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Why are we so invested in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas? A deep dive
Why are we so invested in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas? A deep dive

Mint

time04-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Mint

Why are we so invested in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas? A deep dive

The moment Dr Alan Grant removed his sunglasses and stared at the long necked Brachiosaurus the world fell in love with the concept of Jurassic Park. We didn't just go to the movies, we were there in the kitchen hiding from the velociraptors. We were aghast at the greed of Dennis Nedry who sells Dino DNA to a rival firm and we raised our fist in the air in morbid pleasure when a venom spitting Dilophosaurus killed him… Selling corporate secrets to rivals for profit? Poaching trained staff, sabotaging another's work, bribing someone in the rival firm to share R&D results… Nothing new to all you who are battling your own set of challenges in the corporate world. But they managed to create this chaos on gorgeous islands and tried to contain it… Jeff Goldblum and his unforgettable presence made chaos believable! He said, 'Life will find a way.' And we have been amazed since 1993/4 at the magnificence that is the big T-Rex. It's 2025 and three Jurassic Park movies and five Jurassic World movies later we are still engaged in this series! How loyal are you to the blue chip stocks in your portfolio? The Jurassic Park franchise has evolved from a groundbreaking sci-fi thriller to a global action-adventure phenomenon. While each installment shares the core premise of genetically engineered dinosaurs running amok, they differ significantly in their narrative focus, critical reception, and cinematic approach. Let's embark on a journey through Isla Nublar, Isla Sorna, and beyond, comparing the films that keep us invested in this iconic series. The first three films, known as the Jurassic Park trilogy, laid the foundation for the entire franchise, establishing its core themes and visual language. Based on Michael Crichton's novel, this Steven Spielberg masterpiece introduces wealthy industrialist John Hammond's ambitious dream: a theme park populated by cloned dinosaurs on Isla Nublar. Paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler, and chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm are invited to assess its safety. Industrial sabotage leads to a catastrophic park shutdown, unleashing the dinosaurs and forcing the visitors to fight for survival. Jurassic Park revolutionized cinema with its pioneering use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) seamlessly blended with animatronic dinosaurs, setting a new standard for visual effects. The film explored the ethical implications of genetic engineering, humanity's hubris in controlling nature, and the unpredictable nature of chaos. We are still comparing Iconic performances from Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum to everyone that has come after. Universally acclaimed by critics and a massive box office success, the film won three Academy Awards for its technical achievements and is widely regarded as one of the greatest summer blockbusters ever made. Its impact on modern cinema and special effects is immeasurable. We're rewatching the film online just to say, 'Clever girl!' Four years after the Isla Nublar incident, Dr. Ian Malcolm is reluctantly drawn to Isla Sorna (Site B), a second island where InGen secretly bred dinosaurs and left them to fend for themselves. Two opposing factions emerge: one seeking to exploit the dinosaurs for profit, and another, led by Malcolm, aiming to protect them in the wild. The conflict culminates in a Tyrannosaurus Rex rampage in San Diego. Steven Spielberg returned to direct this sequel. Everything else may look spectacular thanks to CGI, but many of us have hated the subsequent introduction to mutants… This film moves beyond the park setting to explore dinosaurs in a wild, untamed environment and their potential impact on the mainland. The Pteranodon and Compsognathus are added to our vocabulary, and we sit in darkness, hearts racing at how action oriented and horror based this survival film is. This was the film where the annoying kid trope was introduced… In this film Dr. Alan Grant is persuaded by a wealthy couple to accompany them on an aerial tour of Isla Sorna, only to discover their true motive is a rescue mission for their missing son. The group faces new, more aggressive dinosaurs, particularly the Spinosaurus, and must outwit intelligent Velociraptors to survive and escape the island. Director Joe Johnston introduces us to the ridiculous American family, and a new Apex Predator: The Spinosaurus. True fans to date hate that it defeats the T-Rex. Despite a wafer thin plot and barely any element of wonder, this film was still a financial success, though the lowest-grossing of the franchise until Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) is fully tallied. The Jurassic World trilogy: Revival, expansion, and global impact After a 14-year hiatus, the franchise was rebooted with the Jurassic World trilogy, aiming to re-energize the series for a new generation. Set 22 years after the original, a fully functional dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, operates on Isla Nublar. To boost visitor numbers, the park creates a new genetically engineered hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which inevitably breaks loose and wreaks havoc, leading to another desperate survival mission for park operations manager Claire Dearing (Dallas Howard) and raptor trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt). This revival was a massive global hit and the highest-grossing film in the franchise. Touted to be 'Bigger, Louder, More Teeth', this blockbuster featured larger crowds, more dinosaurs, and a focus on hybrid creatures. Critics praised the visual effects and entertainment value but often criticized the characters and reliance on nostalgia. Its immense box office success solidified the franchise's return. Three years after the Jurassic World incident, Owen and Claire return to Isla Nublar to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from an impending volcanic eruption. However, they uncover a sinister plot to transport and auction the dinosaurs on the mainland, leading to a gothic horror-inspired second half set in a mansion. Director J.A. Bayona brought a distinct, darker, and more horror-driven aesthetic to the film's second half. Dinosaurs are brought off Isla Nublar, setting the stage for their global spread. The film explores new ethical questions regarding the dinosaurs' rights and survival. Introduces the Indoraptor, another dangerous hybrid. This film divided both critics and fans. Visually, this film was stunning, and the action set pieces were breathtaking, the plot was super convoluted and the character decisions questionable. Despite the mixed reviews, it was another significant box office success. Set four years after Fallen Kingdom, in this film dinosaurs live and hunt alongside humans worldwide. The film brings together the original Jurassic Park trio (Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, Ian Malcolm) with the Jurassic World protagonists (Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Maisie Lockwood) to uncover a global conspiracy involving giant genetically engineered locusts and the shady Biosyn Genetics corporation. Everyone loved the return of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum in significant roles alongside the new cast. The film focused on a corporate conspiracy and ecological disaster involving giant locusts, alongside the ever present threat from dinosaurs. The film struggled to blend the sci-fi thriller elements and the need for action with narrative coherence. This is where everyone seemed to be suffering from franchise fatigue, thanks to a bloated plot, underdeveloped characters, and a failure to fully capitalize on the premise of dinosaurs living among humans. Despite critical panning, it still crossed the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, proving the enduring appeal of the franchise. Set five years after Dominion, this new film attempts to get us to go back to dinosaur island where a team employed by a pharmaceutical company is going to obtain biological samples from feral dinosaurs living in remote waters near Earth's Equator to help create meds for us humans. If it weren't such an outlandish idea, the film's thrills put it in the category of a "heist movie with monsters." Director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One) is at the helm, and visually the film fulfils its promise of a return to awe and scale. Alas, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, try super hard to save the story and the most annoying family ever that has just wandered into this remote island. Before you can say, 'Run, dinosaurs!' you realise you are cheering for the dino and hoping it swallows the irritating boyfriend fist. Thoughts of investing in the company that makes that rubber dinghy that manages to remain intact despite the sharp teeth and claws on the dinos chasing the family through the waters will cross your mind. The action pieces are thrilling and the setting is spectacular, and yet, the plot makes you gag. And it seems like so much left-over footage has been taken from the earlier film that this film looks like a poor quilt of found footage and you wish both it's ugly borrowed from StarWars to look like Rancor, the D-Rex (more like Diasastersaur than any other name!) and its clone pals would all die and also all the annoying humans. The only thing more positive to say about this film is that it's better than Dominion, which isn't really praise. The original Jurassic Park masterfully balanced wonder, suspense, and horror. Subsequent films, particularly the Jurassic World trilogy, have increasingly leaned into action-adventure spectacle, often at the expense of character development and the ethical dilemmas that defined the first film. Rebirth attempted a return to a more grounded, suspenseful tone, but the mutant dinos killed the fun. We have invested so heavily (for some of us, half our lives) in the spectacle of dinosaurs we tend to forgive the dodgy narrative quality. Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveller, founder of Caferati — an online writer's forum, hosts Mumbai's oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, films and communication. She can be reached on Twitter at @manishalakhe.

