Jurassic World: Rebirth – A Familiar Roar That Echoes but Doesn’t Shake
I walked into Jurassic World: Rebirth with cautious optimism. The trailers promised a return to form, Gareth Edwards was at the helm, and the cast—Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali—felt like a refreshing shift from the aging ensemble of the last trilogy. And to be fair, the film does get a few things right. But it never truly soars the way you want a Jurassic film to.
Visually, the film is a stunner. From the dense tropical isolation of Ile Saint-Hubert to underwater shots with the Mosasaurus, the cinematography makes you feel like you’re watching a beautifully restored VHS of Spielberg’s original. The six-limbed D-Rex (Distortus rex), while a bit over-designed, is certainly menacing. And the use of 35mm film gives everything a tactile, almost nostalgic texture—something that worked in the movie’s favor more often than not.
The first half-hour builds tension decently. There’s a real sense of foreboding as the expedition unfolds, and some action set-pieces genuinely grip you. Scarlett Johansson carries her role well as Zora Bennett, a no-nonsense operator with a hint of vulnerability. Jonathan Bailey, complete with his now-viral hexagonal glasses, injects some much-needed charm and comic timing. Mahershala Ali? Underused, sadly.
But here’s where it falters—the characters never feel fully alive. You don’t root for them the way you did for Grant, Sattler, or even Owen from the previous series. Their backstories are paper-thin, and emotional stakes get drowned out by the need to push to the next chase or roar. The writing is where the film most often collapses under its own weight. There’s a formula here: big reveal, big dinosaur, narrow escape, rinse, repeat.
The nostalgia hits are clever, but at times too obvious. A tool from Alan Grant’s old digsite? A music cue straight out of The Lost World? Nice touches—but they feel like Easter eggs for YouTube breakdowns rather than essential parts of the story.
Is it better than Dominion? Absolutely. Does it have the teeth of the original Jurassic Park? Not quite.
By the end, I found myself more appreciative than amazed. Rebirth isn’t a bad movie. It’s just a safe one—enjoyable for fans, visually compelling, and peppered with the kind of popcorn thrills that justify a weekend matinee. But if you’re looking for emotional depth or narrative risk, this one’s content to just graze on familiar ground.
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Rating: 3 out of 5
