Jurassic World (Rated B)
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio
Genre: Science Fiction Action Adventure
Dwight's Rating: 
There are some important lessons to be learned from the summer box-office so far this year. Hopefully, Hollywood is paying attention. The season's biggest movies to date have been sequels (as is often the case). But the best reviewed of those sequels that are the ones coming many years -- decades even -- after their most recent predecessors.
The highly anticipated "The Avengers" sequel was met with mixed reviews, with the overstuffed and yet still lackluster "Age of Ultron" coming just three short years after the original.
Conversely, there is a 30-year chasm between critical-darling "Mad Max: Fury Road" and 1985's "Beyond Thunderdome". But "Fury Road" was almost universally praised, and is perhaps the best-reviewed film of the year thus far. Arguably, it may be the best in this "Mad Max" series, now spanning 36 years. It's been amazing to see a sequel -- the fourth in the franchise, no less -- perform in such a manner.
"Jurassic World" is also the fourth film in its franchise. Like a nail to the head, most people, if surveyed, probably would have said another installment of "Jurassic Park" would be something at the bottom on the list of necessary things. Plus, dinosaurs seemed so 1995!
It's been 22 years since "Jurassic Park" first made it to theaters, and 14 years since the last movie in the series, "Jurassic Park III" -- the second of its sequels. But surprisingly, "Jurassic World", too, like "Fury Road", seems to have benefitted from the passage of great amounts of time. And this version is the most exciting edition since the original.
Is it just a coincidence? Or is there a lesson to be learned for all future sequels?
Clearly, one lesson not being learned is that human beings should not be messing around with dinosaurs and their DNA. Even after the disasters in "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World" and "Jurassic Park III", and 22 years following the events in the original movie, we learn that the Jurassic World luxury resort is now a thriving and popular tourist destination. It's located on the same island off the coast of Costa Rica that was home to the original park, which is in an area now closed to the public.
The resort provides a habitat for an array of genetically engineered dinosaurs. The scientists at the facility have been "designing" new dinosaurs to attract more visitors to the destination. Their most unbelievable creation to date is the vicious and intelligent Indominus Rex. But when the massive creature escapes, it sets off a chain reaction that causes all the other dinosaurs to run amok.
The fun is non-stop in this fast-paced adventure. It's reminiscent of a number of recent sci-fi films, like "King Kong" of 2005, or last year's "Godzilla". But in many ways it's much more cohesive and focused than many films of the genre. It's quite a production --visually stunning, with a compelling musical score.
There are edge-of-your-seat and jump-out-of-your seat moments, as the dinosaurs clomp, chomp and stomp on nearly everything and everyone in sight. But there's also clever writing, and great dialogue and acting, with a pretty good sense of humor. It's absolutely not your usual dumb summer adventure movie (ahem, "San Andreas").
On a cerebral level, it's interesting what "Jurassic Word" is perhaps-not-so-subtly saying about commercialism, and the lengths humans will take for capital gains. So, there is stimulation on many levels, and fun for nearly all the senses.
As has been typical with the Jurassic Park series -- and with most Steven Spielberg (he's the executive producer) adventure movies -- children/teens are at the center of the plot. Brothers Zach and Gray are effectively played by youngsters Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins, respectively. But it's Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt who really shine.
Howard, in what is likely her most memorable performance yet, is as much the action star of this movie as her male cast members. She plays Claire, the boys' aunt and the park's operations manager. She's tough and career oriented, with little time for family or for love. But when the dinosaur caca hits the fan, she's not a shrinking violent. Claire gets down to business; in the face of man-eating/killing dinosaurs, I don't recall Claire screaming even once! Take that, Hollywood female adventure character stereotypes! She's as brave and resourceful as anyone else.
That said, Chris Pratt is quickly establishing himself as Mr. Summer and Mr. Blockbuster. As he was also the star of my favorite movie of last summer, the monster hit "Guardians of the Galaxy", if Pratt keeps this up, he will ascend to the action king throne left vacant by former summer box office superstars like Will Smith and Tom Cruise. He is perfectly cast as Velociraptor trainer Owen -- even if he's not very different from his "Guardians" character. Nevertheless, Pratt is the epitome of the action hero.
My theory about whether sequel-obsessed Hollywood should pay attention to the length of time between sequels will be tested in the coming weeks. Arriving in theaters next month will be yet another iteration of "The Terminator" ("Genisys") and of "Mission: Impossible" ("Rogue Nation") -- both the fifth installments in their respective series, which haven't appeared in theaters since 2009 and 2011, respectively.
Are audiences even remotely interested in new versions of these flicks? Have enough years passed? Or do we really need a cushion of at least a decade or two to build up audience interest -- or perhaps for new audiences to be birthed who'll perhaps think these recycled story arcs are new?
After breaking nearly all box office records this past weekend ("Jurassic World" had the biggest opening weekend in North America, and the highest-grossing opening worldwide, becoming the first film to gross $500 million worldwide in its opening weekend -- already making three-times its budget), we can imagine the producers are eager to exploit this success, and the premise that "dinosaurs are hot again!"
But I urge them to rest the "Jurassic Park" series once again, at least a decade. Allow some memories to fade, and technology to inevitably advance some more, so that even if the storyline won't be entirely fresh, there may be something new and worth seeing on the screen. Hollywood, for your sake and ours, please take note!
o Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of " Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.
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