Tia Carrere played Cassandra Wong in the films Wayne’s World and Wayne’s World 2; Juno Skinner in True Lies; Nani Pelekai in the Lilo & Stitch films and TV series; In addition to acting, Carrere has won two Grammy Awards for her music. Her new film Easter Sunday with Jo Koy comes out August 5, 2022 and is a ton of fun, check out our interview!
It’s a story we all know. As the Planet Krypton reaches it’s last moment, Jor-El puts his infant son in a ship, hoping to send the boy to safety. As the ship prepares to take off, a puppy hops into the ship and joins the boy on his amazing journey. OK, the puppy part you may not have known. Until now.
It’s another day in Metropolis. Krypto (Johnson) wants to go for a walk. However, when your master is Superman (John Krasinski), it’s not as easy as it sounds. Further complicating things for the Super-Dog is Supes on-going relationship with Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde). Still, compared to what’s going on at the local animal shelter, things aren’t too bad.
Well-acted, with a very clever script, “Super-Pets” is a fun adventure with an important message, but one that doesn’t hit you over the head. In the aforementioned animal shelter, we are introduced to a group of pets longing to be loved. They are led by Ace (Hart) a hound who keeps his fellow animals feeling positive by promising them that, should any of Ace’s escape plans work, he will take them all to “the farm,” a place where all animals are loved. Among his pals are PB the Pig (Vanessa Bryer), Chip, an unusually odd squirrel (Diego Luna) and Merton (Natasha Lyonne), an older, and very nearsighted, turtle. Their lives change when Krypto is brought to their shelter.
I loved the vocal performances of the cast. In the past two decades, animated movies are no longer looked at as “just a gig” by actors. The actors here give strong, layered performances, which lend themselves to the story being told.
The script is full of DC in-jokes, many of them involving Batman (an excellent Reeves), Whether he is justifying label of “superhero” – he actually has no super powers – or worrying if a toy in his image is actually licensed, the Dark Knight is a hoot. Other Justice League members show up as well, and you almost hope that the next Justice Leage movie is animated with the same vocal talents.
In the end, it’s a story about believing In yourself, and your friends. Or, in this case, your Super-Friends.
Michael Bay is a name you either love or hate. And many times, whether you love him or hate him depends on what movie of his you’re watching at the time. I personally love Bay. Back in the 90s and early 2000s he was the KING of “stupid”action movies. The Rock, Armageddon, Bad Boys, Bad Boys II: the list goes on and on and on. Heck, even the Transformers movies of his were mega blockbusters and good dumb fun until they got so repetitive that even this reviewer started to get weary of them. Well, after Transformers: The Last Knight in 2017 Michael Bay pretty much went radio silent as a director (outside of doing that Netflix exclusive 6 Underground back in 2020) and I thought he had pretty much run his course. Then I started hearing rumors this year of Bay coming back to what he does best, dumb comedy, and I was intrigued. At this point I was just a BIT worn out from his last several Transformers movies, but then I started hearing reports of how Ambulance was actually a fun movie, a huge hit, AND a return to form the master of explosions himself.
Now, I’m not exactly one to shy away from dumb action. I love Jake Gyllenhaal, I love explosions, and the trailer looked like a lot of fun, so when the disc came to review from my friend, I strapped in and just let the joyride begin. Our story starts out with a hardened EMT named Cam Thompson. She’s become jaded after having spent years saving people’s lives and letting them off at the hospital, but today she’s about to learn just why she does what she does. Segue over to our other main hero, Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), an ex-Marine who is up to his eyeballs in debt and no way to save his wife from dying of cancer without a big influx of cash. Luckily (or not so luckily maybe) for him, his adopted brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a prolific bank robber who Will has been staying away from for quite some time. Well, Danny boy has a job for Will and it’s enough to net them MILLIONS. It’s a simple bank robbery where they go in, get out, and get filthy stinking rich. Danny just needs a driver for his crew, and this is Will’s lucky day. Yeah, we already know that things don’t exactly go as planned. A teach of special SIS agents from the L.A.P.D. SWAT department have been keeping tabs of Danny’s crew for weeks, and upon exiting the building Danny’s men are mowed down in a hail of gunfire. However, Danny and Will make their escape by hopping on Cam Thompson’s Ambulance and using it to make a daring escape with $16 million worth of cash, lots of guns, and a wounded cop on board. The best way to describe Ambulance is that it’s part Bad Boys, part heist movie, and 3 parts Speed. 90% of the movie takes place withing the Ambulance as Will and Danny outrun cops, blow things sky high, and figure out a way to get the heck out of dodge and away with their money.