Every ‘Jurassic Park' movie, ranked
Every ‘Jurassic Park' movie, ranked

Tom's Guide

time03-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Tom's Guide

Every ‘Jurassic Park' movie, ranked

It's been over 30 years since life found a way in 'Jurassic Park,' Steven Spielberg's landmark sci-fi thriller that remains a gold standard in blockbuster filmmaking. The 'Jurassic Park' franchise is so influential that no other popular dinosaur franchises have emerged since 1993. Imagine having cornered the market so much on dinosaurs that no other studio will dare to infringe on the genre. The latest movie in the franchise is 'Jurassic World Rebirth," now playing in theaters. If the movie becomes a box office hit, which it likely will, expect 'Rebirth' to be the start of a new trilogy. In honor of 'Rebirth,' here is every 'Jurassic Park' movie ranked. Sometimes, nostalgia isn't the answer. It certainly can't fix a flawed movie like 'Jurassic World Dominion,' the third movie in the first 'Jurassic World' trilogy. Billed as the epic conclusion to the Jurassic Era, 'Dominion' picks up four years after the events of 'Fallen Kingdom.' Dinosaurs now roam the Earth freely with humans. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) embark on a globe-trotting mission to find their adoptive daughter (Isabella Sermon) and a young Velociraptor. Meanwhile, the original trio of Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcom (Jeff Goldblum) fight to stop a corporate entity from destroying U.S. crops. 'Dominion' still has its thrills; remember, this is a movie with terrifying CGI dinosaurs. However, creating the franchise's version of "The Avengers" for one final mission came up short. Watch on Peacock Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' followed the same playbook as 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park.' Humans escape the park in the first movie. Humans return to the park in the second movie. Corporate greed wages on, as the dinosaurs are too valuable to destroy. Rinse and repeat. The only problem is that 'The Lost World' is superior to 'Fallen Kingdom' in nearly every way. 'Fallen Kingdom' is two movies. The first half follows the attempts of Owen and Claire to save the remaining dinosaurs on Isla Nublar from a volcanic explosion. The second part features dinosaurs wreaking havoc on a Northern California estate. The first half is a fun adventure, while the second half tries to be 'Alien' with dinosaurs but fails. Watch on Peacock 'Jurassic Park III' is the nastiest and grittiest movie of the franchise. The third movie is the one where, you guessed it, humans head back to the island and interfere with dinosaurs. This time, the setting is Isla Sorna, the second failed site for Jurassic Park. Dr. Alan Grant reluctantly agrees (for a hefty penny) to lead a guided tour over the island for a wealthy couple (William H. Macy and Tea Leoni). After the plane crashes, Dr. Grant learns the true reason why he was summoned to the island. At 92 minutes, 'Jurassic Park III' feels more like an '80s creature feature than a dinosaur blockbuster. Watch on Peacock 'Jurassic World Dominion' was supposed to be the end of the franchise … until it wasn't. Universal fast-tracked another Jurassic movie, and the result became 'Jurassic World Rebirth.' After writing the first two entries in the franchise, David Koepp returned to pen 'Rebirth.' Knowing Koepp, you'll find many of the story beats in 'Rebirth' mimic 'Jurassic Park.' Considering the weakness of 'Dominion' and 'Fallen Kingdom,' imitating the original movie isn't a bad thing. 'Rebirth' follows Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), a covert operative who brings a team to an island where failed dinosaur experiments now live. The DNA from some of these creatures could create a drug to save millions. Director Gareth Edwards continues to be one of the best shooters in Hollywood, as the visual effects look magnificent. There are still storyline issues, but 'Rebirth' is an improvement over the previous two movies. Spielberg only directed one 'Jurassic Park' sequel: 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park.' Four years after escaping Isla Nublar, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) loses control of his company to his nephew, Peter Ludlow (Arliss Howard). Ludlow plans to use the dinosaurs from the second island, Isla Sorna, for a new park in California. Unwilling to let this happen, Hammond sends Dr. Ian Malcolm and a small team to Isla Sorna to disrupt Ludlow's mercenaries. Both groups eventually combine forces, realizing that they will need all the help they can get to escape the island. No other director in this franchise treats the dinosaurs like breathtaking spectacles more than Spielberg. If he received a redo, he would likely craft more exciting characters to pair with the incredible visuals. Watch on Peacock Nothing compares to the magic of 'Jurassic Park.' However, 'Jurassic World' is the closest one of the sequels came to channeling the spirit of the original. Twenty years after the original, John Hammond's dream finally came true: Isla Nublar is home to Jurassic World, a successful dinosaur theme park. However, greedy billionaires can't help themselves. Instead of taking a win with their cloned dinosaurs, the park's owner creates a transgenic dinosaur, Indominus rex, a.k.a. a T-rex on steroids. Lo and behold, the Indominus escapes its enclosure and becomes a destructive force on the island. This disaster leads to more dinosaurs escaping captivity. Claire Dearing and Owen Grady are two of the park's employees tasked with alleviating the situation. With monstrous killing machines on the loose, good luck trying to stop these dinos. Watch on Peacock Not to call out other writers' lists, but if they don't have 'Jurassic Park' in the top spot on their "Jurassic" rankings, they're being a contrarian for the sake of clicks. Not only is 'Jurassic Park' the best film in the franchise, but it's also one of the most influential movies in cinematic history. The special effects were groundbreaking, the marketing campaign — hiding the dinosaurs in trailers for as long as possible — was ingenious, and the thrills were goosebump-worthy. On the island of Isla Nublar, paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler and mathematician Ian Malcolm are brought in by billionaire John Hammond to examine the safety of Jurassic Park. The trio is blown away by the genetically engineered dinosaurs. However, their day in heaven becomes a nightmare in hell once the facility shuts down and the dinosaurs run wild. No matter how many times you see 'Jurassic Park,' the magic still exists. Watch on Peacock

