on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