On the surface the movie is ridiculously dump and simple. It’s Speed with an Ambulance. Except there’s no Dennis Hopper maniacally keeping everyone on track, and Jake Gyllenhaal is absolutely hamming it up to level 11 as the loveable/hateable/psychotic/brilliant Danny Sharp. But Michael Bay is a skilled surgeon when it comes to doing pure action, and he’s right at home in his element here. Things blow up with such reckless abandon that I was laughing myself silly with this huge grin over my face the entire time. And Jake Gyllenhaal is such an insane villain/hero that you want him to die, but you want him to actually get away at the same time.
The charm is just delicious, with Michael Bay winking and nodding at his own films (they actually make jokes about The Rock and Bad Boys throughout the runtime) and while Danny is main attractant, Garret Dillahunnt almost matches Jake blow for blow with his over the top commando routine.
I’m gonna come out and say it. This is Michael Bay doing what Michael Bay does best. When they asked him “what kind of movie do you want Michael? Do you want to do Bad Boys? Do you want to do Speed? And how many explosions do you want”, his response had to have been “yes, all of it”. The movie is stupid, the movie is shallow, but it’s kept alive with sheer adrenaline and the charisma of everyone involved. I’m not wild about Yahya Abdul-Mateen the II, but he does well as Will, but it’s really Jake and Garret who just eat the scenery up like only Peter Stormaire can do in a Michael Bay film. Yeah, it’s not perfect, it gets a little hokey near the end, but Bay keeps the adrenaline pumping so hard and so fast that you don’t have time to slow down and analyze things to death. This is Bayhem with Baysplosions everywhere, and if you’ve seen his previous big name works, you know what the man is capable of. So buckle in and prepare for unlimited ammo, unlimited wise cracks, and a LOT of explosions.
Video:
Using a variety of RED cameras and finished in a native 4K master, Ambulance ROCKS onto 2160p with a stellar encode that blows the already great 1080p Blu-ray straight out of the water. The disc is just about perfect, with razor sharp details, incredible background shots, and nonstop kinetic movement that never gets blurry or artifacts. Quite literally this is one of the best looking encodes that I’ve seen in a long time, with only minor elements of softness when in Papi’s lair, or some of the CGI looking a little bit wonky in 4K. I didn’t notice banding or other major elements at play with the encode. HDR is silky deep, as the color tones tend to be cool blue or slightly amber, and bright red blood just splashes everywhere. The green of the spray paint over the vehicle stands out sharply and with deep saturation, and as I said, except for some mild haziness inside Papi’s lair, this is just about PERFECT.
Sound:
Did I mention this was a Michael Bay movie? It goes without saying that this is a reference level Atmos mix that just tears the walls down with abject fury. The score pulsates with deep bass energy from the first few moments of the movie, and the sound stage is just awash with chaos, Bayhem and carnage from every angle. Bullets bounce off the car at the rear, ricochet to the front of the sound stage, all the while tires screech, the score throbs, and cars blow up upon impact at just about every facet of the run time. Yeah, this is pure Bay awesome sauce, and if you like them big, like them loud, and like the bass to just punish you brutally, then this is the mix for you.
