REVIEW: JURASSIC WORLD - REBIRTH

3.5/5

Brave New World

133 Mins. Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo & Ed Skrein. Screenplay: David Koepp. Director: Gareth Edwards. In: Theatres.

Gen Z have Marvel. Gen X, Star Wars. But us millennials (Gen Y), we had 'Jurassic Park' ("scary in the dark"). And, yes, I already feel old "yet". I'm no longer pushing 40. I know we have alphas now, too. But they have TikTok. Yet, blockbusters continue to dominate the summer in cinemas and one of the oldest is still one of the best in the summer of Brad Pitt's 'F1' and DC and Marvel trying to outrun each other with 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'. Not to mention the last(?) 'Mission: Impossible' for your reckoning. I was barely pushing ten when Steven Spielberg's original movie came out, based on the Michael Crichton ('E.R.') novel. Spielberg was set to do a movie (if only) based on the George Clooney hit medical drama series, until Universal came calling with 'JP'. Promising to finance Steven's passion project if he signed on. That project was called 'Schindler's List'. As a kid, decked out in my UCI Cinemas Jurassic Park baseball cap, I boasted to my auntie (love you, Sue) about how I'd seen the film a whole two times without going to the toilet (unlike some others in the film) once. How times stream and change.

Spielberg originally made 'Jurassic Park' as a spiritual sequel to 'Jaws'. Now, along with 'The Lost World' this franchise, with more islands in the sun than Weezer, has so many sequels, whereas 'Jaws' knew when to stop when it had no teeth and still started to bite. We're not in "Alan" territory any more, but the game 'Jurassic World' soft franchise reboot starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard felt more like a tribute band than the real thing. So here we go again with another soft relaunch in the resurrection of 'Jurassic World: Rebirth'. And it's going to take another Marvel actor to lead the way, or two, as double Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johansson is the star of the show, following her 'Black Widow' retirement, and two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali ('Moonlight', 'Green Book') is scene-stealing, whilst his own 'Blade' reboot can't seem to sink its fangs into a director, let alone a release date. The pair have a perfectly acted moment together, too. Original park screenwriter David Koepp is back in the fold, but it's 'Godzilla' and 'Monsters' director Gareth Edwards ('Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', 'The Creator'), who really brings these beasts back to life for the best 'Jurassic' movie since the T. rex ran rampant on the streets. The last blockbuster of the summer is a flare of a hit, putting the box office on red notice.

Produced by Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley (my friend from Miami?!), it's clear to see like a fallen banner that dinosaurs still rule the earth. Even if, there was a rumour that executive producer Steven Spielberg wanted all references to previous films removed. We saw plenty of engrossing Easter Eggs, mind you, like the product placement of a Snicker wrapper that might not be the best advertising for you to get some nuts. You're not yourself when dinosaurs are hungry in a scene reminiscent of the one between Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche in Edward's 'Godzilla'. Better? Better! There is even a nice nod to the even better, Japanese, 'Godzilla Minus One' from Gareth in the best scene in the movie for this true action/adventure that even kids can enjoy with the real king of this jungle. You see, we're back to mutants again, like Marvel with the X-Men, when this franchise needs to realize nothing beats the real thing, land, air, or sea in some truly tense and thrilling scenes. Especially when a natural one has more tails than Sonic the Hedgehog. One monster looks like a giant 'Alien' Xenomorph, which is pretty damn cool. But in a nice gas station callback to the kitchen, are those raptors? Those original movie scene swipers, that are actually only waist high, have been bastardized ever since Pratt turned them into his pets for his motorcycle goon squad. 

There are still plenty of creature comforts here, like the cute Delores, the real star of the show. Public interest has waned, as these dinosaurs are dying out because of our natural environment (go figure), akin to the idea in the 'War Of The Worlds' (no, not the rotten new Ice Cube one). An opening scene of a Brontosaurus near the Brooklyn Bridge is truly outstanding, though. And you'll be entertained by the human game set to be gobbled, now this park and world opens up here in Japan. Scarlett is the kick ass star and no stranger to these shores, after her making her breakthrough with Bill Murray in the Tokyo Park Hyatt of 'Lost In Translation'. But just be thankful that A.I. generated humanoid velociraptor with her hair was just ChatGPT fake. Meanwhile, Ali is the powerhouse knockout. Whilst the unrecognizable, but 'Wicked' talent of Jonathan Bailey wins you over with genuine awe-inspiring emotion for these dinos, like the first time you saw them move in herds. Rupert Friend, isn't exactly his last name, but he's the big money and no regard this film needs when the real enemy is man. Whilst the always great Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and his family, in a 'Dunkirk' marooned like side-story, give you that Lex and Tim, Dr. Grant dynamic. Even 'Deadpool' and 'Rebel Moon' star Ed Skrein shows up for a bit(e). But we know who the real crowd pleasers are. Here them ROAR! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Jurassic Park', 'Jurassic World', 'Godzilla'.