Jurassic World

Darn it! I have to learn how to spell Jurassic, again.

Since things went so well the last time around, the InGen Corporation has decided to rebuild Jurassic Park and call it Jurassic World. Of course, these suits believe their “genius” management has led to great success because they have avoided a similar disaster like the one we remember from the first movie, but they are about to learn why you should never believe you can control nature.

Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong) has continued to be the chief scientist breeding these dinosaurs, but attendance at the park has been dwindling, so eccentric billionaire owner Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) and his chosen manager, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), have pushed for bigger, better, and scarier dinosaurs to excite a jaded public. Dr. Wu has delivered.

He and his team have created Indominus rex - a new T. rex with all sorts of DNA and genes spliced together from other animals. She’s meaner, nastier, crazier and smarter than any other dinosaur on the island, and she has gotten loose!!!!!

Will expert dino wrangler Owen (Chris Pratt) be able to capture her before disaster strikes?

The conundrum facing the fictional InGen employees is much like the one faced by our writers, director and team behind Jurassic World.

The first Jurassic Park still is one of the most awe inspiring movies ever released. Spielberg was able to bring dinosaurs to life! These special effects were the most real anyone of my generation or any before can ever remember. The dinosaurs still look amazing on TV today.

Yet, in the past 22 years, we have seen Hollywood magic become so powerful jaded audience members believe anything and everything can be created on the screen. Just showing us dinosaurs isn’t enough anymore, which is why Jurassic World is very entertaining, but not amazing.

Writer/director Colin Trevorrow and the multi-person writing team try to throw in every typical character and scenario to elevate Jurassic World above being defined as a special effects extravaganza as we see the two brothers (from Madison, WI) struggling with the impossible, the concerned Aunt learning that work isn’t as important as family, some crazy military dude trying to weaponize the dinosaurs, a mad scientist who needs a moral compass, the naysayer who warns us not to mess with nature and more.

Jeepers, they even toss in a love story!

It’s all nice and average, but we are watching Jurassic World for the dinosaur action, and Trevorrow delivers what you expect and want from Jurassic World.

Dinosaurs look scary.

Fight scenes are shocking.

Chase scenes make your heart pound a little bit.

He also tosses in enough material to be ominous, because we know what will come next.

Most of all, it feels like the right amount of action. Sure, the story might be trite, but it provides the audience a chance to relax without being dominated by too much frenetic action. You might even laugh here and there.

Trevorrow provides a crazy ending that could use a bit more explaining, but old timers like me will appreciate all of the allusions to the original Jurassic Park.

Jurassic World is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril.