Jurassic World discussion (spoilers)

[amargasaurus cazaui]

Yeah, I don't see the humor in this. I love my accurate dinosaurs but I'm a movie buff too and while I may lament the lack of accurate or realistic dinosaurs I still had a fun time with this movie. Just like I can have a fun time with "The Valley of Gwangi". "Jurassic World" was a monster movie, which is basically what all dinosaur movies are. I don't care if people liked the movie or not, but that "review" was just classless.

My agreeing with Gwangi on a Jurassic Park Franchise comment is perhaps noteworthy of itself, but I agree here. For me the movie delivered enough entertainment for my money . I did not go expecting earth shattering effects, or dinosaurs done so well I would spend hours researching the things I had seen. I felt the movie did as well as could be expected working within the franchise framework, adding new things, introducing new possibilities and most of all finding a new albeit foreseeable plot hook. A large part of the battle for me was the way the original vs. the new movie drew me in, and what shot was used. (warning-Blasphemy here ) In the original Jurassic Park the "hook" or big shot that drew everyone in was the rearing Brachiosaurus, which for me was like a ..how could they possibly do that moment? From there , I was just annoyed honestly...this new movie begins with a cracking egg, which of course I just loved. As the egg opens you are greeted with the sight of the large trio of claws and orange eye that tell you this is the Indominus.......while that shot also has some scientific opportunities, I felt it was not like intentionally done the opposite of correct just to be annoying or whatever. It just felt like the shot belonged and worked ...and of course as they cut away from that you see the massive theropod foot slam down loudly and the camera pans back to reveal it is.....only a bird's foot. A subtle but highly effective way of demonstrating birds are dinosaurs within the framework of the movie, i felt.

[Paleona]

Good for you, stargatedalek!  I'm really tired of seeing people rant about Jurassic Park/World being inaccurate, too, when like you said, it was never accurate to begin with.  It would be really great to see more accurate depictions of dinosaurs in the public eye, but I just feel like yelling, "Are you not entertained?!"  haha 

Also, if after watching Jurassic World, someone's interest in dinosaurs is seriously piqued, they're very likely to come across up to date info and will be eating up scientific facts in no time.  I know the original JP fueled my interest in dinosaurs and is a big reason why I still enjoy learning new things about them today.

edit: To avoid double posting, here's an awesome video on the making of the animatronic dying Apatosaurus!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfcqQf61S-k

I've seen images floating around about how the Apato in the movie is much bigger than it would have been in real life; this short video shows that the original sculpt was smaller and closer to lifesize, but Stephen Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow wanted it larger for the film.  I love behind the scenes stuff like this. 

[dutchdinolover]

In the cinema right now (imax). It is finally happening for me

[Patrx]

To avoid double posting, here's an awesome video on the making of the animatronic dying Apatosaurus:

Fantastic! This is very interesting indeed, thanks for sharing It's good to see that animatronics are not dead and buried.

The animatronic raptor head briefly seen in the video is lovely, but I don't remember seeing it in the film. In fact, the raptors all had a very different overall presence than they had in previous installments, and I can't yet pinpoint what exactly makes them seem so different. Did anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's something about the designs, or their movements?

[Gwangi]

To avoid double posting, here's an awesome video on the making of the animatronic dying Apatosaurus:

Fantastic! This is very interesting indeed, thanks for sharing It's good to see that animatronics are not dead and buried.

The animatronic raptor head briefly seen in the video is lovely, but I don't remember seeing it in the film. In fact, the raptors all had a very different overall presence than they had in previous installments, and I can't yet pinpoint what exactly makes them seem so different. Did anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's something about the designs, or their movements?

It was probably the head used in the scenes where the raptors were in the restraints I would guess. I agree that they did look different, looked a bit more beefed up IMO or something.

[Patrx]

The animatronic raptor head briefly seen in the video is lovely, but I don't remember seeing it in the film. In fact, the raptors all had a very different overall presence than they had in previous installments, and I can't yet pinpoint what exactly makes them seem so different. Did anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's something about the designs, or their movements?

It was probably the head used in the scenes where the raptors were in the restraints I would guess. I agree that they did look different, looked a bit more beefed up IMO or something.

