Rating: ««« out of 4 stars

Running Time: 2 hrs., 5 min.

It has been over 20 years since the original Jurassic Park, but feverish fandom for the film and all things dinosaur haven’t ceased. In fact, the property appears to have grown in popularity - those who enjoyed the original as kids are high on the nostalgia for the adventure, and the series has added new young fans courtesy of its frequent airings on TV. Thankfully, Jurassic World is a sequel that generally works. It’s simple, escapist entertainment with plenty of thrills and chills that are guaranteed to impress most viewers.

In the decades since the original tale, the Costa Rican island where the dinosaurs were created has been developed into a fully operational theme park, with rides featuring all sorts of prehistoric creatures. However, in order to spark new interest in the old hat attractions, the park’s latest top secret creation is super-predator Indominus rex, spliced together with DNA from a few mysterious sources. Of course, it’s a really bad idea.

When the beast gets loose from its pen, it creates massive problems for the park manager, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard). Not only is the menace killing everything in its path, but it is headed directly for the heavily populated tourist zones, where Claire’s nephews Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray (Ty Simkins) are vacationing. The manager and park employee/dinosaur trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) desperately attempt to search for the kids and solve the even bigger issues before everything gets out of hand.

What follows are a series of creatively shot action scenes that place characters in all sorts of dangerous situations. The young boys become trapped in a Gyrosphere (a giant “hamster ball” of sorts), where they are attacked and bounced around. Cages are breached and attendees are picked off in wild fashion by all kinds of land, sea and air predators. And even the dinosaurs themselves fight each other. All of these sequences are fun and excitingly rendered, taking full advantage of the dramatic potential. The finale, involving a melee of species going toe-to-toe, is an absolute blast to witness.

For those who love the original, there are plenty of nods to first film, both in the background and in the way events play out. The script does a clever job of showing viewers a familiar situation and then putting an interesting new spin on it. Grady’s work onsite involves training the Velociraptors to follow his lead. In the process, these creatures begin communicating with both humans and dinosaurs. Over the course of the film, their alliances flip and change, adding an extra unexpected element of drama.

As for the characters, they’re not particularly deep but they are likable enough to follow. Pratt is fine in the straight-man hero role, although there are a few brief moments that left this reviewer questioning if the intent of a few lines was to be tongue-in-cheek or serious. Pacing wise, are a few lulls early on and anyone watching will be able to guess from the get-go which characters are destined to be dinosaur dinner. There are also a couple of brief subplots (one involving the parents of the kids) that don’t seem to go anywhere.

And while one wishes the movie had made a little more of the themes it raises (like the queasy relationship between science and commerce), the omission doesn’t take too much away from the overall experience. Minor quibbles aside, Jurassic World gives audiences exactly what they want from a summer popcorn film. Not only is it a worthy follow-up, but it actually stands as the strongest sequel in the series.

Queensrÿche guitarist ‘The Whip’ gets real with the Sun

New Mexico definitely gets its fare share of rocking concerts, and this reporter was privileged to see one of those recently.

The Scorpions & Queensrÿche Tour made its way down to the Isleta Amphitheater in Albuquerque on May 25, and I got to sit down and chat with Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton (born Feb. 23, 1962), otherwise known as the “The Whip” for the speed of his fingers on the fretboard. Wilton, an American guitarist, co-founded Queensrÿche in 1982.

JC: Michael, how is it going brother? How has the tour been?

Michael: It’s going great! It’s a great pairing of bands; we’ve kinda built this relationship with the Scorpions. It’s a good diversity of music, and everybody loves the show. I tell you, the fans are so loud, they were singing the songs — just a very active and great crowd.

JC: Right on. Now on this tour, you guys are definitely pushing the new album?

Michael: Yeah, the new album Condition Human — it’s the Condition Human 2016 Tour. We’re busy, we’re going all over the world ... a busy band this year.

JC: Cool, what’s the feel for the new album with the crowd?

Michael: They love it! They wanna hear more music! How ’bout that!

