A new breed of GM giants let loose
Twenty-five years after they were brought to life in Steven Spielberg’s momentous Jurassic Park, the prehistoric predators run rampant again, in a fifth instalment of the blockbuster dino franchise.
This time the threat of a volcanic eruption brings the two former theme-park employees (Chris PrattBryce Dallas Howard, reprising their roles from the 2015 reboot) back to the nearly abandoned island where the ravenous colossi roam free.
Aided by fellow activists (Justice Smith-Daniella Pineda) from the loftily named Dinosaur Protection Group, the couple helps relocate the surviving species, including everybody’s favourite velociraptor, Blue, to a privately owned sanctuary in America.
Events spiral out of control when a new geneticallymodified beastie is let loose, putting the indoor inhabitants in harm’s way.
Turns out that avarice and misguided scientific experiments may yet lead to the extinction of the human race.
New-to-the-series director JA Bayona (The Orphanage) seamlessly melds animatronics and computer-generated effects to mount several suspenseful sequences, including a very effective extended encounter between an aggressive prototype reptile and a courageous little girl.
The thunderous background score by Michael Giacchino adds to the intensity.
Expectedly, the actors play second fiddle to the multiple breeds of dinosaur — old and new — that look more menacingly real than they ever did before.
A two-hour roller-coaster trip, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is worth a ride.