Conclusion:
Ambulance is silly, but it’s silly fun. I love it! High octane energy with Jake Gyllenhaal absolutely LOVING every second of his hammy role. It’s dumb fun, and dumb fun in a way that I haven’t seen for YEARS in cinema. Action movies have become so stale recently, that I really feel like this and Top Gun:Maverick pretty much saved cinemas. The 4K UHD disc is also nothing short of superb, with good extras, a killer video encode and a Michael Bay approved audio mix that will tear the walls down. Recommended as good sloppy Michael Bay fun. The Blu-ray is no slouch either, which tends to shine brighter than 4K but obviously less defined. Sound is great on Blu-ray but you only get the Atmos track on the 4K disc. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There was a time when, if I thought about Jordan Peele, I always thought of Raffi Benitez, the overzealous baseball player who, whenever the opportunity would arise, would smack his teammates on their posteriors while exclaiming “Slap Ass!” Then he made “Get Out,” an amazing film that earned Peele an Academy Award for his script. His sophomore film, “Us,” was nothing short of, as I described it, “a new horror masterpiece.” Needless to say, I was more than excited to see his latest film, “NOPE.”
A rancher (David) and his son, OJ – short for Otis Junior (Kaluuya) – are chatting outside a coral when they begin being pelted by objects falling from the sky. The rancher is knocked off his horse. What are these mysterious objects? What’s the story with that weird cloud that’s hovering overhead? And where did they come from?
A white-knuckled adventure into what may really be “out there,” NOPE is a film that has so many things going on you may want to see it multiple times. As I left my screening, I overheard several people commenting on what they had just watched, or at least thought they had just watched, but not in an “I’m confused” way. There are so many pieces to the puzzle that is NOPE that a second viewing may be needed to fully get the scope of the plot.
Besides OJ and his father, we meet his sister, Emerald (Palmer), a one-time child star – with a tragic past – who now fronts a Wild West show (Steven Yeun), and a couple of filmmakers looking to film the ultimate experience. Oh, and horses. Lots of horses. As Robert Shaw often said in “The Sting”…”ya follow?”
As in his previous films, Peele has assembled an amazing cast, led by his “Get Out” leading man, and Oscar winner, Kaluuya. He is supported strongly by Palmer and Yeun, whose own stories intertwine with OJ’s. Peele’s script is full of twists and turns, and the cast maneuver their way through them smoothly.
With everything going on the film could appear to drag but, thanks to Peele’s steady direction, the story flows, meshing the past and present day smoothly. The story is enhanced by a musical score that at times reminds you of “The Magnificent Seven” at one point only to meld into a true suspense score moments later.
Jordan Peele is no longer Raffi Benitez to me. Now when I hear his name I think about the cinema’s new master of suspense. If I met him, I’d shake his hand…and “Slap Ass!”
Burbank, CA, June 27, 2022 – The age of heroes is upon us when the Warner Bros. Pictures and DC full-length HBO Max Original feature film “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” comes to Digital on July 19. The screenplay is by Chris Terrio, story by Chris Terrio & Zack Snyder and Will Beall, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film’s producers are Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, with executive producers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Wesley Coller, Jim Rowe, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck.
In “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”,determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.
On July 19, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” will be available to own digitally in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers where you purchase movies. Additionally, a Trilogy bundle will also be available on Digital on July 19. The three-film collection includes Man of Steel, Batman v Superman Ultimate Edition, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
DIGITAL ELEMENTS
“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” Digital contains the following special features:
RT: 242 minutes
*Special features available with select digital retailers
ABOUT DIGITAL
Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.
BASICS
Digital Street Date: July 19, 2022
Rating: Rated R for violence and some language
Runtime: 242 Minutes
THE CREDITS
About “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”
The “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” screenplay is by Chris Terrio, story by Chris Terrio & Zack Snyder and Will Beall, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film’s producers are Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, with executive producers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Wesley Coller, Jim Rowe, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck.
