Chris Pratt and velociraptors

David Betts | Rawr Reviews

“Jurassic World” has certainly lived up to the legacy set by the original 1993 “Jurassic Park” movie.
Setting an opening weekend box office record of $208.8 million, “Jurassic World” shattered predictions by $80 million. Apparently, everyone and their grandmother are going to see this movie, but should you?

“Jurassic World” is set 22 years after the events of 1993’s original “Jurassic Park” and as it is stated in the trailer for the movie, “The park is now open.” Chris Pratt plays a likeable hero and if you are a fan of his work in “Guardians of the Galaxy” or “Parks and Recreation,” then he will not disappoint you in “Jurassic World.”

Fans of the original “Jurassic Park” will be pleased to see that several homages are played throughout the film to the original, some subtle and some much less so. Searching for these little gems throughout the film adds an element of fun and entertainment to the viewer.

As a fan of the original 1993 “Jurassic Park,” I had no expectations that I would find “Jurassic World” to be my new favorite in the franchise, and frankly, I didn’t. “Jurassic World” is a fun and entertaining summer blockbuster, and it provides an excellent excuse to escape the heat. However, this film, which relies heavily on CGI and much less on practical visual effects compared to its 1993 predecessor, fails to deliver spectacles that we haven’t seen before.

The issues that I find with the movie are old and classic — a sequel to a popular movie tries to outdo the original and when it’s realized that outstanding effects no longer awe audiences, the plot is forced to grow more and more extraordinary to compensate for the lack of originality.

In 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” it was enough that scientists had created dinosaurs with the intent of opening a theme park, in which things inevitably go out of control.

Years later, having dinosaurs get loose just isn’t enough.

In “Jurassic World,” a genetically modified super dinosaur outsmarts humans and technology to escape its enclosure and terrorize the park guests as well as other dinosaurs. Velociraptors, which are being trained for a special military project, are released to help Chris Pratt and other humans take down the rogue “super-saurous” before too many people are injured or killed.

Having said all of that, I still believe whole-heartedly that “Jurassic World” is a great escape from reality, filled with entertaining content and has a nice balance of humor and action.

For those who are not necessarily fans of the original or haven’t seen all the prequels to “Jurassic World,” I think you will find the movie exciting and entertaining. My advice to all viewers is just to enjoy the movie and try not to take it too seriously.