Jurassic World Matchbox Die-Cast Vehicle Collection (2018)

If you're anything like me, then you're not a Mike Channell-level petrol-head, but you can appreciate a good car when you see one...If you're also anything like me, then most of your car knowledge is due to related appearances in media. As such, my favourite Aston Martin is the V8 Vantage Volante from The Living Daylights.

But we're not here to talk about Bond...There are many iconic elements to the Jurassic Park/World films that don't have teeth, claws or chase you into a toilet...or kitchen. And several of these iconic elements are the vehicles. The toy world was shaken like a T. Rex impact tremor when Mattel obtained the Jurassic licence from Hasbro, and it was well and truly something the new guardians sunk their teeth into. And I feel that many of the ranges they have released into the wild are very well known and documented...except one.

For the die-cast vehicle collection Mattel, via their Matchbox branch, have released an extensive collection of vehicles (some of which I hope become action figure-scale), with some tied into the 'Battle Damage' and 'Legacy Collection' sub-lines. And I've really been enjoying this little range of motors, but as much as I think I end up completing the collection, more seem to emerge...

Oddly enough, I struggled to find any comprehensive list of all available die-cast Jurassic vehicles, save for the Matchbox Wiki for raw data...which, of course, is fine, but in an attempt to serve a hot plate of information a little bit more cooked with some trimmings, here's mine:

PRIME LINE

Based on vehicles for both Jurassic World films, the main line contains 18 individual vehicles in total, with a couple of repaints which are exclusive to the three five-packs (labelled 'Island Transport Team', 'All-Terrain Fleet' & 'Land Rescue Convoy'...the last of which has not been seen in the UK thus far). For the UK, Various groups of these vehicles must have been delivered in waves and to different locations with each one. For instance, some were only found in The Entertainer and I found later ones in Home Bargains and then Smyths only really seemed to carry the first wave before solely stocking the Legacy vehicles.

13/18 - Armoured 6X6 Transporter

- A nice, solid tri-axle vehicle with a sturdy plastic cage mounted on the back. This is supposed to be the same base vehicle as the Armoured Truck featured below, however they unfortunately do not scale with each other; probably due to the cage on the back of this one, creating the size difference. Still a good amount of toy for your money, though!

02/18 - Armoured 6X6 Truck

- This is the truck that transported Claire, Zia et all on Nublar in Fallen Kingdom and this representation is one of my personal favourite vehicles in this line; the slightly larger scale (than the previously mentioned transporter) allows this version of the armoured truck to have a decent amount of body with some seriously chunky wheels. The tyres remind me of Super Swampers and the sheer heft of the wheels alone allow this truck to roll around like no other.

10/18 - Deep-Dive Submarine

- This model is a representation of the two-person submersible featured at the beginning of Fallen Kingdom. Whilst the main yellow structure is die-cast, it features a lot of plastic, which is understandable given the unusual shapes and appendages that the model has to recreate. As for detail, the outside is minimal-but-passable but the detail on the inside is...well...you can see for yourself. Put it this way; I THINK those are supposed to be seats in there...!

15/18 - Ford Explorer #4

- The iconic Ford Explorer from the first Jurassic Park makes its way into the new Fallen Kingdom line. As this is branded '#4', it's a representation of the one Lex and Tim ride in...I'll talk about the main deco in the Legacy Explorer, but this one differentiates in that it has extra dirtied paint apps that's supposed to represent the T. Rex attack, but just being a straight-up repaint, it only gives the effect of a 4X4 being used as a 4X4. Of course, this being the Explorer that it is; it's the same car that has a cameo in Fallen Kingdom; jumped on by Blue, then melted by lava...Not nearly as harrowing an end as the Brachiosaurus, though...

16/18 - Gyrosphere

- Whilst the Gyrosphere has a role in Fallen Kingdom, it most prominently features in the 2015 Jurassic World, being a functional attraction and later a test of the Indominus Rex's strength. The simple, yet elegant, representation in miniature form here has the die-cast metal enclosed within plastic housings, using simple freedom of rotation and centre of gravity to keep the seating hub orientated correctly. Like the LEGO version, it only rotates on an internal axis, so whilst it can't roll around completely freely, it's certainly something that can entertain cats who like a kick-around! The major downside is that it's smaller than most other vehicles in the line, so paying £3/£4 for the single-carded edition does feel VERY steep...Best stick to a sale or the five-pack for the best value.

06/18 - Humvee - InGen

- If Arnold Schwarzenegger wrangled dinosaurs, you know darned well this would be his ride. Briefly featured in Jurassic World, InGen's Humvee is the ultimate symbol of the former genetics company that became a security detail under the direction of the Masrani Corporation. Represented here in Matchbox form, the only thing that indicates this as a Jurassic vehicle is the InGen print but other than that, it is exactly how you would expect a Humvee to look, with it's iconic angular profile and extra wide width. That last point does however mean that buyers should beware; it seems easier than other vehicles to be caught and damaged within the blister...The rear axle of mine was bent as a result. With some effort I've managed to straighten it out, though, but best check packaging before you buy!

