Freak Show : Jurassic World (2015) Movie Review

Jurassic World is pure popcorn entertainment and more

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, B.D. Wong, and Irrfan Khan.

Studios: Amblin Entertainment, Legendary Pictures

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Release Dates: June 10, 2015 (Philippines)

June 12, 2015 (United States)

Plot: A fully functional dinosaur theme park located on Isla Nublar (the location of the first Jurassic Park film) is plunged into chaos and carnage as a genetically modified dinosaur-hybrid named Indominus rex breaks loose and runs rampant across the park.

Almost fifteen years from the last entry to the Jurassic Park film franchises, a sort of a reboot movie featuring a now fully-functional Jurassic themed park is now out on theatres. But without Steven Spielberg on the directorial seat (just like the third installment), will this latest movie be success or end up as another unnecessary sequel to cash in the popularity of the classic hit?

WARNING : SPOILERS AHEAD!

Twenty Two Years After The First Movie

So the film begins twenty-two years after the events of the first film, with Isla Nublar is now a fully operational dinosaur themed park under InGen. Cloned dinosaurs are all over the island’s different attractions. But visitors and guests aren’t that much thrilled anymore about these stuff. As the owner of the park, Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) says, the people want it bigger, scarier, with more teeth. In short, cool. But then, this turned out to be the worst idea ever after their final product, named as Indominus Rex (which is Latin, meaning “cleave king”) has just escaped it’s cage and is now on the run around the park, killing off people.

So yeah, it basically follows the same old, same old science experiment gone wrong which has been used on a hundreds of science fiction films before.

It also have a familiar circle of characters that has been staple in these movies. There’s the hunky handsome hero in the form of Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) who has made it as a commitment to save the world (Jurassic World, I mean). Then, there’s the very sophisticated park operation manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) who was so fun to watch as she runs across the jungle while a man-eating dinosaur is running after her, all of this while wearing his high heels and that forever perfect hairdo. Then, there’s this evil guy from the military (Vincent D’Onofrio) who wants to use the Indomino Rex for, obviously… military purposes.

There’s also a pair of brothers who were there at the park to visit their Aunt Claire. These two gets trapped in the middle of the jungle while the Indominus Rex chases after them after a wrong turn. I really don’t know why there’s always a pair of kids involved in this types of movies. Remember, Piranha 3D (2010)? Probably to add more characters to put into peril, I guess. Well, the misadventures of the two brothers, Zach and Gray Mitchell (played by Nick Robinsons and Ty Simpkins) proved to be a fun side story to the film because their encounters with the said dinosaur were one of the best parts of the film.

A Perfect Round Of Cast

One of the film’s strongest points is it’s casting. Chris Pratt plays Owen Grady, a velociraptor expert & trainor. He has always been a big presence in every movie he star, from his quirky brick character Emmett in The Lego Movie to his funny antics as Starlord/ Peter Quill in Guardians Of The Galaxy. I don’t know. I guess he is just full of charisma that every role he takes over, he portrays with flying colors.

Bryce Dallas Howard plays Claire Dearing, the park's operations manager. Her character adds some humor to the film everytime she have a conversation with Owen Grady. She portrays the sophisticated career woman with ease. And she get’s a plus points for running around the forest and all around the park in high heels.

The two brothers who were visting their Aunt Claire, Zach and Gray Mitchell played by Nick Robinsons and Ty Simpkins were also a really good choice for their parts. The two of them really looked like siblings. And I love their facial reactions when the Indominus Rex’ claw breaks through the glass of their gyrosphere.

Another honorable mention worth mentioning was Jimmy Fallon’s cameo appearance as a gyrosphere instructor. That’s just one of the WTF moments of the film.

The Darkest Chapter?

This is probably the darkest sequel of the series as it features more blood and carnage, but still within the limits of a PG-13 movie. I must say that this turned out to be an additional factor because it made the film so terrifying to watch. The kills are so good that it’s made to look like Final Destination style (with dinosaurs). One of the best deaths in the film involves Zara (played by Kathy McGrath), he assistant of Claire who was tasked to watch over them. After being taken up in the air by an escaped pterosaur, she is thrown into the Jurassic World lagoon. Then, the pterosaur pulls her out of the water and is about to be taken again up in the air, only to be eaten by a Mosasaurus jumping out of the water. What a torture!

The rest of the chase scenes involving the Indominus Rex were also full of terrifying moments. One of my favorite was when Chris Pratt’s character Owen first had a face-to-face encounter with the dinosaur. From the scene where they are chased by the dinosaur while checking on it’s cage up to it’s escape. That scene was nerve-racking. Another was the part where brothers, Zach and Gray were roaming around the jungle while riding the Gyrosphere when they meet the Indominus Rex. The dinosaur attacks their globe and they barely made it out.

The Best 3D Movie Of The Year

Yeah. This movie is already in my list of my favorite movies this 2015. But not only that. It’s also running as the best 3D movie of the year!

I actually watched this movie in IMAX 3D and I must say that it was the most immersive experience I’ve had since watching The Hobbit : Battle Of The Five Armies. The film uses the technology in it’s advantage. The film boasts of nature shots: aerial views of the mountains, the jungles and other sections of the park. A lot of these scenes will really induce dizziness as they heighten the sense of depth of the landscape. Director Colin Trevorrow also puts a lot of emphasis on wide shots of expansive park attractions and it’s open areas. Scenes in the forest also gives a feeling of wide, open spaces, adding an unnerving sense that something (most probably a dinosaur) would come out of nowhere to lunge at you. The film also gives viewers a really good look on it’s famed dinosaurs, in astounding 3D! From horns of triceratops pointing out of the screen, a mosasaurus jumping out of the water to pterosaurs flying towards you. There’s also all sorts of effects that are coming right at your face all throughout the film, like splashes of water to drops of blood.

I actually enjoyed Jurassic World than other blockbuster hits that I’ve watched in IMAX 3D. For example, the 3D in Insurgent : The Divergent Saga feel a bit flat, and so was Avengers : Age of Ultron. But Jurassic World was way above these films in terms of it’s 3D cinematography. It was really handled with serious attention and detail. You can really see it on the final results.

Verdict:

Boasting with amazing special effects and outstanding 3D cinematography, mixed in with a really powerful set of actors, and an awesome director, Jurassic World is definitely one of the best films to come out this year. It gives audiences what they wanted: bigger, better, scarier, and more teeth. And take my advice, you shouldn’t miss seeing it in 3D!