Ryan Shoots First: Jurassic World Dominion

Life found a way. And boy will this one be a doozy. I can’t say I am shocked at the early reviews that had come out prior to the release of Jurassic World Dominion as many had turned on the franchise long ago. While Jurassic World is easily my favorite in the franchise behind the original, many missed its message and could never get past the criticism of it being brought back. Fast forward to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and now the franchise is presenting some new ideas and really expanding on the world-building forging new directions. Well, they didn’t like that either as now it has strayed too far from its roots. All it took was one look at the trailer from this new film and it was clear they had no intention of going back. Fully doubling down on those new directions presented in Fallen Kingdom. So again, not surprised by the reaction. Plus add in how it seems the geek community had soured on Chris Pratt and never really liked Bryce Dallas Howard it became obvious that even bringing the OG’s back for this finale would not be enough to win some. 

So with all of that out of the way is the movie actually any good? I will say I enjoyed it, I enjoyed the last two and really loved Jurassic World. Of course, none of them live up to the masterpiece that was the original and I like the awareness the film has that it could never recreate that magic so let’s just take it to some new places. It’s not a total wash, the ideas of how far science should go in the pursuit of discovery, mankind’s inevitable destiny to destroy ourselves. We’re all Icarus flying too close to the sun. While the original movie is an experiment in a small isolated control test. This new trilogy takes that and asks the question “What if we never learned our lesson and never stopped”. Which of course we wouldn’t. I know the initial question most have when they started making sequels was “Why would they ever try this again as a park?” I don’t think it takes a cynical mind alone to look at our real-world and come to the realization, yes, they would absolutely try that again. If not INGEN someone would. It’s in that way I think the series is a sort of meta-statement on capitalism, corporate greed, and yes our insistent need for discovery. John Hammond said it best “How can we stand in the light of discovery and not act”. 

My biggest issue with the new trilogy is it asks those questions, and explores them but does tend to leave a lot to be desired as it gives way to bombastic blockbuster action. But, I also fully understand that is what many come for and I do also enjoy all the CGI dinos running amock so that small gripe is easily cast aside. And this new film has some dinos, they are everywhere. More species than we have ever seen, with different looks and different breeds. The idea that the research INGEN had spent decades trying to keep secret is now out opens up this world to all types of hybrids and variants. This movie puts them all on full display. We get dinos with feathers, new larger breeds, fan favorites that were maybe in a deleted scene or were left only as a model in previous storyboards. They are presented in new environments left to interact with humanity in ways we’ve never seen and have only thought about since that first film. Well besides Rexy’s little tour of San Diego in The Lost World. 

Much has been made about the reuniting of the big three from the original movie in Dr. Alan Grant, Ellie Sadler, and Ian Malcolm. They are a fun addition and it’s nice to catch up with them but again it was clear from the trailers they likely wouldn’t meet our JW heroes until the final act, and that is the case. It’s not the only time we see them but if you’re comparing it to Jeff Goldblum’s very small cameo in Fallen Kingdom it is a big improvement. Chris Pratt and BDH play the film in pretty much the same way they have the last two. If you couldn’t stand their characters in the last 2 films I’m sorry to say you won’t find much here to change your mind. They never bothered me and I believe they have more chemistry than many give them credit for but they play the roles consistent with how they have the last two outings. 

So where do I rank it? That’s the big question right? Because we all love rankings, well I will save you making another article where each movie is on its own page to maximize page views (sorry Brain) and I’ll just give you the scoop. Dominion to me is better than Fallen Kingdom. While I enjoyed FK it felt like a bridge to get to where Colin Treverow really wanted to go and that is here in Dominion. You can tell this is the movie he has wanted to make since Jurassic World, while I would have loved to see him direct it himself his fingerprints are still all over this movie. In regards to JW I still think that is my favorite of the new trilogy. I love the ideas that the park worked and was a successful enterprise and even that it became somewhat boring prior to everything going haywire as we continued to push forward. So without further adieu my Jurassic Franchise Master Rankings… 

1. Jurassic Park (duh)
2. Jurassic World
3. The Lost World
4. Dominion
5. Fallen Kingdom
6. Jurassic Park 3

I don’t know what this means for the future of the franchise and where it goes from here but always remember….Money…finds a way.