Reviews

I left the theater today with mixed feelings. It was definitely a worthy effort, but it came up short in many areas. The first is suspense. SPOILERS TO COME....... The audience has little time to build a fear of the unknown on the island. The spinosaurus was quick to attack. Definitely too soon. It seemed like one attack came right after another by each of the species. C'mon.....!! I didn't find myself gripping the seat, fearful for the characters. Right after the spinosaurus chase, 20 seconds later, they're face to face with the T-REX(his only "cameo") The fight between the two was decent. The first movie had more build-up to the action. My biggest complaint for JP3 is no climactic ending. No final showdown. The raptors circle them, exchange glances (and eggs), but that's it. Then the characters are saved. Where's the suspense? The acting could have been better. One thing about these movies....yes the people scream, but they just don't act like a regular human would confronted with a dino that was about to take their life. A little too casual. I wouldn't dare walk through the jungle not knowing what was watching me. But then you wouldn't have a movie....but they should still act more terrified. Dr. Grant's reaction to the Kirbys' deceit was not very convincing. He was hardly ticked for more than a minute. Think about it....he's faced these creatures before...one would think he would be scared as hell considering what he went through last time. I thought he was going to hit Macy (I didn't care for William H. Macy or Tea Leoni in this movie.....these roles should belong to more unknown actors.) The plot seemed to resemble the second.....a rescue. Nothing more. "Lost World and "JP3" both had stranded people venturing through the jungle to safety. The first movie had a great plot. Lots of substance. The second two movies use a little plot just to get the characters out to island for a game of cat & mouse. The special effects were excellent. I don't know how they do it so well with computers and real footage, but it all looks real. The pteranadon sequence was a fresh look for JP, something new beyond the raptors and T-REX (but they are still great). I enjoyed the new situations the characters encountered, like the boat river attack and the pteranadons. Lots of action, but sometimes a little too much. I think the first movie was the best, because it was the first. My theory on sequels is that when we first see a new idea onscreen( in this case,realistic dinos in a park) movie goers love it. The second time, when the sequel is viewed, we think "Been there, done that" We want the same substance in a new idea, but not too far-fetched (Like T-REX in San Diego) It takes a supergenius to make a sequel better. I believe if JP3 had been the first of the series, we wouldn't like "Jurassic Park" so well cause we would find it boring. Another example.... Everyone loves "Star Wars" and always will. I think of all movies in the trilogy, it is the worst. Cause it's not the one I saw first ( I can't decide if I like "Empire" or "Return" better). Even though it has good characters and story, I believe if Phantom Menace was the first movie ever released with the "star wars subject and theme" and with its awesome special effects and action, and then "Star Wars" came out after it, people would say "Whoa..who made this awful thing." Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon and Obi Wan saber scene was a LOT more entertaining than Alec Guiness standing there poking a stick at Vader. I'm not saying I like Phantom Menace better, I'm saying that's the way it is for sequels. One of my regrets about "Phantom" was its lack of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, etc.....but that's obviously because its set in the past......and for a star wars movie to be star warsy, it has to have those characters, because that's who we grew on. It just wasn't the same without those characters, but what can you do? That's why I hope Episode 3 has Darth Vader, TIE Fighters, stormtroopers, X-Wings...some of the old star wars stuff. Anyway Back to JP3. I have a few minor flaws that I can't get over. First, if the air space over the island is restricted, how on earth did they get a boat out there in the beginning for parasailing? Hard to believe they didn't get caught after leaving Costa Rica or wherever. I doubt they had permission. Second gripe, how did the kid survive for 8 weeks on the island.......very unbelieveable. A KID!!!! I don't see it happening, with the dinos and all. Even though he had the truck and the compound as refuge, those two places weren't dino proof. He would have been dead in two days. Third complaint, the island looked large, and their chances of finding the kid in that amount of time were skeptical. Grant wasn't even thrilled to have found him. Finally, the cell phone in the spinosaurus? They wouldn't hear it, especially from that far away. No way. All in all, the movie was well shot, exciting (not suspenseful) at times, great special effects, and some humor. My only regret about the series is that in the story, the rest of the world knows about the dinosaurs' existence. It would be better if the island and its contents were still secret but to a select few. My score....... 6 out of 10.