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The Best Movies of Summer 2015: PART II – No. 3, 2 & 1!

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Nick Doll in Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Avengers, Captain America, Jurassic World, Lists, Mad Max: Fury Road, Marvel, MCU, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Movies, Reviews

After much soul searching, I can finally finish the list of my 6 Favorite Movies of the Summer that kept on giving. And giving. And giving!

Read Part I, where I cover my 6th through 4th favorite movies now if you missed it.

First, I must make a clarification; on the first part of my list, I stated that I’m trying to balance quality and enjoyment level when ranking the best films of Summer 2015. I now realize, that what is really important is the enjoyment factor. In fact, looking back, #6: Man From UNCLE, #5: Ant-Man, and #4: Avengers: Age of Ultron were already based on enjoyment factor and NOT quality of film. So I intend to continue that trend… Now!

SPOILERS may follow for any of the films covered.

3. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

If I were to base this list purely on quality of film, then Mad Max: Fury Road would have been #1. It really is a masterpiece; light-years better than any of George Miller’s previous Mad Max films, though that has nothing to with replacing Mel Gibson with Tom Hardy. You can tell Miller has been working on the film (at least in his head) for 20 years, and the result is visually stunning with an unbelievably complex “feminist” narrative supported by limited dialog. And George Miller is one of the only people making films in the 21st Century that does stunts… for real.

Highlights: Everything mostly… mostly.

As stated previously, the movie is visually stunning, from the amazing color contrast of the “Australian” wasteland (shot in Africa) to actually watching REAL cars flip and explode. Sure, there is CGI abound, but it is there to enhance the effects (and create a crazy sandstorm that would make 2011’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol jealous), not replace the real feeling of flipping or blowing up dozens of vehicles.

This Mad Max is also the best at world building, from Immortan Joe’s Citadel, to the valley watched over by those with “spiky cars,” mention of “Gas Town,” the former “Green Lands” of the many mothers, and finally that creepy bog with human survivors walking on stilts, almost appearing bird-like in their garb.

The plot is fantastic, though simple on the surface, dialog is sparse but effective, and Tom Hardy rocks the role of Max Rockatansky just as hard (if not harder) than Mel Gibson. Charlize Theron is obviously fantastic as well as the true protagonist of the movie, with Max just along for the ride.

Finally, can we talk of Junkie XL’s score? Amazing on every level: you don’t simply watch Fury Road, you rock out to it. Can’t wait to hear the composer’s Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice score as well as his recently announced Deadpool music.

Weaknesses: As I find with most films showered with critical acclaim, Mad Max: Fury Road is just not as re-watchable as nearly any other film on the list. It is indeed the highest quality, but it doesn’t offer the same enjoyment and re-watch-ability as the next two movies on my list.

2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION

I don’t know how they do it. Mission: Impossible is one of the few franchises getting better by the film, after the terrible M:I – 2. I keep waiting for a stinker, but each M:I film has been better than the last ever since J.J. Abrams saved the franchise with M:I:III.

If the 1st Mission: Impossible had a baby with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and the Usual Suspects had a baby with Edge of Tomorrow (which you may know as Live. Die. Repeat.)… and those babies fucked… you’d have Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. That’s the result of baby fucking. (It’s no surprise the writer/director of Rogue Nation previously wrote both Usual Suspects and Edge of Tomorrow.)

Rogue Nation is the second best film in the franchise, in my opinion, because the 1st film is a Sacred Cow, not unlike Jurassic Park, which can be honored with good sequels, but never outdone.

Highlights: I LOVE that the film hearkens back to the slower thriller elements of the first Mission: Impossible while simultaneously combining the action and spectacle one would expect coming off of Brad Bird’s endlessly entertaining Ghost Protocol.

You got your, “Oh-My-God-I-Can’t-Believe-Tom-Cruise-Did That!” element similar to Ghost Protocol‘s Dubai Tower scene, this time with Tom Cruise attaching himself to an actual A400 airplane and doing 7 full take-offs to get the scene just right. Like George Miller, Tom Cruise feels he owes it to his fans to do as much as he can for real, one of the main reasons the film ranks so high. Though my #1 favorite movie of the summer is a CGI bonanza, I have extreme respect for Rogue Nation‘s attempt to use as little CGI as possible in exchange for stunts like Cruise on a plane, the crazy motorcycle chase, and his underwater adventures for which he did hold his breath for over 3 minutes a take!

Meanwhile, you have a more personal and one could say, smaller scope film that brings back the espionage and thriller elements of the original film. After all, though M:I – 2 through Rogue Nation are action movies, the 1st film is a tight and smaller thriller, with only one full action scene to speak of. Rogue Nation does a little of both. There’s a lot of smaller, yet impossible situations than the Plane Sequence, from the conundrum at the Opera to the personal/not-action-packed finale on the streets of London. A shoot-out closes Rogue Nation, in contrast to the giant action scene that closed out Ghost Protocol.

Now, let’s talk about the new talent on screen! Rebecca Ferguson nearly steals the film from Tom Cruise as the, “Can we trust her?” Femme Fatale. In this more personal film, she is what “The Woman” (Irene Adler) is to Sherlock Holmes; Ethan Hunt’s female equal.

Meanwhile, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is caught in a game of cat-and-mouse with the supremely creepy and soft-spoken Soloman Lane, played by Sean Harris (Prometheus), and his “Syndicate.” What SPECTRE is to 007, the Syndicate is to Hunt, including with Soloman Lane serving as a sort of Moriarty or Blofeld, always one step ahead of the disbanded IMF.

Weaknesses: Well, it’s not as good as the 1st one, but I can’t hold it against Rogue Nation.

Mainly, I just wanted to see more Soloman Lane! He is pulling the strings behind everything, again making Moriarty and apt comparison, but Sean Harris doesn’t have enough scenes to really make his creepy presence known. Though I believe him to be the best villain of the franchise, he is without meaty scenes like Phillip Seymor Hoffman had in M:I:III. Lane’s nasal voice and his creep factor could have been even more effective if we saw more of him!

