featofstrength said:
I'll be honest, to this day, JP3 remains one of the most disappointing cinema experiences I've ever had. I remember being on the more primitive internet and hearing all these awesome rumors about the upcoming JP3; Hearing Sam Neil, who I like as an actor and whose character I enjoyed, was coming back sent my hype through the roof....Then the movie came. It felt cheap, somehow, rushed, like a cheap parody of the first two. Granted, Vince Vaughn's character is unlikable in TLW, but Tea Leoni has to be the worst actress in the entire franchise. A teen kid holding his own for a month on an island of dinosaurs broke my suspension of disbelief as well. Also, one of the best elements from the original film was the arc of Grant and Ellie's relationship, by the end, you can tell Grant has warmed up to kids and their relationship has been strengthened...Only for them to completely break up and her have some other guy's kid. Replacing her with Nicolas Cages' creepy brother from Face/Off as Grant's partner...ugh...
TLW is a flawed film, aimed probably at the preteen and teen audience, so it's less intelligent and less profound than the original, but as an action thriller, it works. It isn't the masterpierce the original was, but it also isn't the farce III was.