14/18 - Jeep Wrangler #29

- The Jeep Wrangler is a car so iconic with the Jurassic franchise that this is the first of FOUR appearances in this post. This roll-cage version represents #29, which is not only the Jeep that Hammond declared 48 hours until he accepts Gennaro's apologies, but is also the same vehicle that Zach and Gray Mitchell used to escape the Indominus Rex 22 years later. It's this latter appearance that this model clearly represents, with a paint scheme that adds a generous helping of weathering to make it appear rusted and dirtied. It's a similar effect used on the aforementioned Ford Explorer, however with this Jeep still intact and active in 2015, the weathering effect works much better for this example.

17/18 - Jeep Wrangler #9

- The second of our beloved Jeep Wranglers features a unique take; this is one of the few (if not only) Jurassic Matchbox models that is purely inspired by the themes of the line and does not actually feature in any film. A classic vehicle with a modern paint scheme, as if it were in operation during Jurassic World. An inspired, creative choice that does not look out of place with the other blue-and-silver staff cars. (Also, for another take on this kind of idea, check out this custom repaint of a figure-scale Jeep done by Victoria's Cantina!)

12/18 - Kawasaki Brute Force 750

- This Kawasaki Quad-Bike is supposed to reflect the one driven by Barry in Jurassic World (really hope Barry returns for JW3...He's cool. Anyway...) and this is another vehicle on the very small side of physical bang-for-your-buck, but the play-ability can make up for it! Like the Armoured Truck, the wheels have a decent amount of chunk to them so that it rolls exceedingly well...And the effect of four large wheels in close proximity give the quad a certain 'bounciness' that is only exaggerated if you press down on the back, over the rear axle (easily done)...just get ready to catch it before your pets do!

07/18 - Kawasaki Teryx4 LE

- Honestly cannot remember if/when this vehicle showed up during Jurassic World (maybe carting Hoskins at one point...? Iunno), but like Jeep #9 it's very believable as a staff transport. As a toy, it's a nice unique model to have with your other motors if you want your dinos to chase something a bit different, but like the other officially licenced Kawasaki, the teeny printing of the logos and lettering is impressive!

08/18 - Mercedes-Benz AMG 6X6

- THIS GUY...I love this vehicle in general; I remember the time leading up to the release of Jurassic World in 2015 and within a short space of time this AMG being both reviewed on Top Gear and being announced to feature in JW. Unfortunately it did not make much of an appearance in the final film (only shot I remember is being part of a convoy), but it was a big part of the promotion and tie-ins...One of which was LEGO Jurassic World, where you can unlocked this vehicle to drive around in and it was my absolute favourite in the game (both it and Raptor Handler Jenny made an amazing combo). Whilst other scale models of this bruiser were made for the 2015 film, I don't remember seeing it on shelves anywhere. Thankfully this has been rectified for 2018! As a couple of minor criticisms, to me it feels like the vehicle's die-cast body is a bit small for the toy class size in general and that there's a distinct lack of paint apps (i.e. no JW blue colour scheme). Despite that I'm happy to have an AMG in my collection!

03/18 - Mercedes-Benz G550

- One of the more straight-forward vehicles in the line, the G550 is prominently featured in Jurassic World more than most, being a reliable mode of transport for Claire and Owen as they search for the Mitchell brothers. The toy here is a very solid representation with the printing necessary to label it as a staff vehicle, although if you're concerned about accurate placement of paint, then vehicles like this should be given a good once over before you buy...mine may look okay here, but the rear silver Mercedez-Benz logo has a specially-moulded area that it's supposed to cover; on mine it skewed the alignment to a comical degree on par with missing the bin when you're standing directly over it!

09/18 - Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe

- The GLE is one of those rarer things in this Jurassic line; it's a clear-cut car. In 2015 it was so new that the crew felt they had to be more careful of leaking anything of the car than any of the actual dinosaurs. And as a result this vehicle, Claire's personal transport, has the most commercial-friendly shots...an expansion on JW's themes of how modern sequels are treated by big corporations and thus product placements. The model here is a solid recreation with the head and tail lights being clean points of detail that help to break up the mass of silver. As with many toys in this line, the grill is unpainted, but passable. For a scale this size, it does what it needs to do.

