Jurassic World Rebirth: Is This the End of the Franchise’s Dinosaur Dreams?

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In their attempt to revive the Jurassic World franchise, there’s a lot of ground to cover, considering its 30-year history that began with Steven Spielberg’s iconic Jurassic Park. While subsequent installments have seen their fair share of peaks and valleys, this latest film by Gareth Edwards (director) and David Koepp (writer) introduces some fresh ideas, but seems to get lost in its quest to rekindle the series’ enchantment.

The Jurassic series often deals with a mix of recurring plot patterns and fresh, captivating twists. In the original Jurassic Park film, we met John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), who invited scientists, including an archaeologist and a mathematician, to visit his groundbreaking dinosaur park on Isla Nublar. However, when safety measures broke down, even Hammond’s grandchildren were put in peril. The sequel, The Lost World, unfolded another island’s (Isla Sorna) suffering, including the fate of Ian Malcolm’s daughter, Kelly.

1. In conclusion, Jurassic Park III wraps up the initial trilogy by revisiting Isla Sorna. As you might expect, a child is in peril and stranded within the park, so our main characters embark on a mission to locate him.

2. Moving forward, Jurassic World introduces protagonists who face an attack by a genetically engineered dinosaur called Indominus Rex, putting the young relatives of the park’s Operations Manager, Claire (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), in danger.

In its sequel, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” the action moves back to Isla Nublar, where the characters try to save dinosaurs from a volcanic eruption, putting the clone of Hammond’s partner’s daughter in danger. The movie ends with dinosaurs being set free into the world, a groundbreaking event in the franchise. However, the next installment, “Jurassic World Dominion,” seemingly disregards this entirely by focusing on a swarm of giant locusts and spending a significant amount of time inside unremarkable research facilities.

Jurassic World Rebirth Overcomplicates Its Characters

In Jurassic World Rebirth, we find ourselves five years past the events of Dominion. By then, the majority of the dinosaurs roaming the earth are facing extinction due to global climate changes, and public fascination with these ancient creatures has waned.

Martin Krebs, the mysterious pharmaceutical representative (played by Rupert Friend), secretly hires Zora Bennett, a skilled covert ops specialist (portrayed by Scarlett Johansson), her frequent partner Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), and their team for a mission. The destination? A lush, dinosaur-infested tropical territory. Dr. Henry Loomis, a renowned paleontologist (Jonathan Bailey), is also part of the crew.

The objective is to gather specimens from the largest dinosaurs found on land, in the air, and in the sea, with the aim of developing an advanced remedy for heart disease. The team stumbles upon Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), his two daughters, and his untrustworthy boyfriend, who are stranded. They all convene at a site where they house the most perilous mutated dinosaur experiments.

In a multi-dimensional portrayal, Scarlett Johansson convincingly plays the role of Zora, exuding both toughness and subtle emotional depth. She convincingly connects with Mahershala Ali, who likewise delivers an impressive performance.

Johansson showcases a touch of romantic charm when acting alongside Jonathan Bailey, who portrays an engaging character with convincing high-level intelligence in scientific matters. Rupert Friend delivers an exceptional performance as the sleazy, unethical executive, while the rest of the ship’s crew are competent, though their potential is not fully exploited.

The part where the movie stumbles is its incorporation of a disconnected family. The series often employs the peril of children as a plot point, but usually, these kids are unlucky relatives who happened to be in that specific location without any anticipation of danger due to some reason.

In this narrative, the family plays no role at all in the main plot, and it’s questionable why Reuben would risk taking his children into dangerous dinosaur-filled waters. Although the acting is strong, their presence unfortunately creates unwanted complications.

Jurassic World Rebirth Needs A Focused Narrative

In the story I’m following, my family’s involvement creates a division at certain points, with my journey and my crew on one track, while my family (including my boyfriend) embarks on another. Regrettably, their part serves more as a source of danger rather than an engaging plot development, which makes their side of the story less captivating despite its significance.

The storyline subtly reveals a gradual change in the father’s attitude towards his son’s laid-back, irritating, seemingly worthless partner, yet this transformation seems somewhat unjustified or hurried.

It would have been more beneficial for most of the family time to focus on strengthening the relationships among the main characters. Instead of hurriedly inserting their individual past traumas in a brief 5-minute reunion, as the script does, it could have been better to develop Zora (played by Johansson) and Duncan (portrayed by Ali) more organically over time, letting their history and lifetime of stories unfold naturally.

To enhance the depth and complexity of their characters, it would be beneficial to streamline the storyline by minimizing unnecessary characters. This will help maintain a clear focus on character development.

The unique layout of the D-Rex, although somewhat puzzling (what genius thought it needed all those limbs!?), is undeniably intriguing and undoubtedly terrifying.

The story abounds in genetically altered dinosaurs, such as the Mutadon, which boast intricate designs and contribute significantly to the series’ escalating depiction of the horrors associated with genetic engineering. Unfortunately, it feels somewhat incongruous that the plot doesn’t explore the potential for dinosaurs disrupting everyday life, representing a significant missed chance for the franchise to delve into an exciting new direction.

Is it unusual, given the circumstances, that the journey leading to conflict is taking place? Are dinosaurs, even after genetic modification with contemporary species, struggling to survive on our planet, and could their physiology potentially aid in creating medications for human hearts?

In a simpler and more conversational style:

“Jurassic World Rebirth” features great acting performances, yet it fails to emphasize the storyline around characters. The introduction of mutant dinosaurs adds thrill to the universe, but limiting their existence or survival in the vast world seems unusual and wastes the franchise’s untapped potential for more fascinating dinosaur adventures.

Rebirth” maintains its share of enjoyable moments, stunning visuals, and an adorable baby dinosaur, but unfortunately, it seems to follow the pattern of the franchise, swiftly moving away from potential greatness at a pace similar to Claire’s quick strides in high heels.

Final Rating: 5/10

Jurassic World Rebirth stomps into theaters on July 2, 2025.

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2025-06-30 19:05