Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – review. Rating: 3/5
I watched the latest Jurassic Park/World movie (aka Jurassic Park 5 aka Jurassic World 2 aka Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) about a couple weeks ago and I mostly enjoyed it – as a fun, “popcorn” movie. It has several faults but I still walked out of the cinema thinking to myself that it was a decent movie. Here is the trailer:
Now if you have not seen the movie and want ZERO spoilers then of course stop now. I won’t be spoiling the movie but will be mentioning things which happen – so you have been warned.
I think what helps this movie is that I generally like the cast. Although Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard lack a bit of on-screen chemistry – which is a bit odd since they seem to get on so well off screen – but I like the actors themselves. In particular Chris Pratt who I think is a funny, charming guy. The rest of the cast is OK – some more annoying than others. Unfortunately Jeff Goldblum is hardly in the movie apart from one courtroom (?) scene. The movie (and every movie in the world) needs more Jeff Goldblum.
As with all Jurassic Park/World movies, the special effects are impressive. In Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, I like the fact that they used animatronics – and no just all CGI/green screen. And the cinematography I think overall was good was some brilliant shots. Some standout shots which actually have similarities to previous movies.
The movie itself – its actually fairly scary. Which I think is a good thing. Instead of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, I think maybe they should have called it Jurassic World: Jurassic House because a lot of the movie is in a big creepy house.
Which leads me on to “nostalgia”. There were many things which happened in the movie which were “hints” to previous Jurassic movies. Just a few off the top of my head:
- Mirror with “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”
- Claire shown wearing boots – after much was made about her wearing heels in Jurassic World.
- The very ever scene with dinosaur in Jurassic Park is similar to final shot of same dinosaur on the island
- Goat being fed to dinosaur
It had so much nostalgia that it almost copied the storyline of one of them. Sort of. Similar to Lost World: Jurassic Park.
One other thing to mention. The dinosaur auction. So you can get a dinosaur for only $10 million?? That seems like an incredible bargain. Even the “super dinosaur”, the Indoraptor was about $40m and that seems a bargain for A DINOSAUR! (And also, it makes no sense “weaponising” dinosaurs).
With how the movie ended, it was very much set up for Jurassic World 3. I didn’t know beforehand but its actually scheduled for release in 2021. But of course, if Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom bombs at the box office, they won’t be a 3rd. Since its a Jurassic Park/World movie, its not likely to complete bomb. Looking at the box office takings in the US, its made $148m in the opening weekend (4th on list after Black Panther, Avengers Infinity War and Incredibles 2) and $222m so far.
Actually worldwide its made $826m already! Thats 3rd on list for 2018. It probably won’t beat Avengers: Infinity War but may beat Black Panther? The $222m its made in the US is all in about 1 week. It may end the year being at least top 3 Worldwide gross?? Looking at other big blockbuster type movies released that could beat it, I think there is Mission: Impossible Fallout and maybe Ant-Man and the Wasp. Maybe X-Men:Dark Phoenix but thats a bit late on in the year.
My rating for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)