This week I caught the latest flick in the Jurassic franchise, Jurassic World.
It starred Guardians of the Galaxy lead Chris Pratt.
In many ways it was a return to the saurian madness of the original film twenty years ago: carnage in a theme park out of control., the very essence of a Michael Crichton story.
It was all entertaining enough and a monster nut like me can't fail to enjoy a creature feature like this.
However, I was disappointed by something. Something important. Something at the very centre of the movie - the lead dinosaur Indomitus Rex.
There was just something naff about it! When I say naff I mean that it just wasn't scary enough to be the leading reptile. OK, they'd given it more teeth but its face was far too floppy, its neck too thin and it had two distracting flaps of skin near its mouth.
It didn't warrant its fearsome name. The Park's resident sea monster, the Mosasaur, was far more dramatic and even gets its toothy mug on the film's best poster!
I think the Director must have known Indomitus was a bit of a gecko. He threw in a T.Rex towards the end to duke it out with the imposter. There can be only one Rex and it starts with T.
It was the same story in Jurassic Park III. The main event, the big enchilada called the Spinosaurus was even more of a let down. Rubbery, bandy and no way scary enough to warrant the moniker super-predator.
Why don't they simply go with the King, the Boss, the indisputable top chap they established in 1993, the T. Rex? Who can forget its impact tremors, its awe-inspiring bite-lunge and its deafening roar. Its a perfect thing and the franchise would do well to remember that. For an even scarier Rex they just need to make it much bigger with more teeth!
When the first film came out in 1993 it wasn't long before toys and merchandise began to surface at car boot sales. I snapped much of it up and still have some Jurassic goodies lurking in the lost island that is my loft.
What's left I imagine are some gum cards, posters, bubble gum and maybe even a large playset with sentries, vehicles and figures. I will have to go up there and grapple with those raptors again!
Have you seen Jurassic World and have you any Jurassic toys and collectables?
Not seen it but I picked up some genuine Jurassic fossils on a holiday to the Jurassic coast recently!
ReplyDeleteSeen the movie and thought it was very enjoyable. Same old stuff though, Raptors - tick, T Rex - tick, idiots underestimating dinosaurs - tick. Saw the ending coming a mile away. Fun park-your-brain movie to watch with an ice cream and some popcorn but nothing really new.
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