Sixty-five million years ago dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Then in 1993 Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton, along with a few others, brought them back to life. With Jurassic Park, Spielberg did for dinosaurs, what he did for sharks back in 1975. In so doing, the master director added yet another blockbuster hit to his incredible filmography, and created a franchise as giant as the ancient creatures that inspired it.
Ever since it arrived in cinemas, Jurassic Park has held the coveted title of OG dinosaur movie. Many have tried to nock it off the top spot - including all the JP/JW sequels that followed it - but none have succeeded. And it's easy to see why. The perfect blend of wonder, humour and horror, it is both an awe-inspiring monster/disaster movie and the perfect metaphor for man's destructive ambitions - our tendency to leap without looking, or even thinking.
Which is why Spielberg is able to keep us waiting for the big dinosaur sequences, as he unravels this tragic scenario fuelled by greed and arrogance. With a little help from John Williams, he really makes you feel the grand scale of what John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has built - the helicopter ride, and seeing the grazing Brachiosaurus - before revealing the cracks in its foundation. This might not exactly pull the rug out from under, but it can be as mind-blowing to watch Jurassic Park tear itself apart as it is to experience the park as is intended.
When it comes down to it, Spielberg, along with writer David Koepp and author Michael Crichton all know we're here for massive dino-destruction. All of those rampaging dino assaults - each one an iconic piece of cinema - look fantastic thanks to some incredible visual effects that were state of the art back in 1993, and still look impressive today. But that didn't stop Spielberg and his team from making the events that lead up to the chaos equally fascinating. So that by the time Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) has put his evil scheme into motion, giving the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex chance to interrupt the tour, we are fully invested in this amazing and deadly place.
Incredibly, that sense of engagement hasn't been lost in the more than thirty years since its release in cinemas. Seeing Rexy roar with triumph as she exits her paddock for the first time, or her collision with a flock of Gallimimus. Seeing the Raptors make a meal of Muldoon (Bob Peck). Nedry's nervous explanation for leaving the control room, not to mention his run-in with a Dilophosaurus. And of course, Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum)'s unforgettable line; "Life, uh, finds a way." Jurassic Park is just as intense and gripping on every subsequent viewing. Which is a testament to Spielberg and all those who worked on the film. But in a way it's a shame. There's a pretty big drop-off between Jurassic Park and the rest of the franchise, and it's unlikely that awesome spectacle will ever be matched - although I welcome anyone to try.
There might be a massive drop-off after Jurassic Park, but it's not all bad. I actually think The Lost World is a fantastic follow-up. It carries on the story in an exciting and believable way, as it explores the legacy of Hammond's greatest endeavour, and its catastrophic failure. That chilling opening featuring a little girl and some charming little critters is not only the perfect way to kick things off, it serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by such grand projects when they are abandoned. Although I am rather sick of seeing all British people portrayed in movies as useless toffs who can't even pour their own champagne.
Thankfully, after that annoying element it's not long before we're back on a remote island among genetically engineered dinosaurs and some rather cool looking Mercedes Benz 4x4's. Malcolm was certainly right when he said "Ooh, ahh, that's how it always starts." Seeing the Stegosaurus clan march through the forest takes you back to that moment when Grant and Sattler first witnessed the Brachiosaurus grazing. We know exactly how this expedition is going to go, and yet can't help being swept up once again in all the wonder. Then the moment is ruined with the introduction of one of the movie's more frustrating characters.
Despite Julianne Moore's best efforts, Sarah Harding is at best a poorly written imitation of a human being - certainly to begin with. A contradiction incarnate, if you will, and a supposed expert when it comes to working around predators. She continually chastises everyone for something she will inevitably end up doing. Arliss Howard also ends up playing more of your standard villain type in Peter Ludlow, Hammond's nephew and new head of InGen. It's a bit of a paper thin character, but Howard plays corporate arsehole and stereotypically stuck-up Brit - yet another for this film - very well.
Not all of the characters are quite so paper thin, however. Jeff Goldblum's return as Ian Malcolm is a welcome one, and his reaction to this whole scenario is at the very least understandable. But it's Pete Postlethwaite who gets the truly riveting role to play. Roland Tembo, the leader of InGen's little scavenger hunt is likeable, compelling, and rather despicable. Often all at once. The way he deals with Howard's Ludlow is positively joyous, and his desire to hunt a buck Tyrannosaurus is both intriguing and perplexing. He is intelligent, considerate, and blood-thirsty. Making his journey across Isla Sorna by far the most fascinating.