1. JURASSIC WORLD

There you go! Not the highest quality movie of the summer, only average-to-pure-popcorn-movie if you judge it purely on quality, but God Damn Jurassic World is the most enjoyable movie I watched all summer!

I don’t need to go too far into it, because I’ve written about Jurassic World again and again, including writing an actual review, but the movie delivers everything you want from a Jurassic Park sequel…

A theme park setting! New dinosaurs! Classic Spielbergian elements! Velociraptors devouring people (most important)! T-Rex!… The list goes on and on.

I feel like my other posts about Jurassic World speak for themselves.

So, with that, here are the Best Films of 2015!

6. MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

5. ANT-MAN

4. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

3. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION

1. JURASSIC WORLD

Great summer, all! Can’t wait to judge me some Holiday blockbusters! SPECTRE and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are on the horizon!

JURASSIC WORLD Explored PART 4: JURASSIC PARK Winks & Shoves

Posted on July 10, 2015February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Features, Jurassic World, Lists, Movies

Observations of a sad little man who has seen Jurassic World six times… so far (Me!).

As always, SPOILERS Abound!

First, catch up with the 1st three parts of this glorious expedition.

Part 1: Everything You Missed (Or Didn’t)

Part 2: InGen, Please!

Part 3: Universal Studios Hollywood & Product Placement.

This Issue: All (Or Most) the references to Jurassic Park Explored!

As Lowery (Jake Johnson) reminds us while wearing his Jurassic Park shirt he purchased on eBay for $150, “That first Park was legit!” So it’s no wonder that Jurassic World tries to recreate/update images and throw “Easter Eggs” our way straight from the original 1993 movie.

The 1st trailer was so rich with Jurassic Park imagery that it caused Nostalgia to be an even more important part of the film’s draw than even superstar Chris Pratt.

(By the way, Lowey’s Jurassic Park shirt is the 1st reference on this list! Booyah!)

The Sickly Hatchling and Her Sister In The Lab

Jurassic World opens with two eggs and two lil’ baby Indominus Rexs. As one struggles to breath and break the shell, our main Monster Antagonist is quick to break the shell and will later go on to eat said sibling.

This scene is very reminiscent of Hammond helping the hatching baby Raptor in Jurassic Park. So is the set itself; the egg chambers/laboratory all look like the room Dr. Wu (BD Wong) introduced us to 22 years ago.

Said laboratory is also still a visible attraction to guests with no animatronics (sorry, Mr. Donald Gennaro [Martin Ferrero] the lawyer); just real scientists going about their “Mad Science.”

Dinos Evolved Into Birds

Never verbally stated in this film, we are reminded of Dr. Alan Grant’s (Sam Neill) words from Jurassic Park about Dinos sharing a lot in common with birds with the film’s second image: a T-Rex looking foot striking the ground, only reveled to be a bird as the (CGI) camera pulls out. And that’s all we need.

“That 1st Park Was Legit!”

The new Park itself pays homage to the original in many ways, from the sweeping shots of Isla Nublar splashed together with John William’s original theme as Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson) arrive via ferry and even pass through the giant Jurassic World gate that was made from wood salvaged from the original gate in the old Park (so Brad Bird as the monorail guide tells us).

Though ferries are more piratical for a Park of 20,000 guests, we still get our Helicopter over Isla Nublar experience thanks to “pilot” & InGen CEO Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan). Pure nostalgia.

I could talk about obvious scenes like this for post after post, but let’s get deeper into the nitty-gritty references that are less obvious.

Mr. DNA

How can you miss Mr. DNA from Jurassic Park in the scene where Gray first excitingly enters the Samsung Innovation Center (which is not product placement) and plays with a child’s interactive display?

Fun note: Dr. DNA may sound the same, but writer/director Colin Trevorrow actually voices him in Jurassic World.

Jurassic Tennis & River Cruise

In Jurassic Park, while our protagonists are having an argument about whether or not Hammond should have created Dinosaurs over lunch, various displays projected on the walls behind them advertise future Jurassic Park attractions like ‘Jurassic Tennis’ and a water attraction similar to the kayaking among dinosaur ride we see briefly in Jurassic World. ‘Jurassic Tennis’ appears as an attraction on the hotel room screen when Gray and Zach arrive.

God Creates Dinosaur by Dr. Ian Malcolm

Either Dr. Malcolm’s (Jeff Goldblum) book God Creates Dinosaur just hit shelves or it’s still topping the New York Times best-seller list, because we see two different people in possession of the book; one actively reading it. Lowery has a copy on his desk, and Claire’s (Bryce Dallas Howard) assitant Zara (Katie McGrath) reads it throughout the film.

The OG Visitor Center & Jeep #29

I was hoping going into Jurassic World for the 1st time that we would see some of the old park; more specifically the Visitor Center. Guess what? I did!

It’s magic seeing this center of Jurassic Park, with the very scaffolding Grant, Ellie (Laura Dern), and the kids climbed down to escape the Velociraptors. We see part of the “When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth” banner that T-Rex knocked down. We see the painted Velociraptor in the dining room that was covered in shadow to alert Lex and Tim to hide in the kitchen. We see night vision goggles identical to the one Tim used to watch T-Rex eat the goat. There is so much nostalgia here it is maddening to try to remember it all!

But on to Jeep #29. The jeep that Zach and Gray fix up is the very jeep Muldoon (Bob Peck) and Ellie took to rescue Ian Malcolm (“Must go faster! Must go faster!”).

We even get to see Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) jump the T-Rex skull when Indominus attacks (but not any sharks thankfully).

“Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear”

Remember when the T-Rex chased Jeep #29 and Muldoon looked in the rear-view mirror only to see a T-Rex and the typical “Objects In the Mirror are Closer Than They Appear” warning.

In Jurassic World Claire watches a Raptor in the rear view mirror as it rushes toward her vehicle. Coincidence? Not in this kind of movie.