04/18 - Mercedes-Benz Unimog

- The Unimog appeared in both Jurassic World (as the Mobile Veterinary Unit) and in Fallen Kingdom in the more traditional wagon-style as seen above. (Also...Claire drove both versions! She'll be getting her own in JW3 next, I imagine!) Whilst I would also like to see the MVU Unimog in these ranges as well, I'm satisfied with this version for the time being. If you'd like to add some spice to your dino play, the trailer cover is a separate plastic piece that is only clipped in place, so can be fairly easily removed...However there are two seats moulded into the die-cast, so a regular trailer look won't really be that achievable. Oh by the way, this is also one of two colour variants for the line, the other being exclusive to its five-pack, which we'll get to later down the list.

01/18 - Off-Road Rescue Rig

- The Off-Road Rescue Rig is a healthy mix of varying die-cast and plastic components and is one of the few vehicles in the line to have a 3.75 figure scale counterpart...This is due to the fact that it's based on a vehicle in Fallen Kingdom by Oshkosh (the same company that loaned a truck for Hound's alternate form in Transformers: Age of Extinction). Like the Unimog toys, the plastic section over the trailer is removable with some effort, lending itself to potential 'dino-damage' when paired with your 'Mini-Action Dino' figures. The vehicular detailing, such as grill and headlights, are sparse but the printing on the sides are sharp, especially on my copy.

05/18 - Textron Tiger (All-Terrain Fleet)

- The Textron Tiger made an entrance for itself in Jurassic World where, like the Humvee, it is used as a transport for InGen's security personnel. Whilst the colouration of this particular model wasn't in the film, this particular paint job is an impressive representation of what it would look like if it had a more military-style look. I also feel like the detailing such as the rivets and hinges are really complimented by the darker paint scheme. The only major critique I would give is that the single front plastic piece does seem out of place being green and would more acceptable it it were black, like the one for the white version of the Tiger, as you can see below.

18/18 - Textron Tiger (Island Transport Team)

- This Textron Tiger is an off-white version with a black bumper section that looks more true to its appearance in Jurassic World. Like many of the vehicles in 2015, there were more representations in related media than the film itself (for example, it's a playable vehicle in LEGO Jurassic World, where it is presented as a HUMONGOUS vehicle...like...bus-size). On my copy, the printing turned out mostly clean except for the indicator light which, like many paint jobs, is always something to bear in mind if those kinds of details are important to you (I say that in afterthought in this case...until that photo was taken, I didn't notice this misalignment as it's so small).

11/18 - Triumph Scrambler

- The Triumph Scrambler became an iconic vehicle for the Jurassic franchise by being Owen's ride in the 2015 film, exemplified by the scene where it's ridden through the jungle with the Raptor Squad. And the detail translated onto this little model is nothing short of exquisite, with the die-cast portion of the main body positively bursting with sculpt and the impressively intricate tiny logo that proudly boasts the company name. And why not, as it's not that often you see a Triumph of this scale (yes, I just did that). The only downside is that it lacks any kind of kickstand...as such I used a K'Nex piece to get this little beauty to stand upright in the above photo!


Five-Pack Exclusives

Each five-pack collection comes with one vehicle that's a repaint of the single-card release; so far only two of these convenient assortments have reached the UK. The collection known as 'Land Rescue Convoy' has so far yet to be seen over here and the exclusive repaint is of the Mercedes-Benz G550 as if it were commissioned by Bruce Wayne, so in this case it DOES comes in black...but sadly this is not a car I feel is worth buying (importing especially) the LRC pack for if you already have the other vehicles that come with it...As a completionist, I can only find that quite frustrating, but if I do come across it, I may get it if the price is right.
   Thankfully we do have the other two five-packs (thus the other two exclusives) to entertain us:

Armoured 6X6 Truck (Island Transport Team)

- A darker repaint of the other truck, this 6X6 is just as fun. Honestly you feel like you'd be getting your moneys worth whichever version you go with. However it's the single-carded version that more closely resembles the 'Gyrosphere Blast Vehicle' that was released for the action figures whilst this repaint more closely resembles the colour palette of the transport in the film, the BAE Systems Caiman. But whilst these toys are only based on the Caimans and not officially licenced, flexibility with the paint jobs are arguably more acceptable.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog (All-Terrain Fleet)

- Another exclusive repaint, this version of the Unimog is more film accurate to the one depicted in Fallen Kingdom that Claire commandeers and catches the leaving ship just before THAT scene. As both multi-pack exclusives shown here look more faithful to their onscreen counterparts, it stands to reason that getting both multi-packs is not just a value incentive, but an accuracy one, too.

