Dino's vs The Volcano: Review of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Director: J.A Bayona

By Alex Watson

Despite some fine visual touches and some solid direction from J.A Bayona- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom fails to live up to expectations. Saddled with a dull script and lack of narrative, this picture fails to advance what seemed like a promising reboot franchise. It provides plenty of thrills, but a sequel cannot succeed just on this element alone.

Years on from the disastrous failure of Jurassic World, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has become a dinosaur activist. Isla Nubar is threatened with an eruption from an active volcano which could potentially wipe out dino life on earth once more. Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) proposes that Claire lead a rescue attempt for these creatures which includes recruiting disillusioned former Raptor trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt). However, Mills seems to take a particular interest in saving notorious female Raptor, Blue...

J.A Bayona does bring some delicate touches to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, in particular, his Spielberg-like beginning where an underwater salvage mission soon results in a T-Rex attack. These types of moments are fine and give some small rays of sunshine. Then we come to the central plot which manages to gloss all events over the last three years. The corporation has paid out over $800 million in lawsuits and Owen and Claire had a failed attempt to at romance. From the moment Mills and his benefactor Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) pitch their rescue mission- it is obvious something sinister is at play. Sadly, this soon gives way to a half-baked story about the corporation wanting to weaponize dinosaurs. Well, of course, they do!

What could have been an engaging story of against the clock survival is instead swept by in a matter of minutes. Bayona makes the volcanic eruption a spectacular thing and watching a Brontosaurus essentially left for dead in a cloud of volcanic smoke is gut-wrenching. Had the script stuck this type of affair it would have raised the stakes, instead, we get yet another dull formulaic story of corporate evils looking to profit off dinosaurs. Another key issue is the supporting characters, outside of the engaging Grady and Dearing, their co-stars are reduced to being the whiny nerdy guy (Justice Smith) and the tough-talking scientist (Danielle Pineda). Though veteran Ted Levine does have some fine moments as the villain Colonel Wheatley. The side story of Jurassic World most memorable dino Blue is also good- this is one Raptor that is a must-have for the corporation and throughout she gives this picture a little more soul and smarts.

The third act of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom does at least have some commendable thrills to make up for the lack of story. Set within the confines of the Lockwood mansion, it is very much a run and hide affair. One of the key surprises comes from a new hybrid dinosaur that Ingen has cooked up. This alone sends a few shivers down the spine as it runs amock. Bayona manages recreates the cold and creepy feeling that his breakout film 'The Orphanage' provided. While we are let down by an overly sentimental ending and a frankly awful mini twist, we least get some value for money during the home stretch.

Chris Pratt shows how he is fast becoming the main man for Hollywood franchises. Owen Grady is a character more complex than he first appears- his connection to Blue is one that gives this character a needed emotional depth. Pratt also makes good use of his trademark easy charm to win over his audience. Bryce Dallas Howard makes sure she wears more appropriate footwear for this outing. Although Claire Dearing suffers from a lack of development, Howard finds a way to rise above this and give a convincing performance. It is also great to see the return of Jeff Goldblum as Ian Malcolm, his appearance may be small but his character has lost none of its appeal or wit.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a big missed opportunity for this franchise. Hopefully the return of Colin Trevorrow for the third outing with steady the ship.

All That Glitters: Review of Gold

Gold

Director: Stephan Gaghan

By Alex Watson

Although it yearns to be this year's The Wolf of Wall Street, Stephen Gaghan cannot make Gold shine brightly. Matthew McConaughey's performance is very much what makes the film tick. Unfortunately, the movies relies a little too heavily on him for support. Years ago this might have been a thought provoking piece of cinema, nowadays it just feels like a run of the mill money drama.

Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey) is a prospector who is currently down to his last dime. Desperate to get rich, he flies to Indonesia on a whim where he meets mining legend Michael Acosta (Edgar Ramirez). Despite a tough start in the harsh jungle environment they miraculously strike Gold. As his name and wealth grows, Kenny soon becomes the focal point in a power struggle. With the feds also taking an interest will his luck hold out?

During the first act of Gold, you really get the impression that Kenny is the ultimate chancer. A boozed up and balding failure, Kenny attempts to keep his father company afloat selling speculative mining ventures using his outdated sales pitches. When he arrives in Indonesia the whole thing just feels like an exercise in futility. Although this sequence is key to setting up later events, Gaghan seems in a big rush to the important stuff. As the rain falls and Kenny struggles we never really get a good sense of precisely what is happening? When the big moment hits we merely shrug and say 'OK' to whatever is happening.

