Jurassic Games

The Jurassic Games certainly does not lack ambition. Screenwriter Ryan Bellgardt, working from a story by Galen Christy, wants to pack in social commentary on how society consumes media, how technology changes human interaction, and how injustices occur even when the court system works properly. In a fun nod to Robocop a commercial airs selling action figures of the contestants and host, and the audience sees that this spectacle of death is celebrated as a festive occasion, with parties being thrown to watch the games. The virtual reality headsets look fine, but it is how they cut back to the real world from the VR arenas that is the most interesting. The movie succeeds best with that last point, though. Tucker maintained his innocence the entire time but was found guilty by a jury of his peers. There is nothing present in the movie to suggest a rigged jury or corruption from bribing judges or some such is what led this verdict. This choice wisely avoids a number of cliches, which is refreshing.

But it does lead to some big plot holes. It is eventually revealed that Tucker is innocent and someone else killed his wife. This reveal happens during The Jurassic Games, that is to say, on live television! And yet the producers don’t immediately stop the show right then and there and release a person the vast majority of the population just discovered is indeed not guilty. There are no cutaways to a viewer, or group of viewers, that react to the fact an innocent man is in the games, which is a death sentence unless he wins. This is impossible to overlook and makes the final ten or so minutes feel forced and awkward.

“…the dinosaurs that take the cake, as, despite the limited resources, their CGI is quite good.”

Another plot hole, or at least something that is poorly explained, are the collars the inmates wear in the virtual reality setting. These collars are what make the pain experienced in the game real in the physical world and as they approach designated safe spots their colors change from red (far), yellow (getting warmer), and green (safe). Collars, by design, are worn around the neck. How in the heck are these people going to know what color their collar light currently is?