Movie Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

"Jurassic Park" has always had a special place in my heart, being amazed by the gigantic creatures during the dawn of what was cutting edge special effects and being terrified by them will always be an awe I will never forget. 

 As a kid, that scene where in  the poor guy runs in the rain to take a dump despite there being a T-Rex and the lines: "If you got to go, you got to go" ~and eventually getting eaten by the T-Rex as he is taking a dump will always stick in my head. 

Fast forward to me becoming an adult and three more Jurassic movies and we now have Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. 

Following the events of Jurassic World, the dinosaurs that have been left alone on the island are now in danger as a volcano on the verge of erupting threatens their existence. (Why build an amusement park on an island that has a volcano on it? Even if it was dormant before it still puts your investment at risk right?) Just something that I thought about, don't mind me. 

Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) now a dinosaur-rights activist and founder of the Dinosaur Protection Group (she's dealing with a lot of guilt) is working on the clock to save the dinosaurs before they are wiped off from the face of the Earth (again). She gets her chance when she is contacted by Benjamin Lockwood, the former partner of John Hammond as they work together to bring the endangered dinosaurs to a sanctuary where they will be safe. Claire enlists the help of Velociraptor whisperer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) ~ (lots of welcome sexual tension and complicated history there as well) to come along and rescue Blue, the brave and loyal raptor from the previous film. 

With new comers, tattooed badass paleoveterinarian (its a thing) Daniella Pineda as Dr. Zia Rodriguez and the hilarious Justice Smith as systems analyst and ultimate T-Rex fan Franklin Webb the team is complete and as they set out to rescue the dinosaurs, you might guess where the rest of the story goes: get in, rescue mission while a volcano explodes and get out but that's where director JA Bayona gets you as events quickly escalate and our dino lovers find themselves needing some rescuing themselves. 

You know how it is, human greed and the need to play God (all over again) drive the plot of "Fallen Kingdom" - you may be okay with where the story is headed or you may hate it  but you cannot deny those amazing and thrilling sequences from director JA Bayona, there are no crass jump scares here as he plays on the scenes with a tasteful horror suspense style that will surely leave an impression on a new generation of kids. 

You have dinosaurs trying to eat humans, dinosaurs fighting each other (check, check) but you also have dinos with lots of personality who endears themselves to the audience, yes, we have the loyal Blue but it is the hard headed Stiggy the Stygimoloch who really steals the show! (Stiggy plushie please!) So, yes, your emotions get played on too and I already shed a tear or two in an earlier scene!  

We must also commend the performance of newcomer Isabella Sermon, who plays Maisie Lockwood, the granddaughter of Benjamin Lockwood and possibly the future of the Jurassic Park franchise (queue John Williams score).  

A hard headed Stiggy the Stygimoloch and director JA Bayona are the real heroes of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. 

Despite being movie #5 in the franchise, "Fallen Kingdom" offers new and exciting sequences which will bring you to the edge of your seat. The story may not be for everyone but I did enjoy the surprise twists which had me let out an audible gasp. Director JA Bayona's horror expertise brings up the fear level and kids will definitely have something to think about as they hide under the covers tonight. The subtle horror elements were a treat; I particularly liked the use of light, shadow and even electricty to intensify scenes and bring out emotions in others. Yes, there was a tear in that smoke and lava fading away sequence. 


Jurassic World: "Fallen Kingdom" brings what we loved about the past Jurassic films-like running from dinosaurs in a shut down park and ups the ante by including...say an erupting volcano in the mix and its pretty much consistent throughout. Just so you know what you're in for. (7/10). 

The Relevance of Jurassic World to the Times

In anticipation of Jurassic World, the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, I went ahead and re-watched the first 3 movies plus special features on DVD (thanks to an awesome P450.00 offer for a boxed set). As I re watched all 3 movies, I relived my childhood memories of this well loved franchise. 

In my GMovies Member Feature, I talk about how scenes like the greedy lawyer being eaten by the T-Rex (Jurassic Park '93) while sitting in the toilet stuck to my head. It really left an impression on me; I think there was a time I was actually afraid a T-Rex would magically appear while I'm at my most vulnerable in the bathroom. 

For many of us, the Jurassic Park was not just a movie, they are memories. 

22 years after the first film grossed over a billion dollars in the box office. We are once again brought back to Isla Nublar where a theme park that never opened is now a fully operational luxury resort. All is well in the resort but in the search for a new attraction (because apparently Dinosaours aren't wow enough anymore) something is born in the lab, something that has never walked the earth before. Something that is supposed to be "bigger, better, cooler". 

"This is where you play god" 

-Alan Grant (Jurassic Park III- 2001)

Say hello to the Indominus Rex. 