JC: Well cool, yesterday you guys were in a different place and you look refreshed like it’s not doing anything to you, just having fun.

Michael: Yeah you know it’s rough … I’ve been doing this for 35 years. But you know, I just take it in stride, I’m a seasoned veteran, road-dog at heart and ahh … I love what I do. I try to take care of myself … keep in shape mentally and physically.

JC: Does it amaze you that you guys are still cranking this long?

Michael: Yeah, I mean, it’s great to be out here and seeing all the people that have supported Queensrÿche like from the EP [earlier past]. Now this next phase, Queensrÿche is bringing in new fans, younger fans that are checking out the band. We’re still making records; we still have record deals; we’re still touring.

JC: How long do you guys still have left on the tour?

Michael: We’re booked through I think December 16. In January, we start working on the next album.

JC: That’s cool that you guys are continually working, do you guys say, “Hey, this works or doesn’t work?”

Michael: We take the strengths and collaboration, everything gets worked on, everything gets built, whether it’s a full song or a guitar riff or a vocal melody. You know we work together as a band and we build it and see where it ends up. But everyone is giving their 100 percent in the writing process. It’s not about outside writers or one guy writing tunes, everybody has the opportunity to write and to just see what everybody’s input does to a song — it’s fun, it’s exciting.

JC: How does your family handle it?

Michael: Fortunately, the family supports what I do, and when I am home, it’s quality time. You go from performer mode to civilian mode, and sometimes it’s difficult to do that, especially when you first get home. It puts you straight and makes you a real person again (laughs).

JC: Now, aside the band Queensrÿche, do you have side projects that wherein collaborate with other artists as well?

Michael: You know, I have, but now that Queensrÿche is firing on all cylinders, things are happening again, all these opportunities for Queensrÿche, I’m pretty much focused on Queensrÿche right now. As far as my other projects, I have a beer called Whip Ale, which I brew in Seattle at a brewery and I sell it there and online.

JC: So when you’re just kicking back and hanging out, what do you like to do that you don’t get to do much of when you’re on tour?

Michael: I like to golf.

JC: Really?

Michael: Yeah it clears my mind.

JC: Okay, on your iPod, what music do you listen to?

Michael: I usually put it on shuffle, I have a bunch of different music and sometimes I just don’t even listen to music, I just need a break from it. Sometimes, I’ll go back and listen to our earlier albums. Just feeling nostalgic — man I was so young back then (laughing).

There’s a lot of bands I like listening to: Tool, Mastedon, Sound Garden, Alice In Chains, Rush. I try to keep it refreshing as much as I can, when you get stale, when you get in a rut, you gotta get out of it somehow.

JC: Well Michael, I appreciate this very much and much success on your guys’ tour, and hope you go another 30, 40 years, man, you guys definitely are set.

Michael: We’re thankful that the fans definitely want to hear us — we’re here for the long haul definitely.

By Dee “JC” Velasco
Sun Correspondent

In the 10^th Annual Memorial Day Celebration, hosted by the Gallup McKinley Veterans Committee on May 30 this year, the crowds were larger at both the Hillcrest Cemetery and the County Courthouse, the parade was longer, and enthusiasm was at a much higher level than had been witnessed in the previous nine years.

Memorial Day is especially significant for veterans and families, even as it is also shared by civilians who commemorate the lives of family members and friends who have passed. There is enough empathy to go around.

The Veterans Committee was proud to show the spectators the two new pillars erected for additional veterans – one for WWII vets and one for those who served in Vietnam.

One thing that made this day stand out for many in the Gallup community was the appointment of Hiroshi ‘Hershey’ Miyamura, Gallup’s only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as the grand marshal of the parade and ceremony. Miyamura has fulfilled his other duties as a member of the very select club of living MOH recipients and had not been able to attend until this year.

Veterans Helping Veterans members posted the colors for the event, and David Cuellar, the leader of that group, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Kassandra Kleeberger sang the National Anthem and VHV spiritual warrior Tooley Brown gave the invocation.

