“Where’s the goat?”
To this writer, this is one of the most memorable scene of the first Jurassic Park movie way back in 1993. Immediately after, the enormous and horrific Tyrannosaurus Rex “gulped” and “chewed” the white goat before attacking the siblings Lex and Tim Murphy. That was one adrenaline rush.
Add to that, the iconic score of musical legend John WIlliams will forever be the trademark of the Jurassic Park movie. There has been some seven before the latest with Scarlet Johansson, aka Black Widow, of course from the MCU franchise.
The roar is back. And this time, it echoes with a slightly different timbre. Two decades after the last ill-fated attempt to coexist with resurrected dinosaurs, the iconic franchise returns with Jurassic Park: Rebirth.
At the start of the movie, they established the story with the “usual” blunders that will release the dinosaurs back in the wild.
Director Gareth Edwards takes the helm, promising a fresh perspective while honoring the legacy. The film opens with a seemingly successful dinosaur sanctuary in Patagonia, far removed from the familiar islands. Publicly owned and heavily regulated, this new park, “BioSynctuary,” boasts state-of-the-art security and a carefully curated ecosystem.
I have to give it to Jurassic World: Rebirth. Giving the chills and shrills to the moviegoers, OG and first timers. The visual wonder of seeing pre-historic beasts will give the audience the oohhs and aahhs, making the movie still relevant despite several chances.
Visually, Jurassic Park: Rebirth is undeniably stunning. The CGI dinosaurs are more lifelike than ever, showcasing intricate details from their scaly hides to the glint in their reptilian eyes. The action sequences are thrilling and often genuinely terrifying, particularly during a claustrophobic encounter with a pack of genetically enhanced Velociraptors in an abandoned research facility. There are moments of genuine Spielbergian wonder too, like a breathtaking scene where a Brachiosaurus herd traverses a misty mountain range.
While it introduces some intriguing new dinosaur species – including a feathered carnivore with uncanny camouflage abilities – the overall plot structure treads familiar territory. The “escape and hunt” formula, while still capable of delivering thrills, doesn’t offer many surprises for long-time fans. The thematic exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature and the consequences of playing God also feels somewhat recycled, lacking the sharp commentary of the earlier films.
Some parts wherein characters will be the meal of the dinosaurs, all you have to do is make your selection on the role players and you know that most probably, the next scene, they will be end up being munched and crunched.
I also like the “mis” and adventures of the Delgado family, headed by Lincoln Lawyer star Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. Their close and near-“meal” encounters with the dinosaurs though expected that they will survive, still provides that exciting and nail-biting part of the movie.
Jurassic Park: Rebirth is a visually impressive and often exciting addition to the franchise. It delivers the dinosaur thrills and awe that fans expect, with cutting-edge special effects bringing these prehistoric creatures to life in spectacular fashion. However, its reliance on familiar plotlines and somewhat underdeveloped characters prevent it from reaching the heights of the original.
While Jurassic Park: Rebirth might not be a groundbreaking reinvention, it’s a solid popcorn flick that will undoubtedly satisfy the craving for dinosaur mayhem. Just don’t expect too many evolutionary leaps in the storytelling. Sometimes, even when faced with extinction, some franchises just keep finding a way to…reboot.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
