A MONSTER CALLS OUT MAN’S FOLLY
Movie Review – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Review by Paul Preston
The set-up: I saw the original, 1993 Jurassic Park in the theater six times. That’s a number previously reserved only for Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. The technology, spectacle, tension and general unique-ness of that movie blew me away and I couldn’t get enough (I’ve seen it in the theater another half dozen times since). 1997’s The Lost World: Jurassic Park had some great Goldblum moments, more classic Spielbergian suspense-filled action sequences, but, like the Indiana Jones sequels before them, also embraced general silliness and dopey jokes that I thought ran counter to the script and tone of the original. By three films you have a franchise, and I swear I saw Jurassic Park III, but I’ll be damned if I can remember any of it. Sam Neill returned, they added an actor I love in Alessandro Nivola, and if I remember correctly, he was underused. They introduced a new dinosaur, the Spinosaurus and Pterodactyls finally got to run amok, but the story, conclusion and what happened? No clue.
2015 saw a reboot, as happens to all blockbusters, as Universal took a chance on indie film director Colin Trevorrow to offer up a return to Isla Nublar where a new company has re-launched Jurassic Park as Jurassic World. It was a new take on the tourist destination, actually having it up and running, which we haven’t seen yet…and what always goes wrong goes wrong again. But there was a bit too much “again” in Jurassic World for me to where nothing was really surprising and Jake Johnson and Vincent D’Onofrio’s characters were riding the line as stock genre stereotypes either blasting out jokes or orders that landed flat. Re-launching was a good idea, though, as Jurassic World cracked the top ten grossing films of all time.
A sequel was inevitable (part of a proposed trilogy). What we have in the follow-up, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, is the first film since the 1993 original that entertained me thoroughly. They brought in acclaimed fringe director J.A. Bayona (The Impossible, A Monster Calls) and Trevorrow and Derek Connolly whipped up a script that is absolutely bonkers, fashioning what is, essentially, the Aliens of the Jurassic Park franchise – high-energy monster chasing and no shortage of seeing the fantastic beasts.
Fallen Kingdom picks up with Claire and Owen (Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt) returning to Isla Nublar to rescue Blue (a raptor with whom Owen can communicate) and any other dinosaurs they can muster who face death by way of a deadly volcano erupting in the island’s core. The team financing and coordinating the rescue effort are a complex and potentially shady bunch headed by Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), one of original Jurassic Park creator John Hammond’s partners.
Claire and Owen find themselves amongst the dinos when the volcano goes full-‘splosion and their escape from the island will most likely be THE action sequence of the year. It’s gonna be tough to top. From frenzied dinosaurs to lava to new incarnations of prehistoric creatures to nearly drowning, it’s a well-imagined, executed and breathless action sequence. Throughout the film, Bayona deftly channels his inner Spielberg in shot composition. With DP Oscar Faura, Bayona uses shadows, lighting and elaborate staging to make the dinosaurs majestic, dangerous and at times, iconic.
The big shot that will no doubt be most associated with the film involves the T. Rex with his foot on a Carnotaurus’ neck. He roars into the sky as the volcano explodes behind him, with Claire and Owen looking on. Fallen Kingdom does a good job of expanding the mythos of John Hammond and Benjamin Lockwood to where they come off as loons, mad scientists, really. As a result (and the result of other measures taken by the script), the dinosaurs become sympathetic. As much as they’ve ripped people apart for five movies now, they never asked to exist again and they are facing a second extinction. How responsible humans should feel for their plight is debated routinely and by the time the film hits that epic shot of the T. Rex wailing with his fate careening down on him in the form of a volcanic blast, it speaks volumes. Composer Michael Giacchino also strikes the right tone in this moment with sober music that underlines more than pronounces the moment. You’ve seen the shot, even if you haven’t seen the film. In context, it’s quite powerful.
When the action shifts to the mainland, all hell breaks loose. Rich dummies want in on the dinosaur game and all manner of nefarious plans get hatched. The stock stereotypes show up again, particularly with Rafe Spall doing his best Ryan Reynolds in playing a white douchebag business creep. Ted Levine drops tough guy lines and actions that are elevated only because it’s Ted Levine. But in the end, it’s fun to watch Bayona line up marines and rich pricks, knowing they’ll get picked off by manic dinos. And the picking is a blast.
The stock comedy character this time around is a systems analyst/hacker named Franklin (Justice Smith) who is the fish-out-of-water. But the film wisely keeps his schtick to a minimum and after a while, he’s out of the main thrust of the story so we can get down to business – THRILLS. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom wins mainly for its double down on excitement. There are sequences late in the film that are like nothing you’ve ever seen, which is saying something five films into a franchise.
Overall, Giacchino’s score could use a new theme. He’s good at punctuating action, but when I think of the best Giacchino, I think of The Incredibles, Up and the rebooted Star Trek franchise, all films that sport a memorable theme. Giacchino does a fine job of reflecting (and re-recording) John Williams’ legendary music from the original Jurassic Park films, but I’d like Giacchino to take a stab at a new theme that we can leave the theater with. Think of it like when James Horner was brought in for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Horner utilized the classic Star Trek music but KILLED IT when bringing a new signature theme to the movie.
Fallen Kingdom has no problem raising the stakes (further than any of the movie’s predecessors, which is really what I needed) and by the end, the stakes are outrageously raised where I can’t wait to see how the filmmakers wrap up this trilogy. It could literally go any direction, and if it goes as dark as the title hints, that’d be a first for a franchise this mainstream.
Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Release Date: June 22, 2018
Run Time: 128 Minutes
Rated: PG-13
Country: USA
Distributor: Universal Pictures
