**_More of the same, just with ScarJo and mutated dinos_**
Shot in the summer of 2024, this is the seventh film in the Jurassic Park franchise, which borrows from the iconic first film, but there are also bits reminiscent of the Pteranodon scenes in “Jurassic Park III.” While the Quetzalcoatlus is similar to the Pteranodon in that third part, its wingspan is twice as long, and the creature is over four times heavier.
If you want the horror of colossal creature attacks and jungle adventure in the mold of the King Kong flicks, the movie delivers. ScarJo is a plus, but I prefer curvy Bryce Dallas Howard from the previous three films. My favorite in the series is the compelling “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” from 2018 due to Bryce, the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” vibe, and the cool, gothic chateau in Northern California.
Unfortunately, at 2 hours, 13 minutes, it’s overlong by 30-40 minutes. The proceedings got tedious in a been-there, seen-that manner. Less is more for these kinds of flicks.
It was shot in England, New York City, Malta (for the scenes involving the Mosasaurus), but mostly Thailand (more specifically, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park in Krabi, Ko Kradan at Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang, and Ao Phang Nga National Park in Phang Nga).
GRADE: B-