Science fiction has taught us many things over the years, from what the most sophisticated weapon is (a lightsaber) to the most efficient way to travel (teleportation). It’s also told us that designer babies are practically a certainty.
These bespoke children, who inherit selected parts of their parents to allegedly give them the best chance of a long and happy life, won’t be confined to just the human race, though.
“We need more teeth”
These words are spoken towards the end of Jurassic World, when the film reaches its heart-racing climax. However, these words could easily have been the catalyst for the whole film, as Corporate, disappointed when visitor numbers remain static at around the 20,000-mark, seek a solution.
When the ‘more is more’ generation gets tired of seeing an extinct animal brought back to life, not bothering to even glance up from their smartphones when a 20ft Tyrannosaurus Rex devours its prey, it’s down to the men in white coats to create something ‘better’.
By genetically modifying one of the most fierce and brutal predators that ever existed, returning Jurassic Park character Dr Henry Wu and his team create something absolutely terrifying and totally uncontrollable: the Indominus Rex.
“You went and made a new dinosaur? Probably not a good idea”
While Indominus Rex is certainly an impressive beast, undoubtedly causing nightmares for the younger members of the cinema audience, I was left in both awe and pity.
As Park Ranger Owen Grady says, it doesn’t know that it was created in a lab. It’s simply an animal attempting to fulfil one of its most basic needs: hunt.
Jurassic World builds on the themes of its predecessors to be an intense action film that gives you heroes, villains and exciting creatures plus question the morality of playing god and meeting the needs of a generation that’s searching for ‘the next best thing’.
Following on the foundations of Jurassic Park – with just the right amount of references to it – to show you what happens when the park is fully operational, it shows you glimpses of herbivore petting zoos, ride-on triceratops and a thrilling aquatic display.
For these reasons it ticks all the boxes for younger cinema-goers, creating the same ‘wow’ factor that I had when I first watched Jurassic Park.
It also operates on a second, deeper level. While 11-year-old me was in awe of the idea of a Jurassic Park and wished it could happen, 27-year-old me now understands through Jurassic World’s visual representation the dangers and moral uncertainty in doing so.
I’d still book a ticket to Isla Nublar, though. And I’m sure I’d be content to see plain old T-Rex, the Raptors and the herbivores.
★★★★
Cinematic Delights 
That sums this up for me so well “I’d still buy a ticket but the old dinosaurs would be enough”. Was so happy when the “classic” dinosaurs made an appearance in the finale.
Thanks for your comment, Ben. I was very happy to see the classics dinosaurs too.
The new dinosaur completely overshadowed the power and danger of the T-Rex and Raptors, making them seem relatively nonthreatening in comparison. The final moments of the film would have been unthinkable in the earlier films, IMO.
Good read Claire. I’m on the other side of the fence with this one. Hated it. As a fan of the original I felt this glorified remake was quite insulting, not least in its depiction of dumb characters. Pratt’s charisma offered something to shout about but Trevorrow lacked ideas for me: he’d rather nick other people’s than come up with his own. Even his attempts at homage felt contrived.