Why You Do This Jurassic World II?
The first time I saw Jurassic Park, I was too young to realize it’s not real. When the raptors chased the children I hid behind my grandmother. The second time, I saw Jurassic Park, it wasn’t even in a language I understood, yet couldn’t help enjoying it. First time I tried to write something it was a fan-fiction of Jurassic Park. I’m sure I’m not alone. I share this experience with children all around the world. I love Jurassic Park and want to immerse myself into it. I want to feel goosebumps both in wonder and fear of these magnificent creatures. I want to feel what characters feel who are stuck in this situation. But some things you, Jurassic World II, did threw me off the experience.
Firstly, you gave away all the twists and endings of set-pieces in the ads itself. If that was not enough you give rest of the hints in the Lego toys. Here’s a video of a person figuring out the exact ending a whole two months before the movie’s release. If you don’t care about spoiler why should I while reviewing it? But still spoilers ahead.
Secondly, the characters in this movie make sense only if their sole motivation is to pander us. Dinosaurs feel hungry and hunt main characters even when lava’s flowing all around them. T-rex feels like saving main characters and roar, in spite of a volcanic explosion in the background. It feels weird to even describe the next sequence.
A dinosaur pretends to be unconscious to lure a mercenary. When the mercenary is close. The dinosaur actually smiles. Is this a dinosaur or Wile. E . Coyote? The jaded mercenary they hire cries, not out of pain, but like a baby like in comedy movies.
A small girl is being attacked by the dinosaur, so she runs into the bed room and hides — on the bed. That’s where we get the audience pandering shot of the dinosaur claw inching towards the girl. There are two characters in that sequence and both are behaving in a way that makes no sense to them.
The lead pair, Owen and Claire, became a couple in a very questionable manner. Her assistant had just died in the most violent gruesome way. There are hundreds of injured people around them. And that’s where the couple decides to call it official with a kiss. How do I care for insensitive people like these?
If that wasn’t enough, they are separated now for a reason that makes it even harder to root for them — Owen doesn’t allow Claire to drive. Also, are you saying they separated so they can be re-united again. Are they pulling off Ross and Rachel in Jurassic Park movies now? The conspiracy theorist in me is going — Ross was a paleontologist, nice!! Is that how am I supposed to enjoy the movie now?
It’s not as if it’s impossibly difficult to make a good thoughtful sequel. In fact, thanks to Netflix’s feature-length episodes we know that it’s possible to continue stories well. It has been done over and over again. There should be no excuse for having a poorly thought out sequel. The talent and skill is available.
I must admit here, there was one good idea that was explored to an extent— If we cloned dinosaurs would we stop at just that? But again, these questions are dealt with more depth in series that are a lot lower in budget on TV and Web. Which repeats my point there’s no excuse for having a poorly thought out sequel. Especially when you have the resources.
The characters in Jurassic Park movies have always been simple. Everybody can be described in one or two words. Dr. Alan Grant — Hates Kids; Dennis Nedry — Greedy Hacker; Gennaro — Greedy Lawyer; Dr. Ian Malcolm — Talkative Mathematician. People with morally negative adjectives die. Other people survive but learn their lesson to become another two word character (Dr. Alan Grant — Kid-friendly Paleontologist). That’s alright with me, I wasn’t expecting the complexity of Lisbeth Salander (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) because the time was limited. And a large chunk of time was required to establish the park and the dinosaurs. So, it’s a good call to keep the characters simple. But they still made sense. There motivations and dilemmas were questions I’d ask myself if I were in their place.
The art of making characters that you felt were real was mastered long before the art of making dinosaurs you felt were real. As an earnest fan of Jurassic Park, I promise to see the next movie and in exchange, I’m just asking give me something I can care for.