Quick Movie Review: Jurassic World (2015)

Nothing can recreate the impact and significance that 1993's Jurassic Park had on the movie industry and popular culture in general. So when watching the sequel/reboot film Jurassic World, we must first realize what it's trying to do. It's not attempting to be ridiculously groundbreaking or make improvements upon the original. Instead, it's giving us more story and expanding the world which it's taking on.

In fact, the special effects in Jurassic Park were so ahead of its time that the ones used in this current film seem pretty evenly compared.

But effects aside, let's talk about story. Jurassic World doesn't try to fool us into thinking that this is the "new beginning" of the franchise. It pays homage to the original and remains self-aware of where our culture stands on seeing something new and groundbreaking. We've seen dinosaurs come to life on the big screen and it was amazing. However, after three movies we're almost jaded. Which is why the filmmakers are dead set on making sure we see a lot of new animals. They introduce manmade hybrid species which are scary in the sense that we've never read about them when we were kids and we don't know what they look like or how they act. It somehow manages to capture the '90s suspense of the original. The mystery is brought back to this film universe and Spielberg & Company have created another dinosaur movie that is really very scary.

Also, for the first time, we get the privilege to see the fully functioning theme park that we've been waiting for since the first film. It's breathtaking and immersive, and for a moment we wish that it were an actual place. But then, of course, we're reminded why this is all such a terrible idea.

In an age where films are boosting our confidence and telling us how smart we are, Jurassic World reminds us that we're kinda stupid a lot of the time too.

If you're a fan of the original, you should enjoy Jurassic World--fully equipped with not trying to outdo a classic. It may not be as innovative, but it's quite possibly just as entertaining.

Twizard Rating: 97

Quick Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy is pleasing as far as pure entertainment goes. It's funny and we get the good team action film that we have been waiting on since Marvel's The Avengers. However, the storyline is missing a lot of the "why do we care?" We are so wrapped up in the jokes that it distracts us from the fact that not a whole lot is happening. There is seldom any inclusion of character depth besides when death or the thought of someone dying occurs. And the parts of the dialogue that aren't written for laughs are elementary and bland. The battle scenes don't drag on, but at the same time we don't feel a whole lot of satisfaction when the villain gets defeated. And his motives aren't nearly explored enough. The only reason why the script gets any points is because of its consistent tone and the fact that I did laugh a lot. It is irreverent to a fault and never leaves us bored. The whole time I couldn't stop thinking that this movie has the quirkiness of an '80s or '90s film with modern day humor and effects. 

The acting is hit or miss. Chris Pratt, John C. Reilly, and Glenn Close (who is barely seen) are the ones that stand out, but the rest are average.

Overall, I enjoyed this film for what is was. I liked it for its irreverence and inability to take itself seriously, but not for the storyline at all. I see it more as a comedy than as a high-concept action flick. And I'm sure the humor will hold up when rewatching it.

Twizard Rating: 84