Way better than most sequels these days

Rating: 9/10 (18 June 2015)

Even though I was born in the 90s, I never had any interest in the Jurassic Park films until recently. I don't know if it was the hype for this new film or the constant showings of the previous films on TV that got me to watch the first films. While the first two sequels weren't the best, at all, I really liked the first one. As sequels usually work lately, I wasn't expecting this one to be as good as the one from 1993. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked Chris Pratt's character, Owen Grady. He was not the lovable antihero he was in Guardians of the Galaxy, for example. This time there were almost no jokes in his lines, yet how he feels about his raptors is what captivates you since you meet him. He was willing to go inside the cage to save the other staff member, which not only shows how much of a hero he is but also how much he trusts his friends. Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire Dearing was a pleasant surprise. I didn't like her at all as Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3 (that role was meant for Emma Stone, for sure) and the promotional material didn't make her look like an appealing character. In spite of that, she is the one who gets more developed throughout the film, showing real emotion not only for her family but also for the dinosaurs (the scene with the brachiosaurus was cut short, in my opinion. The sudden change of atmosphere killed the mood). Vincent D'Onofrio is that kind of actor who can get you to HATE the villain he is playing, like it happened with his take on Kingpin in Netflix's Daredevil. I think that shows an incredible skill as an actor, despite the weak script he was given to work with. Vic Hoskin's obsession with turning the raptors into weapons is unclear and his death seemed a little rushed in my opinion. The kids... Well, Ty Simpkins shows again what a charismatic child actor he is. He was lovable as the witty Harley in Iron Man 3, and is now lovable again as Gray Mitchell, an incredibly smart but introverted kid. My real problem is with Nick Robinson's character, Zach Mitchell. It was clear he had a girlfriend, but at the time of saying goodbye he ignored her "I love you"... Well, he basically ignored everything until his life was in danger. Even though he was taken, he constantly checked every girl in the Park out. He also was "mean" to his little brother (quoting his own mom) and broke every rule just to "seem cool", which got him and Gray in danger. If this is what the film tried to deliver, both the script and the actor succeeded, as I felt no sympathy whatsoever towards him. The Indomitus Rex was absolutely terrifying and Owen's raptors were surprisingly charming, but who really stole the spotlight in terms of dinosaurs was Rexy. the same T-Rex from the first film. She made clear again who is the real deal in the park. Other notable mention is the vast amount of Easter Eggs referencing the first film. While it's not necessary to watch the first film to understand this one, the film feels entirely different if you catch these Easter Eggs. I left the theater humming John Williams' Jurassic Park theme song, and I am surprised to give this film an even higher rating that the first one because it was the one who got me interested in the franchise. 9/10