Review of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) by Kyle L — 05 Jul 2018

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a sequel that doubles the expectations and surprises the fans of this long running franchise that leaves everyone wanting for more. Twenty-three years after the first disaster in Isla Nublar and three years after the park was reopened to the public until another incident led to its closure.

Former Jurassic World operations manager Claire Dearing, now a dinosaur rights activist is called in along with her boyfriend and former raptor trainer Owen Grady by Benjamin Lockwood, John Hammond's partner to save the dinosaurs that roam free in Isla Nublar when a volcanic eruption threatens to erase their existence.

Once in the island, the tables are turned on them when Benjamin's right hand man Eli Mills betrays them and uses the dinosaurs to sell as weapons at an auction. The two soon discover a new dinosaur has been made by former Jurassic Park and Jurassic World geneticist Henry Wu known as the Indoraptor that is the perfect military weapon.

It is now up to the couple to free all the dinosaurs and destroy the newly developed one to prevent future threats that could destroy mother nature. I finished watching this film a while ago and this film gave me loads of surprises, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is an example of a sequel where the thrills are bigger and better while balancing a good story at the same time.

While Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow did not direct but write this film, the new director Juan Antonio Bayonna takes the helm of this sequel that makes you forget about the early Jurassic Park follow-ups (The Lost World Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III) and he does his best to be something much different from the previous films especially with the 1995 blockbuster classic.

The film does a great job in exceeding all the impossible tasks of the first Jurassic World film by not taking it too seriously. The things that made me enjoy this film more over the previous movie is that it captures the spirit of Jurassic Park in terms of suspense and tension while staying true to its own heart.

I love how we get to see the characters from the previous film evolve in such a loving way that makes you want to root for them to do whatever it takes to save the dinosaurs plus they are also more likable and fun than before.

The story itself takes things to new and unexpected directions for the franchise while adding new twists and turns into the mix. There are loads of scenes that are filled with Dino action mixed with good old fashioned suspense while having some of the saddest moments in the series (The opening scene, the Indoraptor's first meal in the cage, the velociraptor Blue versus the Indoraptor, the thrilling volcanic eruption, the death of the Brachiosaurus that made me flow tears out of my eyes and the rooftop fight in the finale).

The themes about human greed are well explored that makes you think about how most humans have an ugly side deep down. The effects are even better and finally, the main highlight of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the antagonist, Eli Mills.

He is one of the most menacing villains in the Jurassic franchise who is not from InGen or a former worker at the park but someone whose opportunities in earning fortune is done in the wrong way that makes him an intimidating antagonist throughout the movie.

The acting is great and its nice to see the beautiful Bryce Dallas Howard reprise her role as Claire Dearing, I like her here better this time as we get to see her character's caring and loving side that makes you root for her.

The same can be said to Chris Pratt as Claire's boyfriend Owen Grady who delivers a more fun and likable personality than in the previous film and hey, I admit that I prefer him better as Owen Grady than Star Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because he is not the douchebag type here than in the Marvel movies.

He is more of the charming and smart type, plus I love his chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard in both films as I find them the loveliest on-screen couple in film history since Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield from The Amazing Spider-Man films.

All the new actors like James Cromwell and Rafe Spall are great as Benjamin Lockwood and Eli Mills respectively. Its good to see B.D. Wong reprise his role as Dr. Henry Wu from the previous Jurassic films and last but not least, it is also great to see Jeff Goldblum reprise his cameo role as Dr.

Ian Malcolm in this film. Director Juan Antonio Bayonna did a really good job with his directing on this film, he's even a better director than Colin Trevorrow. While Trevorrow made us forget the early sequels that were inferior to the original Jurassic Park by introducing a new story without ruining it, Juan Antonio Bayonna doubles the stakes by taking Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's directions in new ways by not losing what made this franchise good in the first place twenty-three years ago while focusing on good storytelling and adding some dark touches.

Overall Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a sequel that is bigger and better in all the right places that will keep you entertained from beginning to end without losing its magic touch and is true popcorn entertainment plus it is the best blockbuster film of 2018 since Avengers Infinity War.

This movie gets a 10.7/10 and I'm excited for Jurassic World 3 soon.