I walked into Jurassic World: Rebirth hoping for something better than the last few sequels. I ended up walking out feeling like I was a kid again, watching a brachiosaurus take its first slow, majestic steps on screen. That moment from the original Jurassic Park never left me, and for the first time in decades, this franchise managed to tap back into that same sense of wonder. I didn’t expect to cry. I didn’t expect to feel terrified again. And I definitely didn’t expect to feel like something missing had just been found.
But that’s what Rebirth does. It doesn’t try to out-roar the earlier Jurassic World movies. Instead, it takes a step back, lets moments breathe, and delivers a sequel that finally remembers what made this series special to begin with.
Gareth Edwards Finds the Heart of Jurassic Again
There’s been a lot of chatter about whether Gareth Edwards was the right choice to direct Jurassic World: Rebirth. After his successes on The Creator and Rogue One, he’s built a reputation for grounding spectacle in emotion. That approach is exactly what this franchise needed. His fingerprints are all over the movie. While this one leans more into CGI than I’d hope (especially from Edwards), the movie still shines when the visuals work in sync with his slower, more thoughtful storytelling.
You can tell Edwards is a fan. He doesn’t just throw dinosaurs at the screen and hope we’re impressed. He wants the audience to feel the awe again. And for the first time since The Lost World, I actually did.
The Most Jurassic It’s Felt Since ‘93
Tone-wise, this is the closest we’ve come to the spirit of the original Jurassic Park. There’s real tension again (not horror exactly, but it gets close). Some sequences feel like nods to Jaws, letting suspense build slowly before finally striking. And while there are callbacks to the 1993 movie, they feel earned. Unlike 2015’s Jurassic World, which sometimes treated fan service like a checklist, Rebirth knows when to lean into nostalgia and when to step aside.
The titanosaur scene teased in trailers absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I cried. Something about it brought back that feeling of seeing the park for the first time as a kid. It’s rare for a sequel to pull off something that honest and emotional, but this one does.
A Solid Cast with Real Chemistry
Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey work surprisingly well together. Their chemistry feels natural and helps ground the movie even when giant prehistoric creatures are stealing the show. Mahershala Ali is reliably great, bringing a cool confidence about him, adding depth where it’s needed.
Rupert Friend plays the villain, and while his arc is predictable (in that “of course he’s the bad guy” kind of way), he still makes it work. There’s even a clever Easter Egg tied to the original Jurassic Park that long-time fans will catch if they’re paying attention.
The Delgado family arc is where things do wobble a bit. Not because the cast is bad. Far from it. Audrina Miranda stands out as the youngest daughter (easily one of the best characters of the movie). But their arc feels like it belonged in its own movie. There’s just a bit too much going on, and if the movie narrowed its focus slightly, their arc might’ve landed harder. Still, they get some of the emotionally charged and suspenseful scenes in the movie (including the anticipated river raft scene from the book).
More Human Story, Less Dinos
If you’re coming to Rebirth expecting wall-to-wall dinosaur carnage, you might be surprised. There’s plenty of dinosaur action, but it’s not non-stop. The movie takes its time with the human story, and I think that works in its favor. It’s more interested in set pieces than constant attacks. The slower pace allows the moments that do hit to land harder.
The D-Rex, one of the movie’s big new creatures, does show up fairly late, and while it looks cool, it’s not the main threat. It’s more of a wild card than a main villain. It reminded me of how the original T-Rex functioned; powerful, but not evil. Just part of the ecosystem (even if it was created as a mutant).
Then there are the mutadons. There’s clearly lore and potential, but Rebirth only scratches the surface. Hopefully they’re saving more for later down the line, assuming we come back to this island.
Gorgeous Locations, Spotty CGI
When the visuals work, they really work. Edwards uses some breathtaking locations (a few of which fans of The Creator will recognize), and when paired with his style of camerawork, the dinosaurs feel alive again. But the CGI? That’s where things get shaky.
The dinosaurs themselves look great. No complaints there. But anytime people interact with them, or even in scenes without dinosaurs entirely, the CGI can be distracting. It’s not a universal issue, but it’s noticeable. And for a director like Edwards, who’s known for preferring practical effects, it’s a little disappointing to see how artificial some of the human-centric shots look. The difference between when effects are handled with care and when they aren’t is easy to see.
The Score, the Silence, the Sound of Something Special
Alexandre Desplat’s score adds a lot to the experience. It channels the spirit of the original trilogy without trying to mimic John Williams directly. When the classic Jurassic Park theme finally kicks in, it lands beautifully. The music in Rebirth adds a lot of weight to the quieter moments and knows when to pull back and let the sound of the environment do the talking. I didn’t see it in Dolby, but I can imagine it would absolutely shake the walls in the best way possible.
For the Fans
I can already see this being divisive online. Some people might find the pacing a bit too patient. Others might expect more spectacle. But for fans of the original Jurassic Park? This is the closest thing to that magic we have had in a long time. Book fans are probably going to be really into this too, especially with the more grounded approach and stronger character focus.
Casual moviegoers might find it a bit different from the last few Jurassic entries. But that isn’t a bad thing. It’s a better movie. A smarter one. One that respects its audience to slow down and let the moments breathe.
As a lifelong fan, Jurassic World: Rebirth gave me something I hadn’t felt in a while. This is Gareth Edwards making a dinosaur movie for people who grew up on Jurassic Park. It reminded me why I fell in love with this franchise in the first place and more than anything…it made me believe in it again.
That Nerd Zach 
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