Indeed, but which one? I think it's probably Delta, but she looked pretty CGI in most of that scene. I wonder if there was some CGI added over the animatronic's performance? The animatronic looks like the older raptors, and I do think the CGI models are bulkier.

[Yutyrannus]

The animatronic raptor head briefly seen in the video is lovely, but I don't remember seeing it in the film. In fact, the raptors all had a very different overall presence than they had in previous installments, and I can't yet pinpoint what exactly makes them seem so different. Did anyone else notice this? Perhaps it's something about the designs, or their movements?

It was probably the head used in the scenes where the raptors were in the restraints I would guess. I agree that they did look different, looked a bit more beefed up IMO or something.

Indeed, but which one? I think it's probably Delta, but she looked pretty CGI in most of that scene. I wonder if there was some CGI added over the animatronic's performance? The animatronic looks like the older raptors, and I do think the CGI models are bulkier.

Yeah, they didn't use the animatronic in the film (which is very unfortunate, they certainly could had the dinosaurs in JP /// be entirely CGI but they still went to the effort to make animatronics that were used in the film).

And yes, the models do somehow look different, however I actually really liked them in this film. The Tyrannosaurus also looked different somehow but I can't put my finger on exactly what it was.

[tyrantqueen]

It's always very inspiring seeing how the animatronics are created for JP films. Even if you don't care for the films themselves, you can always appreciate the level of artistry that went into them.

I remember that dying Apatosaurus had eye whites though. Isn't that incorrect for reptiles? I guess they were going for a sympathetic feel.

[alexeratops]

I keep seeing, I think its Alexceratops' quote...so you just decided to make a new species of dinosaur...probably not a good idea, and trying to remember but isnt the remark being quoted a bit out of context with quite a bit of dialogue missing in between the question and response?If I remember correctly he did not say...probably not a good idea till further along in the discussion ...am I forgetting or does anyone else notice that?

Yeah I know... it just sounds cooler. 

[Gwangi]

I keep seeing, I think its Alexceratops' quote...so you just decided to make a new species of dinosaur...probably not a good idea, and trying to remember but isnt the remark being quoted a bit out of context with quite a bit of dialogue missing in between the question and response?If I remember correctly he did not say...probably not a good idea till further along in the discussion ...am I forgetting or does anyone else notice that?

Yeah I know... it just sounds cooler. 

I believe that's how it is presented in the trailer.

[stargatedalek]

I remember that dying Apatosaurus had eye whites though. Isn't that incorrect for reptiles? I guess they were going for a sympathetic feel.

Yes that is and its a real shame since other than that one little thing (which really stood out) it was really nice and felt very believable.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Maybe it was how I saw it..the theater's screen I mean..but I looked and didn't really notice it.

[SBell]

It's always very inspiring seeing how the animatronics are created for JP films. Even if you don't care for the films themselves, you can always appreciate the level of artistry that went into them.

I remember that dying Apatosaurus had eye whites though. Isn't that incorrect for reptiles? I guess they were going for a sympathetic feel.

Maybe the colouring was done by Bullyland? 

[EmperorDinobot]

We need more animatronics.


And if they're gonna do CGI, do it right!

[Gwangi]

So I just got back from the movie and while I did still enjoy it I really am disappointed by the lack of creativity with the dinosaurs. The I. rex was interesting enough and naturally the T. rex should look like the original T. rex but the other dinosaurs all felt very uninspired which takes away some of the "wow factor" generated by the first film and even to an extent, "The Lost World". Hell, even JP3 had some interesting color schemes for their dinosaurs. All of these dinosaurs, in addition to looking more retro than the JP dinosaurs, had flat bland grey color schemes. Even if they insist on keeping them inaccurate (for whatever reason) they should have at least made them more interesting to look at.

[Tallin]

Yes, this was one of the things I noticed and bothered me the most, Gwangi.

With so many incredible colour schemes around in the work of palaeoartists that are really vibrant and exciting, they could have had so much more fun! I feel sorry for the concept artists haha!

[SBell]

Yes, this was one of the things I noticed and bothered me the most, Gwangi.

With so many incredible colour schemes around in the work of palaeoartists that are really vibrant and exciting, they could have had so much more fun! I feel sorry for the concept artists haha!

