So....yeah. It took me long enough just to get this out, so nothing else in this intro part. Spoilers, by the way.
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So, right from the start, I knew this movie was going to be great. And I know how expectations affect how people see things and all (a topic I'll touch on in a future review), but hey, as soon as the train went through those gates and I heard the Jurassic Park theme, I couldn't help but get a chill and go holycrapthisisgoingtobeamazing.
And into the plot that's not Celestia's! So as we all know, it's 20 or so years after everything basically hit the fan at Jurassic Park, and it's rebuilt itself into a pretty awesome looking 2015-like new theme park. Seriously, they got EVERY single detail down when it came to the park itself. Like, it looks like a place that I could actually get on a plane and go to. Impressive.
But there's one problem- the park is so spectacularly amazing that people are wanting more. Something bigger, something cooler. Which, is one of the most believable and interesting conflicts I've seen in a movie. Funny how they take a sci-fi movie and do that, right? You can just relate it to about everything in media...heck, every fandom in media...(*reminds self to make a different post on that and gets back on topic*) So yeah, here we're introduced to Claire, who is some person at the top of the chain for Jurassic World. Her character actually kind of puts me off at the beginning of the movie. Like, I thought she was going to be the antagonist, and the annoying business-is-everything stereotype. But hey, movies always surprise me, so I'll get back to that later.
Anyways, to solve this conflict of over-awesomeness, the people at the Dino DNA labs decide to whip up something new- a genetic hybrid type thing called the Indominous Rex. Part T-Rex and a lot of other classified things. She's scary, she's smart, and enough to keep the public going through the gates like a new ride at Disney World.
Enough exposition dumping now, moving on to Owen. Now this character I like- ex-military, so he likes to shut people out, but has a connection with the raptors that he isn't afraid to show. And a bit of a know it all. Yeah, this guy's cool. Claire shows him the hybrid (also mentioning that they used to date....yeah, we all know where this is going....) and Owen doesn't approve. Claire dismisses, even though she doesn't realize that she's talking to some sort of DINOSAUR EXPERT because it's business and business is her life. Ugh.
But then, things get interesting.
The Rex turns out to be smarter than anyone thought, tricking the people and giving it a chance to escape, even removing it's tracking device. It's actually pretty creative. Also, sometime around here we're introduced to brothers Zach and Gray, who pretty much exist only so we can see the park from the tourist POV. Not complaining or anything, because it's not Jurassic World if you don't see it from that perspective, just pointing it out. They're also relevant to the main plot though, because Claire is their aunt and is "watching over them." Anyways, yeah, it's not like I don't like these characters, they needed to exist, but they're overly cliched. I mean, they're parents are getting divorced?! Where have I seen that before?! Every. Movie. Ever. Also, Zach arms to turn from moody teenager who doesn't care about anything to adventurous rebel. And it's not character development either, it literally happens just like that. (Though on a side note, I will admit I will give you all my money to ride those gyro-hamster balls.)
Ehhhh, I'm being too negative now, aren't I? Alright, I will give the movie credit for the scene where the Rex chases them, breaking the glass and all. Cool effects, and some bonding for the brothers as they try to escape, I guess. Still trying to figure out Zach, but oh well.
Alright, alright, it does get better. Well, not for the dinosaurs. There's a scene with a pretty amazing shot of a bunch of the dead herbivores (kind of an oximoron there) followed by a heartfelt moment of Owen comforting one as it passes away. Even business-y Claire has teary eyes, my first sign that she isn't so bad after all. Also, this was the moment that I looked at the dino's head and noticed all the details, down to the muscles in the neck and every last scale and thought- 'this is just animation...' Kind of blew my mind.
But things are getting worse- again, just for the dinosaurs. My popcorn was probably half gone by this point. There's some more chase scene between the Rex and Owen and Claire/Zach and Gray. A helicopter search also goes terribly wrong and a bunch of pterosaurs escape, and they're heading right for the main resort. Which is also where all the other characters are going. There's an...admittedly slightly underwhelming fight scene with the dinos (I guess everything else was just too awesome) and the gang is all together. Claire did do some pretty impressive fighting though, but that's kind of necessary if a flying dinosaur is attacking you.
Oh! I forgot to talk about Navy Guy. You know, the one who was trying to get the raptors to be used as weapons? (Sorry, there's always one character I forget the name of...) Yeah, I don't like him. Antagonists who are obsessed with doing their evil deeds is just is pet peeve of mine. Why? Because they just. Keep. Coming. Back. But I'll get back to that.
So Navy Guy convinces Owen to use his raptors to hunt down the Rex, because well, the park would be doomed otherwise. He agrees, and when they chase the Rex down the plot twist is revealed- She's part raptor! Okay, question- why did the DNA labs keep that a secret? If the plan was for her to live the rest of her life in solitude without ever meeting other raptors, then why was classifying it necessary? Just for the sake of the plot I guess.
So the raptors turn against Owen and the humans, and there's a climax scene that I think goes on for a bit too long. I mean, I get it, there were a lot of plot twists happening, but I was more focused on how the set builders spent so much time on making the park look real only to destroy it. Which was really funny, actually.
But since I kind of have to, I'll talk about the climax. Navy Guy dies at some point, eaten by a raptor while stealing from the lab because obsessed antagonist, which is pretty refreshing. Owen manages to get the raptors back on his side after that, and they begin attacking the Rex. (another plot hole: how many raptors were there? I'm pretty sure only four or five, but the Rec seemed to have killed off lore than that while battling them.) But the raptors aren't enough. This is also the point where I officially like Claire's character, as she's the one who lets out the T-Rex to fight her. I mean, I'm actually giving her credit, I'd probably be chickening oh by this point. And on a side note, Zach and Gray aren't doing anything.
So the T-Rex manages to beat that thing into the water, where it's rated by that huge water dino, which is, like, pretty freaking awesome by the way.
So everybody is okay and the island becomes abandoned and Owen and Claire are a thing which I really don't like. Sorry, I just don't ship it. That's a subjective thing though, so I'm not taking it away from the movie. All in all, it was good. Re-reading this whole thing, I probably sound negative, but don't get me wrong. I really liked this movie. A couple plotholes here and there, and Jurassic Park is better, but it was a good mind blower for sci-fi fans. 8.5/10.
*cracks knuckles* Well this was...long...
Next up- either Home or Minions, whichever I feel like getting done first. Here's a quick preview oh my thoughts for both of them:
Home- Surprisingly good.
Minions- Ohhhhh boy...
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