Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

"Jurassic World? Not a fan." -Dr. Ian Malcolm

Four years after the last catastrophe, dinosaurs and humans now co-exist. Sadly, all the wonder of this world seems to be missing now. Dinosaurs have become commonplace. Poaching is a thing, as well as black market dealings. The dinosaurs no longer seem as threatening as before, and conveniently always target the baddies. This is one of those movies that gradually wears out its welcome and becomes less enjoyable as it goes on. Ironically, it's the overexposure that saps its novelty. It no longer feels special anymore.

Then again, they got Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum to reunite for the first time since 1993, so what more could you ask? They have a diminished role in this—the last of the Chris Pratt trilogy of Jurassic World films—yet remain the only bright spot that bring any humanity to the proceedings.

This was originally billed as the "epic conclusion of the Jurassic era." But fear not...the dinosaurs will continue to roam the earth. Life, uh, finds a way.

2½ flaming locusts out of 5

Note: Having seen both the theatrical and extended editions, the extended is the superior option, although it adds 14 more minutes to this lumbering entry.

JURASSIC WORLD [2015]

Safety Not Guaranteed director Colin Trevorrow makes a huge career move with Jurassic World, the fourth film in the popular film franchise.
Returning to the island in the original film, the new Dino-park is fully functional and brimming with happy-go-lucky tourists ready to see reptiles devour other reptiles from the safety of the other side of the bars.  We all know where this is going and, boy, are we ever ready for it.  It never comes close to the terrifying magic of the first two films but finally after nearly 15 years, we're able to get rid of that bitter after-taste of the third film.  There's a few memorable pieces and potentially great ideas spread throughout it's cringe-worthy corniness and predictability.  It's big, dumb dino-fun that's purely out to razzle-dazzle those who are open to it.

3  poor little piggies who never made it home out of 5

GOOD PEOPLE [2014]

Danish director Henrik Ruben Genz made some wonderful films in his native language so what the hell happened with Good People?
A young couple, heavily in debt, find a sack full of money that's being hunted down by both the police and criminals that want it back.  Obviously the story resorts to "greed makes people do the darndest things" and leaves a pile of bodies in it's path.  Apart from the boring retread story (which could work with a bit more wit about it) the fast pacing of the script hurts the slow-buring reveal of the direction.  It simply conflicts so heavily that we're pummelled with incoherencies and plotholes galore.  Genz's eye for rainy day Killing-esque noir and decaying buildings are as beautiful as always but with so much lost in translation and studio interference everything gets lost in this 90-minute mess.

2 inevitable nail guns out of 5