Mosquitos In Amber

An obvious image straight from the original film. We see an actual specimen on Dr. Wu’s desk when Mr. Masrani confronts him about Indominus Rex, even though Gray told his brother (and the audience) that now scientists can extract DNA directly from Dinosaur bones.

You don’t just see this image in the lab, there are decorations of giant (fake) amber stones with giant mosquito on Main Street. Owen actually hides behind one while his Raptors took on Indominus.

The Queen of Isla Nublar

It was with a cheer and a shout that I welcomed T-Rex back to the playing field in the finale of Jurassic World. Though Raptors are always the scariest Dinos in any Jurassic Park film, T-Rex is the most iconic.

Did you notice that the T-Rex in Jurassic World was the very same one as Jurassic Park? Even had her two decade old scars from his Velociraptor battle that saved Alan Grant & Co.

Likewise, it’s no coincidence that flares get the Queen of Isla Nublar’s attention. Ian Malcolm taught her that flares mean “Lawyer Food” in 1993.

And like the spectacular finale to Jurassic Park, Jurassic World ends with T-Rex roaring over Isla Nublar, reminding everyone that now that the monster Indominus Rex is dead, she is the Queen of Jurassic World.

One Jurassic Park III Reference

When T-Rex shows up to save the day in Jurassic World, he bursts though the skeleton of a Spinosaurous (see picture above). Proving, that, even though that wretched dinosaur killed a Rex on Isla Sorna, T-Rex is back to being the superior Dinosaur of the Jurassic Park franchise.

I’m sure there is more I am forgetting, as the movie is so layered and rich with numerous references to Jurassic Park. But, this post is long and my brain is running out of references, so let’s call it a day!

Next (and final time) on Jurassic World Explored Part 5

Speilbergian Themes & Imagery

The Aliens Homage.

Are All The Dinos In Jurassic World Still Female?

They Are Breeding Raptors On Isla Nublar!

Jurassic Park vs. Jurassic World Character Comparisons

Coming Soon To This Website Near You!!

JURASSIC WORLD Explored PART 2: InGen, Please!

Posted on July 7, 2015February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Features, Jurassic World, Lists, Movies

Quick observations and the like that come from having seen Jurassic World six times! Hope it delights/entertains!

Loads of SPOILERS!

CLICK HERE for PART 1

Only InGen Employees Get Killed… Mostly… Mostly…

Think about it… how many guests did you see get killed in Jurassic World?

The answer is as many guests as the Pterodactyls and Dimorphodons (a real Dino, NOT a hybrid!) hurt/killed before Owen (Chris Pratt) and his boys shot them out of Main Street’s sky.

One Site Says "Dimorphodon?" Director promises NOT a Hybrid! — One Site Says “Dimorphodon?” Director promises NOT a Hybrid!

Even with these creatures, unless I’m missing it in the background, no guests are killed on screen… the big kill of Claire’s assistant Zara (Katie McGraph) counting as an InGen employee (seeing as how she is an InGen employee’s assistant…). And besides little lift attacks, the only other people we actually see get the ax are Mr. Masrani and his copter’s crew.

Think about all the great scenes with Indominus, Velociraptors, and the Mosasaurus (the swimmy dinosaur who eats sharks) even… guests do not even share scenes with any these creatures, but it’s a smorgasbord on the park staff.

That's Park Security 'bout to get eaten right there! — That’s Park Security ’bout to get eaten right there!

Indominus eats the two men in the paddock, the 1st security team with “non-lethals,” lots of innocent dinosaurs, tries to eat the kids, tries to eat Owen and Claire, eats/kills a few Mercs with some raptors, and then kills two raptors in the final fight. That’s it.

Owen’s Velociraptors aren’t even released until guests are off the island (we hear about a boat arriving and there are no guests on Main Street by the time our heroes make it back), and even then they entirely feast on Hoskins ‘ new Mercs… and Hoskins himself of course!

Finally, T-Rex don’t get to eat any people!

If you see Jurassic World again, watch for what I speak of. Except for the Pterodactyls, Jurassic World Guests are never actually around the most dangerous dinosaurs.

InGen Is the New Weyland Industries/Oscorp

Even though Mr. Masrani is the kind, fun InGen CEO with the spirit of John Hammond, let us not forget the same actor, Irrgan Khan, played an incredibly sketchy/evil Oscorp Exec in The Amazing Spider-Man.

And in Jurassic World, InGen has never been sketchier.

Sure, Hammond’s nephew wanted control of his uncle’s company to capture the Dinos on Isla Sorna and put them in a new, San Diego Jurassic Zoo in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of what Dr. Wu (BD Wong) and Hoskins are developing in secret.

InGen CEO Simon Masrani and Dr. Henry Wu

Though Indominus Rex is the only Hybrid in the Park, Dr. Wu has more in the works. And as with Owen’s “trained” Velociraptors, Hoskins has military applications on the mind. Really feels more like the latest cinematic version of Oscorp than the company that Hammond created…

Which leads us into…

The Sequel’s Direction

A movie that breaks records as fast as Jurassic World gets a sequel. Dem’s da’ rules.

Pratt has said they’d be having him back, but where do you go from here? Open a Theme Park where people get eaten once, shame on me. Twice… shame on you, but damned was it enjoyable! And you ain’t gonna fool us three times!

Without a reboot, I don’t see how anyone will ever open another Theme Park in the Jurassic Park universe ever again.

But whatever was going on in Wu’s secret room certainly sets up a sequel distinctly different than our previous two trips to Isla Sorna aka “Site B.” Though Hoskins dies, whatever his plan is for dinosaur hybrids certainty won’t, and Wu is told he will be “well taken care of.”

Whatever happens to Owen and Claire, some form of a plot tracking Dino-Hybrids may be in their future. Yikes!

“This Is Not A Mad Science!”

