Rebirth is indeed the proper name for this film, as it resets the entire storyline. Viewers are re-introduced to a dinosaur-filled island while also learning the background of Zora Bennett (Johansson), who’s been hired by a pharmaceutical representative to join paleontologist Dr Henry Loomis (Bailey) on a trip to an old facility to collect dinosaur DNA. The benefit of getting this DNA? There will be a new treatment for heart disease, meaning it could save thousands of lives. From there, things progress in a predictable-but-interesting storyline as the group navigates the island, but with quite a bit of stumbling along the way.
In fact, that’s my one problem with this movie—the...how do I say this nicely?...idiocy of the characters. Not a criticism of the actors, but the characters themselves aren't written to be nearly as intelligent as their 1993 counterparts (I think screaming at the top of your lungs after you've injected a dinosaur is pretty darn stupid).
That said, Rebirth is still an enjoyable film if you take it for what it is without comparing it too hard to the first film (let’s keep it real, nothing is ever going to top Steven Spielberg’s original). Granted, I saw it in 4DX, but the visuals are stunning. The seats move and jump during the action scenes, which makes it feel like you’re right there with the characters. The dinosaurs also feel incredibly real, which is a testament to Gareth Edwards, who directs the film with intimacy and purpose.
