Jurassic World

Director: Colin Trevorrow
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson
Length: 124 minutes
Country: US

The spectacle of computer generated images has come a long way over the past 22 years. Since Jurassic Park (1993) left audiences aghast at the exhibition of its digital marvels, Hollywood backed the technical prowess of these impossible images ahead of the prospect of practical designs and constructions.

In an age where CGI has brought us spectacular sights and unthinkable vision, the pleasures of witnessing the hands on efforts of filmmaking has lessened somewhat – and if there is a significant shortfall in Jurassic World it is in that inherent difficulty to recapture that same sensation all over again in the modern age. But kudos can be given to Colin Trevorrow and co. for making the hearty effort of trying to replicate, if never outdistance, that same sense of wonder for a new generation.

A lot of this sense comes down to that notion of replication fundamental to many of the latest, belated nostalgia laden sequels; servicing the audience with a familiarity of structure, set piece imitation, tinted score and iconography flashes. The concept is a uniquely postmodern take on the original story, in that we see John Hammond’s vision made reality through Spielbergian gaze but come to terms with the mechanical processes of engineered spectacle and the requirement of escalation. This is where the plot turns more sinister, echoing many of the moral dilemmas presented to us in the original while suggesting entirely new ideas of its own. Many of these being exemplified in the creation of the Indominus Rex; a monstrosity designed by a committee and birthed out of consumptive greed with no other function than to entertain. The iRex’s lack of purpose and inability to relate to the world around it and its own identity grants it a dimension of insanity as it takes on the reigns of Mother Nature, restoring balance to the island that had once attempted to be tamed. While familiar in look and approach, it is a vibrant and frightening new addition to the canon.

 It’s a more Dino-indulgent fare than any picture before it, and less a castrated but a more catered vision of the universe than seen previously

Image: UPI Media

Sadly, the same amount of intrigue cannot be replicated for its characters. Many of the main players of the plot are weakly characterised stock roles, although elevated by the sheer will of their performers. Pratt once again proves his action hero chops as Owen while Howard fulfils her role dutifully, both with humorous warmth. The pity comes in the plot itself outside of the B-Movie silliness of the core narrative line. When the most heart-wrenchingly believable relationship is in the form of Owen and his named Velociraptors, something isn’t quite balanced right. There are multiple plot threads clearly left over for unfinished franchise maintenance that’s a reoccurring bore, and its associated side characters shine only a fraction as much as the core ensemble. Characters spend too much time repeating the same arguments, and the so-called villains only stand so in contrast to Owen’s unanimously impressive trait resume.

 Jurassic World hits many of the necessary beats required of its franchise title, and is less of an exhaustive retread than its immediate predecessor

Where the film can be championed though is in its sense of inflated fun. Constantly upbeat and filled with light and humour, resorting to acts of bloody but controlled violence when necessity dictates. The tensions that relate between Owen and the Velociraptor pack are very real and somewhat believable in its universe, while the visual designs are wonderful and shot with a full aspect ratio that accentuates its power of presentation. It’s a more Dino-indulgent fare than any picture before it, and less a castrated but a more catered vision of the universe than seen previously. Action heavy and with a thrillingly OTT monster mash climax enough to make any franchise enthusiast squeal with glee, with a particular beast returning to restore equilibrium to one of the fan bases biggest gripes with Jurassic Park 3.

Image: UPI Media

Jurassic World hits many of the necessary beats required of its franchise title, and is less of an exhaustive retread than its immediate predecessor. Offering up an extravaganza of excitement and humour, it’s hard not to be thrilled in some regard by its efforts even when its confounded plot elements proceed to try and run it all into the ground. Much like Michael Giacchino’s score, Jurassic World is at its best when embracing its own distinctiveness, but homage can sometimes do the job just as comfortably.