Dr. Wu (B.D. Wong) who played the same geneticist in the first movie, reprises his role and manipulates genes to create a genetically modified dinosaur, one that never existed and whose abilities are still unknown. 

Enter the Indominus Rex, raised in isolation after devouring it's only sibling (not a good sign) is now reaching maturity and preparations in making her the newest park attraction are already underway. 

Zach and Gray - the new kids in  the park. 

Real Characters, Relevant to the Times 

Aside from the new dinosaurs (yes there's more than one) there are also new human characters. I felt as though these characters were so realistic that they made Jurassic World relevant to the times. Despite a span of two decades since the first film, World seems fresh and it's because of the characters whose dreams, hopes and fears are like many of us that they become very real and relatable. 

Because there are always kids in Jurassic Park - 

Gray (Ty Simpkins) is an eleven year old boy who, like other boys his age love dinosaurs and in a world where they actually exist who wouldn't ? He is extremely intelligent and may actually be a genius, he seems to have some social anxiety which is the case more often than not. 

Zach (Nick Robinsons) is Gray's older brother who at 16 likes what boys like-girls. He looks forward to moving out the house when he reaches 18. 

The brothers are sent to spend some quality time with their career driven Aunt, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) who runs Jurassic World. 

Tita (Aunt) Power in Jurassic World 

Claire  Dearing is a very busy woman overseeing about 20,000 guests per day, she gives her nephews special passes and sends them off to explore the resort. Claire is a distant Aunt from her nephews (she doesn't even know how old they are) which creates an interesting dynamic. As a (proud) #TitasOfManila (Aunts Of Manila) - I have no kids yet but I adore my nieces and nephews. I'm glad that this relationship was highlighted in this film. This is especially important in the Filipino culture where the extended family plays an integral part in the upbringing of the children. So hooray for the Titos and Titas! (Uncles and Aunts) out there! 

Another Jurassic Nostalgia: Do you remember who first had the 'flare idea' ? 

An Unlikely Hero 

The last Jurassic Movies had scientists (Paleontologist Alan Grant - Sam Neil and Mathematician Ian Malcolm - Jeff Goldblum)  as it's heroes. For Jurassic World it's ex-military  expert in animal behavior Owen Grady who is currently doing a training study with a pack of Velociraptors to whom he has developed an Alpha relationship. Claire initially asks Owen for help to evaluate the security of the Indominus Rex's Paddock. Owen is strong, decisive and quick to act, he believes in the natural order of things and where humans stand in it. 

"Oh, yeah. Ohhhh, Ahhh, that's how it all starts. Then there's running and um, screaming." 

- Dr. Ian Malcolm 

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) 

Bryce Dallas Howard: New Leading Lady in Jurassic World

Throughout it's franchise, Jurassic Park always had it's strong leading ladies, for Jurassic World it's none other than Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of actor-director Ron Howard (we loved his movie, RUSH). This time though, Bryce is not playing a scientist or a mother in search for her son, Bryce is the dragon lady -Claire, who runs Jurassic World.

Bryce Dalls Howard has always been a chameleon kind of actress, I distinctly remember her red hair which probably landed her the role of Victoria in the Twilight Saga: Eclipse after replacing the original actress who could not commit to the third movie. She also played the annoying Hilly Holbrook in "The Help", she dyed her hair blonde as Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3. 

When things run smoothly in Jurassic World, it’s because of Claire; when they don’t, she’s held accountable. Deftly managing the needs of thousands of guests every day with a constant eye on the bottom line, it’s her job to make sure that the park remains exciting to sophisticated parkgoers who have seen it all.

Claire watches Jurassic World from the sanitized safety of a control booth, where she monitors all activity (human and dinosaur alike) from a safe distance. Indeed, she views the dinosaurs strictly as “assets” and has lost sight of the wonder and power they exhibit. It is only when things fall apart that Claire experiences the park from a completely different perspective: as the hunted.

Beyond the allure of being a part of the beloved franchise, the actress appreciated the caliber of storytelling and the strong character she was tasked to portray. Relays Howard: “It is fantastic that [writer-director] Colin Trevorrow created this multifaceted, three-dimensional female character who goes through this very emotional journey within the greater context of a giant, effects-driven dinosaur movie. At the end of the day, it’s a good story well-told.”

When we first meet Claire, her personal life has taken a backseat to her responsibilities at the park and the pressures—not to mention the questionable ethical decisions—that come along with them. “Claire is responsible for the entire park and understands that at the end of the day everything needs to add up, and there are some difficult decisions and realities within that,” shares the performer. “Her journey becomes about finding her own humanity and her ability to be open and not fixated on making everything work in order to make a profit.”

