
Jurassic World Rebirth Review – Is the Dino Magic Finally Extinct?
Jurassic World Rebirth Review at a Glance: Why the Seventh Film Feels Familiar Yet Fatigued
From the opening Mosasaur splash to the closing roar, Jurassic World Rebirth tries to rekindle the awe of 1993’s Jurassic Park. Yet even with Scarlett Johansson’s steely charisma and Jonathan Bailey’s academic charm, the movie leans too heavily on déjà‑vu set pieces, offering spectacle without sustained suspense. While the visual effects team delivers arguably the most lifelike dinosaurs to date, Gareth Edwards’s direction rarely lets the danger breathe long enough to raise pulses, resulting in a slick but surprisingly sedate thrill ride.
Plot Breakdown: DNA Heists, Corporate Greed, and a Family Caught in the Crossfire
The script folds two narratives together. First, mercenary Zora Bennett (Johansson) and palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis (Bailey) infiltrate an abandoned equatorial island to harvest hybrid dinosaur DNA for a pharma giant chasing a life‑saving—and profit‑gushing—drug. Running parallel is an every‑parent’s‑nightmare subplot: widower Reuben and his daughters survive a Mosasaur‑induced shipwreck, only to land on the same island now teeming with hungry apex predators. Ironically, the ordinary family storyline supplies the pulse that the main adventure often lacks, grounding the movie in relatable peril and emotional stakes absent from the corporate‑espionage core.
Character Performances: Johansson’s Battle‑Hardened Mercenary vs Bailey’s Wide‑Eyed Scientist
Johansson flexes her proven action chops, giving Zora a bruised confidence that almost carries the film when the plot stalls. Bailey’s Henry, equal parts brainy and boyishly thrilled, channels the wonder once embodied by Sam Neill and Laura Dern. Their chemistry sparks in quiet exchanges—debating the ethics of reviving extinct beasts—yet Edwards often cuts away just as conversations grow interesting. Meanwhile, Rupert Friend revels in corporate villainy, practically auditioning to be eaten, and Mahershala Ali lends gravitas as a seasoned sailor whose moral compass never wavers.
Dinosaur Showcase: Bigger, Louder, but Not Always Scarier
Visual highlights abound: a wing‑snapping Quetzalcoatlus dive‑bombing a helicopter, herds of long‑necked giants grazing beneath twin sunsets, and the colossal Titanosaurus dwarfing even the T‑rex. The creature design is top‑tier, blending cutting‑edge animatronics with seamless CGI. Yet effective thrills depend on pacing. Edwards stages attacks in broad daylight or wide shots that display detail but defuse tension; the best Jurassic moments, from the original kitchen raptor scene to 2015’s gyrosphere chaos, thrived on claustrophobia and shadow. Here, the danger often feels as remote as a museum exhibit.
Direction and Tone: Gareth Edwards Finds Awe but Forgets Suspense
Edwards channels his knack for scale—honed in Rogue One—but rarely replicates that film’s nerve‑fraying urgency. Set‑pieces follow a predictable cadence: discovery, exposition dump, dino chase, narrow escape. Even a cliff‑hanging sequence that should leave palms sweaty plays like obligatory franchise checkbox. Occasional attempts at humor (Henry’s nervous mint‑chewing) land awkwardly, further diluting the tension.
Sound and Score: Alexandre Desplat Meets John Williams’s Legacy
Desplat weaves Williams’s iconic theme into a lush new score that swells during panoramic reveals. The music nails the franchise’s signature mix of wonder and foreboding, yet because the on‑screen peril seldom spikes, the crescendos sometimes over‑promise. Sound design fares better: each footfall reverberates, and the Mosasaur’s watery roar practically shakes auditorium seats.
Verdict: Entertaining but Eroded by Franchise Fatigue
For casual moviegoers chasing popcorn spectacle, Jurassic World Rebirth delivers mesmerizing monsters and A‑list star power. Longtime fans, however, may find the formula fossilizing. The focus on re‑creating Spielberg’s magic—without matching his methodical suspense—makes this sequel competent but rarely compelling. Unless future installments dare to evolve beyond “escape the island,” the once‑majestic franchise risks extinction by repetition.
Bottom Line: Jurassic World Rebirth is a visually stunning but narratively safe ride—an echo of past greatness that never quite claws its own fresh path. If you crave dinosaur grandeur on the biggest screen possible, go for the roar; just temper your expectations for genuine edge‑of‑your‑seat thrills.
Average Rating