Jurassic World: Rebirth (4 Stars)

This is the seventh film in the Jurassic Park franchise, presumably the first film in the third trilogy. What is it with all these trilogies nowadays? Can't they just make films one after another, each one a standalone?

"Rebirth" – I'm shortening the title again – is the first film in the franchise directed by Gareth Edwards. He gets back to basics, with a lot more people running from dinosaurs. There's also a higher body count. In "Dominion" too many people survived.

I groaned when I heard that Scarlet Johansson was appearing in the film. I have nothing against her. On the contrary, I think she's a wonderful actress. What bothered me was that I had the impression they only added her to the cast to attract more viewers with a big star. That was probably the studio's intention, but she fits in well. I assume she'll be back for the next two films. Only time will tell.

Without giving any spoilers, the film makes repeated nods to the previous films. Things happen that seem like repeats of previous scenes, or at least close copies. Gareth Edwards is making a conscious effort to make the viewers feel like they're in familiar territory. It works well.

I hesitated before buying "Dominion" on disc, but I already know that I'll buy "Rebirth" as soon as possible, if the price is low enough. It's a better film in every respect.