Jurassic World: Rebirth Review: A bona-fide rebirth of my favorite Jurassic movie
Spoilers ahead for Jurassic World: Rebirth!
I know this film disappointed many people, but me? It was exactly what I wanted from the movie, and it is undoubtedly the best Jurassic World film, even if it isn't fresher than Fallen Kingdom. And, ask me on the right day, and I might say this is the best Jurassic Movie in general. You might want to crucify me for such an opinion, and frankly, that's fair. But give me a chance and stay for today's The Reel Ranker review.
I've always been one of those crazy people who believed that Jurassic Park III was the best Jurassic Park film. While I know Joe Johnston felt disgraced by his work, and I'm sure the original script was better than the script we got, I still think the third film is a fantastic experience.
While Jurassic Park itself was an incredible movie, and I absolutely love everything about the first film, there's just so much I love about Jurassic Park III. I like that it's more of a straightforward, B-movie adventure dinosaur movie, and the kills and the tension have always been my favorite, even if I totally get why people don't like it as much. While the original is more thematic and certainly more prestigious, I've always preferred the more fun, less strings attached version of Jurassic Park. I've always found the action setpieces the most fun in the series, yet they're fun without sacrificing the horrifying (and beautiful) elements of the dinosaurs that the Jurassic World films seemed to lose.
People were disappointed that Rebirth didn't really feel like the original Jurassic Park, as the marketing had tried to convey. But that's part of why this may just be my favorite Jurassic movie: it's instead a perfect follow-up to Jurassic Park III. It doesn't feel like the original or like the World films, but it feels like a more modern Jurassic Park III... The best thing it could be in my mind.
The action sequences in this are impeccable and return to feeling like horror over simple spectacle. While they aren't as gritty as the Park films, they're also more expansive sequences in many cases, which I appreciate. The characters were pretty decent. While the family was definitely not as interesting as the group of experts, I didn't hate them as much as most people did. After the first few sequences, they became much more bearable and interesting. The experts themselves were hardcore and fun to watch, even if they lacked some of the charm of the original Jurassic Park protagonists.
Though divisive among critics and fans alike, Jurassic World: Rebirth is the strongest entry since Jurassic Park III—controversially, my personal favorite in the whole franchise. It's a worthy rebirth of the Jurassic Park III style, even if it isn't the rebirth of the original film that the majority wanted.
While the original Jurassic World trilogy had more over-the-top protagonists, I liked how well-rounded the characters were here. The characters felt less cartoonish and action-y and more skillful than in the other World films. While they still weren't as good as the original protagonists, they were closer in quality than Owen and Claire were. Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson gave standout performances, and Mahershala Ali's Duncan was probably my favorite character since the Park films!
I also loved that this film, since the original, is the first to make me feel like the dinosaurs are portrayed as beautiful and grand again. I loved the sequence where they meet the Titanosaurus... for me, I think it was on par with the Brachiosaurus scene from the first film. I also love Dolores; she was cute.
I also love how the McGuffin plot about curing cancer moved the story forward and required them to go on this adventure for the greater good. The thing Jurassic Park III didn't nail so well was the rationale for returning to the island... it was just ridiculous. Here, we get an actually understandable reason to travel back to the island, which makes the adventure progress very cleanly and makes for a really well-paced film. With the final base sequence, we also get a pressure-cooker sequence that feels more like the original Jurassic Park than the third, which was a nice addition.
My only mixed feelings on the film I can think of are: 1) Jurassic World has got to drop the idea that anyone is ever going to get bored of non-mutant dinosaurs, 2) Teresa and Xavier both should've got eaten because, while I thought they were more interesting than many other fans, I still would've enjoyed watching that and 3) LeClerc was done dirty and should've been more fleshed out.
My biggest gripe with this movie is the same as in Jurassic Park III: while it's super fun, it doesn't have the narrative depth that's only truly present in the first film. While this film still has more to latch onto than III, it's not that deep. That's why I tell most people that this film, III, and the original are tied for me. III is the most gritty, B-movie fun; this is the most cinematically fun and balanced World film; and the original simply has the strongest aura and commentary, even if it isn't leaning into the adventure side I love about my other two favorites.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 76%
Letter Score: A
Star Ranking: 4 out of 5
I am aware that I am more positive on the Jurassic Park sequels than most, even if Jurassic World was pretty generic outside of two or so great scenes, and Jurassic World: Dominion is a genuinely offensive film to me that squandered its premise. I really do believe that this was a great rebirth of the franchise. I know I'm going against the grain in saying that, but I think that Gareth Edwards truly delivered on the script the writers were very confident in. I hope more people come around to this film over time, because, while it isn't a mind-blowing or ground-breaking film by any means, it is fun dinosaur action at its finest.
Check out my other Jurassic Park & World reviews below! I will continue to update this as I post more reviews or more films come out!
Brighton Nelson
Brighton Nelson
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