On the surface, Gaghan was the perfect choice to helm this project after directing Syriana and winning an Oscar for writing Traffic. Sadly he seems more interested in basking in McConaughey's glow that giving an insight into a intriguing industry. The later events feel like more like a formulaic rise and fall than a commentary on today's American market. While Kenny is raking in the dough and satisfying his nagging girlfriend (a thankless role for Bryce Dallas Howard), he also shows signs of greed (shock horror!). Big investors like Corey Stoll's Brian Woolf and Bruce Greenwood's Gold King Mark Hancock circle his fortune like a gull. His pride and refusal to allow his name to lose credibility are what will orchestrate his downfall.

The relationship between Kenny and Michael is integral to the success of Gold but yet Gaghan invests so little in it. Coming across as the wise and hard-working friends you would kill for, Michaels intentions are always a mystery.  Dipping in and out of proceedings his presences is missed whenever he is absent. Part of the issues of the story is that Gaghan seems to assume his audience is clued up on movies such as The Big Short. As a result, he dives headfirst into this story without giving us a chance to catch up. Although this tale of riches does have its moments, its lack of real drama and dilemma gives it a rather hollow feel. It feels like a movie made as a hail mary Oscar effort by its studio.

As mentioned Matthew McConaughey once more does his star credibility no harm and his efforts are sorely wasted. Injecting life into what is essentially a dull drama, McConaughey's Kenny Wells feels like a distant relation to Dallas Buyers Club's Ron Woodruff. Permanently sweaty and sauced up, Kenny Wells is the type of business man you move away from at parties. Edgar Ramirez also matches MM with a smartly downplayed turn. Michael Acosta is most definitely the smartest man in the room and knows it, he has nothing to prove and mend the fences Kenny breaks. Sadly Ramirez's performance hasn't nearly been the credit it deserves. One of the better supporting actors one day Oscar will take notice.

It feels surprising that Gold has been such a misfire when the hands making it were so skilled. It just proves that movies about wealth are not always a sure fire hit.

The Land Before Time: Review of Jurassic World

Jurassic World

Director: Colin Trevorrow

By Alex Watson

After Jurassic Park III underwhelmed fans back in 2001, Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World re-ignites  Michael Critchton's franchise in great style. The dinosaurs both new and old still are as thrilling today as they were when T-Rex first thumped his way onto the screen. On a character level, they might not be the same involvement or interest that Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler or Ian Malcolm was able to bring. But aside from that one minor flaw, this is one attraction still designed to thrill.

22 years after the disaster of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar has once again been re-opened for business. Today it is a futuristic amusement park named Jurassic World which genetically engineers new dinosaurs to spike attendance figures. Park Operator Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) is excited about revealing new super-dino Indominus Rex to investors more than her nephews Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson) visiting. When disaster strikes, the park must turn to dinosaur expert, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to save the day. 

While it may lack the same dramatic tension that the first installment so wonderfully provided, Jurassic World still succeeds well on its own merits. The return to this world is still an eye opening experience and Trevorrow although an unexpected candidate, is one that sports a great visual eye. The argument about pushing the boundaries of science is still very much alive. Grady, an expert raptor trainer has learned to control the once feared enemy but is still skeptical about the effects of dino creation. He warns throughout that these creatures are still sharp teethed predators with killer instincts. Claire makes a sly hint towards the bored modern day audience who want more than average dinosaurs. Indominus Rex is a creature specifically designed to cause nightmares to children and adults. 

But what makes the new threat stand out alongside so other many new creatures, is that not only are its origins a mixture but it is also a creature who thinks almost like a human. Up its sleeves are any number of dubious tricks and unlike its original species mates, it is not hunting for food. For what is perhaps the first occasion, we have a dinosaur that qualifies as a villain. On scene sees a team of special operatives torn to shreds in nano seconds by I-Rex!  Things are also not helped by the emergence of enemy corp In-Gen led by shady businessman, Vic Hoskins (Vincent D'Onofrio). Their hazy agenda is one that causes nervous glances from the outset.

However, aside from the great visual effects, the story and characterization in Jurassic World feels underdeveloped. Grady as a character is one that evolves little outside of being cool and heroic. Claire is the buttoned down, career woman who seems to give little thought towards her family. By the films end though she is a fearless, flair wielding lady who doesn't give a second thought about jumping into harms way. Hoskins is nothing more than a second rate villain and his band of In-Gen buddies feels like a forced inclusion. Where original characters of Spielberg where ones always evolving, this new batch fails to grab our hearts.

This may not be the best character that Chris Pratt will ever play, but once again he proves himself to a good leading man. Sporting the right amount of charisma along with a brave side, Owen Grady is solid enough hero material. Bryce Dallas Howard also rings in a good leading turn as careerist Claire, a woman more concern with profits and losses than peoples well-being. As Trevorrow's picture continues she thankfully sheds her old skin and begins to develop a heart and soul which carries things well. Also look out for BD Wong as Dr Henry Wu, who marks the only original character returning from Jurassic Park.

Jurassic World is one of the first really fun blockbusters that we will see this summer. Colin Trevorrow emerges as a budding talent and once more he has made dinosaurs one of the must see attractions!