JURASSIC WORLD (Rated PG-13)

Memory loss can sometimes be a good thing. This is particularly true when failing to remember inferior movie sequels, such as the first two that followed the success of Steven Spielberg’s original adaptation of the Michael Crichton’s novel with 1993’s “Jurassic Park.”

While we’re at it, I could just as easily forget the misfire of the three “Star Wars” prequel films that followed the great trilogy that began in the summer of 1977, when George Lucas was on top of his game.

It’s hard to imagine, but there’s a real chance that Disney’s upcoming Episode VII of “The Force Awakens” will be a welcome relief. So if the Magic Kingdom can work wonders, returning to the essence of “Jurassic Park” can do the same 22 years later with “Jurassic World.”

What’s terrific about “Jurassic World” rests not just with the spectacular special effects. The return to the basics of Spielberg and Crichton’s original blend of science fiction and boundless imagination is nicely realized in the fantasy world of a theme park filled with spectacular yet previously extinct creatures.

Jurassic World is a fully operational luxury resort, situated on an island off the coast of Costa Rica, where thousands of guests explore the wonder and brilliance of the most magnificent living prehistoric marvels and interact up close with them every day.

Overseeing every nook and cranny of the theme park is the career-driven Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), who finds herself unexpectedly saddled with the responsibility for her visiting nephews, the surly teen Zack (Nick Robinson) and younger sibling Gray (Ty Simpkins). Claire’s not exactly the nurturing type.

The most appealing central character is Chris Pratt’s Owen, an ex-military expert in animal behavior working at a secluded research base on the periphery of the main park. Given his role in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Pratt is most fitting as an Indiana Jones-type of adventurer.

Owen is years into a training study with a pack of aggressive velociraptors, over which he’s established an alpha relationship that balances the animals precariously between reluctant obedience and predatory revolt.

Willing to upset the wobbly balance and harmony of nature is the billionaire benefactor Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) who’s employed Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong), a geneticist of dubious ethics, to engineer a genetically modified dinosaur that has never walked the Earth before.

The secretive new breed designed to attract more inquisitive visitors to Jurassic World is the massive and mysterious Indominus rex.

Tourists have become jaded with docile dinosaurs roaming around freely. Kids hitch rides on gentle triceratops. The giant whale that swallows dangling sharks whole is like a Sea World attraction.

The park owner wants to satiate the public appetite for more thrills and danger, and Indominus rex may be the answer. The hybrid dinosaur is bigger, badder and with larger teeth eager to chomp on the domesticated prehistoric creatures as well as the two-legged park visitors.

Moreover, the Indominus rex is not only cruel (it devours its sibling), but highly intelligent as it fools its human minders in a brilliant escape from a seemingly impenetrable walled-in holding pen.

Meanwhile, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Hoskins, a security contractor, has problematic intentions as he appears mostly preoccupied not with human safety but trying to harness the incredible power of the dinosaurs as military weapons.

Not surprisingly, “Jurassic World,” just like its predecessors, gets its adrenaline rush from the perils that lurk to threaten key characters, here namely Claire’s nephews who are blithely rolling around the countryside in a gyroscope when all hell breaks loose.

It’s up to former Navy man Owen to step into the role of the hero, teaming up with the impeccably dressed and coiffed Claire to rescue the kids. The only thing Owen is missing is a fedora and bullwhip, but his action hero status doesn’t really require the use of any props.

In typical Spielberg fashion, there’s satisfying family bonding that emerges from the wreckage of rampaging dinosaurs. Claire grows more protective of her nephews, who are coping with the unfortunate circumstance of their parents getting a divorce that will fracture the family.

There is also the obvious moral story that tinkering with nature to create a new dinosaur made up of spare parts and questionable DNA is an act of playing God that is not going to end well.

What is likely to end well is a box office bonanza for the studio that has produced a thrilling action adventure story fueled by very impressive computer-generated special effects.

“Jurassic World,” an almost formulaic reboot of the original film, delivers the action goods in dazzling manner.

