When Jurassic Park hit theaters in June of 1993, I had just finished the third grade. Watching Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum run from the perils of genetically created dinosaurs was quite possibly the biggest thing I’d ever seen on screen – both in terms of filmmaking and T-Rex stomps. The ripples in the water cup, the feisty, frightening raptors, the thrill of the escape. It sent my little-kid brain spinning in wonder. So last night, when John Williams’ legendary score started blaring through the theater speakers, my wife leaned over and whispered, “I bet you have a total boner for this music right now,” to which I replied, “EVERYBODY HAS A BONER RIGHT NOW!”

It’s hard not to fanboy out on Jurassic World, but here’s as unbiased a review as I can humanly provide. It’s 22 years after the failure of Jurassic Park, and siblings Zach and Gray are taking a vacation to the theme park currently operated by their Aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) – because there must be children in danger! (Seriously, it’s on a JP checklist somewhere…) In attempts to create something most gnarly, the park genetically modified dino DNA and meshed it with the DNA from other animals (because science!), with hopes of using the new dinosaur as a new attraction to drum up media attention and more eyeballs. The synthetic hybrid, named the Indominus Rex, is enclosed and park owner Simon Masrani wants Owen Grady, velociraptor expert and everyone’s favorite Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), to inspect the exhibit and make sure everything is copasetic. (Not-so-spoilery spoiler alert: Everything is not copasetic.) Cut to: dino escapes, people getting chomped, extreme panic, etc.!

There are some aspects of Jurassic World that will leave you scratching your head. Why is Claire running in heels and why does she have a completely different hairstyle post-dino attack? Where the hell is the T-Rex? How is it that the Indominus Rex is the Bruce Lee of dinosaurs? How come every visitor hasn’t been brutally torn to pieces? No, seriously, where the hell is the T-Rex!? And why is Chris Pratt trying to communicate with velociraptors? Some of these are answered by film’s end, but others may leave you hanging. If you can get past some of these awkward notions, you’ll surely have a better time.

What the movie and director Colin Trevorrow really nail is the personification of some of the dinosaurs. Owen Pratt…err, Grady, names his raptors. He talks to them, pets them. At times it may seem like a silly ploy, but just after the film’s climax, it works to the movie’s advantage. The same can be said for the T-Rex – when we see it, we’re immediately drawn back to 1993 and the iconic dinosaur that we grew to love in the original. The film handles the T-Rex nicely, and gives Terry the T-Rex her due. Its due? I don’t know how to properly write about dinosaurs, so I just made up a name. It felt right. Is there a synonym for “dinosaur”? To the Internet!!!

There’s a great mix between our old prehistoric favorites, and some new key players like the Indominux Rex and the aquatic Mosasaur; the latter added a really unique layer to the dino framework and cast of characters, and made for the movie’s best death scene. Sidebar: Special shoutout to the dilophosaurus on this one; the movie brings it back for a brief cameo in a nifty way that gets our heroes out of a pinch in a jiffy.

Despite what Joss Whedon may think, concerns about Clarie not being a fully-realized female character are extremely inaccurate, for she’s the character with the most arc here. Howard handles the early stonefaced Claire well, but also softens her and grows with the character throughout the course of the film, particularly when it comes to her in-danger nephews. And what can be said about Pratt that hasn’t been said before? He’s all good and great and junk, but hopefully Hollywood doesn’t over-saturate him and his archetype.

Jurassic sequels are a mixed bag and there’s no getting around that. Although I would defend The Lost World: Jurassic Park to any naysayer, I would certainly agree and proffer that Jurassic Park 3 is dead to me. (What a waste bringing back Sam Neill for that misguided, schlocky bout. Damn it all to hell!) Despite my warm feelings toward film numero dos (because GOLDBLUM), I say with certainty that Jurassic World is hands down the best of the Jurassic Park sequels.

Sitting in the theater last night, I still had that sense of joy and wonder in mind, finally seeing the park in existence the way John Hammond envisioned. Watching Jurassic World made me feel like a kid again for two hours of my now-adult life, reminding me of just how ingrained and important the original was to my childhood. Now, realizing how fleeting childhood is, Jurassic World brought back all those feelings and unquestionably won my support.

Grade: B+

Here is a sexy photo of Jeff Goldblum for no reason whatsoever. Enjoy.