This was a first time viewing for me as I missed Fallen Kingdom when it was released and just never got around to seeing it. At the time I thought that the trailer looked a little far fetched, which is a little silly because in these kind of movies where do you draw the line? If you go in with that kind of mindset, you’ll likely be disappointed.

There were some pretty radical ideas in the first Jurassic World film, so I was interested to see where this next instalment would take things. Plus it features dinosaurs and volcanoes in one movie! Hell yeah, I’m in!

The film has a fantastic opening sequence following a team that has returned to Isla Nublar on a mission to collect DNA from the Indominus Rex remains. We don’t know who they are but this can’t be a good thing right? The scene features the Tyrannosaurs Rex and Mosasaurus who we last saw in the final scenes of Jurassic World and it is one of the best starts in the franchise. We’re here to see dinosaurs and there is no time wasted!

Back in the United States, Claire has now founded the Dinosaur Protection Group (DPG) working to save the dinosaurs who are on left on the island from an impending volcanic eruption. It feels like quite a big jump for her from the events of the last film. Perhaps she feels a duty of care to the animals made for the park that she oversaw. While there might be something interesting to tap into there, instead we spend a bit of time finding out the relationship between her and Owen. Which to be fair is likely a contributing factor.

With the introduction of the DPG also includes two additional characters; Zia and Franklin. Both are great and bring energy and laughs to the film. In a way they replace Claire’s two nephews, who don’t return for this sequel.

This second instalment of Jurassic World further explores the theme of empathy towards the dinosaurs which we see in the senate hearings asking if the animals should be saved or not. Claire’s work has started in response to this with the stance that the animals deserve protection. The film also includes one of the saddest scenes in the franchise when the last ship leaving Isla Nublar after the volcano has erupted and we see a brachiosaurus left behind at the dock before collapsing in a cloud of ash. I think it had such an impact is because the brachiosaurus are usually the first dinosaurs that people see on the island which sparks the wonder and amazement. It was heart-breaking and I wasn’t expecting to feel that.

I do think they tried to push a little to far on this theme however when Blue (the last velociraptor) looks to shed a tear while Zia attempts to remove a bullet from her after being shot during an epic double cross rescue. There are so many fanciful things to the lead up to this point, so I’m not sure why a dinosaur crying pushes it over the line to me. It works though, as I’m in Blue’s corner. Yes Jurassic World has me barracking for a velociraptor. Who saw this coming 25 years after Jurassic Park first terrorised us with them? Certainly not me. This is why they say not to name things right – or you’ll form attachments. Walked right into that one.

There also appears to be more of a shift towards the “bad guys” being the ones attacked by the dinosaurs. There’s a little more satisfaction of people getting their just rewards than people running for their lives. The main characters rarely appear in any scenes where you think something bad could happen. I personally like a bit more suspense even when I know nothing will happen to the main characters but winds up making me second guess that fact, even for a split second.

Another of the themes further explored in this sequel is the exploitation of the animals by humans. Dr. Henry Wu returns and his character is almost like a supervillain. He holds such power which he uses to push his own agenda but he still needs to rely on someone else to provide funding. Making dinosaurs is expensive work. I don’t think Wu is an evil person but he does do a lot of questionable things. Is it the science of pushing what is possible that drives him and is he blind to the consequences? It’s been really enjoyable to see more of him over the last two films and I can’t see what he does next.

In this film Wu is responsible to the creation of another hybrid; the Indoraptor, which has been developed using the DNA taken from that opening sequence. It’s a prototype being show cased at a black market auction after the animals have been transported to the United States which Wu is highly aware of. He knows exactly what is going on but isn’t in control of the outcomes.

The sequence which takes place at the auction is also another incredible one. Again it does tip over into the fanciful and you kind of have to ride the wave. You though raptors opening doors 25 years ago was questionable – you ain’t seen nothing yet!

I have mixed feelings towards Fallen Kingdom. While there is plenty to like about it there, it has a number of flaws. In an action film you don’t really want to be asking a lot of questions, the amazing action sequences and dazzling science should distract you enough from thinking too much about the plausibility of what’s going on. For me the balance was a bit off.

What is exciting is that by the end of this film, the world is now in a completely different place from where we started. It leaves me excited for the conclusion in Jurassic World: Dominion.

For me, it wasn’t as good as Jurassic World and I think it could have been better.

Rating:  Alright

I was a little worried heading into this one as I had no memories of anything that happened in Jurassic Park III. I know I’ve definitely seen it, and likely more than once when it was initially released. However since then, this is probably the first revisit.

It’s the first of the films not to be based on a novel. Instead it uses sequences that weren’t used for either of the first two films. It’s also the first not to be directed by Steven Spielberg.

Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) makes his return to the franchise and brings the familiarity for the fans. After all is it really Jurassic Park if you don’t have someone from the original film?

Laura Dern also makes a brief yet ultimately important appearance returning as Dr. Ellie Sattler. It really feels like her role is to establish where Alan and her are in their personal relationship; no longer together but still close. And you can’t blame them after experiencing such a traumatizing event. It would have been easy to establish this with just some dialogue, so I’m happy they got her back.

In Jurassic Park III we return to Isla Sorna, the second island we learnt about in The Lost World. Desperate for funding but not learning from lessons of the past, Alan makes a terrible decision by agreeing to accompany some strangers on an “aerial tour” as their guide.

It’s already the shortest film in the franchise but could have been much shorter had Alan just done some basic checks! At a minimum I would have been asking for a deposit and ensuring that the money cleared before going anywhere near that island. But as I have previously stated, these films run off the back of humans making stupid decisions.

For me I would have to say that the highlight of this film would be the aviary sequence. Following the attack from the spinosaurus, the group find themselves in the island’s aviary where a family of pteranodons still reside. It’s something that we haven’t seen in either of the first two films and that fans had been wanting to see. I think it delivered.

I should also point out a couple of the cheesy bits that I quite enjoyed, one being the name of the company operating the parasailing tour at the beginning of the film; Dino-soar. Love a good pun! The other being the spinosaurus ringing as the first person it ate was carrying the satellite phone. Just the image of this massive land creature producing a hideous ringtone sound from where it stands, it’s so ridiculous it makes me laugh.

Rating:  Alright