JURASSIC WORLD: THE FINAL KINGDOM

US, 2018, 128 minutes, Colour.
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Daniela Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong, Geraldine Chaplin, Isabella Sermon, Robert M's.
Directed by J.A.Bayona.

This Jurassic film, the fifth in the series, was released at the time of the 25th anniversary of the original film, Stephen Spielberg’s exciting version of Michael Crichton’s story, Jurassic Park. The next two sequels continued the adventures but were not quite as astonishing as the original.

This new series of Jurassic films uses the word ‘World’ instead of ‘Park’. Audiences who saw the 2016 reintroduction of the Jurassic World, will remember that the title is rather literal, that a theme Park had been set up on an island, that the restored dinosaurs had a home where they could roam freely, that visitors could come and share this experience, prehistory in the present. However, human nature being what it is, each of the film has villainous humans who want to exploit the dinosaurs. No empathy, no holds barred. This led to quite some mayhem and destruction at the end of Jurassic World.

What to do with a sequel? The answer is basically, to provide audiences with excitement and with some wondrous special effects to recreate the dinosaurs, their size and menace, the possibility of friendship, the threat, this time, to their very existence.

At one stage, the screenplay has character remarking that the dinosaurs have been with us for over two decades – and, in our imaginations through the films, at times, in our heart of hearts, we probably were under the impression that they actually exist! But, no, they are movie fantasies.

So, with Jurassic World destroyed, where are we to go? There are two ideas behind this scenario. One is that a volcano is erupting on the island with the ruins of Jurassic World. A rescue mission to save as many dinosaurs, as many different species as possible. And, who better to consult than Claire, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Owen, Chris Pratt, from the previous film. And, in their adventures, they are joined by a young girl.

She is the granddaughter of Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), an old collaborator with John Hammond (with a portrait of John Hammond, Richard Attenborough, on the wall for nostalgia’s sake). Lockwood is being advised by Eli (Rafe Spall). But all is not as it seems, there are mercenaries rounding up the dinosaurs to escape the volcano, led by the ambitious and sinister Wheatley (Ted Levine).

The dinosaurs are shipped to Lockwood’s mansion (Claire and Owen and two assistants, one intlelligent, the other nerdish) where there are laboratories, a scientist (BD Wong) experimenting with the species, an entrepreneur (Toby Jones) wanting to sell of the dinosaurs as weapons to international buyers. (As so often, British actors are cast as the villains – but this time there are American characters with American accents!)

The climax is inevitable, Clash of the dinosaurs, goodies helping to save them, baddies coming to disastrous ends (some chomping ends). But, there are always some little dinosaurs at the Lockwood laboratories, possibly eager for a sequel.

1. The popularity of the Jurassic World films? From the 1990s and 25 years on? The appeal of the dinosaurs, the imagination of prehistoric creatures, liking dinosaurs, seeing them as a threat?

2. Back to the 1990s, the novel by Michael Crichton, the work of Stephen Spielberg, opening up the franchise, imagination, special effects? The impact of the sequels? The interest in Pre-history and the present?

3. The new films and the links between the films? 21st-century, dinosaurs, theme parks, the preserving of the diner dinosaurs, the threat to their destruction, their being used and scrupulously, as weapons?

4. The locations, the island, the former Park, the mountains and the Volcano, the to rain, the issue of protecting the dinosaurs and removing them? The Washington hearings? The Volcano and the eruptions? The mansion in Northern California, exteriors and interiors? Museum, basements, laboratories? The musical score?

5. Action sequences and the dinosaurs? The threat to the humans? Transporting the dinosaurs? The computer-generated dinosaurs? The special effects?

6. The cast, reprising their roles? Links with the past, Jeff Goldblum and the testimony and his opinions? The memories of Richard Attenborough and John Hammond and his portrait? His story? Owen and Claire from the previous film?

7. The new plotline, new action? The Volcano threat, saving the dinosaurs, their being exploited, being auctioned as weapons, the experimentation is? Owen and Claire and their care? The involvement of Franklin and, the presence of Maisie?

8. The issue of the eruption, the visuals? The hearings, the government, Jeff Goldblum and his past experience, his opinion of letting the dinosaurs be extinguished again? The government opinions? Claire and her group, watching the television, apprehensions? Audience reaction to the threats to the dinosaurs?

9. The Hammond mansion, Benjamin Lockwood, past Partner with Hammond? The presence of Maisie, his granddaughter? Iris, looking after the household, medication for Lockwood, caring for Maisie? The rooms and the museums in the house? Lockwood, summoning Claire, the mission to save the dinosaurs?

10. , His presence in the house, working with Lockwood? The list of 11 dinosaurs to be saved?

11. Clare, going to see Owen, the memories of the past, attraction, difficulties? Her urging him to come? Franklin and see, Zero being matter-of-fact, Franklin being continually apprehensive? The plane ride? Owen already there?

12. The island, the Volcano, the rampaging dinosaurs? Weekly, the military presence, the opening with the submarine, the remains of the dinosaurs on the seabed, getting the tooth? The threat of the monster underwater, enveloping the submarine, the technician and wanting to shut the gates, the dinosaur pursuit, the helicopter, his climb, death?

13. The collective the dinosaurs, the darts, been used on Owen? C and her having to help, the transfusions? The threats to Claire and Owen, with Franklin? In the glass wall, going into the water, the rescue? Driving, getting onto the ship?

14. The sedation of the dinosaurs on the other creatures? Their going to the Lockwood mansion? Eli and his betrayal, the deal with Ever sold, the scientist and his experiments, the preparation for the option, the dinosaurs as weapons? The auction, the bidding? The dinosaur loose, causing mayhem? Eversole and his being destroyed after escaping in the elevator? Eli and his final attempt to escape, under the car, the dinosaurs fighting over him?

15. Maisie, knowing the truth? The revelation about her being a clone of her mother? Her love for the dinosaurs? Meeting Owen and Claire, her fears, joining with them?

16. The dinosaurs, Blue in the past friendship? The need for the blood transfusion and Claire succeeding? The sea and Franklin in the laboratories?

17. The action of the rampages? The core group getting together, escapes, on the glass roof of the building? Dangers, cliffhangers? The ultimate threats, the dinosaur falling
through the glass and being impaled?

18. Baby dinosaurs remaining, the group saved? And a sequel?