Just got out 30 minutes ago. Figure I'd do a pro/con summary?
Jun 22, 2018 2:58:58 GMT
Hauntedknight87, DSDSquared, and 1 more like this
Post by politicidal on Jun 22, 2018 2:58:58 GMT
In short, I had a blast at this. Still on the fence if I like it better than the last Jurassic World or if it's just the initial rush;the last act is relentless. There are spoilers below but I'll tag them if people want to remain in the dark.
PROS:
- the action/adventure tone is accelerated this time. The first 15, 20 minutes are slow but once they arrive at the island, things really take off and don't stop.
- The first scene of the movie is the best opening since the original film.
I'll only hint that it's the scene shown on the newest poster I shared.
- Chris Pratt is the man.
- Bryce Dallas Howard's character is far more likable this time.
- Daniella Pineda is a great sidekick. She's brave, caustic, and immediately endearing.
- Ted Levine is in a movie again!
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The gut wrenching shot of the Brachiosaurus left behind on the island as it finally explodes.
- I cannot stress how awesome the Indoraptor is. I didn't mind the emphasis on hybrid dinosaurs for this new series. But even I rolled my eyes when the villains' plan was to just make another 'weaponized' dinosaur. This thing is f**king intimidating. It helps that the best visual effects in the movie are for the Indoraptor. Its scenes are the most suspenseful moments in the series since the kitchen scene in the first one.
- Speaking of which, the CGI is mostly improved. The volcano scenes are more suitable for an Emmerich gig than a JP movie but the dinosaurs look great.
- Chris Pratt's moments with Blue are heartwarming.
- The actress playing James Cromwell's granddaughter (Maisie?) is quite good too.
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The 3rd act twist involving that granddaughter isn't as hokey as I expected it to be.
- The death scenes are more gruesome than the last JW movie.
It helps they all happen to the villains that are probably some of the biggest assholes in the whole franchise; even more than Hoskins. You will cheer when they die.
CONS:
- Jeff Goldblum only has a cameo and it bookends the movie.
- The villains are serviceable and it's awesome seeing them get their comeuppance but they're no Tembo or even Ludlow.
Actually, Rafe Spall more or less plays a young hip version of Peter Ludlow. Toby Jones is amusing but he's just kind of there as some sort of black market auctioneer.
- There are a lot of parallels with The Lost World: Jurassic Park but I thought the environmental message was at least better handled this time.
- Justice Smith plays the other sidekick and he's mostly annoying. There are two scenes where his fish-out-of-water schtick is funny but he's pretty much the load afterwards.
- James Cromwell's role is not quite as big as I hoped (it's been a while I saw him in a movie).
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The aforementioned plot twist is radical by the standards of the series but it's not dealt with after the initial shock.
- No post credits scene tying this in with The Predator. That's all the final shot made me think of.