BATTLE DAMAGE

These vehicles are essentially re-releases of the primary line vehicles with extra decoration to make them appear battered and dirtied. In the UK these are only available in ASDA (as a residual trickle-down of the Battle Damage lines being exclusive to Wal-Mart, ASDA's American owner). It appears that only the first five of these vehicles have made it to our shores. And wouldn't you know it; the first five also has a five-pack collection (I didn't know it...only until doing more research for this post did I know...never seen the pack in person). Apparently one of the vehicles in the pack is supposed to be a repaint, but after comparing images online I cannot see any difference (if there is any) and would say that due to the rarity of these Battle Damage vehicles in the UK to begin with, it doesn't look like we're missing out on much...Except, you know, half of this sub-line to begin with...

04/10 - Armoured 6X6 Truck

- As a fan of green, it won't surprise anyone to hear that this is my favourite repaint of my favourite vehicle in these ranges. When I first got this, I first thought that the main cab body was a remoulded plastic piece, as there are sculpted scratches in the side, but it turns out it is just a repaint, like the other two, except that the metal is painted with more of a matte colour than a glossy one...And those sculpted scratches? Didn't realise they were present on the previous versions, but on this one are perhaps more accentuated by the extra (painted on) Battle Damage, which is a series of minimal black scratches on either side...Not a great deal of extra deco, but with it being a repaint altogether, I can let that slide.

01/10 - Deep-Dive Submarine

- With this version of the submarine, you're essentially getting exactly the same toy as the mainline sub, bar the huge crack on the front. Whilst this is ideal for a post-Mosasaur attack, the limited play value in its own right means it's a question of how much you like the submarine (or if you want multiple) before you decide on one, the other or both.

05/10 - Gyrosphere

- I found myself more impressed with this version of the Gyrosphere than I thought I would be; whilst it would have been very easy to print a few damage effects onto the orb, the 'dirt' in particular was done in such a way that there's a tactile thickness to the dirt, making it feel like it's sculpted onto the rest of the plastic. Also it would have been so easy to make a 'shattered glass' version (from the Ankylosaur/Indominus scene in 2015) AND a 'muddy' version (from Fallen Kingdom), so props to whoever decided to add both kinds of Battle Damage effects onto this one release!

03/10 - Mercedes-Benz G550

- The Battle Damage on the G550 is curious, as the scratches and dirt marks are only on the sides and below the windows...I can understand the dirt, but the scratches look oddly specific, as if Velociraptors were just aiming for the side panels and nothing else! On the plus side, the logo on the rear is on straight, so hurray!

02/10 - Textron Tiger

- Like the G550, we have more Battled Damage only on the sides, below the windows. Although on this model, the BD apps look more realistic with the relatively larger surface area and the fact that this Textron is significantly larger than the Mercedes in real life! My favourite touch of detail is that the scratches here are grey, rather than black, to reflect how the Tiger is a heavily-armoured beast of a machine.


So that's the first five in the Battle Damage assortment...If by any chance the other half of them DOES make it to the UK, then I'll most likely get images of them up here if I remember.


LEGACY LINE

Based on classic vehicles featured in the Jurassic films prior to Fallen Kingdom, this Legacy line has 6 vehicles in total with one repaint exclusive to the five-pack bundle. In the UK this, along with other Legacy products, are exclusive to Smyths Toys Superstores.

4/6 - Fleetwood RV (TLW)

- Ah, the Fleetwood RV...A major vehicle featured in The Lost World, helping Malcolm's team establish a base on Isla Sorna. The paint scheme is a tan-based camouflage, brighter than the dark green-based scheme in the film itself. The RV is one of the vehicles I really want Mattel to produce for their action figure-scale ranges...And whilst I'm happy to have this model, I have to ask; WHERE IS THE REAR HALF?! (I know there'll be budget/sculpt/scale reasons, but you gotta ask!)

1/6 - Ford Explorer #5 (JP)

- With Explorer #5, we get a good look at the car that transported Grant, Malcolm and Sattler around the park in a 'clean' paint scheme. Most of the detailing is as clean and accurate as the other Explorer, but for some curious reason, the top section (on both models) that was completely red in the film is mostly green...Maybe that's due to the die-cast body being green, but the red they have there looks great, so...cost saving measure...?

5/6 - Jeep Wrangler #12 (JP)

- Jeep #12 had perhaps one of the most infamous of drivers in the form of Dennis Nedry...Which also means that I have the car in which he died. ANYWAY, essentially another painted version of the Jurassic World-inspired Jeep #9, this model is a fine example of sharp details within the paint apps and printing. Very clear, very legible...very in need of a Dilophosaurus encounter...

2/6 - Jeep Wrangler #18 (JP)

- Just as #9 & #12 share the same mould, as is the case with #23 & this, #18; the Jeep that also got an action figure-scale release for Mattel's Legacy line. As with #23, this particular Wrangler appeared in both the original Jurassic Park, transporting Grant, Sattler and Malcolm to the Brachiosaurus, and Jurassic World, in which it got a few nudges by the Indominus. As with the other Wranglers on offer in this range, the Jeep boasts a wonderfully accurate colour scheme with sharp, detailed printing. Simply a must-buy for any Jurassic fan.

