Rawr! ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Brings Franchise Back from Extinction

 

Jurassic Park is one of those perfect Steven Spielberg movies. The visuals, the score, the performances and its playful mix of terror and wonder make it an all-time summer blockbuster classic. The sequels, however, for the most part, have lacked the “Dino DNA” that made that first walk in the park so special. I would even be so bold as to say that Jurassic World Dominion is one of the worst major franchise sequels we’ve gotten in the last decade … and that’s saying a lot!

Three years later, the bar was set low for Jurassic World Rebirth, Gareth Edwards’ follow-up that serves as a soft reboot for the 32-year-old franchise. But thanks to some intense action scenes, creepy new creatures and a solid cast, this film ably clears that bar like a Titanosaurus stepping over a Compy. So yeah, it’s pretty good.

But let’s get the negatives out of the way first. The opening few minutes are rough. The inciting incident during the prologue is silly in a bad way, and the opening scenes setting the plot in motion (to create a new heart disease treatment, our heroes must collect DNA from three massive dinosaurs which just so happen to be located on and around InGen’s abandoned R&D island) feel like a bad video game intro that doesn’t let us hold X to skip.

Once things get going, though, Rebirth grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go, combining elements of Spielberg classics like Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark – plus a smattering of Park throwbacks – with new thrills and creatures. I wasn’t sold on the idea of mutant dinosaurs initially (flying raptors?! And what the heck is a Distortus rex?), but it all works here. And even when the film slows down to show us a majestic herd of titanosaurs or a cute and marketable baby dinosaur named Dolores, it’s still a joy to look at. Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Godzilla) has a knack for combining human beings with digital creations, and shooting everything on location really helps make us feel like we’re right there with these characters, narrowly avoiding the jaws of a massive Mosasaurus or hiding beneath a raft to evade the gaze of a hungry Tyrannosaur.

Speaking of which, the fact that we get the raft sequence from the original Michael Crichton book translated to the screen in this film is such a joy. If you thought a T. rex was scary before, just wait until you see what they can do in the water!

Humans are typically a side dish in Jurassic sequels (mostly literally in the eyes of its true stars), but I’m happy to say that leads Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali do more than just gawk at dinosaurs and run for their lives. Joining them are a shipwrecked family (plus a boyfriend) played by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono and Audrina Miranda, who add some interesting dynamics and heart – yes, heart – to the perilous proceedings.

No Jurassic sequel comes close to the original, but in terms of scale, intensity and sheer summer blockbuster joy, Rebirth roars. Check out my updated franchise rankings below:

1. Jurassic Park
2. Jurassic World
3. Jurassic World Rebirth
4. The Lost World: Jurassic Park
5. Jurassic Park III
6.  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
7.  Jurassic World Dominion

 

Trailer Showdown: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ vs. ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’

 

We all assumed we would be getting trailers for Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Universal Pictures’ during Super Bowl LIX this Sunday, but both franchises kicked things off a bit early, giving fans of summer blockbusters a lot to discuss and dissect this week. But which trailer packs the most punch? Has the bigger bite? Scarletts the most Johanssons? OK, that last one is pretty obvious.

Let’s see how they match up.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Let’s be honest: There has never been a good Fantastic Four movie. There are some fun moments in the 2005 Tim Story film, but from the 1994 Roger Corman schlock flick to the 2015 reboot misfire, the silver screen has been unkind to Marvel’s First Family. But the debut Marvel Studios film for Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch and The Thing shows promise, placing the characters against a reimagined 1960s backdrop that’s separate from the established Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Fantastic Four: First Steps also features John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne in its star-studded cast, with Ralph Ineson voicing The Devourer of Worlds himself, Galactus. The retro-futuristic aesthetic in this is a lot of fun, and the visual effects bringing The Thing to orange, rocky life are exceptional. If the MCU is “at a bit of a low point” – as stated by Deadpool in a certain billion-dollar team-up flick earlier this year – this might be the splash of freshness and color the nearly 20-year-old movie universe needs.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

Jurassic World Dominion wasn’t great. In fact, it wasn’t even good. Overstuffed with characters and lacking any of the awe factor that made Jurassic Park a classic, Dominion felt like an extinction point for the prehistoric franchise. I remember hearing that the next film in the series would be a soft reboot, and it seems like that comes by way of a new human cast, ramped-up horror elements and the emergence of a new mutant dinosaur threat. It’s also directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and written by Jurassic Park co-writer David Koepp so, yeah, I’m in. 