Of course, Dr. Wu isn’t doing anything new by creating the Indominus Rex, the Not-So-Mad Scientist explains to Mr. Masrani. “Nothing in Jurassic World is natural” admits Wu, all the “monsters” in the Park have had segments of their D.N.A. filled in with other animals (as we learned in the 1st film).

Wu goes on to state that many of the “attractions” in Jurassic World would look quite different if they were pure; Spielberg & Co. finally admitting and explaining why their Velociraptors are eight feet tall and feather-less, as opposed to a feathery-four-feet.

Well, that’s all for now but I still have many layers of Jurassic World I wish to pull back shortly. Join us again for JURASSIC WORLD Explored Part 3.

Read Part 3 Now!

JURASSIC WORLD Explored PART 1: Everything You Missed (Or Didn’t)

Posted on July 7, 2015February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Features, Jurassic World, Lists, Movies

I may have seen Jurassic World six times (I did… why lie?). With such a great number of repeat viewings comes great responsibility, including insight into new details/themes/symbols/”Easter Eggs,” producing more material to analyze and explore than in my original review for the Jurassic Park‘s best and most profitable (movie in the world?) sequel.

Some theories/ideas may be bullshit; some connections I make may seem forced or just “overthought.” I am also likely going to forget some of my deeper thoughts about the film as it is much easier to analyze every scene and moment when actually watching the movie. I’ll do my best to use my memory and cover all my observations.

Obviously… SPOILERS Abound!

Jurassic World is Meta… Man…

Writer/Director Colin Trevorrow has said Jurassic World the film is a metaphor for Jurassic World the theme park.

Universal Execs wanted more Jurassic Park (it was too for them hard to let their highest grossing franchise go extinct); they wanted it bigger, badder, scarier. So Trevorrow gave them a movie about InGen Execs pushing for a dinosaur that is bigger, badder, with more teeth; a metaphor for the film’s very existence. Like the events of the film, such an action could have “gone awry” in the wrong hands, but Trevorrow nailed it, bringing Universal their biggest movie… ever. And no one got eaten (that we know of).

“We Need More Teeth”

Obviously, the above line was important enough to the finale of Jurassic World that you likely remember it. Gray’s (Ty Simpkins) statement gives Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) the idea to release more teeth against Indominus Rex in the form of Jurassic Park‘s original T-Rex (more on in a future issue).

Even some of the Viral Marketing Materials included the statement, "More Teeth" — Even some of the Viral Marketing Materials included the statement, “More Teeth”

Teeth are a recurring image throughout the film (not literally, though there are a lot of shots of simply Indominus Rex’s mouth) starting in the 1st act when Gray and his brother Zach (Nick Robinson) board the ferry for Isla Nublar and Gray cannot help but discuss the carnivores and their “teeth” count in a Dino-obsessive one-sided discussion that would make young Tim from Jurassic Park proud.

If you listen for it, there are many conversations about teeth, including Claire’s description of what the public wants in the park’s “New Attraction,” Verizon Wireless presents Indominus Rex, and Dr. Henry Wu’s (BD Wong) talk with Mr. Simon Masrani (Irrffan Khan) about his newest “Asset.”

“You Are Not In Control!”

Just like Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) said 22 years ago to then InGen CEO John Hammond, “You never had control! That’s the illusion!”

So it is in Jurassic World, but it appears John Hammond never shared that wisdom with Mr. Simon Masrani, just the fact that he “spared no expense.” Control is often discussed in the film, but very rarely in terms of controlling the dinosaurs, rather in reference to which human is in control (a big miscalculation).

My favorite piece of irony involving the different characters vying for control comes during the scene where Claire sends in an ACU unit with “non-lethals.” Owen Grady (Chris Pratt!!!) makes the observation about the practically unarmed men, “Those men are going to die,” ordering them to get them out of there before the Indominus Rex rips them to shreds. Claire shouts at Owen, “You are not in control here!” The irony is, neither is she.

“Control” is passed around ending with InGen’s Isla Nublar division being taken over by the War Hawk Hoskins (Vincent D’Onofrio), from the control room to “the mission” involving putting the raptors that under Owen’s “control” to the test.

Of course, as Owen says himself earlier in the film, “It’s not about control with these animals, it’s about respect.” This makes him the only man to understand the fragility of the park’s ecosystem/security; a real Ian Malcolm want to be!

We’ve only scratched the surface of what is left to explore in Jurassic World. I’ve started a little obvious with the recurring imagery I’ve pointed out, so hopefully those looking for a more immersive experience will gleam more next post!

Or even for the common fan who just wants to know all the Easter Eggs from Jurassic Park… Welcome, to Jurassic World!

READ PART 2… NOW!!! Or later.

JURASSIC WORLD Review: This Ain’t Your Childhood’s JURASSIC PARK (But that can be a good thing!)

Posted on June 11, 2015April 6, 2016 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Reviews

Perhaps writer/director Colin Trevorrow put it best in a recent article: Jurassic World‘s very story is a commentary on its existence. Universal Execs wanted to revive their 2nd biggest film franchise (it used to be #1 but has been bested by the sheer number of Fast & Furious films); they wanted Jurassic Park again, only bigger, scarier, more action packed. So, Trevorrow made a film about greedy InGen executives wanting something bigger and more dangerous, resulting in Indominus Rex and the popular synopsis for any film: “things go awry.”

Does Jurassic World live up to its real life mirror? Is bigger, scarier, and more action packed, a film gone “awry,” disappointing fans the world over? Or have the Universal Execs outsmarted InGen’s, creating a new monster that is not dangerous to your Jurassic Park loving self?

I am happy to report, that though no film could ever top the intelligence, heart, and magic of 1993’s original Jurassic Park, Jurassic World is an incredibly worthy sequel; something The Lost World and Jurassic Park III could never manage.

The best way to sum up the movie is that I saw every scene and location I wanted to see! Indominus Rex wrecking havoc? Check! A little bit o’ T-Rex? Check! (Human) Siblings in peril? Check! Chris Pratt continuing to rock the summer blockbuster? Double Check!!!

