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Jurassic World: Dominion Review | An Extinction Event?

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Let me preface by saying that I did not grow up on the Jurassic Park franchise as a kid nor was I dying to see the legacy sequel/reboot, Jurassic World back in 2014. Yeah, dinosaurs are cool and all, but the most exposure I had to them was at the Museum of Natural History growing up. But even still, the Jurassic World trilogy has a good hook between MCU leading man Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, who is one of the best directors to helm a Mandalorian episode, and upgraded visual effects that should make the dinosaurs truly come to life. Unfortunately, Dominion fails to end the trilogy on a high note, or even end the trilogy at all and is a lifeless sequel that should put this franchise on the verge of extinction.

Dominion picks up four years after Fallen Kingdom; dinosaurs are co-existing with humans, and while the fate of humanity is in question, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) are here to save the day. The pair spend their days rescuing the dinosaurs they can, all while attempting to raise Maisie (Isabella Sermon) but also protect her from outside threats. Meanwhile, a new organization, Biosyn, is up to no good in a plot that crosses the paths of the new trilogy crew of Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Isabella Sermon, with the original trilogy trio of Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum.

A Mosasaurus in Jurassic World Dominion, co-written and directed by Colin Trevorrow.

Before I vent my frustrations, I want to say that the opening of Dominion is exactly what I loved about Fallen Kingdom; it opens with a gigantic dinosaur completely annihilating a boat at sea. The opening of Fallen Kingdom did something similar, and better, which is one of the only things I remember about that film. And Dominion brings the franchise back to its roots a bit with the integration of some practical effects with the dinosaurs. Obviously, you’re not able to recreate a T-Rex for budgetary and logical reasons, but some of the smaller dinosaurs have that animatronic charm that can be traced back to the original films. Perhaps Fallen Kingdom did this as well, but let’s not act like that film was memorable.

(from left) Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon), and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) in Jurassic World Dominion, co-written and directed by Colin Trevorrow.

I may have called Chris Pratt an MCU leading man, and while he has always been good in his appearances as Star-Lord, where is that charisma in Dominion? When Owen Grady first appears on screen, it’s almost as if Pratt is doing his audition to take the fedora in the Indiana Jones franchise in a scene that is reminiscent of the opening of The Last Crusade. From his first real line of dialogue, Pratt is void of all of the energy and aura that he brings to his other franchise roles. In that particular scene, Pratt plays the role of the father who doesn’t know how to handle his daughter, but the delivery of his lines such as, “That kid” — or something to that effect mixed — or his moments of trying to be a stern parent, are cringe-inducing. And believe me, it brings me no joy to say this as I like Pratt. Luckily, Thor: Love and Thunder releases in less than a month, and perhaps some of that charisma will be rediscovered. If not, I guess we’ll just have to wait for him to voice Mario.

Perhaps even worse was Campbell Scott who plays the main antagonist of the film, Dr. Lewis Dodgson, CEO of Biosyn Genetics. His character spends about 90% of his screentime eating and Scott spends the other 10% delivering his lines as dry as the desert whilst likely wondering what he’ll do with the blank check he’ll get when he’s brought back for the (inevitable) third Andrew Garfield-Spider-Man film.

(from left) Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) in Jurassic World Dominion, co-written and directed by Colin Trevorrow.

As for the returning legacy characters, returning are Sam Neil as Dr. Alan Grant, Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcom, who I believe was relegated to a monologue at the end that was so out of place, it felt like it belonged in a Rolland Emmerich film. Goldblum is the only of the three that showed up and didn’t drag his feet. Meanwhile, Neil and Dern both seem like they’re being mouthed to smile in the grocery store by their parents even despite how good the two are capable of being.

But to be fair to the actors, some of those struggles can be traced back to the script. Dominion gives its actors very little to work with which is made evidently clear with exchanges such as: “Can you do it?”; “Not for free”; “…Then do it.”

(from left) A Giganotosaurus, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise), Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) in Jurassic World Dominion, co-written and directed by Colin Trevorrow.