The Rebirth trailer features Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennett joining Jonathan Bailey’s Dr. Henry Loomis and Mahershala Ali’s Duncan Kincaid on a dangerous expedition to extract dino DNA from several dinosaurs at Jurassic Park’s original research laboratory so it can be used to create a miracle drug. Things obviously go wrong, and the group is attacked by Velociraptors, Spinosauri, at least one Tyrannosaurus Rex and a hideous mutant dinosaur that will likely be a pretty cool toy.

The plot doesn’t veer too far away from the working formula for all things Jurassic – put humans and dinosaurs together and see what happen – but Rebirth looks like a massive stomp in the right direction after the underwhelming Dominion. Let’s hope there are no giant locusts this time.

The Verdict?

It’s close, but when it comes to The Thing taking vs. The Rex, “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” Fantastic Four: The First Steps wins in a battle of fresh vs. familiar. Jurassic World: Rebirth’s trailer seems to tread familiar ground to bring the series back to basics, while First Steps aptly showcases what sets these characters apart from the 30+ prior Marvel Studios films.  

‘Jurassic World’ Chomps $1B World Record

Ever since I saw Jurassic World on its second day of release, I’ve wanted to see it again. Not out of some kind of fanboy obligation, mind you, but because it so successfully made me feel like a kid again. I’ll be chasing that high for a long, long time.

I’m hardly alone in my rekindled obsession with Velociraptors, though. Guinness World Records has confirmed that the Colin Trevorrow-helmed resurrection of the Steven Spielberg franchise has become the fastest film to surpass the $1 billion mark in ticket sales, accomplishing that feat in just 13 days to crush Furious 7’s record of 17 days. 

Since there’s just no stopping Jurassic World right now, it’s a safe bet that we haven’t seen the last of dino wrangler Chris Pratt and his prehistoric pals at the multiplex. More Mosasaurus, please! 

'Jurassic World' Global Trailer Showcases More Dinos, Disaster

Well, everyone's pretty much screwed in Jurassic World, judging by the new global trailer for the June 12 sequel. In the footage, we get our real look at the new big baddie, the mutant creation Indominus Rex, as well as other creatures inhabiting the new park, such as the Mosasaur, Pterosaurs and the Velociraptors trained by Chris Pratt's character, Owen Grady. I love that this franchise seems to be taking a darker and scarier turn here, although I hope that Spielbergian wonder isn't lost amidst all of the carnage.

Watch the new trailer below.

MTV Posts a Special Look at 'Jurassic World'

We haven't seem much from Jurassic World since the Super Bowl trailer hit so, fortunately, MTV.com has posted an extended look at the June 12 flick as part of its lead-up to the 2015 MTV Movie Awards. Unfortunately, anyone hoping for some dinosaur-on-human action is going to be disappointed.

Instead, the clip shows Bryce Dallas Howard's character, Claire, seeking out the help of Chris Pratt's Owen. Evidently, the two have a brief romantic history, which no doubt becomes more complicated when dinosaurs run amok and get all bitey.

Watch the scene below!

Get More: 2015 MTV Movie Awards, Latest Movie News

Meet 'Jurassic World's' New Dinosaur

This year's Super Bowl was loaded with depressing adverts full of absentee fathers and, at worst, dead children, but one of the most crowd-pleasing commercials came early on in the game as viewers got a brand-new trailer for this summer's Jurassic World. In the 1:10 spot, we get a better look at the velociraptors tamed by Chris Pratt's character, a massive pterosaur attack and several glimpses at the park's genetically-engineered predator, the "Indominus Rex." It's awesome, and unlike many of the commercials you saw on Super Bowl Sunday, it probably won't make you ponder your own mortality or weep in front of loved ones.

Jurassic World hits theaters June 12. Check out the Super Bowl trailer below.

The Buy Pile for Sept. 11, 2013

Another “New Comics Day” has come and gone, leaving us with a new assortment of DC’s “Villains Month” covers, complete with glorious lenticular razzle-dazzle. Based on the insanely negative press the publisher has been receiving as of late based on their refusal to allow Batwoman to marry her girlfriend and, well, this, perhaps placating fans with 3D imagery is DC’s strong suit for the moment. So … good for them?

On the plus side, Marvel’s X-Men: Battle of the Atom is off to a strong start, which is really saying something since X-Men crossover “events” can be head-slappingly, face-palmingly convoluted. I’m sure there will be plenty of time for that in the seven remaining installments, but let’s enjoy what we have thus far.

Speaking of enjoyment (worst transition ever, I know), but you likely got pretty excited that not only does the new Jurassic Park flick have a release date of June 12, 2015, but it’s got a title as well: Jurassic World. This leads me to believe that the Steven Spielberg-produced 3D film will be fairly large and ambitious in scope, which will give the series a necessary shot in the arm after two mostly-forgettable sequels. Or it’ll just be a lot of people running away from prehistoric monsters which is ... still pretty cool, regardless.