Most importantly, are the scariest parts of Jurassic Park, the famed Velociraptors (sometimes in the kitchen), neutered pets for Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to control? Fuck no! This is by far the scariest and most vicious the famed raptors have been since 1993’s trip to Isla Nublar.

Jurassic World smartly builds on Jurassic Park with a few fun winks; not so much as to feel like a rehash or a misguided attempt to reference the original as much as possible.

It’s amazing to see that red flares are used to get the attention of the T-Rex to ensure he actually eats the goat at feeding time; Ian Malcolm taught old Rex flares mean tasty treats 22 years ago (it is, indeed, the very same T-Rex that provided the franchise’s best scene when he famously escaped his pen). The events of Jurassic Park are also referenced by the Lowery, played brilliantly by Jake Johnson. He wears a Jurassic Park shirt he found on Ebay for $150, which may or may not be in poor taste. He’s a Jurassic Park groupie in the same way Charlie Day played a “Kaiju groupie” in Pacific Rim. And a hero.

Likewise, contrary to popular theories going into the film, InGen head Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) isn’t a greedy man like John Hammond’s nephew in The Lost World, he is like Hammond himself, reminding us that though Hammond spared no expense (Masrani actually says that very line, crediting Hammond), the Park was always intended the be for everyone, not just for the rich. Masrani believes this should be the fun division of InGen, not necessarily the profitable one.

Of course, other InGen employees tend to disagree, starting with Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), day-to-day park manager who can’t make time to see her two nephews visiting Jurassic World (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins) because she is obsessed with creating newer, scarier attractions for the profit of literal sponsorship (her vision is “Verizon Wireless Presents Indominus Rex”). Claire’s own greed puts extra lives at risk, with a scene reminiscent of Jaws featuring Claire refusing to evacuate the park because of the loss in profit and a second where she sends mercenaries/security to track Indominus Rex with non-lethal weaponry, because he is a mulit-million dollar “asset.” Of course, she comes around after the men are all slaughtered and she learns her own nephews are lost in the park.

Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins are the best kids the JP franchise has seen since Lex and Tim in the original film. They don’t ruin the danger of the movie by beating Velociraptors with gymnastics (The Lost World) or by surviving on an island by themselves for weeks (Jurassic Park III). They are closer to the original archetypes of scared siblings lost in the wild, though there is a moment where they are a little too smart and inventive for their own good.

Speaking of Jurassic Park archetypes, Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady is an interesting mash-up of Allan Grant and Muldoon. He isn’t given a ton to do, acting wise, but he brings life and charm in what could have been an overly stereotypical role. And of course he can handle action scenes like the best of them.

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD. Skip the next paragraph if ye’ be afraid.

Like any good Zombie movie, what would a Jurassic Park film be without human villains? (Besides Jurassic Park III which is 100% rotten in my opinion.) Here we seem to have two, Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong), the only returning cast member from any Jurassic Park film, and Vincent D’Onofrio (who is on fire this year with Run All Night, JW, Daredevil, and being cast in the remake of Magnificent Seven… with Chris Pratt) as Hoskins. Between the two of them (Hoskins’ exact role is unknown, is he just a military man, or a former military man who seems to run the shady side of the company?), InGen has begun to look more like The Amazing Spider-Man’s Oscorp. Hoskins has a dream of using Velociraptors to hunt down terrorists in caves, while being involved in some sort of hybrid program with Dr. Wu that goes deeper than Indominus Rex and may even be the strand used to build a sequel.

SPOILERS OVER… For Now.

Finally, let’s talk Dinos. You can tell CGI has come a long way in 22 years, from the new level of detail to classic Dinos like Gallimimus and Velociraptors, to the creation of a new dinosaur; Mr. Indominus Rex.

Indominus Rex avoids the pitfalls of the Spinosaurus, Universal’s bright(?) idea for a scarier dinosaur than T-Rex in Jurassic Park III. He’s bigger, smarter, etc, but he’s also… cooler? Is that the best descriptor? He really gets the best of all worlds, with a size bigger than T-Rex, useful arms for slinging humans into trees to kill them, and intelligence that may surpass the Velociraptor… as well as a bunch of other nifty feature I won’t spoil here. He gets all the scenes T-Rex got back in day, crushing a vehicle with kids in it and leaning close to Owen Grady, nostrils flaring and a mouthful of teeth opened just wide enough to get the point across.

Back to the Raptors… no one could ever hope to top Raptors in the kitchen, or that “Clever Girl” moment, but Jurassic World delivers the best Raptor thrills and scares since the 1st film. It’s great watching Owen train them like dolphins at the beginning, only having to test his Raptor whispering skills when a young paddock worker falls in with the dangerous, intelligent Dinos. But it gets better when greedy Hoskins finally gets what he wants and sets the Raptors free… leading to exactly what you would expect. MINOR MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD.

Before I wrap up this overly long review, I want to express my excitement about one element of the film I was hoping for going in. A look at the OG Jurassic Park buildings from 1993, reclaimed by the jungles of Isla Nublar. Revisiting the original Visitor Center (no pun intended) was a treat, especially the uncovering of a small part of a film-famous banner and the use of an Original “Jurassic Park” labeled Jeep.

MAJOR 3RD ACT SPOILERS AHEAD. Skip to last paragraph if need be.

