[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Yeah, I'm genuinely surprised given how the last three went, but JW: Rebirth was enjoyable. And I had no excitement for it whatsoever.

What it does that contrasts everything in the JW trilogy is it clearly has some self awareness of what these movies are supposed to be. As in, what people expected when they went to see JP before they took it completely off the rails. And that's OK given how much damage control was needed.

It was kind of back to basics. Survival on an island of dinos with where they have to accomplish a mission and get to an abandoned facility. Just with the added wrinkle of some new mutants (and I actually found the big bad one fun this time).

Definitely a monster movie, but in spirit that's also what JP was. Even borrows a bit from Jaws which was unexpected yet fun.

ScarJo and Mahershala Ali here were likable, and they even devoted screen time to giving them/their relationship some depth. That was refreshing after enduring the narcissistic vanilla power couple that was Own and Claire. And there's a family but they aren't nearly as annoying as the godawful Kirbys from 3.

But by far the biggest treat about this entire film is that they went back to the original music score. I was pleasantly surprised to hear it in all its glory, unaltered or shortened (hate how they remix them in most legacy sequels now, so unnecessary). They just let it play and when it would hit hardest. I definitely appreciated that seeing as it is one of the best of all time.

It's a low bar, but I'd put it on part with JP3.

TL;DR tasteful but safe sequel was a step in the right direction. Hurray Dinos!