There’s nothing scarier or more fascinating than the unknown.
That’s why audiences keep coming back for the extravagant, dino-filled fun that is the Jurassic franchise — it’s the only time they get to see these captivating creatures in action.
In the fifth installment, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," greed and humanity go into an all-out war and make for exactly the type of summer movie viewers want to see.
It’s been three years since the attack of the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar, the island where the Jurassic World theme park had once opened its doors for visitors to experience the creatures firsthand.
The park's old manager Claire Dearing, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, and dinosaur behavior specialist Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, meet again after distancing themselves from each other for a while after their failed try at a romantic relationship.
Now Claire, who’s working as a dinosaur-rights activist, needs Owen's help. They’re called upon by dinosaur researcher Benjamin Lockwood, played by James Cromwell, to save the remaining dinosaurs living on the island before a newly active volcano kills the creatures.
The hopeful duo head to Isla Nublar with Franklin and Zia, played by Justice Smith and Daniella Pineda. The geeky hacker and paleo-veterinarian embark on a journey they didn't know would be more dangerous than they signed up for.
What follows is a whirlwind of high-paced CGI action. A lot of what Jurassic fans expect — screaming, running and overall terror that realistically portray how humans would act if they encountered a flesh-eating animal 10 times their size. The team, headed by Claire and Owen, turn out to be too naïve for their plan to follow through, as they’re bested by scientists who want to save the dinos from the volcano, but have different intensions afterwards.
When the trailer first dropped months ago, fans online pointed out the plot seemed derivative of the 1997 film "The Lost World: Jurassic Park." Even so, the plot of "Fallen Kingdom" seems rightfully contained. Its problems never felt too big to solve and the motives never felt too complicated to understand.
The film’s characters weren’t trying to save the world in the moment, even though their actions eventually would.
While the main characters are likable and easy to root for, there’s little development. Those repercussions might be noticeable in a sixth installment in the franchise, which the film perfectly set up. I won’t give away too much, but let’s just say the title only makes a little sense. Omit the "Fallen Kingdom" and "Jurassic World" has a lot going for it in the future.
The graphics in the film are almost impeccably detailed — you could see every scale on the dinosaurs' backs, every indent on their sharp teeth and every dribble of saliva as they opened their mouths to prey on yet another human.
The film had all the elements that a good summer blockbuster should have, it’s easy to watch, understand and enjoy.
