Tag Archives: ‘Jurassic Park’

Cool Movie Toys: San Diego Comic-Con 2019 exclusives

July 18, 2019 Tim Lammers Leave a comment

The 50^thannual San Diego Comic-Con is finally here, beginning with a preview night Wednesday before it kicks into high gear Thursday. The bigger it becomes (it’s already massive, with a reported average of 130,000 fans from all over the world), the more stars it seems to attract, particularly from the superhero, sci-fi and horror movie realms.

And while throngs of fans descend upon the San Diego Convention Center’s famed Hall H to see panels of stars from upcoming films and perhaps some teaser footage not available anywhere else, there’s a large contingent of fans also attending the annual gathering to get some exclusives: toys and collectibles not available to the general public.

This year’s offerings features a gaggle of new and cool movie playthings, including action figures of actors being produced for the first time, including NECA’s retro eight-inch action figure of the villainous “Karate Kid” coach Kreese (Martin Kove), which comes on the heels of releases of eight-inch figures of Daniel (Ralph Macchio), his coach, Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita) and Daniel’s chief rival, Johnny (William Zabka), as seen in the 1984 film.

Fans who purchase the Kreese figure will also get another special opportunity: to meet Kove, who will be on-hand at NECA’s booth to sign packages of the miniature version of himself. In addition to the Kove figure, NECA’s SDCC exclusive offerings include a special “etched” seven-inch version of Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgard), just in time for the release of “IT: Chapter 2” in September; and a seven-inch scale figure of the young version of John Connor (Edward Furlong) and his motorcycle from the 1991 blockbuster “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”

As NECA’s offerings prove, there’s a big enough market for action figures from classic films to justify the release of action figures of them, even if only in limited quantities.

Continuing its “Jurassic Park” legacy line of three and three-quarter-inch figures in the past year, figures of paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), as well as mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) have already been released, Mattel is about to debut a figure as a SDCC exclusive: Jurassic Park founder John Hammond (the late Richard Attenborough). Hammond’s figure not only features packaging that looks like the gateway to Jurassic Park, it includes a stand that holds a cracked open egg with a baby dinosaur.

While some toy and collectibles companies are concentrating on releasing exclusive products of vintage movies, others are concentrating on more modern fare. Among them are Hasbro, which is selling an exclusive “Star Wars” Black Series six-inch figure of a Sith Trooper (think of Stormtrooper’s armor, but molded in red), the first new character being revealed for the December film “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

Also being offered by Hasbro are pair of six-inch figures from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: The Collector (Benicio Del Toro) from “Guardians of the Galaxy” and Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) from “Thor: Ragnarok.” While the exclusive figures are packaged separately (with their respective movie title treatment), they are being sold as a set. Per Marvel lore, the Collector and Grandmaster are brothers, after all.

The San Diego Comic-Con runs through Sunday.

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Film, Movie Reviews

Movie review: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ sadly falls short of expectations

June 21, 2018 Tim Lammers Leave a comment

“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (PG-13)

Oh, how the mighty have fallen with “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” the hotly anticipated sequel to the 2015 mega blockbuster “Jurassic World” and fourth installment in the “Jurassic Park” series. Dark and bleak with no real fun to be had, “Fallen Kingdom” isn’t a bad film, at least from the technical standpoint, where the dinosaurs are as big and loud and scary as ever. Instead, the burden falls on the creatives, who clearly found out that the once-inspired story line of bringing dinosaurs back to life through the wonders of DNA is close to running its course.

“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” is set three years after the last film, and it appears theme park on the (fictional) Isla Nubar off Costa Rica is doomed by erupting volcanos. And while the island is unoccupied by humans, the government is faced with the excruciating decision of trying to save all the cloned dinosaur species or simply let the monolithic creatures become extinct once again, perhaps forever.

Tim reviews “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” with Adrienne Broaddus on KARE 11.

Despite the havoc wreaked by the dinosaurs in the first film, Jurassic World operator Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) is intent on preserving the creatures, and she seems to have found a viable solution when the partner to late Jurassic Park founder John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) funds a mission to transport about a dozen dinosaur species to an island sanctuary where they will be free to roam the way nature intended. The mission can’t be completed, however, without the help of Claire and dinosaur wrangler Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), who soon enough learn they are pawns in a plan to use the dinosaurs for sinister purposes.

AUDIO: Listen to Tim’s review of “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” on “The KQ Morning Show” with Tom Barnard.

Admittedly, director J.A. Boyona and co-screenwriters Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow (who directed the first “Jurassic World”) are in a tough spot when it comes to expanding the already limited “Jurassic” saga storyline with “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” Let’s say they move the dinosaurs to a sanctuary where they live in peace and nobody sees or interacts with them, then you have a boring movie. If another park is created, then it’s a rip-off of the previous movies.

All that’s left, at least as far as this film is concerned, is having the dinosaurs fall into the wrong hands of people with (what else?) deadly intentions. Worse yet, the story is predictable almost from the get-go, from the time Claire and Owen meet the operation’s commander (Ted Levine) who is saddled with all the classic traits of ne’er do-well up to no good.

Despite its predictability, “Jurassic World” still manages to be entertaining, especially when its dinosaurs (in particular the genetically altered ones) go on the rampage against their weak human counterparts. No matter how many times you’ve seen it happen, whether in the original “Jurassic Park” trilogy or “Jurassic World,” there’s nothing that gets stale about an effective CG dinosaur relentlessly pursuing their human prey. In fact, like the first film, the sequences are so jarring that it makes you wonder just how the studio got away with a PG-13 rating, when the violence clearly merits an R.

