Jurassic World: Bigger? Yes. Better? Not really

Jurassic World brings back the thrill of the last time dinosaurs hit the screens, but it fails to recreate the magic of Jurassic Park

A theme park, huge footprints and 20,000 visitors at the mercy of cloned dinosaurs running riot on an island - it's all happening again on Isla Nublar.

Jurassic World is set 22 years after the calamitous events of Jurassic Park (1993). The fictional island of Isla Nublar now houses a "safe" and fully-functional dinosaur theme park. The visitors are happy, kids are rooting for a carnivorous predator as it feeds on a live animal and there's a petting zoo as well. Surely, nothing can go wrong now.

But as usual, it does.

The park's latest attraction - Indominus rex, a genetically modified, hybrid dinosaur - escapes containment and all hell breaks loose. The rescue party? Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), an ex-Navy man who is training four Velociraptors, namely Blue, Charlie, Delta and Echo; Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), the park's operations manager; and Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan), CEO of the Masrani Corporation, which took over InGen and owns the park. Vincent D'Onofrio plays Vic Hoskins, the head of security operations for InGen and the movie's antagonist of sorts.

The story opens on a quiet note, with brothers Gray and Zach Mitchell (played by Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson) visiting the park to meet their aunt (Howard). Simpkins, the younger sibling who's well-versed with dino knowledge, plays a role similar to Tim Murphy from Jurassic Park. The brothers eventually get caught up in the ensuing chaos as the "highly-intelligent" Indominus goes on a killing spree.

Apart from helping Dearing find her nephews, Grady must also track and neutralise the Indominus with the help of his Velociraptors.

Pratt looks suited for the lead role. Weapons, action and his bond with the raptors form an essential part of the character, unlike the famous paleontologist Alan Grant (played by Sam Neill in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park 3).

Khan does a brilliant job as Masrani. His witty replies and concern for the visitors and functioning of the park rather than for profit are a departure from the usual portrayals of CEOs. At one point, Masrani takes matters into his own hands, leading an aerial chase of the Indominus. Howard plays the fidgety park operations manager - perpetually surrounded by meetings and footfall numbers.

Colin Trevorrow's direction and screenplay are commendable. The plot has some interesting angles related to the Indominus' origin and there are several instances when viewers are taken back to Jurassic Park. Also, the decision to keep the character of geneticist Henry Wu (B D Wong) in the movie is smart. Wong is the only cast member from any of the past films to feature in Jurassic World. The name of John Hammond (the late Richard Attenborough) is also mentioned umpteen times. But overall, the story does lack that bit of suspense and surprise.

The soundtrack will be a delightful experience for Jurassic Park fans. Michael Giacchino's music uses some beautiful themes from John Williams' score in the previous movies. The main theme is a throwback to the memorable scene from Jurassic Park when Grant sees a Brachiosaurus for the first time and Hammond says those famous words: "Welcome... to Jurassic Park."

The Jurassic Park series has been a hit, most of the times because of the dinosaurs. And there are plenty of them in Jurassic World too. Michael Crichton's characters keep this fourth installment alive and kicking. And though Steven Spielberg did not direct the film, he serves as executive producer.

The story could have had some more additions in its two-hour-long run. Maybe then it could have matched the excitement that made Jurassic Park one of highest-grossing Hollywood movies of all time. But nonetheless, those who have followed the series closely will enjoy the ride.

Jurassic World is surely bigger than Jurassic Park, but maybe not better.