Rose D. Cotton 
“Jurassic World Dominion” (Action/Adventure/Science-Fiction): 2 hours, 27 minutes)
With: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill
Director: Colin Trevorrow
Rated: PG-13 (Language, intense action and violence sequences)
Movie Review: Something has changed from the original “Jurassic Park” (1993). This movie franchise remains popular but the series is dwindling. This latest film is an entertaining popcorn movie, but we don’t care about these characters. They are more boring here, leaving to marvel at the multiple dinosaur visuals.
“Jurassic World Dominion” is set four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar. Dinosaurs now live among humans all over the planet.
Human-dinosaur interactions happen everywhere, sometimes with devastating consequences. When a company begins to manipulate new forms of dinosaurs that could threaten the balance of ecosystems, several people try to stop the conglomerate.
Monster movies always delight audiences. This is what “Jurassic World Dominion” is. It’s entertaining but it’s gibberish, recycled material.
Characters from two generations have aged but they haven’t matured over the years into believable seniors. Despite several big-name stars in the cast, these people no longer inspire. They are only secondary actors to the multiple dinosaurs generated by computer and via animatronics.
A beautiful post about various animals learning to share the planet exists at the end. It’s a poetic moment of sincerity that is more powerful than the rest of this script. This environmental inference would be a great way to wrap up this declining franchise in quality.
Grade: C (Not the dominant powerhouse it once was.)
Play at Valdosta Stadium Cinemas
“Watcher” (Drama/Thriller: 1 hour, 36 minutes)
With: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman and Burn Gorman
Director: Chloe Okuno
Rated: R (gory violence, profanity and sexual content/nudity)
Movie Review: “The Watcher” is an attention-grabbing psychological thriller. This is due to the fine performance of its lead role, Maika Monroe, and the well-adapted screenplay by director-screenwriter Chloe Okuno. Women writing and directing women in film have become a solid block in cinema.
Monroe plays Julia, a young American woman. She is new to Bucharest, Romania, where she recently moved with her husband, Francis (Glusman). Days after their arrival, news of a serial killer beheading women shocks the town. Julia thinks a stranger, Daniel Weber (Gorman), living across the street might be the killer. His paranoia leads him to stare at Weber.
Okuno directed short films such as “Slut” (2014) and a film segment “Storm Drain” in the horror “V/H/S/94” (2021). “Watcher” marks her inauguration as a director-screenwriter to watch. She easily adapts Zack Ford. Okuno knows his gear. She creates a storyline that teases moments filled with anxiety.
Sure, the moments are predictable — this movie’s notable flaw — but several positive attributes make “Watcher” a good movie. Monroe’s performance is good. She wears this photoplay. Gorman plays well scary.
Additionally, the feature’s greatest asset is its ability to bring the concept of feminine intuition to life. Julia’s suspicions lead her to be equally suspicious. “Watcher” feeds off of this dynamic and its works, although Julia’s actions are particularly silly at times. Julia’s actions simultaneously irritate and engage. This anxiety creates an attractive excitement.
Grade: B (Watch it soon.)
Adann-Kennn Alexxandar reviewed films for over 20 years for the Valdosta Daily Times.
