Like all sci-fi flicks these days, or from past days, inevitably there’s eventually a sequel. Or two. Or three. Or four…or…When Michael Crichton first brought us Jurassic Park that later turned into Spielberg’s 1993 seat-belt-of-a-ride-of-mammoth-mammal-extravaganzas, we believed, okay, maybe we can clone dinosaurs. But, then it begged the question: Should we?
In this fifth installment, we’re 120 miles west of Costa Rica where two men are submerged in a submarine. One looks to the other and says, “Relax, anything in here will be dead by now.” Of course, chomping and stomping with an overbearing soundtrack to hand-hold our emotions leaves us with little fears, tears, tension or suspense. But sit tight. Half way through the film that will all change….
The idea of the explorers is if they can figure out how to harvest the specimens, they can recreate the dinosaur experience. And oh, by the way, dinosaurs are better suited for battle (or so we’ll later learn) than combat soldiers.
Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) is pleading his case that the dinosaurs should remain extinct. But on the other spectrum is Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) who brings ‘save the whales’ to a whole new level with ‘save the dinosaurs.’ She wants to protect the dino groups on Isla Nublar thus requiring government funding. A pretty mature plot for any child in the audience.
Claire is called to the Lockwood estate – a sort of Downton Abbey meets Harry Potter mansion – where she encounters Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell). Throw in any aristocrat with a proper English accent and you’ve got a solid film. Lockwood believes in Claire’s mission. He wants to send the dinosaurs to a reserve. But his money manager, Eli (Rafe Spall) has other plans. Did I mention this is a mature plot for kids?
Enter Owen (Chris Pratt) Claire’s ex. They banter how their relationship ended in the last installment of Jurassic, but they feel a bond over “Blue” their dinosaur child – the one they raised – who’s out there and still alive. Alas, they must save him!
But Maisie (Isabella Sermon) needs saving, too, and probably a good dose of therapy. She’s 9. Her parents were killed in a car crash, and she’s being raised by her bed-ridden-aristocratic Grandpa Lockwood. She’s spent the past few days watching betrayal and murder and has to figure out how to survive solo without being breakfast to a T Rex. .There’s much more to in a menagerie of dinosaurs, but why spoil the surprises. But, did I mention it’s a mature plot for kids?
This is Jurassic Park today. A very ,very violent and mature, over-the-top film that while at times its seat-edging and nail-biting – especially in its ‘taking blood’ from the the CG raptors in a cage scene- any child in the audience will be sharing a therapy couch with little Maisie.
In a nutshell the second half of the film becomes Dinosaurs at Downton Abbey. But it’s the ending that is catchy. With just the push of a button, Claire, delivers the set up to the next installment.
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