Dominion is at its best when it lets its dinosaurs go at it (go figure). So why is the film more focused on its locust subplot? Beats me! The same could be said about the character of Maisie Lockwood. Remember all of the mystique surrounding this character (who ends up being a clone)? Apparently, there was nothing more to add to that story aside from transitioning her into her teenage rebellious phase with her way of acting out being biking across the bridge from A Quiet Place despite being told not to by her very “stern” guardian figures. Yes, Maisie is still important to both of the plots at hand, but her being kidnapped is a mere means to an end, which is getting all of the original trio and the sequel trio to Biosyn in this case.

Ironically, at some point in Dominion, the question of whether or not a replica can top the original. As The Force Awakens and now the Jurassic World trilogy have shown, it’s damn-near impossible to accomplish that feat. The fact of the matter is, Dominion is not a great sequel, much less a great legacy sequel. Its sloppy pacing and lack of closure make this feel like yet another sequel in a larger sequel when it’s supposed to serve as a bookend to the story of this sequel trilogy, at least to my knowledge. And the thing that everyone comes to these films for, dinosaurs, are etched into the plot far too little. Perhaps this IP needs an age of extinction for a bit before trying to revitalize it.

Universal Pictures will release Jurassic World: Dominion on June 10.

FILM RATING

Andrew is an entertainment journalist and film "critic" who has written for the likes of Above the Line, Below the Line, Collider, Film Focus Online, /Film and The Hollywood Handle among others. Leader of the Kaitlyn Dever Fanclub.

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Disney

Disney’s Latest Star “Wish”

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Ariana DeBose as Asha in Wish (Disney)

Plot

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.

Ariana Debose as Asha in Wish (Disney)

Movie Review (no spoilers)

The film is inspired by Disney’s centennial, which ties together a central theme across most of the Disney-related stories — of wishes and dreams coming true. One can view it as the origin story for the wishing star, albeit a funny star. Disney delivers a feel good story filled with humor and the occasional teases and links to other Disney-related works. Ariana DeBose braces the big screen as the hero, Asha who discovers a sinister secret about King Magnifico and his use of the wishes.

Ariana’s performance performance is amazing and I enjoyed listening to the songs she performed. I foresee “This Wish” topping the charts at Spotify soon.

This Wish by Ariana DeBose (Spotify)

Chris Pine plays the part of King Magnifico and delivers a good performance as the villain. We hear him sing a song alongside Ariana, At All Costs.

At All Costs by Chris Pine & Ariana DeBose (Spotify)

The story delivers the usual fun characters that Disney brings along in all stories, amazing graphics of a magical world, and an amazing song library for everyone to listen to. This movie is excellent for young and old, delivering a feel-good movie for all. Wish is yet another treasure in the world of Disney.

I’m really excited for the next 100 years of Disney magic. The movie Wish has the potential to become a sequel, or even provide potential spin-offs exploring the wishes and dreams of others in the magical Disney Universe.

My wish is for more many more years of movie magic from Disney. What is yours?

My rating is a 4 out of 5 for Disney’s Wish. Watch at a cinema near you and join in the Disney centennial celebrations!

Wish Official Trailer (Disney)

FILM RATING
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Reviews

‘The Holdovers’ Review | Paul Giamatti, Alexander Payne Reunite For This Year’s Most Beautiful and Poignant Comedy

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Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa in 'The Holdovers' (Focus Features)

“They don’t make them like that anymore” is one sentence that we hear a lot when it comes to cinematic brilliance. Most of the times, it is used for titles that might be considered a classic. Sadly, this sentence is being used too often these days and even for those projects, that might not even qualify. However, Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is undoubtedly one of the movies that deserves to be called an instant classic and I can wholeheartedly say: “They don’t make them like that anymore.”

The holiday season has arrived and audiences want to see movies that makes them feel that holiday spirit. Although it is very rare to see both these qualities in the movies these days, ‘The Holdovers’ has quietly gained popularity among cinephiles this holiday season, emerging as one of the year’s best films among audiences.

