
Peter’s Spoiler-Free ‘Jurassic World’ Review: “The Best Jurassic Park Film Since the Original”
Posted on Wednesday, June 10th, 2015 by Peter Sciretta
I got an opportunity to visit Jurassic World last week and lived to tell you about it. After the jump you will find my virtually spoiler-free Jurassic World review, which gives you an idea of what to expect, what was good, and what was not, without spoiling anything that couldn’t otherwise be learned from the marketing.
Jurassic World Is the Best Jurassic Park Film Since the Original
Jurassic World is the best Jurassic Park movie since Steven Spielberg‘s original 1993 film. You might say thats easy because the sequels weren’t that great, but remember one of those movies was directed by Steven Spielberg himself. Jurassic World can’t compete with the original, which is a modern day classic, but its a fun ride perfect for the summer blockbuster season. And lets forget about those sequels anyway. This movie certainly does.
Colin Trevorrow captures some of Spielberg’s former early Amblin magic, especially in the sequences which involve the two kids played by Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3) and Nick Robinson (The Kings of Summer). I almost wish the film spent more time from the point of view of the youngsters, off by themselves, alone and in peril.
We Don’t Care About the Film’s Main Protagonist
While the marketing would have you believe the film is about Chris Pratt‘s character Owen, the story actually centers on Bryce Dallas Howard‘s Claire, who unfortunately is far less interesting. She often relays exposition and over-dramatically responds to whats going on as her dinosaur theme park begins to crumble in her hands. Her character is disconnected from her family and humanity, she plays up the coldness of the character so much that I’m not sure I even care if she lives or dies.
Chris Pratt Isn’t Just Star-Lord in a Vest Riding With Raptors
One of the worries with Pratt is that he would basically be playing the same lovable but funny hero we’ve seen in Guardians of the Galaxy, but Pratt shows he can handle a different range with this role. Seeing him as Owen also has me much more excited about the prospect of him taking over the Indiana Jones franchise, even if that is just an internet rumor at this point.
The Action Is Thrilling and Fun
Jurassic World really shines in the moments of action. The set pieces are reminiscent of the big moments of the first film but without feeling like they are just trying to recapture the same beats. I would love to talk more about the setpieces but I would rather let you experience them yourself.