Thirty-five years ago, author Michael Crichton (Congo) envisioned a world where scientists, using dinosaur fossil DNA, could recreate and birth dinosaurs. Jurassic Park was published in and became a best-selling novel that was adapted into a motion picture in . Directed by Stephen Spielberg (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial), Jurassic Park ended up grossing over $1.1 billion and spawned an entire franchise complete with six sequels and tons of merchandising. The newest entry into this franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, is set to be released in theaters this week, just in time for the . With a new cast and plenty of new dinosaurs, plus some of the old favorites, Jurassic World Rebirth should become a box office smash.
Unbeknownst to the world, while Jurassic Park was in its heyday, InGen had a secret facility on a nearby island where they were experimenting with cross-breeds of dinosaurs. After a fatal accident, the island was left abandoned, and the hybrids were left to roam freely. However, it is illegal for anyone to go near the island and the surrounding waters. ParkerGenix Pharmaceuticals wants to retrieve blood samples of certain dinosaurs - one from the land, one from the sea, and one from the air - to create a drug that would prolong the life of heart patients by at least 20 years. They hire Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson; Black Widow) and her team to go to the island and, along with paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey; Wicked), obtain the samples. As per usual, with the Jurassic franchise, things never go according to plan.
Johansson is the perfect person to portray a covert operation expert. She has a natural leadership quality (as well as coming off as sneaky) and an air of being extremely smart that translates well on screen. Her team, consisting of Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Ed Skrein (Deadpool), Philippine Velga (Summer of 85), and Beshir Sylvain (Diarra from Detroit), comes across as a well-skilled yet slightly shady group of individuals. Bailey plays the nerdy "dinosaur scientist" perfectly.
Director Gareth Edwards (The Creator) is no stranger to epic sci-fi-type films, and his style fits well with the genre. He balances establishing shots with close-ups to give the audience the feeling as if they are enveloped in the surroundings alongside the cast. He also balances fast-paced action sequences with quiet moments, which give the viewers time to relax in between heart-pounding scenes. Cinematographer John Mathieson (Gladiator) has been in the business for over 30 years and knows how to frame a shot for maximum impact. The two of them together created an impressive film that should be nominated for at least one Oscar.
Jurassic World Rebirth harkens back to the 1993 original movie, frightening and delighting viewers from the opening scene. However, the subplot of the stranded family, while garnering a more human-interest angle than the mercenaries do, somewhat derails the plot and slows it down a bit. I'm not sure the movie would have the same impact had the family storyline not been included, but the movie runs too long, and the family was annoying at points.
For those who are in awe of the extinct creatures and for those who love the franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth is a solid entry into the universe. It has all the action necessary, plenty of jump scares, and just enough nostalgia to remind audiences what they loved about the franchise. It also questions morality in the face of a huge payday, which is as relevant a topic as ever.
While some films can be streamed on a television at home, Jurassic World Rebirth needs to be experienced on the big screen in a packed theater to really get the full impact of its contribution to the franchise.
Grade: B