The finale is probably the most polarizing part of the film. Some people will love it, others may think it is cheesy. Let’s just say it’s T-Rex and the Raptor named Blue squaring off against Indominus Rex… even with an assist by the aquatic Mosasaurus. The fact these three work together to fight off the “monster” dinosaur that shouldn’t exist, could simply be “Life Finding A Way” (again, though technically all the dinosaurs are unnatural “monsters,” built from Dino AND Frog DNA – among other things) or it could be over-the-top action with little sense. For whatever the reason, just like in Jurassic Park,T-Rex does save the day in an almost Godzilla (2014) way; a monster simply bringing balance to the ecosystem and saving “mankind.” The last scene of the film even has the classic King of the Dinos (well, Queen, all the animals in Jurassic Park were supposed to be female) T-Rex, roaring over his domain of Isla Nublar from on high. Still, since the T-Rex only appears in the 3rd act (mostly…mostly), he remains a letdown, no scenes to rival the first film or even Lost World. At least his neck isn’t broken by a Spinosaurus in the 1st act like Jurassic Park III… * Shudder*

SPOILERS OVER

Like 99% of sequels, Jurassic World has moments that make you cringe or upset you because it doesn’t play close enough to the original film. But, overall, it is a fantastic film, not disappointing this Jurassic Park mega-fan (JP is in my top 5 favorite movies and JW is my most anticipated movie of the year), becoming the best Jurassic Park sequel to date (you know they want to make another, especially with the one loose thread involving Hoskins and Dr. Wu’s secret work), delivering every scene and dinosaur scare I expected to see.

Global JURASSIC WORLD Trailer Proves Raptors Are Still Dangerous! But Not As Smart As Indominus Rex

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Trailers

Okay, so there is a ton to discuss here, but I have to leave for work.

We get to see that, indeed, even though Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady is a “raptor whisperer,” Velociraptors are still willing to devour a man! And the park still has a T-Rex! And Dr. Wu! And we see how the Pterodactyls escape! Aaaaaaannnnnddddd…. everything is awesome (for the 3rd time for Chris Pratt)!

We do see a little more of Indominus Rex than I would have liked, but this look at her does not disappoint! Nor does the entire trailer!

Watch it now!

June 12th can’t come soon enough!

Two New Jurassic World Posters Emphasize The Small Layer of Security Between Man and Monster

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Posters

On Friday, director Colin Trevorrow released the first of 3 new posters for his upcoming summer blockbuster Jurassic World.

Here’s that 1st one from my earlier post as a refresher:

Now, take a look at Saturday’s poster.

These two posters certainly seem to have a common theme: there is literally a plate of glass (“security”) keeping visitors and employees, like Bryce Dallas Howard’s Dr. Claire Dearing, away from monsters that could devour a human in a single bite. The Indominus Rex snout in the first poster, and the majestic/terrifying Mosasaurus eating a shark in the other.

But don’t fear! Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and his Pride of Velociraptors are here!

A new trailer for Jurassic World premieres Monday online. Hopefully we get a bunch of exciting new images, without a clear shot spoiling the look of poor, misunderstood, Indominus Rex.

New JURASSIC WORLD Clip Dampens Your Excitement

Posted on April 10, 2015April 10, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Trailers

Still without a 2nd Theatrical Trailer, Jurassic World has done most of its marketing in smaller doses through two excellent TV spots; the 1st from the Superbowl and the latter released only weeks ago.

Today we get a clip from the movie, but don’t get too excited. No dinos; Velociraptors, Indominous Rex or otherwise are present. Instead, we get a dialog scene with Bryce Dallas Howard as Dr. Claire Dearing and Chris Pratt as Velociraptor whisperer Owen Grady.

The scene feels a little stale, with too much by-the-book archetypes that caused Avengers: Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon to label the clip as “70’s era sexist.” This from the man who has Black Widow saying “I always clean up after you boys” whilst grabbing Capt.’s Shield off the street for him.

I’m never here to get political or what-not, so let’s get to the clip.

See what I mean? It just feels like a scene from any movie trying to establish a rebel of a character and the stuck-up scientist. It’s not the lack of dinosaurs that is disappointing, it’s the quality of the writing and even performance choices that have brought upon my first real doubts about my most anticipated movie of 2015.

Hopefully director Colin Trevorrow and his leads Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard bring their A-game to every other scene in June 12th’s Jurassic World. I know Indominus Rex will…

‘Lego Jurassic World’ Original Screen Grabs

Posted on March 16, 2015March 16, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Original Screen Grabs, Trailers, Video Games

Below are original screen grabs from the new ‘Lego Jurassic World’ Video Game trailer that launched today. I have a screenshot of (nearly) every scene, so relive every moment at your own pace! Or catch something new!

Or find a new FBook cover! (Or not.)

Jurassic Park’s Opening Sequence

T-Rex’s Escape

Arrival: The Visitor Center

Velociraptor Feeding Time

Clever Girl

The Great Door

Gallimimus Stampede

“Kids!”

Sick Triceratops

Only ‘Jurassic Park III’ Scene: The Spinosaurus Chase

Lego Ian Malcolm!

T-Rex Escape: Part II

Journey to Isla Nublar… in a Lego Helicopter.

‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’s Only Scene: Fighting Raptors

The Jeep Chase… Now With Lego Humor!

Even though the trailer obviously focuses on ‘Jurassic Park’ memorable scenes, we’ll get the whole ‘Jurassic World’ experience when the game hits in June.

‘Lego Jurassic World’ Video Game Explores All 4 Films… Complete With Official Dialog!

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Trailers, Video Games

Thus far, we have only seen a theatrical teaser trailer and a much more revealing Superbowl spot for June 12’s ‘Jurassic World’ starring Chris Pratt.

Now… we have a trailer for ‘Lego Jurassic Park: The Video Game;’ a game that like ‘Lego Indiana Jones’ and ‘Lego Star Wars’ covers all four films in the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise.Though the idea seemed silly at first (like a Lego movie…), the Lego games have become the standard for excellent movie adaptations with great control schemes, smart level design, and loads of humor (like ‘The Lego Movie!’).

Lego has cornered the market on Video Game Movie Adaptations, with ‘Lego Indiana Jones’ being the best ‘Indiana Jones’ game ever made and ‘Lego Star Wars’ among the creme of the crop of ‘Star Wars’ video games. These games put Lego on the map and there have been plenty of Lego games since. In fact, the Lego games gave been getting better; giving each hero a unique control scheme in ‘Lego Marvel Heroes’ and making the movie to game adaptation seamless in the form of ‘The Lego Movie: The Video Game.’

