SIGHT FOR 'SAUR EYES

Movie
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard
Review Ray Chan

How much longer can the Jurassic franchise continue without becoming stale?
    When the dinos of Jurassic Park first roared on the screens in 1993, the novelty was fresh, and moviegoers flocked to view mechanical monsters as much as they were hoping for an entertaining story.
    But now, four sequels later, cynics can be forgiven for feeling that an invigorating shot in the arm is needed to rejuvenate the premise of reptiles gone wild due to human intervention.
    Fallen Kingdom, thankfully, offers that infusion of adrenaline. Returning writers Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow come up with a clever script that takes the majority of the action out of its usual element, adding a refreshing change of tack and scenery.
    Director J. A. Bayona, lately of A Monster Calls, manages to deliver effective scenes that are genuinely filled with terror and suspense, so vital in an era where viewers are jaded and bored with even the most sophisticated CGI effects.
    The story takes place three years after the events of Jurassic World, with a dormant volcano on the abandoned island of Isla Nublar, home of the jurassic sanctuary, threatening to bury the revived dinosaurs. 
    This catastrophic natural disaster compels former velociraptor trainer Owen (Chris Pratt) and Jurassic World manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) to team up once more as they try to save the creatures. At least this time Claire doesn't run around in high heels.
    But instead of any hint of romance being rekindled, there’s little emotional investment in the pair, as they spend more time thwarting attempts by profiteers to auction off the island’s occupants as weapons of mass destruction, along with the potential of cloning them.
    Indeed, the film shines brightest when the spotlight falls on the real stars, the computer-generated godzillas, who roar and rampage longer and stronger than their predecessors.
    Bayona, Trevorrow and Connolly also showcase the dinosaurs in a different light, generating a sense of sympathy for the creatures as they struggle to exist in the present world. 
    Ultimately, the movie is a fun romp, but it does pose serious questions, challenging viewers to consider whether it’s worth saving species once extinct, reproducing them and returning them to modern times.
    The poignant moments where innocent dinosaurs are killed by the volcano’s lava further raises the point of this dilemma. 
    This angle is scantly touched on, although the conclusion of Fallen Kingdom indicates it could well be the focal point of the next chapter, already projected to be the final instalment in the series. 

@JurassicWorld