6/6 - Maintenance Tanker (JW)

- Apparently this Maintenance Truck is supposed to be based on the Chevrolet truck outside the Indominus Rex paddock in Jurassic World, however when I first saw this model, I thought it was supposed to represent Eric Kirby's hideout truck in Jurassic Park III, which made sense as this is part of the Legacy brand, which is supposed to focus on the first three films. But whichever reason you get this, you'll notice that the detail in the model is half-and-half, presenting a fully fleshed out design for the tanker section, offset by a rather bland cab section. Honestly not a vehicle to go out of your way for, but then again it's more fodder for your dinos than it is for iconography-based collecting.

3/6 - Mercedes-Benz ML320 (TLW)

- To me the Mercedes M-class is just as iconic in Jurassic lore as the Wrangler or Explorer. Based on one of the three M-class customs designed for The Lost World, this model is a fine representation, with well-sculpted detailing in both the die-cast and plastic components. A curious choice for this single-card edition was to make the windows blue and the wheel hubs shiny green...Certainly doesn't adhere to being camouflaged in the jungle as well as well as the rest of it! Regardless this vehicle tops my list of those I want Mattel to make for the action figure-scale range.

Five-Pack Exclusive

Mercedes-Benz ML320 (TLW)

- That might be the sound of John Williams' jungle-drum beat of The Lost World score you're hearing...! Another great representation of the M-class, continuing the trend of multi-pack exclusive redecos being more screen-accurate than their single-carded counterparts...However whilst the main colour of the M-class on screen is green, this model is more brown, so if the wheels and windows of this version were on the single version, you'd have the most accurate version yet! Despite that, both versions have very clean paint apps, which is essential for the camouflage detailing and the Mercedes logo to show off the officially-licenced branding (and I say that as a playful jab...Mercedes have been wonderful partners and suppliers for the Jurassic movies).


And there you have it; my list (and mini-reviews) of the Matchbox Jurassic World vehicles. And I'm aware of the Dino Transporter sub-line (I have a few), but I've only been sticking to the vehicle lines only, as they are more representative of what we have in the films. Oh; remember how I said more seem to emerge? Well during bashing this list together, I discovered that another version of the M-class (not just a repaint, but a remould) from The Lost World is being released with the 'Dino Rivals' packaging design for 2019...Typical!

Anyway this blog post took way longer than necessary to create (and is probably longer than it needs to be), so I'm grateful if you've gotten through this far! In the meantime, have some more photos! I have comparisons and recreations!


AM

Island Transport Team

All-Terrain Fleet

Legacy Collection

"Keep absolutely still; it's vision is based on movement."

"Mommy's very angry."

Jurassic Park III - What Would You Do?

Hello! Long time, no blog!

Yes, I've seen Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom...And yes, I LOVE IT. And in my hunger for everything Jurassic of late, I've stumbled across a name in the fan community called Klayton Fioriti...His YouTube channel presents videos on the Jurassic series that are informative, no-nonsense and as objective as possible. I highly recommend any Jurassic fan to check his stuff out. Anyway, it was during a Q&A video he did that he was asked about Jurassic Park III, arguably the least beloved of the series, and how he would have done it. Aside from mentioning he would have preferred an earlier planned version of the film, he also said that the fight between the T. Rex and Spinosaurus would have happened, but without the death of the Rex and that the Rex would return at the end and defeat the Spino...Which would please everyone, I think!
   But with JPIII being riddled with production issues, the potentials of 'what ifs' are ever present in the final film, so of course being a fan of the Jurassic movies from the very beginning, I got thinking; 'how would I do it...?'

Believe it or not, my biggest issue with JPIII isn't "ALAN" or the inconsistencies, or the madness of the characters that aren't Alan or Eric, but it's near the end, when the Spinosaurus simply walks away from the final showdown. Now this creature has been presented throughout the film as a terrifying, relentless unstoppable force, but then suddenly is confronted with a lick of flame and then decides 'okay, you win; I'm out' with barely a scratch. But there's about ten minutes of the film to go and it never appears again. It always made me wonder about the fact it's still out there and still a danger. Now maybe it was something to do with the intense heat from the fire and it needed to cool down (its sail patterning was notable in its final shot), but it seemed like too much of a relentless Terminator-esque villain to just simply give up.