David Iacono paid fashion tribute to Sam Neill
David Iacono paid fashion tribute to Sam Neill

Perth Now

time01-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Perth Now

David Iacono paid fashion tribute to Sam Neill

David Iacono wanted to pay homage to Sam Neill at the Jurassic World Rebirth premiere. The 23-year-old actor - who plays Xavier in the latest film in the franchise - walked the red carpet in New York last week wearing a denim set by Enrage and he had deliberately based his look on Alan Grant, the paleontologist the 77-year-old star first played in the 1993 original Jurassic Park film. David told WWD: 'I wanted to give a little bit of a nod to something Jurassic related. I'm just such a fan of the original movie, and this movie is such a nod to the original movie. 'Alan Grant's outfit in the original 'Jurassic Park' was definitely something that inspired what I was wearing: he wears a cool denim button up and a red bandana around his neck – so essentially, I just kind of copied Alan Grant's outfit from the movie.' The premiere meant a lot to David because his whole family were in attendance at the Lincoln Center, which was very close to his high school. He said: 'I had my parents there, my grandparents, my sister, my sister's boyfriend, my uncles, and two of my best buddies that I grew up with since I was a kid. Having them there was just kind of the most important thing to me. '[The premiere] was in Lincoln Center, which was across the street from the high school that I went to. I would walk through Lincoln Center every morning to get to school. So it was all just a beautifully full circle moment.' The Summer I Turned Pretty actor fell in love with Thailand while shooting Jurassic World Rebirth there. He said: 'I'd never been that far from home in my life, let alone for work. So to be surrounded by such kindhearted people that were taking care of me at this beautiful resort, in this gorgeous environment that I had never experienced, that made it all 10 times easier. "I felt so privileged to be able to have, not only have people take care of me in this gorgeous setting, but also have them be such kind-hearted people and such welcoming people. 'So that made it so easy to get comfortable there.'

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