Jurassic World: Rebirth is absolutely phenomenal. Gareth Edwards has channeled his inner Spielberg to craft a loving tribute to Jurassic Park and Jaws. It’s a Jurassic classic!
It’s been sixty-five million years in the making, but it’s finally time to review Jurassic World: Rebirth.
The Jurassic franchise has seen its share of successes and failures in recent years. After the completion of Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park trilogy, Colin Trevorrow rejuvenated the franchise with the nostalgic relaunch in Jurassic World. However, its sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, directed by J.A. Bayona, diluted the original concept and did not resonate with fans. Finally, Jurassic World: Dominion aimed to conclude the saga in a spectacular fashion. But even with the original legacy cast from Jurassic Park, the film struggled to make a lasting impact. Instead, the film lost sight of its intended purpose and built its final salvo around genetically modified locusts. The result was a finale that most fans refused to support.
So when Universal Pictures announced another sequel, I, like many of my fellow fans, feared the worst; however, with David Koepp, the original writer of Jurassic Park and The Lost World, on board and Gareth Edwards in the director’s chair, I had high hopes for the film. The result is Jurassic World: Rebirth. With an all-star cast featuring Scarlet Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, and the musical brilliance of Alexandre Desplat, the film has all the hallmarks of an instant classic. So, can Gareth Edwards capture lightning in a bottle and deliver the sequel we’ve all been craving? Or should the Jurassic franchise remain extinct?
REVIEW
Fear not, Jurassic fans, because Jurassic World: Rebirth is absolutely phenomenal. Gareth Edwards has channeled his inner Spielberg to craft a loving tribute to Jurassic Park and Jaws. Although some of the CGI is questionable at times, the film delivers the ultimate Mosasaurus and T. Rex sequences. It takes the franchise back to basics and delivers everything a Jurassic fan could ask for. It’s a Jurassic classic! Alexandre Desplat’s soundtrack brings back the best of John Williams while crafting a new soundscape, and every member of the cast delivers. This is the sequel we’ve been waiting for. The age of dinosaurs is back! Life found a way!
Gareth Edwards’s love of Steven Spielberg’s filmography is well-known, and here he captures the director’s quintessential style to deliver the most legitimate sequel to the landmark original film in decades. Rebirth feels like a natural successor to the original JP trilogy. While it does reference Colin Trevorrow’s trilogy, it intentionally avoids focusing on its characters and storylines, opting instead to return the series to its roots.
LIFE FINDS A STORY
In bringing back David Koepp to write the screenplay, Universal Pictures has allowed the saga to reconnect with its roots and strip away the gimmicks that dogged the recent trilogy. Gone are the cartoonish dinosaur pets like Blue. These are replaced with living, breathing dinosaurs in their natural habitats, and they are as lethal as ever. From the Tyrannosaurus to the Mosasaurus, which, after three films, has finally been utilized to its full potential, every dinosaur feels genuine. Even the Spinosaurus has been redesigned to feel more realistic, and it is all the more terrifying as a result.
One of the first things Koepp and Edwards set out to achieve was to make the dinosaurs scary again, and they have delivered on that mandate in spades. Rebirth takes us back to the original formula, where the dinosaurs are majestic but lethal. But before we delve into the dino-action, let’s address the plot.
AGE OF EXTINCTION
The previous trilogy unleashed dinosaurs into our modern world, allowing them to roam among us. In “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” the increasingly unpredictable climate poses a significant challenge for these prehistoric creatures, forcing their existence to be confined to a small group of islands near the equator. These islands represent the last places on Earth with a climate similar to what existed 65 million years ago, and as a result, every surviving species of dinosaur is flocking there to ensure its survival.
In a twist, the central island in this string is the original research facility for the original Jurassic Park. There, geneticists refined the genomes for the dinosaurs we know and love. However, not every embryo yielded results. Trial and error produced some nasty mutations before the sequence was refined. But instead of euthanizing these abominations, the team at InGen quarantined them. From the Mutated Velociraptor/Pterasaur Mutadons to the monstrous Distortus Rex (D-Rex), these genetic disasters were kept in isolation. But an accident at the facility changes everything, and soon, these monsters find themselves loose on the island.
HUMAN CHARACTERS
Back in civilization, humanity is nearing a medical breakthrough. Pharmaceutical mogul Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) is leading the charge for this revolutionary treatment, but he needs one final component to make the drug a reality. The only issue is that the final piece of the puzzle can only be found in the DNA of the largest dinosaurs that ever roamed the planet, and they only exist in one place. So, with his extraction team led by soldier for hire Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), her right-hand man Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), and civilian paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) in place, Krebs sets sail for the forbidden zone.
