‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ roars as one the series’ best sequels

This year sees the end of the saga that has given the world the most iconic and innovative depiction of dinosaurs in film for nearly 30 years. While far from perfect, “Jurassic World: Dominion” offers a great ending to the series, bringing back classic characters with a story that shows greater competence than most Jurassic sequels. 

Dominion is obviously not as great as the original “Jurassic Park” (1993) but is arguably the best Jurassic World film and in many ways contains a better story than “Jurassic Park’s” two sequels. 

In this third installment of Jurassic World, the film presents a world where dinosaurs roam free and genetic power is at its all time high. The stakes are high as the classic characters Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) work to stop the genetic company BioSyn from causing an ecological disaster that could lead to the end of human civilization. At the same time, “Jurassic World” characters Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) must rescue Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) the clone of Charlotte Lockwood) and Beta, the offspring of the velociraptor Blue, who have been kidnapped by BioSyn. Audiences are taken on a true global chase that shows this new world where dinosaurs and humans coexist 

The film’s plot and writing embodies the science fiction and techno-thriller spirit of the original Michael Crichton book more than any film in the series, including the first and manages to combine nostalgia with good science-driven storytelling. What is quite admirable about the film is its premise of an ecological disaster happening as a result of the revived prehistoric locusts, which threatens to disrupt the food cycle, leading our classic “Jurassic Park” characters on a legit mission to save the world. One has to admire the writers for coming up with a logical way that genetic engineering can end the world, as well as show the dangers of capitalism’s meddling with nature that could ultimately end life as people know it. 

This film manages to be interesting by being strong in the one thing that has always been a difficulty for the series: strong characters. In an age where so many series are being rebooted and bringing back classic characters, “Jurassic World” manages to bring back its classic characters without ruining them or seeming like they are in bad writers’ hands. 

“Jurassic World: Dominion” shows itself to be arguably the most story conscious, seeking to actually tie up loose ends and truly bring the story full circle. This can be seen in the form of its antagonist. The film manages to have a human antagonist that has meaning and purpose and is not just a generic bad guy. This villain comes in the form of Lewis Dodgson (Campbell Scott), CEO of the company BioSyn. 

People often forget that Dodgson is the reason the original park failed in the 1993 film. After all, it is Dodgson who paid Dennis Nedry to steal the dinosaur embryos from Jurassic Park, leading to the park’s system failure and ensuing chaos. By bringing back Lewis Dodgson, the series brings back the true villain behind the initial collapse of an attempt to make humans and dinosaurs coexist.

The “Jurassic Park” sequels have long been far from perfect or even great, and part of their flaw exists in the episodic nature that indicated no overall story was planned in making sequels. The sequels, unlike the second Jurassic Park book, never chose to address or bring to justice the character of Lewis Dodgson and his role as the catalyst for Jurassic Park’s collapse. 

In perfect poetic justice, the defeat of Dodgson and destruction of his company BioSyn brings to an end the forces that were responsible for Jurassic Park’s original collapse. This may be one of the best examples in recent reboot history of a villain being brought back in a proper way that serves to truly end the story. 

In an age where audiences are over films about dinosaurs, this movie manages to be a dinosaur film that is not simply about running away from dinosaurs but actually explores how genetic engineering threatens society. 

One must remember: “Jurassic Park” is ultimately a story about what can go wrong when humanity decides to use their scientific powers to play God and for capitalistic gain. The dinosaurs have long been a representation of the consequences of such scientific use. 

Nevertheless, like most Jurassic sequels, this film is not perfect. 

One flaw and flat-out mistake the film makes is deciding to not include the prologue that was released in 2021 as a preview of the film. This prologue was originally intended to be the beginning of the film but was ultimately cut. This prologue stands as the perfect set up for the film, providing greater context for the importance of the battle between the Tyrannosaurus and the Giganotosaurus, as well as other new dinosaurs we see in the film. This prologue provides us with background and origin information for the series’ star and icon Rexy, showing her in her primeval state and her tragic death. We even see the mosquito that takes the blood that allows Rexy to be resurrected by InGen. The decision to not include this prologue stands as one of Universal’s worst decisions in recent history, certainly a mistake to make with the series that saved it from shutting down in the nineties. For a film that made the right story choice of bringing back Dodgson to wrap up loose ends, it seems flat out illogical to not include a prologue that is vital to showing audiences just how much this is a film 65 million years in the making. 

“Jurassic World: Dominion” is unfortunately one of many films that has scenes in its trailers that are not in the movie. With Malcolm being a fan favorite, one has to question why the trailer scene of Malcolm saying, “Bigger, why do they always have to go bigger?!” is not in the movie. What is Universal thinking these days?

Additionally, while the return of Dodgson is a magnificent choice, admittedly the character could have gained more spotlight and more could have been done to address his involvement in the original failure of Jurassic Park. While the character does get the death he deserves, it would have felt even more fulfilling to have the classic characters learn of his actions that directly led to their lives being endangered all those years ago. 

Overall, “Jurassic World: Dominion” manages to wrap up the series in a way that returns the series to its thematic roots, while also giving the most original and unique plot in the franchise since the first Jurassic Park. While no sequel could capture the magic of the original, this is a film that is not only one of the most unique Jurassic films, but also a legit science fiction film that can encourage audiences to think not just about dinosaurs, but our environment, how we treat it, the corporate powerhouses who need checks and balances to not destroy our lives, and more. Such ideas are perfect to touch on as one of Universal’s most popular series reaches a cinematic end. The films may be over, but Jurassic Park is long from extinct.