Of his leading lady, Trevorrow commends: “Bryce is one of our best actors that we have. She created a woman who starts off just on the borderline of being unlikable. She takes you on the journey, and by the time you get to the end…the ending is hers. I’m so proud of what she does at the end of this movie. If you didn’t have an actor who could make you believe everything that was happening, it just wouldn’t work; it would all feel silly. Bryce is just extraordinary.”

When the park’s newly developed dinosaur begins exhibiting potentially threatening intelligence, well beyond expectations, Claire is forced to seek outside assistance and reluctantly pays a visit to behavioral specialist Owen, with whom she shares a bit of history.

The chemistry between these two seemingly opposite, headstrong characters is undeniable. Explains Chris Pratt who plays Owen: “We know that something happened between these two on a date, and Owen enjoys poking fun at her because she’s wound so tight. There’s obviously an attraction between the two of them, and that fuels this conflict that’s constantly between them in these crazy circumstances.”

Howard responds to the romantic undertones and how they propelled the story line, something new to the world of the Jurassic franchise. “One of the many great things about this story is that, in the context of the chaos that has broken out in the park, they realize that they need each other and go on this journey to save her nephews, save the park and ultimately themselves,” the actress shares. “The romantic undercurrent feels very unique for a Jurassic film, and I appreciated that.”

Opening across the Philippines on June 10, “Jurassic World” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Star Lord is Dino-mite in Jurassic World!

Who has not fallen in love with Chris Pratt? His role as Peter Quill/Starlord in Guardians Of The Galaxy has catapulted him into lead actor stardorm. He has swayed his hips and break danced into the hearts of fans all over the world. Guardians Of The Galaxy earned $770 million in the global box office and is still our favorite Marvel movie to date. He also does charity work by visiting children's hospitals dressed up as Star Lord (cue the awwwwwwsssss). 

In case you didn't know he also lent his voice to the special Emmet in The Lego Movie which earned more than $468 million worldwide. I mean really what can this guy not do? 

Well to answer that question- nothing apparently as he cements his name in super star status as he takes on the lead in Jurassic World. 

In the film, Pratt plays Owen, a man who is as quick in repartee as he is in decisive action: Owen is a military veteran who respects the precarious place of humans in the natural order and now works at a behavioral facility on the outskirts of Jurassic World. He operates outside the system but needs its backing to fund his raptor research, which places him in the uncomfortable position of working for the establishment while rebelling against it.

While Owen’s first date with Jurassic World's operations manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) was actually their last, he still spars with her at every opportunity, relishing the moment when she needs his help in Jurassic World. And Claire’s never needed it more than when a crisis erupts that she can’t solve with her immediate team. Drawn into unexpected service from his outlying facility, it’s up to Owen to step up before all hell breaks loose. He is the consummate adventurer—a classic hero in the rough—one who lives by his own wits, ingenuity and raw instinct.

Producer Steven Spielberg recounts Pratt's casting, dryly noting: “Safety wasn’t guaranteed in those days using Chris Pratt because he was on a very successful television series. Even though I thought he had the chops for this and [director] Colin Trevorrow believed in him, it was a bit of a risk. Of course, when `Guardians of the Galaxy' came out, we all thought we were really smart even though we didn’t make it.” The filmmaker was impressed by Pratt’s on-screen test: “Chris is a wonderful actor and has a strong screen presence. He has a tremendous sense of humor and he’s a team player. He’s going to go all the way with his career.”

“Owen is strong, self-sufficient, adventurous and very capable, and audiences want to see a guy like that,” adds producer Nathan nCrowley. “I didn’t know much more about Chris than what I had seen on television, and to see him emerge as this strong figure has been incredibly impressive. As he became Owen, we all looked at each other and knew he was that hero.”

A huge fan of the original “Jurassic Park,” Pratt vividly remembers seeing the original film in 1993 in his small-town theater. “I was 14 years old and was right at that age where I was impressionable. It blew my mind,” the performer notes. “The science and imagination came together in this way that was full of suspense, beautiful imagery and great storytelling. It was like cinema was reinvented right in front of me, and it was then that I discovered how cool movies could be. I had complete Jurassic-mania and saw it twice that weekend. After that, I spent the next six months of my life running from imaginary dinosaurs.”

Pratt was drawn to Owen’s strength, character and decisiveness, and admits that he had to exercise restraint to quell his own comedic instincts during filming. “Owen is stoic, quick to act and without a single bit of goofiness, which for me is hard,” he says. “My natural instinct is to be a goofball, and it’s something I had to remind myself to quiet before every take.”

I'll definitely miss his goofy side but still so stoked! :) 

Opening across the Philippines on June 10, “Jurassic World” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.