Way ahead of them is the Delgado family. Led by their father, Reuben, the Delago family, consisting of Teresa, Isabella, and Teresa’s boyfriend, Xavier, is already embarking on their pleasure boat to reconnect as a family. However, although the dinosaurs are now back on the endangered species list, no vessel is safe as long as the Mosasaurus is still alive.
DINO PERILS
What follows is a story on two fronts. Bennett’s team travels to the island to hunt the Mosasaurus, Titanosaurus, and the Queztacoatlus to harvest their DNA, while the Delgado family finds themselves in a struggle for survival. Along the way, their paths converge, and together they must navigate the island’s many perils in the hope that rescue is on the way.
It is here that Gareth Edwards’s love of Steven Spielberg comes into play. From the 25-minute sea attack of the Mosasaurus, which captures the atmosphere in Jaws, to the majestic Tyrannosaurus Rex raft sequence, Edwards channels his inner Spielberg to deliver a chilling, nerve-shredding experience. I cannot stress enough how refreshing it is to see dinosaurs behaving like dinosaurs. There are no gimmicks here. No bizarre heroic dinosaur moments, just dinosaurs hunting anything that dares to enter their food chain. This feels more akin to the original Jurassic Park and is far removed from the Jurassic World formula; the film is all the better for it.
Even the mutated dinosaurs are impressively rounded, making them feel like genuine threats throughout the experience. The Mutadon sequence is particularly chilling, reminiscent of the tense atmosphere from the kitchen scene with the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park. The design team has truly excelled in creating new dinosaurs that are authentically terrifying. With their unique appearances and aggressive behaviors, these latest additions to the dinosaur roster are a delight to see. They fit seamlessly into the Jurassic universe.
ENTER THE D-REX
The Distortus Rex (D-Rex) is the perfect example of this mandate. The monster has been described as a T Rex fused with a Queen Alien, fused with the Rancor from Star Wars, and that is a perfect description. The creature is absolutely chilling. Amazingly, Edwards manages to keep the D-Rex in the shadows for much of the film and only lets it loose when needed. But its impact is a memorable one. The director utilizes the D-Rex much like Spielberg used the Velociraptors in the original film, making the last act all the more nail-biting. This is far from a disposable villain; it’s a monster that could dominate the franchise for years to come, and that’s an exciting prospect.
A PHENOMENAL ENSEMBLE CAST
A film’s quality is often determined by its cast, and I’m happy to say that every member of this ensemble delivers an outstanding performance. Scarlett Johansson, who has been asking Steven Spielberg for a role in the franchise for years, effortlessly embraces the material. In her role as Zora Bennett, Johansson takes the reins and leads the ensemble with amazing assertiveness. From her first introduction, Johansson commands the screen and cements herself as a true lynchpin of the franchise. Again, it is refreshing to see her crafting a new character like Bennett. Like Black Widow, Bennett will quickly become one of her most quintessential characters, that is, the quality of the character. And that is the quality of Scarlett Johansson.
Accentuating her performance is Jonathan Bailey as Doctor Henry Loomis. Bailey serves as our moral compass in the film, keeping it grounded. From his constant commentary on the ethical implications of genetic tampering to humanity’s place in the food chain, Bailey fills the Ian Malcolm role with zeal. Like Johansson, Bailey slips into gear with relative ease and fits the material like a glove. Rounding out the central trio is Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid. Ali completes the group and, like his co-stars, delivers a deep and high-quality performance. Kincaid is a character that everyone can root for, and his tragic backstory makes him instantly relatable. We empathize with his struggles and cheer for him when the dinosaurs attack. Together with Bennett, he provides a steady and reliable presence during the chaos.
THE DELGADO FAMILY
Sadly, it isn’t all sweetness and sunshine. After all, no film is perfect. But for me, the only major detraction in the movie is the stereotypical dynamic of the Delgado family. The family itself is fine; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, and Audrina Miranda all perform incredibly well. However, using the tried-and-tested family theme is one we’ve seen way too often. In Rebirth, Koepp uses David Iacono’s eye-rollingly irritating boyfriend as the source of friction between Reuben and his teenage daughter Teresa. In proper form, Koepp uses the fracture to send Reuben on a journey of acceptance and self-discovery, which is fine. But we’ve seen this narrative many times before, and know exactly how it plays out. It’s incredibly cliché, but thankfully, it doesn’t hinder the film in any way. It’s just a minor grievance.
