Movie reviews: What critics are saying about ‘Jurassic World’

MANILA, Philippines – Jurassic World expected to be destined for major box office success, with likeable star Chris Pratt headlining the whole affair, and the great Steven Spielberg, who helmed the first two Jurassic films, as executive producer.

In the movie, Jurassic World is a popular dinosaur-themed adventure park, which is looking to boost traffic with a major attraction – and so they develop the fearsome Indominus Rex, which soon escapes and wreaks havoc on all.

 

 

It’s up to dino-whisperer (and trainer) Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and park operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) to save the day – a tall order given the Indominus Rex’s formidable smarts and brute strength. 

Now the film has hit theaters in locations worldwide, including in the Philippines, and reviews are starting to roll in. Let’s see what some of the critics are saying:

Entertainment Weekly 

Chris Nashawaty gives the film a B+, saying that it “accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do beautifully,” which is, of course, for viewers to see the dinosaur action unfold on the big screen. 

Still, he pointed out that action does take the cake over the developing the characters. “Exposition and character-building chitchat are kept at a minimum as we gawk at raptors on the prowl, prehistoric sea monsters breaching out of their water pens to feed on a great white, and our old pal T. rex slugging it out with the new-and-improved I. rex,” he writes.

The Guardian 

Meanwhile, writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw singles out the performances of the two leads, Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. He describes Chris as “easy-going, relaxed, somewhere on a continuum between Harrison Ford and Tom Hanks,” and praises Bryce’s “intense presence.”

He also praises the film as great summer fare, with fast-paced action scenes, saying the film greatly benefits and bears the mark of the influence of Hollywood icon Steven Spielberg. 

IGN 

Writing for IGN, Daniel Krupa says that while the action is high-octane, characters do get their time in the limelight. He comments on director Colin Trevorrow’s deft steering of the movie, keeping it from being too focused on all the bells and whistles. 

“There are scenes featuring explosions and gun fire – most of which were squeezed together to make the trailers – but I was thrilled to discover that it’s really not that type of blockbuster,” he writes. 

AV Club 

AA Dowd points out the meta element to the script – how the film seems a touch self-aware, playing into its sequel status with some self-referential quips. Still, the film, according to the review, lacks the exhilarating element of danger. 

“And yet director Colin Trevorrow, making the leap to the big-budget big leagues after Safety Not Guaranteed, can’t match the more tactile thrills of Spielberg’s seminal summer movie. Trevorrow’s set pieces—a dive-bombing flock of pterodactyls; a supremely ridiculous but crowd-pleasing climax—are lively but never remotely terrifying,” he writes. 

Rolling Stone 

Peter Travers liked the movie, saying that director Trevorrow really makes his mark, particularly with what appears to be a kind of commentary right back at today’s audiences.

Overall, the film got good marks from Rolling Stone. “It’s not the cynical, cash-in cheesefest you feared…But this state-of-the-art dino epic is also more than a blast of rumbling, roaring, ‘did you effing see that!’ fun,” he writes.

Will you be seeing Jurassic World at the movies? Let us know in the comments below. – Rappler.com