Claire Dearing and Owen Grady are back to save dinosaurs threatened by the erupting volcano on the former theme park. Benjamin Lockwood, Hammond's old partner, agrees to fund the endeavor, so they go back to the island along with a paloveterinarian, a former park technician, and a para-military force. Tracking down important dinosaurs trying to be the volcano is hard enough, let alone when that para-military force turns against them and leaves them for dead.
Jurassic World is better and worse than its predecessor. It's better in portraying women, the basic plot, and the aesthetics. Claire ran around the first movie in a skirt and heels, not letting go of her proper ways. This movie portrays her much more realstically and as a more even character instead of a caricature. Zia as the paleoveterinarian is also a breath of fresh air with her sardonic humor and genuine care for dinosaurs.Owen is pretty much the same with his smarmy face and constant jokes even in the face of certain death. The plot is much more dynamic, involving a greedy man selling dinosaurs to the highest bidder. The aesthetics are much better, especially in the second half. A newly made dinosaur stalks a girl in her room and the cinematography makes it look like a dark fairy tale or gothic story.
The story has its flaws with so many plot holes, it's best not to think about them. For instance, no one seems to notice the heroes drive a jeep by dramatically clearing a large gap as the boat leaves from the dock. It's loud and unmistakable, but no one comes to investigate. Most characters don' have much development and prove to be quite one dimensional, especially the villain. With these flaws, the film is enjoyable but nothing very special. Although it doesn't surpass Jurassic Park, it is the best of the sequels in my opinion.
My rating: 3/5 fishmuffins
* Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018)
Ethan Hunt refuses to sacrifice his friends (as an agent is supposed to) and as a result, the bad guys get three spheres of plutonium. He is forced to pose as the enemy, find the plutonium, and obtain it by any means possible before the Apostles use it to bomb major cities.
I had no idea this was the sixth Mission Impossible film. I was surprised at the Rotten Tomatoes score and I went in with tepid expectations which were not met. Ethan Hunt seems genuinely inept at his job. He was supposed to protect his country by getting the plutonium away from the bad guys, but he's unable to allow his team to die. While this is understandable and we're supposed to feel for him, I agree with Erica Sloane (played by Angela Bassett) when she says "That's the job." This whole film's plot could have been avoided if Ethan would just do his job, but he's continually praised for being inept.
This film is enjoyable if all you want is Tom Cruise running, jumping, climbing helicopters, and beating up guys while he's up there. The stunts are well done, but a movie is more than stunts. The twists and turns are so steeped in tropes and done by this series before that nothing is much of a surprise. This series wants you to think it's sophisticated and well plotted, but it's the action equivalent of the Saw franchise. The trailers even broadcasted a character as villain, so it was no surprise when that character revealed his plot and then did a horrible job trying to lie his way out of it. I don't recommend this movie, but many seem to enjoy it.
My rating: 2/5 fishmuffins
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