It feels like there needs to be some cathartic ending with the Spino, some finality. So this is basically going to be a 'how I would end it' post. I have an idea that would also change the jarring beach scene at the end of the film, too.
   Essentially, the Spinosaurus would be injured in its final showdown...seriously injured...even mortally so. The crane that was a feature of that fight would have broken apart and several lengths of metal would have stabbed the beast (the fire would have made them searing hot, too). And instead of simply walking away, the Spino would stumble away, or hobble away, in pain. Then the Raptor scene would go down as per the film, but when the characters realise that the beach is near, they wouldn't rush out to see a lone man in a suit, they'd come across the Spinosaurus, collapsed and laid out on the beach, slowly dying. They'd see it from behind and walk around to the front of it (think that tracking shot of the dying Apatosaurus in Jurassic World) in awe. They'd also see clearly the wounds it has suffered; how the metal has been embedded deep and they'd see the large amount of bleeding it has endured.
   There'd be a moment or two about the characters' change of perception on the Spino; that they no longer see it as an unstoppable monster, but as an animal...a life. And they wouldn't be scared of it any longer; they'd be saddened and pitiful, almost remorseful. They now have a respect for it that they couldn't have before, despite how destructive it was. Maybe there will even be a moment where Grant and Eric reflect that it was far more powerful and aggressive than it should have been, that the scientists who cloned it have more to answer for regarding the Spinosaurus than any other creature (of course thanks to the viral DPG campaign, we know now that it was an early attempt at a hybrid, with the animal containing more Suchomimus DNA than Spinosaurus). And Eric may muse about it being unnatural (ironic, since, you know, dinosaurs...) and Grant, who is more accepting of the situation, starts to pull everyone away, knowing that something more natural will take place soon; a feast. He sees the three Pteranodons circling high overhead and can hear Raptor chatter and barks coming from the nearby trees.
   Then a little further along the beach and an amphibian US Marine craft makes it ashore (no man in a suit; straight to the craft). Soldiers disembark and train their weapons towards the Spinosaurus. A commanding officer would approach the survivors and, asking for Grant, tells him that 'Ellie and Mark Deggler send their regards.' Grant then thanks them for coming, and asks him for the soldiers not to shoot as the Spinosaurus is dying anyway. Cue the rest of the rescue...
   Now, personally I'm okay that Brennan survives the end of the film, but I would have gone a little further and made him lose a limb, or something, because those Pteranodons were vicious. So I'd keep him alive, but only just.
   So the survivors are aboard the helicopter flying away from the island onto a nearby aircraft carrier. On the carrier, Grant sees that the beach is in view and asks for binoculars; the CO obliges, but asks why...As he looks at the beach, he asks rhetorically if they've ever seen a feast in the Savannah; hyenas, vultures, etc. all waiting for a meal. As he states this, he can see Raptors starting to surround the Spino and the Pteranodons circling tighter overhead. Eric notes the cruelty of it, but Grant responds with noting how nature can be cruel and hostile, but it's also survival, that some animals need to take what they can get. More carnivores like the Compsognathus pack and even the Ceratosaurus emerge from the trees, attracted to the buffet on offer. Eric takes the binoculars and has a look, saying that the lion always gets first pickings. As he says this; the T. Rex from earlier in the film (yes, I'm using a little bit of Fioriti's idea that the Rex was only defeated and not killed) emerges and warns the others to back off. Mainly a fan-service thing here; the Rex steps on the Spino's neck and triumphantly roars, or something like that, signing the film off (a little like Rexy's final moment in Jurassic World).


And there you have it; that'd be how I would end Jurassic Park III. From the 'Bird Cage' sequence until the end of the final Raptor confrontation, the film, as it stands, it quite solid; the tone is consistent and tense, the stakes are raised, the characters have meaning, a degree of depth and overall have a modicum of sense...the goofy humour from the first half of the film is gone (aside from the dino dung and inter-cutting the Spino with Charlie and Barney)...There'd be a lot more to think about for the film from when they arrive at the island up to the Bird Cage, but the finality of the end of the film is something I felt was more crucial for me to consider.

I do enjoy Jurassic Park III, but understand its shortcomings and why others have issues with it. As such, I just enjoy it as a nice thrill-ride and appreciate the good stuff about it. Also, it made some nice predictions with the Spinosaurus size and 3D printing, so there's that! ^^

Hope you liked what I had to write and thank you for reading. I know Blogger isn't much of a thing, these days, so if you'd like to respond and let me know your thoughts, please do here, otherwise shout at me on Twitter: @SWIFTagent24. See you around!


AM

The Good, the Fan and the Theory - A Spaghetti-Western Dollars Trilogy Head-Canon

'The Good, the Ugly and the Bad'

It's halfway through the year already and I've hardly posted on...Well I just haven't really posted! Laptop troubles and stuff...Anyway! Finally time for a post that's suitable to the background!