The movie is set in a boy’s boarding school in New England in 1970. Paul Hunham is a stern yet brilliant professor who refuses to give passing grades to rich students just because their parents are some of the school’s biggest donors. He is firm and doesn’t let these brats take advantage of him. On the other hand, we have Angus Tully, who is the son of wealthy parents attending the school who tends to ready the students for top universities. It’s Christmas time and everyone is going home, but things take a wild turn for Hunham when he is forced to babysit for children whose parents are unable to let them return home for the holidays. Eventually, Tully ends up being the only child in Hunham’s supervision. As the two begin to spend time with each other, they slowly begin to know much more about each other and understand why they are how they are.

Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Paul Giamatti in ‘The Holdovers’ (Focus Features)

There is no doubt that Paul Giamatti’s role as Paul Hunham is one of his most compelling roles. Make no mistake, Giamatti has given several amazing performances, but Hunham turns out to be a role that makes audiences realise how truly amazing he is as an actor. The way he insults people in this movie is hilariously brilliant. It seems Giamatti had a lot of fun while shooting this film and went down the memory lane to prepare for the role. Giamatti is just breath-taking in this role. On the other hand, Dominic Sessa is truly a revelation here and delivers a performance that touches everyone’s heart. In the beginning, you might not like his character but as the story moves forward, you understand why he is like this and Sessa completely nails it.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph delivers a deeply heartbreaking performance as a grieving mother in the film. Randolph gives a detailed performance showing both deep sadness and moments of happiness. It’s a portrayal of grief that feels very genuine and touching.

Even though there are moments that makes the film touching, ‘The Holdovers’ is hardly a serious drama. It’s a very welcoming holiday movie that doesn’t shy away from being funny and absurd. These characters have faced sadness, loss, and pain. However, the movie bravely allows us to laugh alongside them, as their humorous shortcomings transform a typical holiday stay at home into unexpected hospital visits and adventurous trips spanning multiple cities. For many people, it will be nostalgic to see this old-school sweet holiday movie that they must have seen in their youth and takes them to a time where people cared about feelings.

All in all, THE HOLDOVERS is a moving, bittersweet comedy drama that instantly becomes a Holiday classic. A story where you’d think how emotions don’t change even though life has.

FILM RATING
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Reviews

‘Nightingales In The Cocoon’ Review | A Captivating Tale Celebrating Hope and Joyous Shared Moments

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Official poster of 'Nightingales in the Cocoon' (Unchained Pictures)

Nightingales in the Cocoon is a vivid and heartwarming portrait of transformation and connection in a bustling city. The short beautifully captures the essence of hope, resilience, and the power of shared experiences. In just five minutes, this story carries a profound message that transcends its simplicity. Dharavi, often characterized by its challenging environment, serves as the backdrop for the story’s beginning. It sets the stage for two children’s life-altering decision to break free from their past. This decision, in itself, is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and the pursuit of a better life.

The symbolism of leaving behind what is perceived as “trash” is a powerful metaphor for shedding the burdens of the past. The discarded keyboard, seemingly insignificant, becomes a symbol of forgotten dreams and overlooked opportunities. As fate would have it, two young kids in Navi Mumbai stumble upon this abandoned keyboard, which becomes the catalyst for a heartwarming journey. The excitement and curiosity the keyboard sparks in them are relatable and heartening. It reminds us of the pure joy that simple discoveries can bring, especially to young minds eager for new experiences.

A still from ‘Nightingales in the Cocoon’ (MUBI)

The act of acquiring batteries to breathe new life into the neglected instrument is a moment of resourcefulness and determination. It’s a reminder that even in the face of challenges, a little effort can rekindle lost passions and unlock new possibilities. The transformation of the once-silent keys into a source of melodies that fill the air is a beautiful metaphor for the transformative power of art and creativity. The kids’ dance to these newfound tunes is a celebration of life’s simple pleasures and the joy of shared experiences.

This story serves as a reminder that shared moments of happiness can bridge the gaps between individuals and communities. In the bustling city where stark contrasts exist, the shared joy and rekindled dreams bring people together. It’s a testament to the universal language of music and the ability of the human spirit to find connections even in the most unexpected places.

Nightingales in the Cocoon beautifully captures the essence of hope, resilience, and the universal desire for connection and joy. It’s a brilliant and simple narrative that reminds us of the beauty in the everyday moments of life and the power of transformation and human connection.

FILM RATING
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