A Heartpounding Sequel!

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2001)

Like its prequel, I first watched this movie in the theaters and it was edge-of-the-seat excitement. Here, we have Dr. Hammond, the billionaire who founded Jurassic Park, trying to make up for his past mistakes by sending Dr. Malcolm the mathematician to a second "Jurassic Park" island, where Dr. Hammond's nephew is trying to kidnap the dinosaurs and exploit them in his San Diego theme park. Dr. Hammond's goal is to let the dinosaurs roam free on the island, away from mankind.
There are more dinosaurs in this film, including my favorite one, Stegosaurus. Like the previous film, the sound and special effects for the dinosaurs made the creatures well-executed and realistic, making the movie believable.
The cast of characters is larger in number in this movie, with each playing a significant role to help accentuate the plot of the movie and keep it going at a fast pace. Steven Spielberg gave another solid direction for this film, providing non-stop scenes of thrills, drama and character development. My favorite part in the movie is when Sarah (Julianne Moore) attempts to escape from being trapped inside her collapsed trailer hanging over a cliff, trying not to fall through the glass while it slowly breaks open. Also, my favorite line in the movie is when Ian (Jeff Goldblum) tells Sarah she would return home in not a couple of weeks but a couple of pieces.
I thought, though, that the excessive dinosaur attacks are a little overkill and the movie lacks the charm and spirit of the first one. It's still a thrilling and chilling film, but doesn't quite surpass its prequel.
Grade B