'Jurassic World': Have Hollywood dinosaurs lost their fans?

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Universal’s "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" raked in 1 billion yuan (152 million US dollars) in its first five days after being released in China, crushing the competition.

After its second weekend at the Chinese box office, the movie had grossed a healthy total of 202.6 million US dollars. It has become the third highest grossing imported film in 2018 in China and will soon overtake "Ready Player One" for second place.

However, despite its dazzling box office performance, the newest Jurassic installation has received less spectacular reviews on Chinese media review site Douban, with a score of 6.9.

A screenshot of the "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" page on Douban. /Douban.com Photo

Marvel's "Avengers: Infinity War," had a score of 8.3 on Douban at the time this article was posted.

Why hasn't the new Jurassic movie struck a cord with audiences? Have Hollywood dinosaurs lost their fans?

A screenshot of the "Avengers: Infinity War" page on Douban. /Douban.com Photo

What makes Jurassic Park movies so addictive?

Over 25 years ago, "Jurassic Park" became an irreplaceable classic in the hearts of several generations as director Steven Spielberg created an enchanting world of dinosaurs in the movie.

Making the movie feel realistic is the first step to getting the audience involved.

A scene from the new trailer for "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." /Universal Pictures

Released 1993, "Jurassic Park" was not only the world's top grossing film featuring dinosaurs, but also guided in a new era of computer-generated effects.

This film utilized advances in CGI (computer-generated imagery) and made a new generation fall in love with cinema.

"Jurassic Park was a blockbuster event that had to be seen to believed, and it was extraordinary; the best big screen experience for anybody between 30 and 50, so successful they have just made the fifth film in the franchise," said Jonathan Dean, a senior writer at Sunday Times Culture, in GQ's review article.

Fans wear dinosaur masks while waiting for the premiere of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" on June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo

In 2015, "Jurassic World" relaunched the popular dinosaur series. Because the digital dinosaurs brought about by the CG revolution replaced the model dinosaurs in the original "Jurassic Park," the overall appearance of the dinosaurs became longer and more vigorous.

But Jurassic World 2's box office does not match its current ratings or reviews.

Another falling kingdom?

"Fallen Kingdom" sure isn’t a disappointment. According to the Asian box office, "Fallen Kingdom" appears to have a solid chance of beating the first "Jurassic World" film in 2015 – a feat it won't match in North America, where the sequel just opened 34 percent behind its predecessor.

"'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' gets away with its unoriginality for the most part, but this franchise’s desperation is starting to show. It’s time to evolve or go extinct," said Lindsey Bahr from AP news.

Isabella Sermon in a scene from the trailer of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." /Universal Pictures

There is no doubt that "Fallen Kingdom" has excellent CGI technologies to support the dinosaurs. But most of the complaints stem from dissatisfaction with the actors and the story structure.

"I’ve seen this movie before, and once upon a time, it was quality entertainment. Now, there’s less adventure, less humor and less of a reason for existing," said Michael Smith, a commentator from the Rome News-Tribune.

"And there are fewer dinosaurs," Smith added.

Maybe the director tried to express a deeper concept about the relationship between humans and nature, and ignored the attractive storyline.

"This hectic, pulpy romp may be intended to make you scream and laugh, but it never comes close to making you gasp in wonder," said Nicholas Barber for BBC Culture.

Are Chinese netizens fans?

"I think the 'Jurassic World' became 'Night at the Museum' in this movie," a netizen commented on Douban.

"The script chose the safest way to 'copy' 'Jurassic Park,'" another comment said.

"Only the effects were more realistic than they had been. But 'Jurassic Park' was a milestone in the development of special effects. How about 'Jurassic World'?"

"It is a qualified popcorn movie! The special effects are great! New dinosaurs are interesting! Maybe the story was a little bit boring, but I paid for the dinosaurs anyway," said one complimentary comment, showing there is still some interest in the film.

A scene from the new trailer for "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." /Universal Pictures

In general, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" will entertain the average moviegoer. The upgraded special effects and popular IP are enough to make these audiences pay for the tickets.

However, for most fans, visual effects can only be a method to assist the film's expression. They pay more attention to the brilliance of the story than visual effects.

Unlike Marvel and Star Wars, the Jurassic series seems to have only dinosaurs as its constant protagonists, and the core of this movie series is the relationship between humans, dinosaurs and nature.

Keep dinosaurs alive or kill them off? It’s a question that haunts the human characters in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” the Los Angeles Times said. To see or not to see, is also a question troubling audiences.

(Cover image from Universal Pictures.)