Jurassic World * * *

Like the other Jurassic films this one doesn’t have big name actors.  Because, let’s be honest, dinosaurs are the real stars here.  And they’re good dinosaurs!  In fact, the whole film is good if you accept it for what it is -  and it's not as dumb as some people are suggesting.  Or maybe I’m not as smart as I think I am.  But right through to the final dinosaur punch-up you have to be impressed with the story and the character development.  
There is no big name director either. Colin Trevorrow is more of a quirky art-house guy who’s only other feature is the charming Safety Not Guaranteed from 2012.
So, here we are 25  years on and Jurassic Park is now like a Queensland theme park - not quite cutting it anymore.   Seeing live dinosaurs is losing its thrill and the crowds aren’t as big as they used to be.  To appease the crowds they have developed a super dinosaur.   Some hybrid that didn’t even exist in the old days.  This dinosaur is HUGE, super aggressive - and mean! It’ll kill anything just for sport.  That should bring the crowds back.  (Yes I know, it’s ironic - the producers of the film are mimicking their own storyline. One step ahead.)
Super dino (it’s a girl) gets out of her confined area, and rather than waiting for the crowd to come to her, she decides to go to the crowd and show them just how impressive Girrrrrrrl Power can be.
Claire is a manager of Jurassic Park.  Also on the island are Claire’s nephews.  Their mother keeps ringing Claire to guilt her into looking after them because they are family and should be bonded (that’s a bit of a weird imposition).
There is also a rebellious employee on the island - Owen - who has his own way of doing things.   Just for fun he has learnt how to train Raptors like dogs- sit, beg, fetch, attack, all that kind of thing.  
So with this crazy dino on the loose they recruit the expertise of Owen and his trained raptors to bring it to heel - and Claire (being the manager) has to come along for the ride.  
Also on the island is a military guy who gets the idea that this new dino would make a cracking good combat troop, he might be right: Let’s see ISIS take on a few hundred of these!
Also on the island are several thousand tourists. They just happened to have picked a bad day.
The two nephews venture too far by not obeying the safety rules.  Claire says they must be rescued.  Owen says, Okay, but you can’t come cos you’re not ready for this.  Claire rips open her jacket exposing a tight singlet….”Who’s not ready?”   She soon ends up with messed up hair, dirt and sweat and torn garments that flash cleavage and thigh. I’m not complaining but ….sheeze it’s a bit obvious!  Maybe it’s because they know every kid is going to nag their Dad to take them to see this so they’d better give the old man a bit of a thrill too.  (The producers being one step ahead again).
Visually Jurassic World is very convincing, especially at the beginning.  So convincing you could easily think this theme park exists and this is real footage from it.  It’s not like they made Jurassic Park for the film,  it’s more like they went to Jurassic Park to make the film.  It is amazing to look at.  Truly amazing. They’ve done a fantastic job of making you feel  this park exists and you are there.
It pays homage to the original and wisely disregards the other two unfortunate sequels.  After 25 years Jurassic World  is the worthy successor.  
Aside from the original Jurassic Park it also (by my reckoning) gives a nod to a couple of other great films of “animals gone crazy” - King Kong and Hitchcock's The Birds.
Last years Godzilla remake sent me straight to sleep.  A dinosaur fight doesn’t exactly get you jumping in your seat when you get older but this one is so good Claire could have kept her jacket on.