As the heat from the noonday sun increased, it was finally Miyamura’s turn at the podium, and he delivered a short, passionate speech about his service and that of others. He also introduced members of the Korean War Veteran’s Association who had come to Gallup to hear him speak.

Cuellar then recognized Army veteran Benny C. Diaz from Gallup. The almost 22-year-old was killed during the last days of the Battle of the Bulge on Jan. 25, 1945.

Veterans Committee Chairman Joe Zecca, who also handled the roll call duties of those who are no longer walking on this earth, made further presentations, followed by the VHV’s 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps, which preceded the closing of the program by Zecca.

VHV retired the colors, and the hot, sun-burned audience returned home for yet another year’s worth of inspiration from those celebrated – some gave all, all gave some.

Story and photos by Tom Hartsock

Sun Correspondent

Frankly, I doubt that Disney’s Tomorrowland has ever struck anyone as a great jumping off point for a movie. A ride like Space Mountain certainly makes sense, but a project about the plaza on which it’s located...? The Tomorrowland movie is a curious experiment that emphasizes mystery as it slowly reveals its grand purpose. But while the film is diverting and fun in spots, it never excites or reaches the heights it should.

As the story begins, the modern world is in terrible shape, nearing an apocalyptic tipping point - apparently, only two people can right the course. There’s Frank (George Clooney), a gruff inventor who was once part of a cadre of brilliant minds. That is, before a personal issue caused him to lose his focus. And there’s Casey (Britt Robertson), a brilliant teenager struggling with being, well, smarter than everyone around her.

While Clooney is top-billed, the bulk of the film follows Casey. When she discovers a trading pin that shows her a vision of the title location, she becomes determined to find it. However, this proves to be a much trickier task than expected. Chased by Men-in-Black-like figures, Casey encounters Athena (Raffey Cassidy), an enigmatic young girl responsible for the magical buttons. Slowly, the child reveals bits and piece of information about why the teenager is so important to the cause.

This is a great-looking film with some fantastic photography. The gleaming, futuristic city is impressive to behold. It is fully displayed via a complicated and clever one-shot master. This reveal follows a character as she explores the location, overcome with awe. And during the entire journey, there are some impressively shot and edited chases and fights in which the leads must fight to survive. There is also an amusing moment or two as Athena doles out some serious beatings to nasty pursuers.

While there’s nothing particularly deep about the story, it is revealed in too complicated a manner. The numerous twists and turns result in a great deal of lengthy exposition. Characters inexplicably keep information close to the chest rather than be explicit as to what is happening. Much is made of a disastrous creation from Tomorrowland that should never have been put into use, but no one elaborates until the climax. This is obviously done to create suspense, but the cryptic conversations dissipate the thrill factor and slow events down.

And despite its spirit of adventure, there’s an odd tone. Characters are incinerated by futuristic laser guns (apparently, death rays were not considered a ruinous Tomorrowland invention) and nasty events are occasionally played in too flippant a manner. There’s a lot of humor, but it rarely clicks. As written, the leads feel stiff and their character arcs aren’t easy to relate to. In the end, the big emotional payoff is rather flat and unmoving.

Finally, the movie is awkward in one more respect. From the numerous trading pins, to the rides (Space Mountain and It’s A Small World) and intellectual property in the background (including Star Wars toys and a jet pack right out of The Rocketeer), it really does feel like an extended commercial for all things Disney.

Not including the whole Disney consumerist subtext, the movie’s message is admirable, telling kids to never give up and encouraging them to put their minds to fixing problems. And forgiving viewers may get a simple kick out of the visuals and action. However, there isn’t much else to grasp on to. In the end, this is a bold and at times interesting movie that works in brief spells, but never quite won this reviewer over.

As for what the future holds for Disney, who knows? Epcot: The Movie? The Liberty Square Riverboat Adventure? A Hall of Presidents film adaptation? (Actually, that one is easy to imagine - give me a call, Disney people, if you’d like to hear my take on it.) Based on the mere existence of Tomorrowland, any attraction will be on the drawing boards now.