Jurassic World Delivers Epic Adventure

Only six months into the year, Jurassic World is dominating the box office with just a few showings the day before the official opening and is on target to be in our top ten of all movies for 2015.

Jurassic Park fans were evident as we waited with friends and hundreds of strangers to a sold out theatre last night, something we personally rarely do except for a highly anticipated movie. The last time we did anything like this was for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs but we fully expect to do it again in December when another highly anticipated move opens. A few fans dressed as Dr. Alan Grant and other memorable characters from the previous three movies and others wearing Jurassic Park shirts.

After the long wait for another thrilling movie in the series, I was hesitant to see the movie because I was hoping they did not ruin it. Many people also felt the same way. Let me tell you. Jurassic World does not disappoint.

Fourteen years later Jurassic World is a seamless continuation with a brilliant and surprising story one that makes audiences cheer.

Set on Isla Nublar, John Hammond’s original theme park idea comes to life and is well received by tourists but like all amusement parks, new attractions must be built every few years to keep the excitement and the visitors. BD Wong returns as Dr. Henry Wu who genetically engineers a new dinosaur never seen before, Indominus Rex.

Just like in Guardians of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt owns his part and is incredible as Owen, an integral part of the Raptors program on the island. Own is consulted to inspect the security of the Indominus Rex compound before it is unveiled to the public but the claw marks inside the compound indicate she is smarter and more capable then they ever imagined when she breaches the compound.

Bryce Dallas Howard plays Claire, a woman who is in charge at the park and leads a very busy life. When her nephews Zach, played by Nick Robison, and Gary, played by Ty Simpkins, come to visit she gives them VIP bands for all access in the park because she does not have the time to spend with them until their lives are threatened when an asset is out of containment.

Technology has played a very important part and is quite an advancement by knowing where each dinosaur is at all times with a tracking beacon.  One look at the screen and they know where a dinosaur and their special containment team is at all times.

Thankfully the writers and director included special pieces to honor the original movie and if you have a keen eye you can even see Dr. Malcom’s book about chaos theory on a desk in the control room.

If you have ever visited Universal Studios, the lower level will feel very familiar as it looks like part of the movie set. Additionally, there is a surprising guest appearance by Jimmy Fallon.

“That’s my boy, Blue.”

Owen riding his motorcycle with the raptors is a spectacular scene to witness and his special ability with the raptors is amazing. Blue is officially the coolest dinosaur ever and not something ever predicted to be said about a raptor.

Parental Advisory: Spoiler Alert

This movie is rated PG-13 but many parents will wonder if it is okay to take children to see Jurassic World. We took our 11 year old and 9 year old because they are huge dinosaur fans and have seen the previous three movies multiple times. The intensity factor is ramped up for this movie unlike the previous ones. As expected, there are many deaths and screaming but most are shown like the previous movies where people are eaten whole.

Language is minor, there is no nudity or sex, but it is the graphic nature and intensity that leaves the rating PG-13.

If our audience was any barometer of the success of the movie, fans loved it and so did our entire family. We cannot wait for the next movie because they set it up beautifully to make a fifth one.

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Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor’s interest, which backfires horribly.

• Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril.
• Release Date: June 12, 2015
• Shown in: 3D and IMAX
• Genre: Epic Action-Adventure
• Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, BD Wong and Irrfan Khan
• Director: Colin Trevorrow
• Screenplay by: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow
• Story by: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver
• Based on Characters Created by: Michael Crichton
• Produced By: Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley
• Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Thomas Tull