Friday, June 26, 2015

Jurassic World

Direction: Colin Trevorrow; Cast: Chris Platt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson; Story:  Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver;   Screenplay: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow; Cinematography: John Schwartzman; Editing: Kevin Stitt; Music: Michael Giacchino; Producers: Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley; Genre: Action, Sci-Fi; Location: Isla Nublar, Costa Rica; Distributor: Universal Pictures Running Time: 124 minutes;
Technical Assessment            : 3.5
Moral Assessment: 3.5
CINEMA Rating: V14

Twenty-two years after the catastrophes with InGen’s Jurassic Park project, Simon Masrani (Khan) has found a way to revive and operate the program and now owns the biggest Themed Resort, Jurassic World, which attracts at least 20, 000 visitors a day. Meanwhile, brothers Zach (Robinson) and Gray (Simpkins) are on the way to Jurassic World to spend some quality time with their aunt Claire (Howard), the park’s Operation Manager. However, Claire has more important matters she feels she needs to attend to and delegates her assistant to look after her nephews. Meanwhile, the park is about ready to release their latest creation, the Indominus Rex, a T-Rex genetically engineered according to the comments of the focus groups.  Accordingly, this dinosaur will be bigger, fiercer, and scarier since the public are tired of the existing attractions. Masrani wants the expert opinion of Owen Grady (Pratt), the parks’ Velociraptor trainer, first so Claire fetches him to show the Indominus. But when they arrive, they find that the Indominus has apparently escaped basing on the claw marks on the fence. A team enters the enclosure but is ambushed by the Indominus who faked his escaped through characteristics from various animals whose DNAs he was made from. A bigger chaos is about to ensue with the unstoppable Indominus on the loose in a full-packed park. The only hope is with Owen and his four Velociraptors.
A successful box-office film gives its remakes and sequels both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, there is a ready fan base to support the franchise, on the other, comparison is inevitable for the expectant fans. Jurassic World has some huge shoes to fill and it barely does. Storywise, there is a commendable effort to bring in tender moments between man and beast instead of portraying the once extinct creatures as the antagonists. They, after all, have been forced to live beyond their time for the selfish reasons. Main characters were properly developed and well played but supporting ones are forgettable. There is a lack of humor and punchlines in the script but is flows effortlessly still. The computer-generated images are magnificent and worth one’s while. Jurassic Park really comes to life, structure, attraction, dinosaurs and all. However, the suspense and thrill pales in comparison to Spielberg’s 1993 and 1997 films, considering that CGI here is a thousand times better. Jurassic World is an enjoyable movie but it may not be remembered the way its predecessors are.
There is a redemptive satisfaction to be reminded that man cannot dominate creation and nature. You would think that the disaster that took place 22 years ago is enough to teach people that, but no—man finds a way around for the sake a few hundred bucks. Jurassic World is an epitome of man’s greed and conceit and a harsh reminder that these will ultimately lead to his own downfall. On the other hand, Jurassic World emphasizes the importance of relationships and bonds—marriage on verge of breaking up destroys the kids, a woman who focuses on her career more than her family loses meaning, a man who respects life in all forms gains a friend. This specific theme made the difference in this 4th installment of the Jurassic franchise.  CINEMA raises a yellow flag on some scenes too graphic for very young children that may either scare or desensitize them. Parents are advised to use discretion in allowing their younger children to watch.