Kirti and Kish Maharaj

I give this 2 stars only because the cast was decent and the CGI was somewhat well done. Otherwise this is the worst film of the entire franchise. Half the characters were pointless to the story, the other half made decisions that no person with half a brain would make, and the dinosaurs were just background elements that gave the cast something to do, without adding much to the story. It really was disappointing. I miss the days when filmmakers assumed a movie audience could comprehend a basic level of scientific explanation, and weren’t just focused on flashes and bangs with some sharp teeth thrown in. We want to be taught about DNA, and listen to debate about the morals behind genetic experimentation and animal rights. We want to hear more about climate change impacting a species ability to survive in the modern world. We want to be given something to ponder after we’ve walked out of the theatre. But this movie doesn’t even have aspirations to that. The most you can say about it is that it was ‘ok’ So don’t bother dropping 100 dollars to take a family to see it in the theatre. Just wait till it comes out on Netflix, and then lower your hopes and dreams and feel free to scroll on your phone while it plays in the background. Cuz you really won’t miss much one way or the other.

Solid adaptation of an excellent book that I've read every year since I was a child. There were a few details that were obviously left out, that I would've liked to see, and in the earlier episodes if you hadn't read the book, there wouldn't be a lot of context for what was happening. But overall I think it was quite true to the story. I wish they'd added a few more episodes to really flesh out the story more and get into more of the motivations of some of the secondary characters but generally it was quite good. In the first few episodes it felt that some of the charm of a few characters was missed, and that many of them were simply place holders to advance the story of the more central characters, without having much depth or substance themselves. I was wanting more about Firoze and the Nawab Sahib, and really Haresh and Meenakshi. But I guess you can only do so much with 6 hours of screen time. The biggest failing in my opinion though was in Mrs. Rupa Mehras character. She was not given the consideration and screen time her charachter deserved and she basically came off as a stereotypical Indian mother rather than the conflicting and nuanced character she was in the book. The actress was wonderful but it looked like she was starving for substance, which is too bad. I must say though, Lata, Maan, Mahesh Kapoor and Saeeda Bai were beautifully portrayed. Especially Maan and Mahesh Kapoor. They were so believable as father and son and so well cast. Maan especially had me tearing up. Incredible acting. Is it everything I could've hoped for? No. But is it worth watching again? Absolutely!