Garland, TX – I must admit that when I first heard they were making another Jurassic World movie I was less than enthusiastic. While the original Jurassic Park movie is among my all-time films, the ongoing sequels have failed to capture that initial magic. Some are better than others, of course, but the two most recent sequels to the first Jurassic World have been completely forgettable.
My interest in Jurassic World: Rebirth was first piqued when I heard it was being directed by Gareth Edwards, who also directed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. That’s easily one of my favorite movies and spawned an equally fantastic and critically acclaimed Disney+ show, “Andor.” When the cast list came out I started to feel genuinely optimistic. Scarlett Johansson is always great, Mahershala Ali is one of my favorites, Jonathan Bailey was outstanding in Wicked and The Lincoln Lawyer’s Manuel Garcia-Rulfo comprise a first-rate group to build a story around.
Ok, so great director, incredible cast…what about the story?
No spoilers here, but I will say that recent Jurassic movies have, sooner or later, devolved into long, overblown chase scenes followed by a massacre of anyone not receiving top billing in the films. Often referred to as the “red shirt” effect, from the Star Trek formula of killing off anyone who beamed down to a planet with Captain Kir, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock. There is some of that in this movie, but it is not quite as central to the plot this time around. The story is layered, characters are complex and are impacted by the events of the plot, and at the end we see real, nuanced changes that make sense.
For this English professor, the writing matters, and the writing for Rebirth is quite satisfying.
There is also something here for sci-fi movie buffs, as Edwards packed in Easter Egg homages to the trash compactor scene in Star Wars: A New Hope, the rancor scene in Jabba’s palace in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, and also a classic moment from the iconic original Alien movie. Keep an eye out for those as you watch!
Final analysis? There is something here for everyone, whether you’re just looking for a summer action-packed popcorn movie or something a little deeper. There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments, there is a moral lesson and there are spectacular special effects and a true story to enjoy. I highly recommend catching this on the big screen, and preferably in IMAX or at least Dolby. It’s still the best way to see a big summer blockbuster!
