BLOCKBUSTER WITH A BITE

Entertainment

22 June 2018

Universal Pictures’ new blockbuster Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom can be summed up perfectly through words of one of the most prominent, respected and accomplished philosophers of the 21st Century: “Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment, would you capture it, or just let it slip?”

After the catastrophe that occurred on Isla Nublar in the Jurassic World film three years prior, the park has been left to its own devices and the dinosaurs were left to roam free, more or less.

“What’s the problem?” you may ask? Well, unfortunately, the island has a live volcano on the cusp of explosion. This is the perfect excuse for the only mammals on the planet more dangerous than dinosaurs to intervene.

Leading the charge to extract the dinosaurs and relocate them to their new island sanctuary is the park’s former manager, dinosaur rights activist Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) who are bankrolled by the bedridden billionaire Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) and his assistant Eli Mills (Rafe Spall). Without ruining too much of the first half of the plot, the team make their way to the island, are chased by some dinosaurs, run away from an exploding volcano, are reunited with the velociraptor we grow to love AND get double crossed by a gun-toting, trigger-happy military man named Ted (Ken Wheatley). Time to take a breath… But no, you can’t, the dinosaurs still need to be saved!

We’re transported to Lockwood’s estate, which unbeknownst to him, has become an underground dinosaur weaponising and cloning factory/dinosaur prison/auction house where all the dinosaurs that made it off the island are sent to be sold to underworld villains to be used in whatever evil pursuit their hearts so desire. Do they succeed? Unsurprisingly no, thanks to the courageous second half-lead character Maisie (Isabella Sermon). What plays out is an exciting ride, which does not leave you bored for a second.

If you take a step back and look for an underlying message, what appears is actually quite a good one. Nature is a powerful beast. Don’t mess with it. We were not the first to live on this planet and we will most certainly not be the last.

All in all the film is a thrilling beast if you’re looking for an easy watch. There is action, a hell of a lot of (brilliant) CGI, some heart-wrenching moments and the occasional fright – so hold on to your popcorn. If you’re a Jurassic Park purist, leave your criticism at the door, sit back, relax and enjoy. You’re in for a good one.

See Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in cinemas now.