About DC
DC, a WarnerMedia Company, creates iconic characters, enduring stories, and immersive experiences that inspire and entertain audiences of every generation around the world and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. As a creative division, DC is charged with strategically integrating its stories and characters across film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, interactive games, DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital subscription service and community engagement portal. For more information visit dccomics.com anddcuniverseinfinite.com.
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
I am crushed to learn of the passing of actor James Caan. Not because he was a great actor (he was), but because he leaves us without the recognition from his industry he so greatly deserved. Mr. Caan passed away today at the age of 82.
My first recollection of seeing James Caan on screen is of watching the television film “Brian’s Song.” The story of terminally ill Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo (Caan) and his friendship with teammate Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), the 1971 film would be the start of what became an amazing decade for the actor. The next year he starred as Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather,” earning him his first -and, criminally – only Academy Award nomination. The role made him a star! Caan used to joke that Sonny Corleone made such an impact on people that, for two years in a row, he (Caan) was named Italian American of the year, even though he was Jewish.
Among his other great performances in that decade: “The Killer Elite,” “Rollerball,” “Cinderella Liberty” and “Harry and Walter Go to New York,” a musical comedy that showed Caan was more than a tough guy. Films like “Funny Lady,” “Chapter Two,”“Kiss Me Goodbye” and “Honeymoon in Vegas” showed a gentler side with a good sense of humor to boot. He still excelled in dramatic roles, of course, among them “Gardens of Stone,” “Alien Nation” and “The Program.”
But there are two performances I want to highlight, both of which should have earned Caan Oscar nominations. The first is “Misery.” As an author who is taken in and nursed back to health by and overzealous fan after an auto accident, Caan matches Kathy Bates, who won the Oscar that year for Best Actress, stride for stride. The second is “For the Boys,” a period musical that teamed Caan up with Bette Midler. As song and dance man Eddie Sparks, Caan takes the character from 35 to 85, living his life with no apologies, even when those apologies may have made that life better. Midler earned an Oscar nomination for her work but, again, Caan’s performance was ignored.
I’ll close this with a few lines from Eddie Sparks’ signature tune:
When my life is through
And the angels ask me to recall
The thrill of them all,
Then i will tell them i remember,
Tell them i remember you.
Rest in Peace, sir. I’ll always remember you.
I love me some Taika Waititi! The Oscar-winning filmmaker has a perfect touch when balancing drama and humor. And that touch is on full display in “THOR: Love and Thunder.”
A man (an unrecognizable Bale) wanders in the desert, trying his best to protect his young daughter from the elements. He comes across a beautiful, lush paradise only to realize that the god he has worshipped has no use for him. Realizing he has been forsaken, he declares, “All gods must die!”
“THOR: Love and Thunder” reintroduces the audience to the “THOR” saga via the fine performers in the local theater in New Asgard. We learn of his adventures as well as his heartaches, most notably Doctor Jane Foster (Portman), the one true love of Thor’s life. As word of the “god butcher” spreads, Thor enlists King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) to help end the slaughter. And, thanks to Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir – I finally know who to pronounce it – Jane joins them. My comic book loving friends are going to hate me but, for lack of a better name, the hammer turns Jane into Lady Thor/She Thor (tho I believe she is just Thor in the comics). The return of Mjölnir makes Thor (original Thor) happy., but it also causes some friction between Thor and his axe, Stormbreaker, one of the great comic touches in a very dramatic film.
As with all of the films in the MCU, the cast here is pitch-perfect. Hemsworth and Portman have great chemistry, making their romance quite believable. Christian Bale is tragic as a man whose faith – and life – has been shattered by the gods. Supporting performances by Thompson, director Waititi and Russell Crowe are just as solid. The visual effects are, of course, top notch, and the soundtrack cranks up the rock and roll!
A powerful and emotional rollercoaster, “THOR: Love and Thunder” is a must see this summer!
Ah, the Minions. Since their debut in “Despicable Me,” they have brought joy to moviegoers all over the world. They have also multiplied in my inflatable Christmas yard display each year. But where did they come from? And how did Gru become such a bad guy – albeit one with a big heart?
