Film Review: Jurassic World (Colin Trevorrow, 2015) in IMAX 3D ★★★★

Twenty-two years after, the now forgotten, events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nebula is now a successful and fully functioning theme park complete with living dinosaurs and attractions. Feeling a need to enhance spectators' interest, the park's scientists have cooked up something with "more teeth" and Jurassic World is getting ready to unveil it's first genetic hybrid dinosaur. However, having learnt nothing from raptors in the kitchen, playing with Mother Nature can only have devastating repercussions.

Our story starts almost as if the original sequels didn't happen and picks up right where we left off in Spielberg's 1993 classic. The opening credits oversee some raptor eggs hatching before cutting to the home of teen Zach (Nick Robinson) and his younger brother, Grey (Ty Simpkins), as they are about to make their way to visit their aunt, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), the managing director of the most successful theme park in existence - Jurassic World. As the boys arrive, their reaction is much like ours seeing it for the first time in twenty two years. As John Williams' original score kicks in, it pans over the wide open space of the park in all it's glory.

The first hour is clearly a love letter to Spielberg with some scenes seemingly inspired by the original and plenty of subtle (and some not so-subtle) references and tiny humorous digs at the inevitability of making a sequel - some executed wonderfully by Jake Johnson's character, Lowery.

The narrative wastes no time in introducing our protagonists. We meet Claire - an over-worked warden who's mind works purely on the statistics and inner workings of the park and who  hasn't seen her family in years. Claire is forced to call in Owen (Chris Pratt), raptor trainer, ex-Navy and an ex-love interest of hers, dressed in his Indiana Jones attire. The park needs Owen's help to assess the park's latest attraction, the Indominus Rex - part T-Rex, "part classified". The name of the beast itself, though seemingly basic, is justified. Ignoring Owen's warning and clearly having learnt nothing from the events twenty years prior, it is not long before the prehistoric monsters bust their pen and be running riot and Claire must find her nephews who are somewhere among the chaos. 

Jurassic World is breathtaking. Shot in IMAX, the special effects and CGI are practically flawless. The entirety of the film itself is comprised of visually stunning scenes designed to amaze and entertain just as if we were visiting the park ourselves for the first time. Combined with some seamless performances from the entire cast, including a reprising role for Dr. Wang (B.D Wong) it is hard to find any faults at all. Though so scenes may appear as somewhat 'cheesy' but at no the evitiabilities of cliches of the narrative distract from the all-round success of the heartwarming blockbuster.

I could discuss the representation of gender roles and theories of man playing with nature until the cows come home but I feel this draws away from a narrative that is not intending to make a social statement. 
Claire, is a workaholic and as such will never be complete. In this very Disney-esk representation, she is unmarried and therefore her life is unfulfilled by comparison of her sister, played by Judy Grier, who is managing both working life but her family comes first. In this narrative, Claire needs Owen in order to learn how to loosen up and eventually, find love. However, it can be argued there are scenes where she is empowered and comes in to her own.

In terms of Man vs Nature? We all know that creating a part T-Rex, part raptor is never going to end smoothly but Jurassic World notes spectators' constant need to advance. Be it more technology, more speed, more thrill, more fear. And this is hugely relevant in our current reality escaping society - wonderfully worded by Dr. Wang (B.D Wong), "You didn't ask for reality, you asked for more teeth". 

In conclusion then? Jurassic World is outstanding and all it promises to be and more. Filled with nostalgia and awe, it is to be taken simply as a thrilling, visually stunning and action-packed piece of cinema. Whilst it may not be taking home any Oscars for earth-shattering performances or screenplay, Jurassic World is a huge accomplishment in it's own right. Director Colin Trevorrow stays true to the original franchise and is respectful of it's legacy to both returning and new audiences. The moments of comedy, heart-break and Chris Pratt, are all just superb added bonuses. For that reason, Jurassic World gets a Sophie star rating of 4 out of 5 stars for literally reducing me to tears of shear joy. I'm already planning on seeing it a second/third time. 

Though I loved this with every fiber of my being, I am almost certain that the franchise should end here, going out on a huge high.

Have you seen Jurassic World already or planning to go this weekend? Let me know what you made of it! Films like this don't come around very often and, whilst I may be one of a small group of this opinion, it was just perfect. Share your views below!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Until next time film fans,