Jurassic World Rebirth Review: Does the New Dino Epic Finally Live Up to Spielberg’s Classic?

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Thirty-two years ago, Steven Spielberg amazed audiences with his blockbuster hit “Jurassic Park”. Since then, the Jurassic series has taken an intriguing journey. Spielberg returned to direct the sequel “The Lost World“, although he didn’t oversee the third film, “Jurassic Park III”. Both movies were profitable, but they didn’t quite match the success of the first one. The series was rebooted in 2015 with “Jurassic World”, which was followed by two sequels that, while underwhelming, proved to be highly lucrative.

In “Jurassic World Rebirth”, the dinosaurs make their return for the seventh time, presenting a separate sequel to “Dominion”. While it maintains some connections, it cleverly separates itself from it. Gareth Edwards took charge as director and David Koepp, who wrote the 1993 film, was commissioned to write the script. The outcome is a narrative that strives a bit excessively to replicate Spielberg’s original formula. However, in the process, it manages to surpass its more recent (and generally forgettable) predecessors.

In my perspective, “Rebirth” seems to take its time initially, establishing its narrative and positioning its characters effectively. As humans and dinosaurs struggle to live harmoniously, the latter’s colossal presence has become a burden for many. Due to unsuitable climates on Earth, these enormous dinosaurs are migrating towards the equator, causing a myriad of problems worldwide.

In their relentless pursuit to solve this issue, Martin Krebs (portrayed by Rupert Friend), a rather shady pharmaceutical representative, seems more concerned about something else. His company has synthesized a groundbreaking drug capable of curing heart disease, but they’re held back because they lack crucial blood samples. These vital samples are from the three largest surviving dinosaurs that inhabit an illegal island in the Atlantic Ocean. Once he manages to obtain these samples, his company can commence testing and then file for a patent, potentially earning them billions of dollars.

Martin presents an enticing proposal to Zora Bennett, a veteran soldier-turned mercenary, to guide a group to the off-limits island. Alongside them is Dr. Henry Loomis, a compassionate yet unsophisticated paleontologist yearning to observe dinosaurs in their original environment. Zora arranges sailing aboard her friend Duncan Kincaid’s vessel for the expedition, with Kincaid himself mapping out the journey and directing the team to the island.

In a different setting, I, Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), along with my daughters Teresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella (Audrina Miranda), and Teresa’s less-than-reliable boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono), embarked on a questionable sailing voyage across the Atlantic. Unfortunately, our vessel was overturned following an unexpected encounter with a monstrous Mosasaurus. Thankfully, Zora and her team managed to save us, but not before the beast damaged Duncan’s ship upon reaching the forbidden island’s shores.

The film divides the narrative into two gripping tales about survival. Following some unfortunate losses, the remaining characters split into two factions – one is a frightened family aiming to reach a village, while the other is Zora’s group determined to finish their task. Along their journeys, both parties encounter various prehistoric threats, breathtaking mysteries, and hidden revelations. Despite its predictable course, the story remains engaging and enjoyable.

The film is mostly engaging thanks to its exhilarating action sequences, which may require a bit of patience to reach but deliver an enjoyable payoff on the big screen. The dinosaurs are impressively rendered and Edwards effectively builds suspense. However, the characters could be more developed, even though it’s easy to support the protagonists and antagonists are convincingly evil. Despite strong performances from the numerous actors, none of the characters feel fully realized.

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2025-07-07 17:57