Put in other terms, the “Jurassic Park” franchise roars back to relevance with plenty of thrills and chills in the supremely breathtaking awe of the terrific dinosaur mayhem of “Jurassic World.” Fans of the original should be gratified by the exciting results.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

How’s this poem for its ability to collapse all the years from childhood to middle age in a matter of fifteen short lines? George Bilgere is one of this column’s favorite poets. He lives and teaches in Ohio.

The Wading Pool

The toddlers in their tadpole bodies,
with their squirt guns and snorkels,
their beautiful mommies and inflatable whales,
are still too young to understand
that this is as good as it gets.

Soon they must leave the wading pool
and stand all day at the concession stand
with their hormones and snow cones,
their soul patches and tribal tattoos,
pretending not to notice how beautiful they are,

until they simply can’t stand it
and before you know it
they’re lined up on lawn chairs,
dozing in the noonday sun
with their stretch marks and beer bellies,
their Wall Street Journals and SPF 50.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright 2014 by George Bilgere from his most recent book of poems, Imperial, (Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, 2014). Poem reprinted by permission of George Bilgere and the publisher. Introduction copyright 2015 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local author Steve Bartholomew will celebrate the publication of his latest book, “Spirit Catcher,” at Watershed Books on Friday, June 5.

The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. at the store, 305 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

Bartholomew will share insights on his creative inspiration and publishing processes, as well as reading from his latest novel and previously published favorites.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information call 707-263-5787.

COBB, Calif. – The family friendly "Rock On!" concert will be presented on Saturday, June 13.

The one-day music festival will take place at Jellystone Park, 14117 Bottle Rock Road, Cobb. 

Gates open at 2 p.m. Parking is free. Music begins at 3 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 or 9 p.m. 

The concert features four local rock bands: The Fargo Brothers, Johnny Tsunami & The Hurricanes, Beatz Werkin' and Hilarie & Milton.

Approximately 20 local vendors will offer services and handmade crafts for sale. Snacks, ice cream, beer and wine can be purchased at the Jellystone Park store. Jellystone also will be selling beer and wine at the concert.

Alcohol purchased outside the campgrounds, glass bottles and pets will not be allowed inside the concert grounds. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own coolers, water, folding chairs or blankets, sunscreen, sun umbrellas and hats, and extra cash for food and craft vendors.

Tickets can be purchased with cash at the entrance for $15 each, or two time bank credits for time bank members. Children 12 and under may attend for free.

Advance tickets, which cost $13 each, are available until 10 a.m. Thursday at The SPOT Juice Bar in Middletown, Watershed Books in Lakeport and Sphynx Urban Clothing in Clearlake. Advance tickets will be available at Jellystone Park store until Friday at 8 p.m. 

Following the Rock On! concert on June 13, there will be an after party featuring the rock band Audio Design from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Village Pub, 21365 Highway 175, Cobb.

For information about camping at Jellystone Park, call 707-928-4322. More details are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-and-Family-Productions/802857313134499?fref=ts .

ALOHA (Rated PG-13)

The Hawaiian greeting “aloha” has dual meaning, typically to convey both hello and goodbye.

Moreover, greater and deeper significance is attached, by native Hawaiians, to this word than merely a salutation that is one of welcome or farewell.

For Cameron Crowe, having directed the character-driven films “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous,” his latest effort with “Aloha” is about his signature style of developing a relationship story.

Evidently, Crowe set about creating a highly personal film with “Aloha,” seeking to capture the unpredictability of life with a romantic story enhanced by the gorgeous setting of Hawaii’s natural beauty, which is lovingly depicted with expert cinematography.

Claiming that “Aloha” is “a movie about second chances,” Crowe might be trying to tap into the richer consequence of this widely-known Hawaiian word as he constructs a romantic comedy while honoring, apparently not to the satisfaction of purists, sacred Hawaiian traditions.

Controversy has followed this film, not just from hacked Sony emails that revealed studio executives disenchanted with test screenings, or something to that effect.