Especially when you go to the JW website and see the schemes and patterns that were developed by the artists for the JW site itself (but didn't make it on screen)--all of those ones are for more creative colour patterns.

[CityRaptor]

One could blame that on genetic tampering, but why would they go for dull mammalian colors...

[HD-man]

I've found the paleo blog communities general response to Jurassic World incredibly annoying. It feels like everyone "wants in on the action" so they grab the chance to take a well known name and ride with it to get views. Complaining about accuracy in Jurassic World (or any Jurassic Park film) is pretty much pointless, since it never was accurate, ever. But this recent "review" (that's a stretch and a half!) from Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs has gone to far.

http://chasmosaurs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/king-craptors-jur-ass-kick-world-review.html?showComment=1435180939178#c8955115364128930776

I... I'm just done. I used to come to this blog expecting to read (as much as possible) objective reviews regarding scientific accuracy, but now its become nothing but an attention grab. Spamming reviews belittling a franchise that never (yes, even back in '93) was accurate just to get attention. That was already annoying, and its not just here, the paleontology blog community as a whole is just tearing this movie apart, why? attention. Its not about critique, its not about reviews, its about throwing out a well known brand name just to rack up your own views!

Oh but this goes beyond that, at this point you aren't simply tearing apart the movie for accuracy claims it never made, at this point you are actively insulting people who enjoyed it. You can call me whatever you want, I'm just some "weeaboo otaku white trash self entitled white girl awesomebro fangirl", but I know what is and isn't accurate when I see it. Does that keep me from liking things that aren't the pinnacle of scientific accuracy? no. And it certainly doesn't make me feel entitled to go and insult people because they prefer sci-fi styled dinosaurs over the real thing. So long as someone can tell the difference between fantasy and reality what harm can it do?! honestly this is just demeaning and insulting.

Short version: See the following video.

Long version: See the Orr & Vincent quotes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR9NbvTOfaU

Quoting Orr:

Well, insulting people who like the movie wasn't my intention, but then again I didn't exactly spend hours thinking through a perfectly worded critique of the movie. Marc and Asher had written terrific, tough-but-fair critiques already. I wrote this in frustration. Asher in particular was gleeful about the dinosaur mayhem of the film's final act. I know there are plenty of people who like that sort of thing. It's not my cup of tea.
I just can't see this movie as anything but a colossal missed opportunity, and the accuracy of dinosaurs is bottom of the list. I'd resigned myself to that back whenever it was that the director made the "No Feathers" announcement.
I guess I can liken it to the way some Star Trek fans reacted to the JJ Abrams reboot movies - that in reshaping the stories and characters, he essentially jettisoned what made Star Trek truly special - the philosophical underpinnings of TOS.
Plenty of people have made the "relax, it's just a movie" and the "Hollywood has no duty to science" arguments, and I agree with them, for the most part. But JW has become potentially the biggest movie of all time, and jettisoned what made JP so special. There was a spirit of awe and, I believe, a true love of dinosaurs. As Victoria Arbour put it... it seems like Treveorow and the creative team don't like dinosaurs much at all. I also hunger for a *new* creative vision of dinosaurs on the big screen. JP/JW is not the only dramatic framework in which to tell dinosaur stories, but the way the series sucks up all the dinosaur real estate grates on my nerves. Heck, I'm not even hoping for a sci-fi story; I'd love to see a fantasy story about people and dinosaurs. It's possible to be thrilling and scary and have a heart. I want someone else to take a crack at a dinosaur story, someone who can approach it from a different perspective than monster fights.
So... yeah. I totally admit that this was a silly post. And it was written in a state of angry facepalmitude. I knew it would piss some people off, and I accepted that. Hopefully the fact that the vast majority of the time I boost cool paleoart and celebrate research on this blog will earn me some forgiveness from those it upset. If not, I guess I have to accept that there's a price for blogging angry.

Quoting Vincent:

I enjoyed the movie, wrote a review (on this blog) saying as much, but I didn't feel insulted by this post, just as I'm not insulted by spoof articles in Private Eye (UK satirical mag) that poke fun at leftists. If it had just said "ALL PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED THIS MOVIE ARE MORONS," then yes, I would have taken some umbrage, but it's not like that.

[stargatedalek]

Intentions do not speak louder than actions. However I am very appreciative they took the chance to explain their intentions.