As we all know, we're in the thick of the new generation of Star Wars movies; saga installments supplemented with anthology spin-offs! Spectacular! ^^ But of the inspirations and influences for the original trilogy, the one area of cinema that always speaks to my preferences are the Spaghetti-Westerns. In particular, those three films directed by Sergio Leone, scored by Ennio Morricone and starring Clint Eastwood as 'The Man with No Name'; A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, & The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

   For specific references, Eastwood's 'Man with No Name' character(s), 'The Good' in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, heavily influenced the bounty hunter Boba Fett for The Empire Strikes Back. Whilst more recently Lee van Cleef's 'Angel Eyes' (aka 'The Bad') influenced the take-no-prisoners bounty hunter Cad Bane for The Clone Wars.

Cad Bane - Clearly Inspired by 'Angel Eyes' ('The Bad')

Boba Fett - Inspired by 'The Man with No Name'

So why am I going through this? Well, this year marks the 50th anniversary of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, one of my most favourite films of all time. And there has been discussions over whether it is connected with the other 'Dollars' films or not...it was released after the other two, so because of the acquisition of the iconic costume Eastwood wears (poncho et all) occurs at the end of GBU, some assume that it's a prequel. Officially, the three films are separate entities, as evidenced by 'The Man with No Name' being referred to with a different name in each film, among other slight inconsistencies (though it's never explicitly stated that Eastwood's character names are his...he never introduces himself...they are always given by others and they are how others refer to him). However, with a bit of creativity, there are ways that you can consider them as a trilogy and, as such, an ideal way to watch them all together (similar to how '451236' is the best way to watch the original Star Wars films)...The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, THEN A Fistful of Dollars, THEN For a Few Dollars More (or...'312' if you prefer!)

The Man with No Name

But does '312' work for the characters and events if Eastwood is the same character the whole way through? Well, here's where the titled head-canon begins:

First, there's the big question of the end of GBU and then the beginning of AFOD; what happened to all that money Blondie rode off into the sunset with? When we do consider that he's the same character throughout, the $200,000 in gold coins that he obtained had all gone by the time we see him again. So let's consider the biggest factor in his acquisition of that money; Tuco (aka 'The Ugly').

The Good and the Ugly - A Partnership Made in Hell

Throughout GBU, Tuco was just greedy for as much money as possible. But after he felt betrayed by Blondie by being left in the desert, he relentlessly pursued, and then tortured, Blondie for revenge. And since he told Blondie from the start that 'nobody crosses Tuco and lives', Blondie must have known that leaving him alive at the end of GBU (after what Tuco would have seen as another betrayal), would come back to bite him in the bum, sooner or later. But Tuco wasn't present during two 'Dollars' films, so one solution would be that Blondie would have spent/ditched the money to help throw Tuco off and then kill him...though that would seem a little bit harsh for Blondie, especially considering how lenient we have seen him be towards Tuco. A more likely scenario would be if Blondie had only managed to spend a small proportion of that gold (it was a heck of a lot of money) before Tuco tracked him down again...and since it's all Tuco lives for, Blondie would end up giving up all of his money to the ratty bandit. Even if it was a case of Blondie ditching the majority of that gold to throw Tuco off, you can still picture a scene in which Blondie thinks he still has something for food and drink, but then Tuco appears away from him, chuckling as he jingles the last pennies Blondie had, before riding away.

So now Blondie has nothing but his clothes, his effects and his horse...Tuco is now out of his life for good, but at a literal price. And so begins the next chapter of his life, keeping a low profile, wandering from small town to small town, making a decent dollar where he can, even being payed in meals and drink. He starts to get crafty in the ways and means of his earnings...learning to keep an eye open for any situation possible where money can be made. He no longer has anyone to refer to him by his old nickname, so he takes to the most average name folk refer to him as (instead of 'stranger'); 'Joe'.

AKA 'Joe', in San Miguel

Soon enough, Joe rides into the town of San Miguel and discovers that being in the middle of two feuding families is an ample opportunity to make some money. For the most part, he is successful. However, since the Rojo gang worked out that he freed their hostages, he was tortured again...this time resulting in a severe injury to his firing hand. He eventually managed to slip away and train himself to fire properly again in order to kill his torturers, but his hand was a lot weaker than it used to be. Leaving San Miguel as soon as the violent Rojo gang were disposed of, Joe knew that a simpler approach to making money was his true calling. As such, he once again got back into the business of what he did best; hunting down bounties...but now, on his own and having learned not to trust bandits at the very least, he works more in favour of the law.

In the few more years that go by, Joe makes a bracer-gauntlet for himself to help strengthen his wrist when firing and actually saves his whole arm for when he needs it the most, learning how to do everything else with just his left hand; lighting (and smoking) his cigars, drinking, even developing a one-handed fighting style. This helps to define his new bounty-hunting reputation with a new moniker; 'Monco' (Spanish for 'one-armed').