If you’ve wanted to be an evil genius since you were a boy, who do you admire? In the case of Gru (Carell), it’s a highly publicized group of villains so popular they have their own toy line. Of course you have to be evil…correction…EVIL, to even get an invitation to join and Gru, accompanied by Minions Bob, Stuart, Kevin and Otto, will stop at nothing to be recognized. The prank I personally enjoyed most was setting off a stink bomb during a sold out showing of “Jaws,” causing the theatre to empty and leaving our quintet their choice of seats and refreshments. When a vacancy opens up on the Villain Squad, Gru feels he’s a shoe-in to fill the seat. But not all evil is judged the same.
A fun treat for the whole family, “Minions: the Rise of Gru” is another in a string of successful and well made animated films starring these Twinkie-looking oddities and their hook-nosed leader. It’s great to hear Carell back as Gru, and the film lets us in on how he met some of his closest associates, including Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand).The main Minions are a joy to watch…like a yellow version of the Three Stooges. If the film has one drawback, it may be that it’s too busy, an unusual feeling from a film that’s under 90 minutes long.
Still, the animation is top notch and reason enough to see this film.
We have a lottery pool at work but, except for the occasional $4 win or free ticket, we’re pretty much throwing our money away on a chance of winning the big prize. It’s actually a 1 in 292,331,208 chance but come one, nothing is a sure thing. Unless you live in a small town in Michigan and your neighbors are Jerry and Marge Selbee.
Based on a true story, “Jerry and Marge Go Large” is a sweet, well-acted tale of two people that figured out – Larry is a math wiz – that the more you played a certain lottery game the better your chances of winning. But the Selbees aren’t in it for their own gains. They are trying to raise money for their small community and actually get their neighbors involved in the game. Things get tough when the game is cancelled in Michigan and the closest place to play is Massachusetts. While their plan seems foolproof, it is not without sacrifice. Mostly time. From their initial purchase of a few thousand dollars worth of tickets, through week’s when they are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, each ticket must be printed individually. This means long days (and nights) standing at the local liquor store and just buying ticket after ticket after ticket after ticket…..you get the picture.
This is such a fun film to watch, from the premise to the cast. Cranston and Bening will go down as two of the best actors of their generation, and it’s a treat to see them play off each other so well. And it’s always a treat to see Rainn Wilson and Michael McKean on screen. The script is sharp and the direction well-paced. This film is an early summer treat for viewers not into dinosaurs and super heroes.
When I was 16 one of my first jobs was valet parking cars at the Hawaiian Village Resort in Tampa, Florida. As it was close to the old Tampa Stadium, and the Buccaneers had just come to Tampa, I worked every Sunday game day. One day a large man in an even larger car pulled up. As he handed me his keys he told me to “put it where you can see it, son.” I moved an older Volkswagen from the front row directly in front of the Valet stand to the side of the Ramada and put his Cadillac in the vacated spot. After the game – I don’t have to tell you it was a Buccaneer’s loss since the team lost their first (24) games – he returned to the Valet stand and handed me his ticket. He seemed please that I really only had to walk across the driveway to retrieve his car. When he got in he handed me a $5 bill – that was HUGE money in 1976 and got into his car. Almost as an aside he asked me, “Do you like Elvis, son?” When I replied that I did, he pulled an envelope out of his glove compartment, reached in and pulled out what appeared to be tickets. He handed them to me without a word, rolled up his window and drove off. They were tickets. Tickets to see Elvis Presley at St. Petersburg’s Bay Front Center on February 14, 1977. Wow! Oh, did I mention that my very first concert was the King?
In his garish hotel room in Las Vegas, the man known as the Colonel falls to the ground, a victim of his bad heart. As he hovers between life and death, he begins to tell his tale. A tale about a young man from Memphis, Tennessee whose love of gospel music led him on a path of success that really has never been duplicated. That young man? Elvis Aron Presley.
