Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ Next Level Animal Rights Crusade

 

(Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)


 

Next Level Animal Rights 

 


Do animals really have rights?


Many animal activists will say absolutely because animals have a purpose on this Earth that does not necessarily revolve around the wants and needs of human beings.


That belief explains why so many find animal fighting and abuse so appalling and rightfully so.


But what if the animal rights in question belong to vicious and deadly dinosaurs that have the power to destroy human existence if they so choose to?


Would animal rights activists be so quick to defend a species, if that species had the power to end their species?


In “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” Claire Dearing and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) get more than they bargain for when they try to save the only remaining dinosaurs in the world from an island that gets threatened by a catastrophic volcano.


Their endeavor in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” becomes entertaining and energetic, but nothing unique.


In “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” the planet finds itself in a dilemma.


After the tragedy of “Jurassic World,” the dinosaurs, including Owen’s baby Blue, have found a new home on a deserted island.


While having their own island gives the dinosaurs their own unique habitat away from the dangers presented by human beings, the volcano presents a new dilemma for the creatures.


Some scientists and politicians believe that the impending volcanic explosion will simply be just an act of God and whatever happens to the dinosaurs on the island is God’s will.


Many government officials do not want to intervene in any form when it comes to protecting the dinosaurs.


On the other hand, animal rights groups led by people like Claire, Franklin (Justice Smith, “The Get Down”) and Zia (Daniella Pineda) want to do everything humanly possible to save as many dinosaurs as possible.


Correction.


Claire and Zia want to do whatever it takes to save the dinosaurs.


Franklin is just a petrified computer geek who works for the animal rights organization.


The scared nerd only does computer work for the group, and his main mission is to not come face to face with a T-Rex.


When Eli Mills (Rafe Spall), an assistant to Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), calls Claire to the Lockwood estate, he convinces her that joining with them is the only way to save the inevitable death of those huge dinosaurs inhabiting that small island.


Eli persuades Claire to help his group escort the dinosaurs from the dangerous island to a new island that they have.


Once on the new island, the dinosaurs would be left to their own devices and could live, exist and procreate without manmade interferences or acts of God like volcanoes.


Eli needs Claire because she has the tracking technology needed to locate all of the animals.


Claire needs Zia because she is a veterinarian trained in taking care of dinosaurs.


She also needs Franklin for his skills with a computer.


However, Claire finds out that she needs a new plan to save the dinosaurs after her Plan A goes up in smoke.


“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” is an enjoyable flick.


It is actually pretty good.


But after Hollywood had begun to change the game a little bit by destroying the formula, moviegoers might find out via “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” that the destruction was just temporary and not permanent.


Hollywood had successfully rebuilt the destroyed house and instead of making improvements, filmmakers stuck to the original entertainment blueprint.


In “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” Claire, Owen and the crew represent idealistic good guys who want to save the world or play hero for an abused and oppressed minority group.


However, their idealistic plans get curtailed by reality when they find out that the people that they believed were just as idealistic turn out to be brutal and destructive.


Therefore, can the good guys stop the bad guys before they really do something bad?


“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” then becomes the typical good versus bad narrative that Hollywood has run into the ground with no nuance.


The good guys are clearly good.


Likewise, the bad guys are clearly bad.


No in between.


No gray area.


Just simply black and white.


However, life usually is not that cut and dry.


Very few things in life are as simple as black and white.


Life contains many nuances and a lot of gray area.


Therefore, stories that fall into this cut and dry scenario often fail to inspire moviegoers.


Nevertheless, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” is still a film that needs to be viewed.


Just like its predecessors, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” succeeds because of the dangerous and humongous dinosaurs.


Moviegoers will not even necessarily purchase a ticket to see some referendum on life and the human experience.


“Jurassic Park” fans will show up decked out in paraphernalia from the film franchise, because they want to see gigantic dinosaurs destroy some property, eat people and wreak total havoc on the much weaker human beings who have invaded their territory.


Furthermore, Pratt, Howard, Smith and Pineda are so likable as actors that they make up for any lack of originality or intrigue.


However, the most likable actor in the action flick is young Isabella Sermon who plays Maisie Lockwood, the granddaughter of Benjamin Lockwood.


Her intelligence, perseverance and personality should guarantee her a role in the next “Jurassic Park” installment.


And fans should not worry because there will be another installment based on the conclusion of “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.”


And although the characters in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” are either good or evil with no gray area, the dinosaurs represent the total opposite end of the spectrum.


While animal rights activists love to talk about the hurt and pain animals endure at the hands of overzealous human beings, what about the other side of the coin?


What about animals who could destroy and annihilate all human beings if they so choose?


What about the fear that human beings endure when they come face to face with deadly and vicious animals?


Where are the rights of human beings?


And whose rights are the most important?


 


REGAL RATINGS

FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT

THREE CROWNS=GOOD

TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE

ONE CROWN=POOR

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