(The following segments will also attempt to explain why there seems to be multiple characters who look like other characters...For the different bandits who are played by the same actors, a broad explanation can be attributed to coming from large families and generations of bandits...Mostly illegitimately...Because, y'know, sordid crimes...)

AKA 'Monco' (Note the bracer on his right arm)

And so 'Monco' makes his way as a bounty killer and eventually lands his eyes on a huge prize; El Indio. He is content with hunting the average price to pay for his own upkeep, but something about El Indio strikes him; he has heard, and taken note of, El Indio's gang and the relatively low prices on their heads, but he had never seen a poster with El Indio himself before...this criminal looks similar to (at least one of) the Rojo brothers he encountered (and killed) a few years before...Could they be related? It wouldn't be a surprise...And if he is, it's a good enough reason for Monco to start pursuing him and ending the twisted bloodline. However, as would be expected, he isn't the only hunter to be bold enough to go after El Indio...

On the trail of El Indio, Monco lands in the town of El Paso, Texas. There he gets word of another bounty killer, so he goes to investigate...Strangely enough; this is another person who looks like a figure from Monco's past. Back when he was known as 'Blondie', he and Tuco tussled with a common enemy who used to be a big part of their past; 'Angel Eyes' ('The Bad'). Monco is curious; how can two, seemingly unrelated, figures from his past have prominent look-a-likes in his present?

The Other Bounty Hunter, Colonel Mortimer...

...And the long-dead Angel Eyes...Brothers...?

May all be a coincidence...But with the slightest chance that this other bounty hunter is related to 'Angel Eyes', Monco cannot trust him. After a late night where he tries to throw the other hunter out of town and they subsequently butt heads, the two begin to realize their skill-sets are evenly matched and decide to work together to bring down El Indio's gang. Despite this, Monco still doesn't completely trust this other bounty hunter; one Colonel Douglas Mortimer. (And does his name imply 'Angel Eyes'' real name?)

An Alliance they Had to Work at to Achieve...

Monco's clear distrust makes him try at least once to throw the Colonel off...but this is a man who fought in the civil war; he's wily in his years and, most important to Monco, he's a man of integrity...Ultimately they go after El Indio for different reasons and it's Mortimer's reason that Monco discovers by the end that really makes him trustworthy. El Indio was responsible for the death of Mortimer's sister...The Colonel has pursued him for her honour and subsequently did not take a single cent of the cash rewards for El Indio and his gang members.

Twisted Family Connections - El Indio Holds the Image of Mortimer's Sister

A family connection between Mortimer and Angel Eyes would make sense; Mortimer's service in the army would have been wildly different from Angel Eyes, the black sheep of the family who used positions in the army that he hadn't earned to pursue his own dastardly interests. Colonel Mortimer would have felt too disconnected from Angel Eyes, feeling like he had lost him, so he would end up focusing on looking out for the one member of the family he has left; his sister.

Monco, meanwhile, rides off into the sunset with nothing but the riches he had wanted from the start with no hassle. He was told by Mortimer that bounty hunting is a line of business where you don't last long. One could take that to mean it would kill you, but Monco would apply the 'Old Man's' words to his desire to eventually settle and retire from the business. With the money he now has, he's in the best position to call it quits. But whether people have known him as 'Blondie', 'Joe' or 'Monco', he leaves a lasting impression like no other across the American west as 'The Man with No Name'.

And there we go! Hope this provided to be an interesting read! (And I am aware there have been extended tales in literature, but since I'm only familiar with the films, that's what this post is based on). Any comments or queries, do stick 'em below!

AM

(Images - Lucasfilm, MGM)

City in the Sky

A new documentary series started on BBC Two last night (Sunday, 5th July) called City in the Sky, with Dallas Campbell and Dr. Hannah Fry, detailing the inner workings of air travel...it's fascinating, mesmerizing and even a little bit thrilling. I recommend to anyone with access to iPlayer to have a look.

Anyway, I came up with the most ridiculous idea just because the title sounds like a pun, so here's a parody of the song Spirit in the Sky, for the show:

When I fly and I lay back to rest
Gonna be on a plane by Southwest
When I get on board to fly
Goin' up to the city in the sky

Goin' up to the city in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I fly
When I fly and I lay back to rest
Gonna be on a plane by Southwest

Adventure though; you know it's a thirst
Gotta have a friend in Airbus
So you know that when you fly
They gonna recommend you to the city in the sky

Gon' recommend you to the city in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you fly
When you fly and you kick back to rest
Gonna be in safe hands with Southwest

Never filled my case...too much
I got a friend in Qantas
So you know that when I fly
They're gonna set me up with the city in the sky

Oh set me up with the city in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I fly
When I fly and I lay back to rest,
I'm gonna go to a place in the west
Gonna be on a plane for the west

Hope you like!

AM