Moreover, Native Hawaiian groups have already condemned the movie for its failure to represent the American-Asian community.

To be sure, all of the major characters are Caucasian, with star Bradley Cooper in the pivotal role of Brian Gilcrest, a former military man now working as a defense contractor for billionaire industrialist Carson Welch (Bill Murray).

One of the film’s failings, and it has plenty, is that we know little of Brian’s background, other than it appears he had a tour of duty in Afghanistan and that he is not in favor with some of the military brass, namely General Dixon (Alec Baldwin), who mostly does a lot of yelling.

Arriving at the Hickam Air Force base in Hawaii on military transport, Brian spots his old flame Tracy (Rachel McAdams) on the tarmac, where she is waiting for her husband Woody (John Krasinski), coincidentally the pilot of the cargo plane that just brought Brian back to American soil.

Not only is Tracy now married, but she’s the mother of two children. Apparently, the Brian-Tracy relationship dates back to over a dozen years ago.

Tracy has moved on and made a family, and we’re not sure where Brian has been and what he has done during this extended period of time.

Where is Brian’s second chance? It may come from the Air Force Captain Allison Ng (Emma Stone), the hard-charging F-22 fighter pilot assigned to be his “handler” during his stay at the Air Force base, where his mission is not clearly defined but has something to do with his boss’ involvement in the US Space Program.

At first glance, Captain Ng, known among her fellow airmen as a “fast burner” and who has a firecracker personality, is so overly efficient and no-nonsense that her style seems destined for incompatibility with Brian’s carefree approach.

Of course, this is a romantic comedy, so the story arc for Brian and Allison to eventually fall for each other despite their superficial differences is obvious from the moment Allison belts out a traditional folk song with the locals at a native Hawaiian encampment in the mountains.

Perhaps less believable is that Arizona-born Emma Stone’s character is one-quarter Hawaiian, which appears to be a matter of convenience when she and Brian visit the actual leader of the Hawaiian Independence movement, Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, to seek a native blessing for a pedestrian gate on the Air Force base.

Whatever her heritage, Allison staunchly defends the Hawaiian traditions and respects the wishes of the native activists, putting herself somewhat at odds with Brian until it finally, as it must, dawn on him that Carson Welch’s ultimate intentions are less than honorable.

On the upside of “Aloha,” Cameron Crowe has assembled an appealing cast of Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone, bringing enough combined charisma to ordinarily carry a film to certain heights.

The downside is that the talented actors are wasted in a feeble love triangle that has no more credibility than the Hawaiian heritage of a girl with bright yellow hair, fair skin and green eyes.

On its face, Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha” is a flimsy excuse for a romantic comedy, where the love story is about as fresh as wilted flowers on the traditional Hawaiian lei.

It’s better to say goodbye than hello to this cinematic misfire.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Comedy Night with Marc Yaffee and Friends is coming to the Soper Reese Theatre on Saturday, June 27, at 7 p.m.

The “funny, not filthy” show is hosted by Pat McCoy with special guest Chancellor Andrade, a Lake County student who’s put together his own intriguing mix of magic and humor.

Once a Lake County local boy himself, Yaffee is now a national comedy phenomenon who serves audiences his original comedy recipe, specially prepared for nonstop laughs.

Tasty topics, spicy premises and savory punchlines, are all dished out with a dash of sarcasm and a grain of salt.

Yaffee is an award-winning comedian who was featured on the Showtime special, “Goin’ Native: The American Indian Comedy Slam.”

He also has appeared on the PBS special “Crossing The Line,” Si TV’s Latino Laugh Festival and Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen.

Yaffee has also been heard on SiriusXM Radio, Bob & Tom and NPR.  He has performed five times overseas for the troops in the Middle East, Europe and Asia; was a writer for George Carlin’s www.laugh.com ; and won the Ventura Comedy Festival’s Funniest Person Contest in 2012.

All seats are reserved. Tickets are $18 and $15, and are on sale at www.soperreesetheatre.com ; at the theater box office on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St., Lakeport, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The theater is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

For more information call 707-263-0577.