Review: 'Jurassic World Dominion' is a messy, gigantic & indulgent end to the legend of a franchise

Packing six movies into the world of dinosaurs that spans three decades now, began as an idea and attempt by the great Steven Spielberg that pushed limits and boundaries of what movies can depict. It now ends in 2022 with obviously massive improvements in visual technology, grander scale and all kinds of banana town!

Jurassic World Dominion

Jurassic World Dominion

Packing six movies into the world of dinosaurs that spans three decades now, began as an idea and attempt by the great Steven Spielberg that pushed limits and boundaries of what movies can depict. It now ends in 2022 with obviously massive improvements in visual technology, grander scale and all kinds of banana town! 

Having had the chance to see the culmination of Jurassic series with Jurassic World Dominion, and the first one to have the original cast return for one last hurrah, here's what I thought of it-

Nostalgia Pro Max

Nostalgia Pro Max

To be having Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Alan Grant (Sam Neill) along with Dr. Ian Malcom (Jeff Goldblum) is obviously fantastic. I mean, why wouldn't it be! However, director Colin Treverrow's reliance on this element of nostalgia and the bizarre situations it portrays in order to do so - is what hinders this reunion party. The idea is simple - this finale of Jurassic World caters to a teenage market on one side who consider the original a 'classic' but for the slightly older audience who witnessed the original in its prime and the impact it created, it is the perfect dose of nostalgia. It helps that these three are amongst the finest actors in movie business today. I mean, please keep casting Goldblum in these roles where he delivers hilarious one-liners with a deadpan face.

The Glorious Set Pieces

The Glorious Set Pieces

Oh man! That's the thing about event-films, isn't it? Even if the overall film might appear lousy and even lack a pound screenplay which Dominion definitely does, it makes up more than enough for some of the most breathtaking set pieces that you will ever see. The entire sequence set in Malta is one of the best action/chase scenes you might have ever seen in moviemaking history. As a cinephile, you cannot help but marvel at the ways they would have managed to pull that off. And of course, the pre-climax scene where the entire flock of stars are together and trying to fight away and escape is also all kinds of fabulous. This especially the case because you have a massive ensemble of people in a situation where you cannot have anyone killed and still make it believable that they somehow fought away Giganotosaurus and other T.Rex underdogs. A feat, it achieves.

The Cinematography

The Cinematography

To be able to come up with creative ways of shooting for 3-D and still presenting magnificent visuals is a rare accomplishment. John Schwartzman does that convincingly. My favorite scene (see image above) that exemplifies his cinematography in its prime is the instance where Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) is slowly heading into a pond in a forest as the Giganotosaurus approaches her in the background. The camera moves as slowly and in focus as Howard and the brilliant shot of when the dino roars and the water creates a ripple is shown while the lower half of the frame shows Claire holding her breath underwater. Such a fantastic visual. 

Defying Basic Logic

Defying Basic Logic

I mean on, you expect me to believe even after all this time that showing just a palm to a gigantic predator can stop him/her from mauling you? It isn't that a good actor like Chris Pratt cannot sell this absurdity, but it is the absurdity that has you questioning it. Apart from that, the route of reuniting Barry Sembene (Omar Sy) with Pratt's Owen was extremely convenient. Yeah, of course, Sembene is employed by the French intelligence just when Owen and Claire are on the run of finding their kidnapped daughter (adopted) that leads them to Malta.
And hey, usually, what happens when a massive plane just crashes into an ice surface after being in flames with full throttle and power? The people in it obviously die, isn't it? Not Owen and Kayla (DeWanda Wise). Not only do they get out of it but do so unscathed and untouched!

Less About Dinosaurs, More About Self-Indulgence

Less About Dinosaurs, More About Self-Indulgence

The biggest sin, however, that Jurassic World Dominion commits is self-indulgence. Apart from the original that was indeed original in its true sense, all other movies that followed have been about the same question, "What if dinosaurs ever escaped the island?" More so, it goes on to circle around the very factor that it seemingly wants to criticise - unleashing the baddest and biggest of dinos into the world with no purpose other than profit. We get it already, what else do you have to offer in the story? With the Jurassic World trilogy, definitely not too much!

The Best Characters

The Best Characters

We already talked about the original trio above, so not repeating them. But what is so fantastic is how two actors and two characters are so good that you want to connect with them a lot more even than your regulars. Ramsay Cole (Mamodou Athie) is actually a very engaging character inspite of having limited screen presence but that is to the credit of Athie's fabulous performance. The other rock to the story and to Owen is Kayla. DeWanda Wise is a total badass portraying Kayla and the sheer bravura, confidence and swagger along with amazing style that the actor shows makes it even better. Give me a standalone film with Wise, I would watch it anyday!

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard

Pratt is at his usual self trying to sell a now one-toned character but he would be thanking the Gods as well that he doesn't have to do that anymore. Howard is the one whose Claire has witnessed quite a development especially if you compare it to the 2015 film, Jurassic World, She does a fine job with her role as well. Maisie Lockwood, played by Isabella Sermon has nothing new to offer here. Inspite of being at the center of the entire reason for the movie, she still has nothing much to do except be a quintessential and rebellious teenager. Why is everything about teenagers these days? (Doctor Strange Multiverse recall).

The Verdict

In the end, Jurassic World Dominion might nowhere be the perfect end to a legendary franchise overall but it is still a joy ride and the perfect escapism you need as a moviegoer to enjoy and marvel at things.

Rating - ***1/2 (3.5/5)

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Jurassic World Dominion poster

Jurassic World Dominion

Comments (4)

Going to watch this movie in theaters tomorrow, excited.

1 years ago

I didn’t even know there was this movie releasing in JP franchise!😆

1 years ago

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