Like past Lego games, humor is at the heart of the “Jurassic Wolrd’ game, but unlike ‘Lego Star Wars’ and ‘Lego Indiana Jones,’ ‘Lego Jurassic World’ uses more than visual gags to tell the story. In fact, having already added dialog to ‘Lego Marvel Heroes’ and ‘Lego Movie: The Video Game,’ ‘Lego Jurassic World’ actually takes dialog directly from all four ‘Jurassic Park’ films. That means you get to hear the voice talents of Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum without the nearly impossible feat of getting the original cast into a recording studio (of course all the actors will get a chunk of the profit).What we have here is the only real ‘Jurassic Park’ game made in years; the only one for current and next-gen titles. TellTale Games, who made their classic “Chapter” style of video games, including past ‘Jurassic Park’ adventures, is making the game with Lego and Warner Bros Games.

With no other ‘Jurassic World’ game in production (maybe there will be an update to the Park Builder games), it looks like Lego has again cornered the market, surely producing the best ‘Jurassic Park’ related game to date… if you can put up with Legos.

Jeep chases, battling Velociraptors, and John Williams’ score abound, I cannot wait to return to (Lego) Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna (“Site B”)!

Watch the trailer now!

Time to start saving money… between this and ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ I have two games I need to get this June.

Happy gaming, geeks!

LOTS of New ‘Jurassic World’ Screen Grabs For You!

Posted on February 1, 2015February 1, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Original Screen Grabs, Trailers

I have here a load of screen grabs of all the new key moments in the 2nd ‘Jurassic World’ trailer that aired with the Superbowl. (I choose not to screen-grab the shit we’ve already seen. For brevity’s sake, bro.)

Now, I couldn’t find the trailer any higher def than 720p, so these glorious pics ain’t HD as hell, but there is still much to glean and enjoy their beauty.

Training Time

Chris Pratt proves he can outdo Robert Muldoon by training the clever creatures. (I refrain from using that ole’ JP pun… for now…)

Raptor Training with Chris Pratt Jurassic World — Chris Pratt trains his pet Raptors. So they can help him one day live his dream of hunting down a hybrid-monster-dinosaur.

The Indominus Paddock

When dinosaurs live in paddocks as crazy as this super-sized version of ‘Jurassic Park’s Velociraptor pen… well… “That’s probably not a good idea.”

The face of a cold-blooded killer.

Literally.

Chris Pratt and an Employee Run For Their Lives from Indominus Rex

This won't be the last time you see that claw. — This won’t be the last time you see that claw.

...And... the JW Employee is Gone! — …And… the JW Employee is Gone!

Time to Hide, Mr. Pratt!

Make it like the old days! To rekindle old memories of people hiding back in 1993’s ‘Jurassic Park’

Montage Time!

The Indominus Rex Kills Dinosaurs Like This One for Sport!

I swear this image is from the new 'Jurassic World' trailer and not the original 1993 film. — I swear this image is from the new ‘Jurassic World’ trailer and not the original 1993 film.

The Jaws of Indominus Rex. Yes, he does have more teeth.

Pterodactyls! Spooked by Indominus Rex tramping around Isla Nublar?

It's like Alfred Hitchcock's 'Birds!' Only they're Pterpdactyls! — It’s like Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Birds!’ Only they’re Pterpdactyls!

Lady gets grabbed... — Lady gets grabbed…

... And she's gone too! — … And she’s gone too

"We're going after it." But I won't say if it's my human team or my raptor team! — “We’re going after it.” But I won’t say if it’s my human team or my raptor team!

Pratt Pops a Wheely. Seen with Raptors before and after this shot, so he choose his dino-team. Raptors.... ASSEMBLE!!! — Pratt Pops a Wheely. Seen with Raptors before and after this shot, so he choose his dino-team. Raptors…. ASSEMBLE!!!

Finally… Suffer the Little Children…

I told you last time his claw seems to be his most lethal feature behind his mouth.

There you have it. A bunch of “rad” screen grabs from the hours old ‘Jurassic World’ Superbowl trailer. Enjoy.

I’m sure we’ll see more before June 12th.

The New Superbowl ‘Jurassic World’ Trailer Shows You Everything!

Posted on February 1, 2015March 10, 2015 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Original Screen Grabs, Trailers

Wow. If the first trailer was subtle, then the 2nd ‘Jurassic World’ trailer promises you there’s loads of CGI dinosaur mayhem… and not just the brand-new “probably not a good idea” hybrid, Indominus Rex.

Speaking of Indominus Rex, we do see a lot of him. Pretty Bad-Ass, but again, no subtly or true surprise.

Yeah, this won’t be slow boil delightful like ‘Jurassic Park.’ This is more in-your-face-action involving helicopters, starving pterodactyls, and trained Velociraptor romp across Isla Nublar.

I’m still on board! In fact, I quite liked it.

…

I’m sure we will discuss it more later….

Enjoy for now.

Why Are They Breeding Raptors On Isla Nublar?

Posted on January 7, 2015February 17, 2017 by Nick Doll in Features, Jurassic World, Movies, Villains

“Clever Girl.”

Velociraptors.

Though T-Rex makes the park logo (of both the failed Jurassic Park and the new Jurassic World) and has the best single scene in the franchise (“someone let T-Rex out of his pen”), for me, the Jurassic Park franchise is all about Velociraptors.

There are few things scarier than the Velociraptor; in fact, it may be the scariest monster to ever grace the silver screen.

Sure, ‘Jaws’ is scary, but to avoid Bruce you just need to stay out of the water. But Velociraptors… if you are on Isla Nublar or Isla Sorna (aka ‘Site B’), can get to you anywhere. They talk to each-other, open doors, and have one hell of a claw.

The Velociraptors haven’t had the best track record in the ‘Jurassic Park’ sequels. Raptors in the grass is terrifying in ‘Lost World: Jurassic Park,’ but then the incredibly smart beasts are bested by Ian Malcom’s teenage daughter doing gymnastics.

