The Misunderstood Intelligence of “Jurassic World: Dominion”
The Jurassic franchise is an anomaly among the modern Hollywood landscape. It’s not Marvel or DC, nor does it have extensive lore like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. It also doesn’t dominate pop culture discourse, despite having its fair share of passionate fans. Critically, it’s been very mixed for each entry after the original, with the entire 6-film saga averaging at 57.5 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its critical shortcomings, Jurassic is the only live action movie series to average $1 billion per film, which is impressive considering their critical reception.
The latest film in the series, Jurassic World: Dominion, is the lowest rated movie in the series with a rotten 29% critic score on RT. Interestingly enough, however, the audience score is the third highest in the series with a 77% on the same website. As we can see, that’s quite the divide between audience and critic reception. Is there something within the blockbuster that critics seem to miss? Or do audiences just love dinosaurs eating people? Well, that’s why I’m here to discuss Dominion’s surprisingly layered story that works not just as a film, but as a conclusion to the 6 film arch that started with the 1993 original. By the way, I’ll be talking about the extended cut of the film which is A. better, and B. the cut of the film that director Colin Trevorrow wanted us all to see.
One of the largest points of contention with Dominion was the locust subplot which was a major plot point within the film’s narrative. People seemed to have an issue with the room directing so much focus on the locust plot rather than the dinosaurs. While it’s true the locusts are given a great deal of focus, the movie mostly shows the dinosaurs in action. It’s a dramatic overstatement to say there were barely any dinosaurs in the movie when in reality, more dinosaurs were present here in more environments and scenarios than any other Jurassic installment. Besides, the locusts offer a natural progression of the themes Micheal Crichton explored in his original books.
Plus, and this may just be me, the locusts are insanely cool visually. There’s their introduction, establishing the swarm as a massive storm of insatiable appetites that ravages everything in their way, creating a global threat new to the series in a way that fits, again, with the ecological theme that has carried through all 6 movies. And even better, the shot of the swarming inferno that sets Biosyn Valley ablaze, symbolizing what their affect will be on the world if they aren’t stopped. Each character is affected by the locusts in some way, which offers a connective tissue between the different plotlines going throughout the movie.
Speaking of plotlines, the film does a better job than most other films of balancing the A and B stories that run parallel to each other in a really smooth and engaging way. Bit by bit, the parties start to come together and by the third act, when everyone has joined forces, it’s pure bliss and it works so well. This structure is the driving force for the film’s main theme, which is about old and new generations coming together to deal with ecological crises facing the planet. Alan, Ellie, and Ian each feel as if the world has moved on from where they started back in 1993, as if all of their efforts to warn people about the dangers of genetic manipulation have been for nothing. On the flip side, the newer generation — Claire, Owen, Maisie and Kayla — act as if they can hide away, keep to themselves, and the world will leave them alone. But sooner rather than later, the world forces them out of their shell and to take action.
It’s the synthesis of the 2 groups which brings to light the film’s theme of old and new working together as well as Dominion’s theme of redemption. I remember a quote by John Hammond from The Lost World where he mentions how “we could both use a touch of redemption”. In a way, that single line encapsulates the entirety of Dominion. Nearly every character searches for redemption in some way, shape or form. Claire and Owen seek redemption as adopted parents for Maisie, Alan wants to be with Ellie more than anything, Kayla has a shot at caring for others instead of standing on the sidelines, and Ian comes to his senses by the end and takes action. Most of all, Dr. Henry Wu, the mastermind behind the dinosaurs’ return in 1993, finally gains a conscience and wants more than anything to “fix a terrible mistake”.
Even Roberta, the original T Rex from the first park, seeks redemption against the Giganotosaurus. We know from the opening of the movie that her genetic donor 65 million years ago was killed by a Giganotosaurus just like the one in the movie. This creature that the audience has grown to love and care for has a score to settle with her rival. By the end of the film, during their epic encounter, she joins forces with the Therizinosaurus — a much more scientifically accurate dinosaur — to slay the enemy, synthesizing old and new to save the day. This is how you use dinosaurs in your narrative to full effect; you craft a theme, weave that theme into the plot and you use the dinosaurs as a tool to represent the theme in its fullest.
There are many other factors as to why I think Dominion is such a high quality movie. I love how it brings the dinosaurs into the world, opening the door for rich exploration into things like the dinosaur black market in Malta. In fact, I’d go as far to say everything in Malta is great. From the worldbuilding, to Kayla Watts being an absolute highlight, to the Lystrosaurus biting the Oviraptors freaking head off, to Soyona Santos being a fun throwback to classic Bond villains. And of course, the entire action sequence on the rooftops and through the street with the Atrociraptors is — in my opinion — the greatest action sequence in the entire series, bar none. Trevorrow truly outdid himself. Nice touch of Soyona using the laser technology from Fallen Kingdom as well.
Jurassic World: Dominion is a tale of legacy and generational responsibility, and Colin Trevorrow deserves a round of applause for being able to bring the original trio back to make a statement about our responsibility to the planet we live on instead of cheap nostalgia. I think the poor reception to the film has a lot to do with the idea that people wanted the same type of film that Jurassic Park was. Spoiler alert, but recreating that same magic is impossible and I respect each sequel for going in a different direction instead of treading the same ground over and over. Hell, even Spielberg knew this, which is why The Lost World was as dark and different tonally as it was compared to Jurassic Park. Wanting any sequel to recapture the magic of the original doesn’t seem fair because the best sequels go in their own unique direction to tell their own story. And I truly believe Dominion is the best sequel to Jurassic Park. But that’s just me.
