A Dinosaur Movie Needing More Dinosaurs - 65 (Review)

The classic B movie era maybe over, and its heyday buried in the classic Hollywood days. But those adventurous characters, farfetched settings and unique stories are still alive today in the sci-fi genre. Especially when we consider 65. A new movie starring Adam Driver, who plays an intergalactic pilot on an important mission. Mills crash lands on an alien world full of Dinosaurs. Ferocious creatures he has no knowledge of. Something the film doesn't fully embrace or totally go bonkers with.

Video review here

Instead, it aims for a more grounded, visceral and emotional take on what essentially would have been a childhood fantasy of mine. Space dinosaurs. But the twist is, these are not alien beings from a long-lost world. Far from it. Say hello to Earth, 65 million years ago. 65, get it? - It fits those straight to DVD type movies too but surprisingly it's an interesting watch full of subtle yet excellent performances from Driver and his young female co star.

It would be difficult to discuss much of the plot without spoiling the entire journey and its surprises that are worth witnessing with fresh eyes. However, be aware for fans of Dinosaurs and their surrounding media that this is a much watch. While for the general audience, it may be a bland movie. You will be treated to scientifically accurate depictions of our lizard friends. From Raptors, Trex and some new scaly faces that had me pondering what species they were. It was nice to see a variety. But it was clearly apparent the film just didn't fully invest itself in its survival horror because its focus was more so of a father and daughter archetype.

The cinematography, environments and CGI are absolutely top notch. A particular scene involving an futuristic early warning system, and a waterfall had me on the edge of my seat and other audience members gasping for air. It was truly a special moment. That was closely followed by a clever scene depicting a fight within a hologram. Something the film makers clearly loved and were proud of with their direction. The entire movie reminded me of the last of us meets I am legend in the land of Dinosaurs. I half expected Jeff Goldblum to pop up and make an appearance or a post credit scene involving a mosquito in Amber. Sadly, this movie is not a Jurassic Park prequel. The sound design, musical score and tension building here are prime examples of movies that should be studied to inform future movie makers of how set the tone of scenes perfectly. I didn't expect all these small moments to gave such impact full soundscapes.

The movie does falter in some respects, mainly with its choppy pacing and a just lack of time to connect with Driver and his daughter at the beginning. Moments felt rushed, edited out or just straight up cut. Especially in its third act. The impending doom and somewhat twist of the movie sees the pair blast off the planet to safety. Then suddenly after some flashbacks about Drivers family, the film cuts to black and bang its done. There is some imagery I can't spoil here in the credits but that's your lot. It felt just odd to end there.

Hence why to me, its a modern B movie flick with a Hollywood budget and star to carry it beyond a bargain bin Sci-Fi movie. Don't get me wrong, it's a great cinema watch with fantastic visuals, Goosebumps inducing music and nuanced acting by the only two cast members. Unfortunately, because of its lack for experimenting beyond the Hollywood formulae, its scope is limited to a disaster thriller. The dinosaurs itself felt underutilised, which is bizarre given the premise and revelations within its narrative of Driver being an alien crashing to Earth and evading the extinction. It also suffers from odd pacing while failing to go beyond the average movie experience or transcend itself in any meaningful way.

It’s a popcorn flick through and through. But these days, that's nothing to complain about. My expectations were met but I wished it had offered more than it ultimately gave us. 65 is a 7 out of 10. As a fan of dinosaurs, I'm being generous but it's enjoyable above average experience that can be had for all the family. It's not overly gruesome but it's realistic. It's a fun sci-fi romp with an abrupt ending that could open ideas for a potential sequel or just leave you wanting to see more from your prehistoric pals.

By John Perry