Given how quickly the dinosaurs show up in The Lost World, David Koepp clearly took very seriously that letter from a fan who complained about waiting too long to see dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. He also upped the ante on cars meeting trees. The lack of fences on Site B means much more dino-engagement for the two visiting parties. Most of which results in some delightfully chaotic and blood-curdling horror. Everything from the aforementioned Steg family, to the arrival of InGen, and Nick (Vince Vaughn)'s handiwork in their camp. The overindulgent San Diego finale is pretty cool too, despite not making all that much sense.
However, the peak of all this dino-driven craziness is the incredible cliffside trailer scene, in which some well-intentioned but not very well thought out Good Samaritan work results in pretty much everything going over said cliff. Although some context on the need for the medical intervention would have been nice - a scene was shot but never released for public viewing. Anyway, it is a shame to see those very cool 4x4's go out so early, and with so little usage. But at least one of them gets a very cool end, with Eddie (Richard Schiff) using it to anchor the dangling trailer, before both man and car are chewed to bits.
The resulting hike or "moveable feast" also proves delectably perilous. Especially for Dieter (Peter Stormare), whose end is another of the movie's high points, not to mention a perfectly delicious comeuppance. That said, the thing that surprises me about this wander through the jungle is that while Ma and Pa T-Rex are portrayed as fiercely protective parents, the other carnivores are once again seen as nothing more than vicious monsters. Monsters who can be outsmarted with ridiculous gymnastics.
After a pretty good sequel, we're now at the point where the franchise takes a dive. Rather than the cinematic bonanza it should have been, Jurassic Park III feels more like a low budget TV movie follow-up, and not a very good one. Joe Johnston and his team have clearly tried to come up with a story that makes sense following the events of the first two movies, which they managed to a certain extent. People can be very stupid, and will try to go to places they shouldn't. Like a quarantined island populated by dinosaurs. Which makes the setup, and the deceptive nature of it in some way believable. Then comes a dream sequence with a talking Velociraptor.
It's good to see Alan Grant again. That's pretty much the only good thing to be said about JP III. Although I don't like what they did with the relationship between Alan and Ellie, or the fact that Laura Dern was reduced to a bit part. Especially when the characters taking her place prove to be rather annoying. There are always characters in these movies that you'd like to see get eaten, but it's not usually such a high percentage of the cast. Unfortunately, the ones you want to see meet their end at the hands - or teeth - of a dinosaur, are the ones who survive.
As for the dinosaur action, it's on par with the rest of the movie. On a much smaller scale, and lacking in excitement. Much like the T-Rex's in The Lost World, the Raptors do at least get a story that shows them to be more than vicious killers. The birdcage scene is pretty fun, but not done very well, and the less said about the parachute the better. But the really strange thing is the Spinosaurus - the figurehead of the movie - looks pretty fake. Which is odd given the stellar work on all the dinosaur animatronics up to this point. Also, short of killing a T-Rex, the Spinosaurus doesn't do anything all that interesting. Even the big finale in which the giant dino does a Jaws before attacking the boat Grant and the Kirbys are using to get to the coast lacks impact. Although that may have more to do with the Kirbys than the action or the dinosaur.
And after all that irritation and mediocrity, the movie ends with a bastardisation of John Williams' magnificent score, a laughable deployment of the US Marines, and an exchange brought about by a magical Raptor flute. That's right, the legacy of Jurassic Park III is a talking Raptor, and a man speaking Raptor to a Raptor with a fancy 3D printed tube.
Ok, time to move from Park to World, and we find ourselves, errr...back in the park. I have mixed feelings about Jurassic World. On the one hand it is another fun and exciting adventure on Isla Nublar, in which another park - albeit bigger, flashier, and actually open to the public - is torn apart by the prehistoric attractions contained within. But in many ways it's just a rehash of the first movie, in which an almost completed park is torn apart by the prehistoric attractions contained within. Though it is nice that on both occasions all that death and destruction came about because of human error and pure stupidity. I mean, dinosaurs weren't exciting enough so you took your playing God to a whole new level and began creating hybrids? Then when one of said hybrids ate her sibling - the only other animal she has contact with - and you didn't think maybe this isn't such a good idea?
