My personal ranking, from favorite to least favorite, is TLW > JP > JW > JP/// > JWD > JWFK.
TLW and JP are interchangeable, but more often than not, when someone asks me, I'll say TLW is my favorite film of the franchise.
That's me also. JP and TLW are neck and neck.
Curious why TLW over JP the majority of the time.
Age of discovery?
What did it for you.
For me TLW is lacking in everything that made JP a masterpiece.
I am in need of a rewatch though so my dislike is rusty lol
I know you are not asking me but I am giving my reason anyway
I was really disappointed with TLW the first time I saw it. I mean JP was life changing when I first saw that in the theaters. How was TLW ever going to compete. But time has been kind to the film IMO. There are some bad parts for sure. Something that the first JP can't say.
Tone and Atmosphere I would say are two big factors for me. Plus, Ian is the main character and JW score is one of his best. It's got some great shots in it (above shot of raptors in the long grass) and I love the main hunter character. My 2nd fav in the series after Ian Malcome.
The Raptor scene at the old base is fantastic (except for the gymnast part) T- Rex scenes on the island are great. Even the San Diego part is a least fun if not all that well done.
It's not a perfect film but I don't think JP is either. If I had to choose one as the winner, it would be JP because it was the first and no other JP film can top how that movie made feel and it has that perfect T-rex scene and a Perfect T-Rex rescue. Nothing in any JP film comes close to the First T-Rex encounter. One of the all time great moments in Movie history.
I am surprised you thought people might pick JPIII as a 2nd fav. I mean I liked it ok the first time I saw it but that film has the worst characters of the JP original series and its kind of meh overall. The Spino is great though.
My Rankings
1. JP
2. TLW
3. JW
4. JPIII
5. JWFK
6. JWD
For me it's JP and JW neck and neck followed by JWFK and then meh to the rest (with JWD being dead last obviously.) I thought that JW brought back the awe and wonder but also had great tension, some decent horror elements and a heck of a crowd pleasing finale. JWFK is more of a guilty pleasure but it's short with decent chomping and stomping.
Wow neck in neck with JP and JW.
I can understand that. Man the Dino action in JW is non stop and fun. Every action set piece is a winner. The film is fun for sure.
I do think I am on a real high with that film right now because it the first JP film I have watched since seeing JWD. I think if I just watched JWFK I would be singing that films praises also.
As for JWFK. I am looking forward to watching that again. Hated it the first time and found some enjoyment out of it the 2nd. Might be a film that rides that roller coaster all the time with me judging the film over how ever I felt about it last time I watched it with my expectations being either higher or lower
JP > TLW >> JP3. That's it for me.
Now, JP3 isn't a good movie. The setup is silly and the absence of Spielberg behind the camera is painfully obvious; most of the film is shot so uncreatively that it actually makes the animatronics look clunky despite Stan Winston's crew being at the top of their game. But it does have some enjoyable sequences, the spinosaurus and raptor designs are badass, and the scenes with Eric and Alan hold up surprisingly well.
The merchandising was also perfect. Fun toys, great computer games, and -- here's the clincher -- I was at the right age for all of it. The late '90s and early '00s were a time for razor-sharp teeth, green goo, and caution tape on everything. That's my happy place.
JW isn't terrible, but it feels so soulless. The CGI is way overused, the single practical effect in the film (the dying apatosaurus) pales in comparison to what SWS did, and the characters are as bland as it gets. What little emotional moments there are feel cheap and aren't referenced ever again (the two brothers talking about their parents potentially divorcing). Worst of all, they softened Rexy's design and turned her into a franchise mascot along with a tamed raptor. The very existence of Blue goes against everything Spielberg and Crichton tried to say. It's just a far cry from what made the first two films great. And the merchandise was pretty crummy, so no redemption there.
Good thing they changed "Park" to "World," that way there's no confusing it with the superior trilogy.
Hunters vs. dinosaurs running loose in the jungle + Spielberg + Williams + SWS + ILM. In short, it's a childishly cool concept executed by Oscar-caliber talent.
I loved JW the first time I saw it in theaters. It was a let down the 2nd and 3rd and I could understand peoples frustrations with it. Its an Oscar winner now
I don't think its soulless. Characters are solid and the FX overall are good to great. I think because most of the FX are great, the good stands out more than it normally wood. Indominus Rex makes a good villain. For me its far better then JPIII but I can see now why it turns off some.
But I agree 100% with you on the TLW assessment.
Spoiler:
