Three years after the events of Jurassic World and the stakes have only gotten higher for those trying to save the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
The island’s volcano has decided to blow its top, sending the first part of the movie into a frenzy of adrenaline- and drama-fueled moments suffused with small comedic moments that add to the characters, without detracting substance from the plot.
Whereas the time on the island is almost consistent with the tempo and tone of movies such as the Transformers series, the later part has a surprisingly suspense-thriller feel to it. The rest of the audience and I were constantly gripping our armrests or gasping when a character came too close to the jaws of death or they revealed a sinister twist to their plans. The tension rose to new levels thanks to the cast’s convincing performance. Each actor fleshed out his or her character’s personalities and relationships with a personalized charm that made the situations feel all the more believable.
Of course other times, the audience was gripping their seats because, like in any horror movie, some (most) characters have to be downright morons that walk right into lethal situations. In the case of Fallen Kingdom, the ignorance is taken advantage of, providing both righteous entertainment as well as hidden developments in the plot.
Speaking of hidden things, there are subtle throwbacks to the original Jurassic Park movies that made me grin at their cheekiness. They are not forced; instead seamlessly incorporated in the form of minute gestures or the utilization of proper lighting to project shadows.
The movie is not without its flaws though. There are minor grievances I have such as how a T-Rex that shakes the very Earth with each step is able to sneak up on unsuspecting victims several times. That I can forgive on behalf of movie science. However, the issues such as unanswered questions and assumed knowledge brought me out of the story, leaving me to play catch-up with the rest of the scene.
In all honesty, I can forget those transgressions. After all, I left the theatre raving to my fellow viewers about the unpredictable plot twists, beautiful cinematography, and the national treasure that is Chris Pratt (playing Owen Grady).
Overall, for the type of film that it is, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is fantastic; I thoroughly enjoyed it and only after pausing to think about it did I recall its faults. Appearances by B.D. Wong, Toby Jones, and the hypnotic Jeff Goldblum only sweetened the deal.
8.5/10 agree that life finds a way.
–– By Olivia M., InGoodTasteDenver.com movie reviewer
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