For a sequel, you could do a lot worse.

Rating: Null/10 (17 September 2002)

The saving grace here is the presence of Dr. Malcolm (Goldblum), who is rendered more sternly than in JP1, but is still enjoyably quirky and definitely steals the show for being the only sensible member of the "research" team.. Mm.. as well as for simply *being* there, striding about with his ungainly but eerily beautiful physique, and relating a lot of thoughtful "Malcolmisms". The added dynamic of his daughter is executed nicely at first, but unfortunately doesn't resolve or go anywhere meaningful. Jurassic Park 3 has a great beginning, (excusing the rather perfunctory "explaining away of plot-holes" by John Hammond.) but starts to flop and meander about half an hour in; it tries to do too much, introducing way too many disagreeable accessory characters, then including the "second act" in San Diego, which feels very tacked-on and interrupts this already jumbled story.
Still, the dinos look better than ever, and it's worth the viewing just to watch them scarf down people and destroy all kinds of property, both stationary and vehicular. Action packed, but it does lack the emotion, cohesiveness, and straightforward story of its predecessor. The only real "lesson" presented is that people shouldn't be cruel to the dinosaurs, but even this is of questionable value because the dinos will eat or trample anyone, even those who are trying to help them.

This is a sequel and could have been horrible. Instead it's just a bit fractured and comes up short on personality (Except for Malcolm and his daughter, the cast is disposable. Or 'edible', if you prefer)... But "Jurassic Park 3" does offer some thrills and humor, and the tall, chesty hero is easily worth the rental price.
My Score: 6.0 -- Not bad, but JP3 is the better of the sequels thus far.