The Indominus Rex is a perfect metaphor for human stupidity, and the lengths a filmmaker often has to go to in order to reboot/revive a franchise such as this. And that's without taking into account all the sequel logic you have to dance around for the existence of a new park to make sense. Unless he had yet another change of heart, I'm not sure this is what John Hammond had in mind when he "entrusted" Simon Misrani (Irrfan Khan) with his "vision". But I guess being the CEO of a major corporation requires a talent for spin. That and a large budget for bribery, and the odd bit of blackmail - how else are you going to get the necessary permits, licenses and authorisations to open such a park, after what happened the last time? Between the disaster in the original park, the San Diego incident, and the quarantine operation seen in JP III, InGen is responsible for a rather large and very expensive mess.
However, once you get past all those issues, Jurassic World is pretty fun. Even if the way the Indominus Rex makes its escape borders on the very stupid. By this point Chris Pratt has definitely found his niche as the loveable, cheeky action hero, and Bryce Dallas Howard nails her performance as the highly ambitious but socially awkward Claire. Even if her arc from unlikeable to likeable feels a little short. They make a great odd couple, and a jaunt through the jungle with them is very much a lively one. While the youth contingent - not exactly the most compelling from a Spielberg and/or Jurassic movie - have quite a wild ride of their own. Albeit one that is a little too reminiscent of Lex and Tim's. I also like that Trevorrow brought back Henry Wu (BD Wong), even if his reappearance becomes a bit of a joke in later movies. It's the way he simultaneously destroys Misrani in a confrontation over the Indominus Rex and dispels some of the plot holes surrounding the dinosaurs' appearances, that I particularly enjoy.
As for the chaos of a dino-breakout, it's mostly horrifying and pretty bloody. In other words; quite entertaining. JW is a lot more kinetic than JP, and the crowded park makes for a much bigger disaster. Especially once the Indominus Rex begins unleashing other dinosaurs. Her reign of terror is particularly amusing when seen from the viewpoint of the hilariously underprepared staff - including the bosses, with their misplaced priorities. Isn't it nice that as Operations Manager, Claire can just step away during a crisis to take care of her own problems? Although all this does mean we get to see what you can do with some highly trained Velociraptors, and more importantly, what happens when all that goes wrong. The best shot of the movie, however, goes to Tait Fletcher as one of the InGen mercenaries. Seeing him grinning after shooting that Dimorphodon from the helicopter is so deliciously evil, and he even has the perfect moustache to twirl.
On to what is - and I know I'm on an island - my favourite of the JW trilogy. I appreciate that Rebirth also has JW in the title, but for all intents and purposes, it is the start of a new chapter. Anyway, I can't help but like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. It is both familiar and something rather new. A tale of two halves, if you will. The first of which is strikingly similar to The Lost World, minus the erupting volcano, of course. FK even begins in a similar fashion; with a group of people on an island that they shouldn't be. I certainly wouldn't volunteer to take a small submersible into the Mosasaurus tank! But it is the perfect way to open the movie, with the ghostly presence of the giant swimming dinosaur, and old Rexy hiding in the shadows. I love the inconsistency throughout this franchise in the big dinosaurs' ability to sneak up on people. One minute it's all impact tremors and the terrifying sounds of stomping, then later on that same dinosaur manages to appear entirely without warning.
Watching the team explore the derelict park - especially the main street leading up to the Innovation Center - is both fascinating and awe-inspiring. The work of the set designers/builders/decorators is truly amazing. It really is odd to see what was once a bustling park reduced to little more than rubble. But there isn't time to take it all in because the sense of urgency that comes with working on an active - and rather angry - volcano is kind of palpable. Newcomers Franklin Webb (Justice Smith) and Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) also help with that sense of unease. Well one of them does while the other mocks him for it. Thankfully there are plenty of laughs to be had in watching our heroes attempt to escape the eruption - including Owen trying to avoid lava while recovering from a tranquiliser.