In ‘Jurassic Park III’ they have feathers… and are only after Alan Grant and company to protect their eggs. In fact, blowing through their vocal cavity causes them to leave you alone completely.

LAME!

Velociraptors are better as cold blooded, killing machines like in the first film.

Yet… in the film ‘Jurassic Park’ all the raptors are either killed or left for dead in a locked freezer.

Muldoon tells the park visitors that there are three raptors in the Velociraptor Pen. He explains that when they brought in the big one – you know, the one who eats that paddock worker at the beginning of the film (“Shoot Her!”) – she killed all the raptors in the pride but two.

So, we start the film with three velociraptors. Then Timmy locks one in the freezer in the 2nd best scene of the franchise: raptors in the kitchen. They may be able to open doors, but they can’t unlock one from the inside.

Finally, in the 3rd best scene (this is working out nicely), T-Rex comes to the rescue (in what is actually the biggest and most beloved cop-out of an ending in film history), killing the other two raptors.

So, by the end of 1993’s ‘Jurassic Park’ there are no live raptors left on Isla Nublar.

T-Rex earns his final, powerful image after killing two Raptors.

But, life finds a way (or studio executives at least) as Chris Pratt gets to ride a motorcycle with at least 5 of the creatures in the ‘Jurassic World’ trailer; ‘World’ being the first JP film to return to Isla Nublar since 1993.

So, in their infinite wisdom, did InGen (or its new parent company) breed new Raptors? Or even take old ones from Site B., Isla Sorna?

Or, did life really find away?

The Raptor Pen in 'Jurassic Park' — The Raptor Pen in ‘Jurassic Park’

Were there eggs in that pen? After all, we, and the park employees don’t really get a good look in there due to the danger level. Did the Raptors also change sex and breed? Who would raise the babies? Were there young raptors in the pen?

Alternate theory; did the Velociraptor in the freezer use her weight to force the door open? Did she raise some babies?

Likely, this won’t be addressed in ‘Jurassic World.’ I never realized that all three raptors met a terrible fate (that they deserved) until I rewatched ‘Jurassic Park’ for the millionth time. And I doubt the studio and writer expect us to remember this, if they even did.

But maybe, just maybe, we’ll get an explanation from Chris Pratt as to why he has his own pack of Raptors.

The motivating force of the ‘JurassicWorld’ plot is that park guests are tired of seeing the same old monsters after a decade of Jurassic World being open. Where raptors bred to give park goers that scare factor before management decided to just go ahead and make a new dinosaur? Where they bred to be used as samples to create what the web is calling the ‘D-Rex;’ possibly a hybrid Velocirapter/T-Rex?

Whatever the case.

“Probably not a good idea.”

I just hope the new Raptors are used for scares, not just as Pratt’s minions. After all, they are the cornerstone of Jurassic Park’s scares.

Is that really the new Hybrid... or is the shot more reminiscent of Timmy in the kitchen with Raptors! — Is that really the new Hybrid… or is the shot more reminiscent of Timmy in the kitchen with Raptors!

I do have a theory that the final scene in the trailer, pre-logo, the ominous shadow and growl over the young boy is that of a Raptor, not Jurassic World’s newest attraction.

All will be revealed (or glossed over) in ‘Jurassic World’ opening Jun 12th

‘Jurassic World’ trailer is here! Chris Pratt hunts a monster.

Posted on November 25, 2014November 30, 2014 by Nick Doll in Jurassic World, Movies, Trailers

The first full ‘Jurassic World’ trailer is here and it evokes mixed emotions.

Like with ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (formally ‘Star Wars: Episode VII), I feel it utterly impossible for ‘Jurassic World’ to be any worse than what came immediately before; the prequel trilogy in one case and ‘Jurassic Park 3’ on the other.

The trailer is pretty great, arousing strong nostalgia when seeing the new gates that read the new theme park’s name,’Jurassic World.’ Seeing the almost alternate reality of what it would have been like if ‘Jurassic Park’ opened in 1993 without a hitch. A safari ride among the gallimimus! A river boat cruise (which actually comes from the book)!

Hence another positive; the fourth in the franchise appears to be returning to the original book for ‘new’ material.

Of course, if the park continued to stay fine and dandy, we wouldn’t have a movie. Cue mass panic with an island full of tourists!

Watch the trailer for yourself!

Looks like a refreshing retake on the classic dinosaurs-escape-and-eat-man formula.

And as previously mentioned, oh, the nostalgia! Kids in peril! Flairs! Mosquitos in amber!Feeding a big animal to a more vicious animal! Sexy archaeologists/scientists. That melancholy score. Nostalgia!!! So much it nearly hurts! Hurts so good!

Bryce Dallas Howard as the 'classic JP scientist.' — Bryce Dallas Howard as the ‘classic JP scientist.’

Love the idea of the literal monster; a freak dinosaur hybrid with unknown strength and intelligence. The dinosaurs in ‘Jurassic Park’ were scary animals… this new movie is more of a monster movie with a more moderately a sized Godzilla (they spared some expense).

Great twist on the genre, love the nostalgia the movie seems to evoke, and really, really love the premise of the park being open for over a decade before the ‘incident’ this time, unlike the preview weekend for the original ‘1993’ Incident.

The only thing that worries me is Chris Pratt riding a bike among velociraptors at the end. A rumor suggests Chris Pratt’s dinosaur-man-role trained raptors to hunt down the dino-hybrid at the end. So if those raptors are muzzled like a set photo we saw, him riding among them will hopefully not be as ridiculous as Shia LaBeouf swinging with the monkeys. (How can it be? We’re comparing LaBeouf to Pratt here!)

Set photo showing muzzled velociraptor in JW

I’m still excited. You had my curiosity, ‘Jurassic World,’ but now you have my attention.

JW is out June 2015.

The Park is open.

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