TL;DR
Get ready for a fresh start in the dino-verse! Jurassic World: Rebirth drops us five years after Dominion, with dwindling dinosaur populations. This standalone adventure follows Zora and her team on a high-stakes mission to collect dino DNA for a cure, guided by a paleo-expert who sparks a shift in her priorities. Director Gareth Edwards delivers stunning visuals and thrilling action, but the character development feels a bit forced. While the plot has its repetitive moments and questionable choices, the UHD edition is a feast for the eyes and ears. Is it enough to reignite your love for Jurassic World? Dive into the full review to find out!
Jurassic World: Rebirth is set five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion. The dinosaurs released into the wild are now experiencing a gradual decline in population. However, a significant number persist around the equator, as this region’s climate closely matches their natural habitat.
Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) commissions Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) and her mercenary team to collect DNA from living dinosaurs. This genetic material is intended for research aimed at discovering a cure for various human ailments, representing a market value in the trillions. They are joined on their journey by scientist and paleo-expert Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), who gradually influences Zora’s perspective beyond her focus on financial gain. Upon their arrival at the island, complications rapidly escalate, and the team soon realizes they are facing insurmountable challenges, leading to a desperate struggle for survival.
Standalone Story
Jurassic World: Rebirth functions as a completely standalone narrative, disconnected from its predecessors. There is no mention of the fate of the main characters from Jurassic World: Dominion; the sole connection across the films is a passing reference to Alan Grant. This narrative choice suggests the filmmakers are aiming to establish a new trilogy with this fresh cast.
Director and Visual Effects
Jurassic World: Rebirth is directed by Gareth Edwards, celebrated for his impactful debut film Monsters (2010), Godzilla (2014), and the critically acclaimed Star Wars entry Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Edwards’ established strength in visual effects is evident here, as he maintains this high standard. The film’s effects are exceptionally executed, with a commendable effort to incorporate practical effects wherever feasible, notably including a canine-like dinosaur companion. The action sequences are engaging, featuring several breathtaking moments. For audiences seeking intense dinosaur action, this film will thoroughly satisfy those expectations.
Weaknesses in Character Direction
However, a notable challenge arises in that while Edwards excels at crafting impressive visual scenes, his approach to character direction and development often proves less effective. The film contains several frequently awkward and ineffective attempts to elicit audience empathy for its characters.
An early scene features Zora and her friend Duncan (Mahershala Ali) engaging in a straightforward discussion about their lives. While ostensibly intended to portray two friends reconnecting and sharing their experiences, it comes across as an obligatory, rather than organic, narrative inclusion. Consequently, the scene fails to resonate and significantly impedes the film’s pacing.
Furthermore, an entire subplot introduces a father, his two daughters, and one daughter’s boyfriend, whose boat is destroyed by a group of aggressive aquatic dinosaurs. Predictably, Team Zora diverts their course to rescue the distressed family and bring them aboard their vessel, a questionable decision given the critical nature of their secret mission, which is then discussed openly in front of the new passengers. This entire family-centric subplot could have been excised without materially impacting the main narrative.
Repeated Tropes and References
Beyond the issues with the family subplot, a recurring concern is Edwards’ frequent employment of a specific narrative device, which appears five times throughout the film. Without revealing specifics, this involves subverting audience expectations by presenting a scenario distinctly different from what is anticipated. While initially effective, even through its second and third iterations, its subsequent repetition begins to suggest a limited repertoire of narrative techniques.
As previously noted, Edwards struggles with character direction, a point glaringly evident during a sequence involving an inflatable raft, where the absence of timely rescue attempts appears contrived solely to heighten tension. Furthermore, the raft’s implausibly durable construction ultimately leads to unintentional comedic effect. It is also apparent that Jurassic Park holds significant influence for Edwards, as he recreates a scene nearly verbatim from the original film. This direct homage, however, feels somewhat gratuitous.
The UHD Edition
The UHD edition excels, boasting 4K resolution and support for Dolby Vision. The picture is exceptionally sharp, displaying vibrant colors. The night sequences during the final battle are particularly impressive, showcasing a striking contrast between light and darkness. The audio is delivered in Dolby Atmos, allowing home theater systems to be fully utilized. The initial boat action scene is especially impactful due to its immersive sound design, as are the jungle scenes where subtle creature movements create an enveloping atmosphere.
I found Jurassic World: Dominion profoundly disappointing due to its complete lack of supplemental bonus features. However, this release demonstrates a significant improvement. This disc includes a comprehensive array of valuable documentaries, deleted scenes, alternate beginnings, and a blooper reel.
In summary, Jurassic World: Rebirth emerges as a commendably solid sequel/soft reboot within a genre that shows no signs of waning in popularity. Its respectable box office performance suggests a sequel is likely. The UHD edition is visually stunning, and the action scenes are numerous and well-executed. Therefore, for viewers seeking an undemanding yet engaging two-hour-and-thirteen-minute cinematic experience, this film is an ideal choice.
Despite its narrative shortcomings, I still recommend Jurassic World: Rebirth, partly due to its visually impressive UHD presentation, and also because my initial theatrical viewing allowed for a more immersive experience, where I was less acutely aware of the issues that became apparent on subsequent watch. The film offers a consistently entertaining spectacle, and at times, that alone is sufficient.
SF Studios sent review copies for this test. Material providers have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently, focusing on our readers and consumers.
