Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

The critic praises director J.A. Bayona for injecting gothic horror tension and big-scale set pieces into the series, particularly the volcanic eruption sequence and Indoraptor scares, while noting improved character work for the leads.

With J.A. Bayona directing, the dinosaurs finally leave the island for an enjoyably sinister new setting in a spooky old house, bringing gothic glee and actual villains who are satisfyingly dispatched. The family-friendly franchise tone occasionally cramps the director's style, but the change of locale and focus on villains marks a welcome shift.

The critic finds this a stronger entry than the prior film, with Bayona bringing classic monster-movie energy and treating the dinosaurs more like characters while shifting much of the action into a spooky mansion setting. He praises the visuals, pacing, and thrills but notes some old-fashioned handling of the female lead.

The critic notes franchise fatigue in the first half but highlights strong set-pieces in the second, especially the volcano sequence and the Indoraptor's gothic mansion scares, crediting Bayona for bringing soul to the dinosaurs.

The film is a fun romp with unusual new ideas, pleasant characters like newcomer Maisie, and plenty of dinosaur action, bolstered by strong set pieces from director J.A. Bayona. However, it functions more as a stepping stone to set up the next film, leaving this entry feeling slight and unsatisfying despite its ambitions.

The film follows Owen and Claire as they attempt to rescue dinosaurs from a volcanic island, but human villains feel minor. Bayona delivers one standout suspense sequence with a child and a giant claw, though the franchise's demands limit him.

It is an improvement over the prior entry thanks to Bayona’s confident direction of destruction and horror scenes, but remains ho-hum and predictable overall. The move of dinosaurs to the mainland and some adjustments to characters provide minor pleasures, yet the series fails to evolve meaningfully.

It is the first entry to pretend to be more than a ride by incorporating topical conspiracy elements, but the dinosaur action still rules though not enough; Bayona keeps it moving competently but the script weighs it down into a so-so ride.

The film is merely serviceable despite some genre flourishes and a gothic mansion set piece. The critic singles out its overlong, video game-like scenarios and on-the-nose political satire for complaint.

The sequel starts strong but gets smaller, with the volcano as the best performer and a finale reduced to a mano-a-dino chase. The critic complains about the halting plot and gothic trimmings that fail to elevate the material.

The critic finds the film an improvement over its predecessor but still calls the franchise irretrievably dull, criticising the hackneyed script, lack of tension, and absence of humour while noting some effective dinosaur empathy shots.

The review criticizes the film as formulaic and ludicrous in its CGI dinosaur elements, arguing that the franchise's repetitive approach to spectacle and plot has worn thin despite the new director and setting shifts.

The critic finds the dinosaurs still hard to resist after 25 years, praising how director J.A. Bayona spreads the mayhem more intelligently than in prior entries. The action sequences once the dinosaurs are unleashed are described as top notch and entertaining.

The critic praises director J.A. Bayona for bringing back awe, wonder, and horror elements to the franchise through strong visuals and set pieces, while also noting improved performances especially from Bryce Dallas Howard. The film is seen as a fun, pulpy, and absurd evolution of the series despite some logic issues and heavy CGI.

The film takes the franchise in a slightly different direction with strong action set pieces and striking visuals from director Bayona, though the story feels slight and the dinosaurs lack scale.

The blockbuster shifts from explosive action to a haunted house/slasher tone in the second half, which slows the pace and feels repetitive, resulting in an enjoyable but less biting franchise entry.

The critic finds the action sequences and Bayona's direction exciting and pulpy, especially the dinosaur-focused set pieces and kaiju-style moments, but criticizes the script's overreliance on human drama, twists, and exposition that drag down the fun. Overall, it falls short of its potential as a silly blockbuster due to the human elements.

The critic finds the film knows the notes but not the music of the original Jurassic Park, with stupid characters and poor script choices throughout. Bayona's direction of the mansion action sequences is praised as an improvement over the prior entry.

The critic faults the film for treating its action and suspense sequences without enthusiasm, rendering even iconic hiding-from-dinosaurs moments hackneyed and expected. The overall result is a dull sequel that drains the excitement from the dinosaur premise.