While the first “Jurassic World” felt fresh, fun and inventive, “Fallen Kingdom” is doomed by taking itself too seriously. To begin with, while Pratt played his role fairly straight-up the first time around but was still amusing, he’s only afforded a few times to lighten the mood in “Fallen Kingdom.” Howard seems to be given less to work with in the film, too, including those pesky high heels which were swapped out for boots this time around. The biggest waste of talent, though, comes with the bait-and-switch move Universal pulled with original “Jurassic Park” star Jeff Goldblum, who reprises his Ian Malcolm for a pair of brief scenes where he shows none of his trademark, wry sense of humor whatsoever.

With any luck, Trevorrow, who is on board to helm the third film, will bring Goldblum back and give him some meaningful screen time if “Jurassic World” has any chance of being restored to its former glory.

Lammometer: 6 (out of 10)

Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.

Film, Movie Reviews

Movie review: ‘Jurassic World’

June 12, 2015 Tim Lammers Leave a comment

By Tim Lammers

“Jurassic World” (PG-13) 3 1/2 stars (out of four)

Since the debut of Steven Spielberg’s dinosaur epic “Jurassic Park” in 1993, the setting and central plotline options for its sequels have been limited, to say the least: A remote island houses prehistoric creatures; prehistoric creatures escape confines; and prehistoric creatures wreak major havoc on humans. Yet, for those limits, “Jurassic World” makes it feel like “Jurassic Park” has come full circle.

Set appropriately 22 years after the brilliant original, “Jurassic World” returns to Isla Nubar to fulfill John Hammond’s (Richard Attenborough) vision, and with the last of the original “Jurassic Park” trilogy 14 years in our memories, the franchise reboot/sequel feels fresh. Stacked with the benefits of advancements in special effects technology and an affable leading man with “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt and equally-talented Bryce Dallas Howard, “Jurassic World,” despite the familiar scenario, is one hell of a thrill ride.

“Jurassic World” basically examines the “What If?” of a Disney theme park attraction gone horribly awry – where a billionaire financial backer, Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan), is constantly looking for ways to reinvent his island’s offerings to attract new visitors and keep a healthy financial bottom line after years of dwindling returns. Worried by his tourists being bored with Velociraptors, a T-Rex, Triceratops and the like, Masrani pushes Jurassic World’s team of scientists to create the Indominus Rex – a stronger, faster and smarter behemoth hybrid genetically spliced from the T. Rex and another creature that its engineers keep under wraps.

While the likes of park manager Claire Dearing (Howard) undauntingly pushes ahead with the debut of the Indominus Rex, famed dino-whisperer Owen Grady (Pratt, more serious than “Guardians” but still playful) has deep concerns. He knows how dinosaurs think, and soon enough, Grady’s nightmare becomes a reality and the Indominus escapes, either chomping, stomping or simply killing for sport everything that gets in its way. That’s a big problem considering there are 20,000 potential tourist victims just miles away on the other side of the island, including the sons (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins) of Claire’s estranged sister (Judy Greer).

Of course, the most impressive part of “Jurassic World” is its dinosaurs, which through computer-generated effects and practical effects creates an awe-inspiring visual feast throughout. Accompanied by thundering sound and a 3D presentation that works wonderfully for a change, “Jurassic World” is intense throughout, whether through its chase scenes, or burning anticipation of where the Indominus is lurking, getting ready to strike its prey with little or no warning.

Despite the film’s spectacular visual effects, the solid trio of Pratt (who is like a cross between Dr. Malcolm and Dr. Grant from the original), Howard and Vincent D’Onofrio more than capably reign in the madness so the special effects don’t drown out the story. While “Jurassic World” is for the most part a summer popcorn thriller with lots of action and excitement, it is also, like the original, in part a cautionary tale about messing with nature, pushing the boundaries of science and commercializing it for financial gain. There’s also a subplot where a slimy character, Hoskins (D’Onofrio), waits for Indominus project to go south so he can put into to play a military strategy that involves the island aggressive dinosaurs.

Like the original “Jurassic Park” films, “Jurassic World” is horribly mis-marketed to young children through toys, fruit snacks and other products – so parents should be forewarned that kids under 10, frightened by the intensity and graphic nature of the film, want to duck under their seats. Despite the film’s PG-13 rating, director Collin Treverrow leaves little to the imagination, as the Indominus chomps its human and dinosaur victims with reckless abandon. At times, “Jurassic World” feels more like a monster movie (“Godzilla Meets Predator meet Jurassic Park”?) than an action adventure.

Given the level of violence and blood in the film, it’s a miracle Treverrow – who expertly directs “Jurassic World” – didn’t have his movie slapped with an R rating. The movie asks Jurassic World to up the ante to please it customers, and please his customers Treverrow does. It’s may not be the best movie in the “Jurassic” franchise, but it’s easily a strong second.

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Tag Archives: ‘Jurassic Park’

Cool Movie Toys: San Diego Comic-Con 2019 exclusives

Movie review: ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ sadly falls short of expectations

Movie review: ‘Jurassic World’

Original Interviews, Reviews & More By Tim Lammers