That being said, the Delgado Family is involved in the film’s best sequence. A lot has been made of the inclusion of Jurassic Park’s iconic raft sequence, and I am delighted to confirm that it was well worth the wait. The scene was initially cut from Spielberg’s epic due to pacing and budget, so it is glorious to see it finally restored to the saga where it belongs. Alongside the Mosasaurus attack, the sequence is easily the best scene in the film and puts the T Rex back in the scary predator category. Much like the original film, the Tyrannosaurus is relentless and poses a significant threat throughout its restoration as a terrifying predator. No disrespect to Colin Trevorrow, but this is how to bring the Rex to life.
DELORES
Countering the relentless predators on display in Rebirth are the herbivores that feature in the film. Delores the Aquilops is the first creature that springs to mind. The adorable little critter has been designed as the next big toy for kids to crave, and her role in the film echoes that. The creature is cute and allows Audrina Miranda’s Isabella a creature to dote on as she navigates the chilling landscape of the new island.
But make no mistake, the most gracious herbivore in the film is the Titanosaurus. In Jurassic World: Rebirth, the Titanosaurus slots into the Brachiosaurus role from the first film, serving to reinsert the wonder back into seeing a dinosaur. Edwards goes out of his way to revive the prestige associated with the dinosaurs, and the sequences are breathtaking. It harkens back to the first time we collectively saw the Brachiosaurus in Spielberg’s epic and reminds us of what brought us to the dance. In one fell swoop, Edwards has restored the franchise to its roots and brought us back to where it all started.
Instead of feeling like cheap fan service, it feels like a homage—one that resonates with us all—and it is a welcome reminder of where it all began. It sounds like a simple thing to take the series back to its source, but after three films that eventually lost their way, it feels great to be back in familiar territory.
SOUND & CINEMATOGRAPHY
The last thing I’d like to touch on in this review is the soundtrack and the cinematography. Alexandre Desplat is a regular collaborator with Gareth Edwards, and he takes to the Jurassic franchise like a duck to water. His score is filled with wonderful, fresh music that skillfully utilizes the brilliant themes of John Williams to deliver a beautifully weighted score that feels both fresh and familiar. His use of the classic Jurassic Park theme is particularly effective when it has the most impact, and fans will appreciate the parallels to the original movie.
And finally, the practical sets of the film are outstanding. John Mathieson has crafted one of the most visually stunning entries in the saga to date, thanks to his jaw-dropping cinematography. Filming in Thailand has brought the saga back to its tropical roots, and the film’s look is richer as a result. The lush jungles are incredibly immersive while taking the audience on a picturesque journey through a forgotten land. The mountain sequences are glorious, aside from some questionable green screen effects, which give us something fresh to chew over as the Queztacoatlus attacks.
GREEN SCREEN
However, the green screen exterior shots often let the film down. It is my only major bugbear with the film. In the scenes with Zora Bennett abseiling down the face of a mountain, the exterior shots are abysmal. The green screen is so apparent that it takes you right out of the movie. Thankfully, these shots are few and far between, but once they rear their ugly head, it’s hard to look past them. But that is the only issue in what is a stunning return to form for the Jurassic saga.
VERDICT
It should come as no surprise that I had a blast with Jurassic World: Rebirth. For me, Gareth Edwards has recaptured the magic that made the original movies so iconic. From the breathtaking scenery to the excellent new soundtrack, the director has left no stone unturned to deliver a film of pure quality. The dinosaurs are both scary and majestic in equal quantities. What’s more, the new mutations fit right into the narrative that makes the most of their twisted DNA.
Gareth Edwards and David Koepp have done the unthinkable and restored my faith in the franchise. After destroying Isla Nublar and unleashing the locusts, the saga is finally back to doing what it does best…making us dream and entertaining us. The dinosaurs are relevant again, the gimmicks are banished, and the wonder has been restored to a world where dinosaurs roam. Life found a way, and Gareth Edwards cracked the code to deliver a true Jurassic Classic! Thanks to his incredible dedication, we can finally say “Welcome to Jurassic World” with conviction.
This may not have been John Hammond’s original vision, but they spared no expense. We are so back!
Jurassic World: Rebirth unleashes the dinosaur fury in cinemas on July 2.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
