Jurassic World

StokerScore 7/10

40 years ago this year, the template for Summer blockbusters hit our screens. Jaws is as revered enough now as it was then and is getting a cinematic re-release in honour of the fact. It's part of the reason that I chose this fan art poster from the internet rather than Universal's own poster.

But is Jurassic World bigger than Jaws, as the poster might suggest? Hell, is it even bigger than the first Jurassic Park?

For me the answer is no and no. But that doesn't make it a bad movie. 

From the outset, a clever opening scene slow reveal sets the tone for a movie which tries hard to be original but ends up following the course of the first movie just a tad too much. The action and scale are huge, the trailer hasn't given away all of the movie's good stuff and the lighter tones, there's a great put-down that made me really laugh, detract sufficiently from the full scale slaughter on the screen (c'mon, this was shown in the trailer so it's not a spoiler). 

When we finally see the dinosaurs I felt equally as awed as when I watched the first JP. But the underlying message of the film, that we're always in need of something newer and shinier, isn't really adhered to by the screenwriters who rehashed a little too much from JP1.

That being said, the actors are spot on, with the disappointing exception of Vincent D'Onofrio's villain who doesn't really seem to do too much and whose motives are never really fleshed out, the new additions to the park are excellent and I'm sure John Hammond would have relished seeing his dream become reality.

Finally, is there an opportunity for a sequel? Well, considering the numbers for its opening weekend I guess the accountants will demand one even if no-one else does but I can't help thinking it'll have to be better written if I'm going to enjoy it more.