(The following review contains no spoilers!)
I was far too young to watch Jurassic Park in cinemas back in 1993, but many years later when I discovered Spielberg’s dinosaur epic I was blown away and it really felt like I was inside a cinema. I too was transfixed along with the characters as they were marveled by the fact that dinosaurs were living and breathing among them. The effects were groundbreaking, the soundtrack was iconic and the film itself is considered a masterpiece by many. Since then we’ve had two sequels and a “reboot” in a way with the Jurassic World trilogy, with the final film being the subject of today’s film review - Jurassic World: Dominion.
A key word I will use here is legacy. The franchise has been around for nearly three decades, and since the beginning, the technology and visual effects used in the original film has evolved over the years with the recent Jurassic World films becoming a little too bit reliant on the use of CGI. However, to honour its legacy with this final film they have gone back to basics with a combination of animatronics and computer generated imagery to my absolute delight. Nothing beats the expression on the character’s faces when they come face-to-face with a prehistoric creature, whether it’s Laura Dern’s Ellie Satler or Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing. This is one of many big selling points to the film, but sadly there are a few flaws to discuss here too.
There is a lot going on in terms of story. The film branches off and side-tracks with different characters getting their own time to shine as their plot continues, but at the same time they become segregated from the other characters. By the end of the film you can’t help but feel like the story is a little bit overstuffed. It is a long film, even though it doesn’t feel like it, but it does cram a lot in. The tone is very different from the previous films too, there is a small handful of moments which scare you but this is more of an adventure film that takes you across the coast of Malta, to the fields of Texas and to a mysterious Biosyn-based location. Malta is a particular highlight, with a lot of other places providing some unique settings and situations for dinosaurs to roam around in. These are the moments where the film really shines.
Another key word here to describe Jurassic World: Dominion is that it is pure entertainment. The film aims to please fans new and old alike, there are plenty of callbacks to the previous films but at the same time there are moments that feel fresh and different. The cinematography is another good example of what makes this film feel so different from the others. There are some really stunning scenic shots as well as shots which feel nothing but cinematic and built for the big screen experience. Unfortunately, there are moments where the CGI feels off and ruins these moments but these are rare to come across during the film but are there regardless.
Jurassic World: Dominion does a good job of balancing the old cast, with the return of Sam Neil and Jeff Goldblum, along with the new with Chris Pratt’s Owen and Isabella Sermon returning as Maisie Lockwood from the previous film. They are all integral in moving the plot forward with Sermon’s Maisie being the focus for the majority of the film, but by the end of the film you do forget some of the moments with only the best of which staying with you until the very end. Saying that it feels like the right way to culminate the franchise with a worthy send-off for all the characters involved.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Jurassic World: Dominion isn’t perfect, but there are some memorable moments that make the franchise feel new and fresh again, and It is in these instances that really sells the film. However, the story could have been polished a bit more especially with the legacy that this film carries with it. Seeing the original cast back is a joy and in the final portion of the film you do get giddy with excitement as you watch them fight to survive against a plethora of old and new dinosaurs. So if you’re looking for an adventure film with dinosaurs in it then you can’t do any worst than Jurassic World: Dominion.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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