Yep, volcanic eruptions are all laughs when it involves running down a hill while avoiding stampeding dinosaurs and flying volcanic rock, but nobody's laughing when that Brachiosaurus bids us farewell from the dock. That shot has to be one of the most gut-wrenching pieces of cinema I have ever seen. Which is why J.A. Bayona proves to be the perfect choice to direct this particular chapter; he is able to find genuine emotion in this heart-breaking scenario, and blend it into a franchise that is well known for its sense of humour. It's not long after that we're laughing at a hilariously hazardous blood transfusion. Also, who better to direct a 'dinosaurs in a creepy mansion' movie than a bonafide horror director?
Which is where the movie - and the famed horror director running it - makes some bold choices. The second half of Fallen Kingdom is very different to anything that has come before it, and even though it doesn't all necessarily work, it certainly presents a new dilemma for our heroes. After all, how do you free these stolen dinosaurs without losing control of them? Also, is what's best for the dinosaurs, best for us? Like I said, it doesn't all necessarily work - certainly not the 'friend of Hammond/cloned daughter' plotline, which at best feels tacked on. But Isabella Sermon is very good as Maisie, and it is fun watching her run around the creepy mansion with Owen and Claire. It's also believable that some muppet (played perfectly by Rafe Spall) would attempt to steal these dinosaurs, simply to sell them on the black market. Which may lead to a rather weak ending that sees Maisie pressing the button, but it also gifts us Toby Jones' slimy little Trumpite auctioneer.
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It's at this point that the JW trilogy begins to look a lot like the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Much like The Rise of Skywalker, the director of the first instalment returns to do some serious - and rather unnecessary - retconning, and the result is far from the epic conclusion that was promised. For one thing, this isn't even a movie about dinosaurs. It's a movie about giant locusts and the threat of famine, that also happens to have dinosaurs in it.
The whole 'living with dinosaurs'/'Jurassic WORLD' bit hasn't even fallen by the wayside, it's fallen off the map entirely. Much like Doctor Henry Wu, it would seem, who finds himself under the thumb of yet another greedy businessman. That's right, Dodgson is back, because reasons. His return adds absolutely nothing to the plot, and if it weren't for the fact someone mentions his name - that and he somehow has the cannister he once gave to Dennis Nedry - no one would even know it was him. But there he is, and he's once again doing naughty things in the hope of making a buck or two.
Unsurprisingly, Dodgson is not the greatest evil CEO out there. He's not even that interesting a character. Which is probably why he's almost totally unprepared for the attempts by a rather famous trio of scientists to expose his little scheme. Ellie Satler's investigation into Dodgson's company isn't exactly well thought out, but it does mean Laura Dern is back in a Jurassic movie, and she has brought Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum with her. In fact, the one truly good thing that Dominion does is fix Joe Johnston's biggest mistake with JP III.
Sure, there's some good action here and there, featuring some new and very different dinosaurs. Like an illegal dinosaur market and chase through Malta, followed by a crazy flight through dino-infested air space. Most of which involves Chris Pratt waving his hand at dinosaurs. However, all of it is relegated to the subplot involving the kidnapping of Maisie - who has been reduced to annoying teenager - and Blue's miraculous offspring, 'Beta'. Interestingly, this also means that the two stars of the trilogy essentially take a back seat in their own movie - albeit to JP royalty. Zia and Franklin are also pretty much forgotten, and the highly anticipated meeting of Park and World stars comes far too late and is more than a little underwhelming.
Click here to read my full review.
Jurassic Ranking:
- Jurassic Park
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
- Jurassic World
- Jurassic Park III
- Jurassic World: Dominion
Given the incredible effects used to bring these prehistoric creatures back to life, and the blood-curdling chaos they tend to cause, it's not really a surprise that this franchise has taken the world by storm. Like many franchises, Jurassic Park/Jurassic World has its ups and downs - thankfully, more ups than downs. Over the years, that sense of awe and wonder that comes with seeing these incredible creatures once again roaming the Earth may have even been lost, somewhat. But that is certainly not the case with Jurassic Park, which is still the epic piece of cinema that it was when it first hit cinema screens. In fact, it's not hard to see why Jurassic Park is still considered the OG dinosaur movie.
What are your thoughts on Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and everything in between? Leave a comment below or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. You can also email us at moviemoustache@gmail.com.
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