video review : The Lost World [ Jurassic Park ]

video review : The Lost World [ Jurassic Park ]

The dinosaurs don’t disappoint in this official Jurassic Park sequel. It’s the people; Ian Malcolm, who takes the lead and loses most of his charm in the process, now has a black kid slash convenient plot device to annoy us with; and the trite trails they tread that make the trip less fun this time around.

It’s not until about halfway in that any real sense of suspense begins. The plot is predictable at times; dinosaurs eat expendable characters immediately and give the main ones time to escape; but at least it starts to feel like Jurassic Park. The best part is when a T-Rex finds its way to suburban San Diego.

my rating : 3 of 5

1997

video review : Jurassic Park 3

video review : Independence Day [ Resurgence ]

video review : Independence Day [ Resurgence ]

This isn’t just Independence Day without Will Smith, which would be bad enough. It’s Independence Day without the humor, wit, suspense and entertainment; a sequel so lackluster it feels more like a TV knockoff than a sequel. Most of the main characters are back, but the nostalgia is wasted. Rain, the token Asian, is cute, but the new people are just cardboard cutouts.

The plot, which introduces an ally alien sphere, is surprisingly stupid. Even worse is the dialogue, which goes from just being flat to laughably awkward as it wedges in quick-cut plot points. “Can you believe it,” a hospital worker says to a patient who appears to be sleeping, “You’ve been in a coma for 7300 days.” One more day and he could’ve slept thru this cinematic disaster.

my rating : 2 of 5

2016

video review : Independence Day

video review : Independence Day

An invasion may be unlikely, but if space aliens do exist, and they probably do, it’s a scenario Earthlings may indeed have to face one day. That day happening to be the fourth of July and the American military being as effective fighting them off as they are in this movie is patriotic hogwash, more unlikely than the invasion itself, but this War Of The Worlds is at least fun to watch.

I’d prefer a more serious tone; characters drop one-liners when they should be fearing for their lives; but the jokes are funny. The plot? Entertaining. An alien mothership flies “90-billion” light years not just to kill every living being on Earth but to consume its natural resources before going on to the next planet. That’s where a Marine pilot and a cable repair man come into play.

my rating : 4 of 5

1996

video review : Jurassic Park

video review : Jurassic Park

T-Rex and other dinosaurs come back to life in Jurassic Park, an on-screen adaption of the Michael Crichton novel. It begins as a thrill-ride the whole family can enjoy, quite literally, before developing into another entertaining Steven Speilberg movie. It would be better if it were more serious and less predictable; meat-eating dinosaurs only catch expendable humans; but it’s a memorable adventure nonetheless.

my rating : 4 of 5

1993

video review : The Lost World [ Jurassic Park ]
video review : Jurassic Park 3