It's tough to take on the fourth film in any franchise and shake up the formula. Perhaps the most successful fourth film in recent memory, 2009's Fast and Furious, is a film that worked very hard to be, first and foremost, a sequel to its originator, creating a strong sense of nostalgia in the process. What's good for one Universal Pictures series is good for another, I suppose, and the new Jurassic Park movie has taken a similar approach. From locations and props to specific shots; the inclusion of actor BD Wong, returning as Dr. Henry Wu from the first film; and incorporating the iconic John Williams score into new music by Michael Giacchino, Jurassic World is trading heavily on our fond memories of Spielberg's original.
The film will be a nice calling card for Director Colin Trevorrow. It proves that he can take on a mega-budget blockbuster film and not screw it up. If that seems like a backhanded compliment, it's really not. Where many have tried to deliver a satisfying summer movie that will please most, most have failed, and a solid effort like this will place him on every short list in Hollywood.