Much has been written about Elvis Presley, from his over-doting mother to his young bride to his weight, but nothing you can find on the page can compare to Baz Luhrmann’s visual achievement ELVIS. We discover that Elvis’s love for gospel music came at a young age, when he would attend revivals and “let the spirit” take over. It is also at these revivals where he studied, and mastered, movements that would soon earn him the nickname “the Pelvis.” It is by chance that Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks), a former carnival barker, happens on Presley during a performance on the radio show “Louisiana Hayride.” If the Colonel knows anything, he knows what the public wants and his eyes tell him that soon every young woman in America will want Elvis Presley.
As played by Butler, Elvis is shy and polite, almost unaware of the impact he is having on the youth of America. However, when his gyrations threaten to lose him work, and the Colonel implores him to become the new, “nice” Elvis, he rebels, realizing that it’s his entire body, not just his voice, that conveys a song.
As his success grows, the Colonel spreads his client thin: public appearances, motion pictures and the then un-heard of business of merchandise. T-shirts, toys, buttons…nothing is too tacky to stick Elvis’ name on. When he questions the Colonel selling buttons that read “I HATE ELVIS,” he is told not to worry, as he’s getting a piece of that sale as well. And a piece is really all he got. It is well documented that the Colonel often took 50% of Elvis’ earnings, feeling that he’d earned them.
The film covers most of the major events in Elvis’ life – the rise to fame, his induction into the Army – when I was stationed in Germany I had an occasion or two to eat in the Elvis Presley Mess Hall in Friedberg, – his marriage to Priscilla, the 1968 Comeback Special and his sad, last years. No matter the moment, Butler does an amazing job of conveying the Presley of the time. This isn’t the impersonator who entertained at your last holiday party, this is a performance I’d liken to Jamie Foxx in “Ray” or Rami Malek in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Hanks is equally good, allowing the audience to see behind his dead eyes into the soul of a man with literally no past.
You would expect nothing less than the musical numbers to be perfectly staged by the director of “Moulin Rouge” and you would be right here. Whether it’s the local fairgrounds or the studios of NBC, they jump off the screen with the same energy the room must have felt under Presley’s spell.
February 14, 1977. Among a multitude of screams from the audience, Elvis looks out into the crowd and reminds us that the show isn’t over yet. “So,” he says, “until we meet again…” He then performed “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and then the show was over. Elvis had left the building. But not really. Thanks to ELVIS, the King will NEVER leave the building!
REVIEW by J.R. DEETER
IT’S CLASSIC JURASSIC !
Jurassic World Dominion (or as I like to call it, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Jurassic World) is the 3rd and supposedly final film of the Jurassic “World” Trilogy. It’s an All-Star mash up fest of the cast of characters that have driven the storyline for the 6 films in the series. The JP3, Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), still digging up bones, and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) the paleobotanist, are back. Jeff Goldblum returns as the quirky Dr. Ian Malcom. They are joined by the gang from the first two World films, Raptor trainer Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and BD Wong as OG Dr. Henry Wu. Isabella Sermon as Maise Lockwood, and Campbell Scott as Dr. Lewis Dodgson, CEO of Biosyn Genetics.
The story takes place 30 years after Jurassic Park introduced Dinosaurs back into existence, and as we learned from JW Fallen Kingdom, they now live among humans, mostly in city neighborhood shadows, or for the Big D’s, in wide open spaces and oceans around the World.
There’s a threat to the food chain, kidnappings, and as always, bad elements seek to profit from the science, under the guise of doing good things for humanity, that doesn’t go well, and you know the rest.
Full to the brim with exciting chase sequences, touching romantic moments, and those awesome dinosaurs, Jurassic World Dominion is a good summer fun film for the family. (Some intense scenes maybe a bit much for littles). Several not so hidden throwbacks are thrown in throughout…keep an eye open.
Overall, a fitting end to the franchise…..maybe ?
