Movies

Jurassic World Rebirth: Dinosaurs Take Center Stage in Epic Adventure

BBG News

Fallen Kingdom (2018) – have been successful financially, but they missed a crucial element: a genuine affection or appreciation for the dinosaurs that form their core. Despite being filled with dinosaurs, these movies seemed to relegate them to mere background noise, overshadowing the human actors who were supposed to be more captivating. In essence, the talented Chris Pratt as a dinosaur trainer was meant to be more appealing than the magnificent, enigmatic creatures he interacted with, but they ended up appearing stiff and confused amidst clichéd dialogue and predictable plotlines. The reason for this is that good roles for dinosaurs are not common; it’s been over two decades since a significant role was offered to them in 2001’s Jurassic Park III. In other words, just like nutritious food, quality roles for dinosaurs aren’t easily found on the menu of the film industry.

In a twist of fate, the unfortunate casualties of the extinction sweepstakes are granted a starring role in the blockbuster film: Jurassic World Rebirth. Directed by Gareth Edwards and penned by David Koepp (with roots traced back to the creative mind of novelist Michael Crichton), this movie offers a mix of endearing human characters alongside some over-the-top unsavory ones. Of course, no Jurassic World film would be complete without dinosaurs, and this one is no exception! The creatures are portrayed as simply going about their daily lives in a world where humans have lost their fascination for these prehistoric wonders. Now, dinosaurs are more of a nuisance – think crossing city streets at the worst possible moments. Most of the surviving dinos now inhabit remote tropical islands, and it’s not hard to understand why many humans would prefer to forget about them.

Instead of Rupert Friend’s pharmaceutical conspirator Martin Krebs, we have a character who is after dinosaur DNA for groundbreaking life-saving drugs. The DNA can only be obtained from the large, drooling dinosaurs with massive teeth while they are still alive. To accomplish this task, Krebs enlists the services of covert ops specialist Zora Bennett, played by Scarlett Johansson. The salary offer is so substantial that she finds it hard to resist, especially given her recent emotional turmoil following the loss of a colleague. Recovery seems like the best way forward for her, and getting back to work offers just that. In Johansson’s portrayal, Zora is portrayed as intelligent and ruthless, always aiming for the best deal possible. Her fearlessness in confronting seemingly impossible situations is what makes her successful and highly paid.

She has connections in high places: She calls upon her longtime acquaintance and associate Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), who owns a vessel that will transport the team to the island where three colossal dinosaur breeds reside, their DNA crucial for Krebs’ groundbreaking medication. Alongside Krebs and Zora, they have recruited Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), an ardent paleontologist whose passion for dinosaurs is palpable—at one moment, he gets a chance to feel the scaly leg of a living brontosaurus, and it moves him to tears. While you might be tempted to chuckle, Bailey delivers the role sincerely, and there’s something endearing about it.

The escapades of these hired guns embarked on a quest will intertwine with those of a modest family who were leisurely cruising the sea when a menacing ancient sea monster capsized their boat. (Reuben, played by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, is the dad; Audrina Miranda portrays his apprehensive daughter about dinosaurs – she’s adorable without being overbearing.) Edwards (director of 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the 2014 Godzilla) and Koepp (who penned the scripts for the initial two Jurassic Park films) are well-versed in this genre: they skillfully balance human drama with dinosaur action, opting for the dinosaurs when necessary.

In addition to being magnificent, dinosaurs come in various forms: some glide gracefully through water, adorned with beautiful, shell-dotted spines that transform into fearsome, snarling behemoths upon surfacing; others take flight to snatch prey with their relentless claws. There’s even a cute, licorice-loving baby dino reminiscent of E.T., and a monstrous, mutant giant who resides on an island prison, expressing his anger by mindlessly stomping around. However, Jurassic World Rebirth isn’t just about fear and chaos. Stunning moments of majesty are prevalent as well: the elegant family of brontos that captivate Dr. Loomis swish their tails like ribbons while grazing peacefully in a sunlit meadow.

In Jurassic World: Dominion, there’s a fair amount of potential danger to children, which might be less ideal, but it’s characteristic of Jurassic Park films. The looming threats to humanity are more apparent in this installment compared to previous ones. At one instance, the wisest character, Dr. Malcolm, warns gravely, “When Mother Nature tires of us, she’ll cast us off like autumn leaves.” This is definitely movie dialogue, as real people don’t speak this way. However, we attend movies for such dramatic expressions, and they often present unpalatable truths we prefer to ignore. We have some leeway—time to mitigate the damage caused by our species, and time to enjoy the illusion of prehistoric creatures, big and small, carnivorous and herbivorous, reborn from the slumber of extinction. The movies can offer this escape, at least until they too become extinct.

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2025-06-30 20:06

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