“65” (2023)

As a kid, I always imagined how humans interacted with dinosaurs, like many kids; after watching cartoons, I actually believed that premise was real, that humans and dinosaurs ever crossed paths, today I know better, still my imagination wonders, and that’s the premise of many science fiction stories and movies, including the one we’re discussing here.

In this movie, the concept of humans interacting with prehistoric animals is taken further with a futuristic twist. The idea of time travel adds another layer of intrigue and mystery to the story. However, the movie fails to fully explore the risks and consequences of humans interacting with a primal and untouched environment.

In the real world, there are plenty of examples of humans interacting with animals and the environment with disastrous consequences. We’ve seen species go extinct due to human intervention and witnessed the devastating effects of deforestation, pollution, and climate change.

In the movie, the characters are shooting dinosaurs with futuristic weapons, raising ethical questions about our actions’ consequences.

In “65” the concept of humans interacting with prehistoric animals is taken a step further with a futuristic twist.

However, the movie fails to fully explore the risks and consequences of humans interacting with a primal and untouched environment.
In the real world, there are plenty of examples of humans interacting with animals and the environment with disastrous consequences.

By exploring these risks and consequences more deeply, the movie could have been much more engaging and thought-provoking. The characters could have been forced to confront ethical and moral dilemmas, adding depth to their arcs and giving the story more weight.

Additionally, by adding another level to the movie that took on the concept of time and delving deeper into the potential consequences of time travel, the story could have taken on a more cerebral tone, encouraging viewers to think about the ramifications of their actions.

When it comes to this movie, there’s no denying that there are some positive aspects. The SFX are impressive, especially considering the budget, and the concept is really cool with loads of potential for a compelling story. Plus, with Adam Driver in the cast, the acting is solid. Even the runtime is just right for a movie like this. So why does it all add up to a movie that’s actually pretty boring?

The answer, in my opinion, is that the people involved just weren’t invested. They never tried to elevate the movie beyond its elevator pitch: “a futuristic traveller meets dinosaurs and shoots them.”

The script never takes advantage of the potential to create misdirection, instead following a predictable paint-by-numbers plot.
Even Adam Driver’s attempts to add some depth to his character are undercut by a rushed plot that doesn’t give us enough time to get invested in the story.

Ariana Greenblatt does her best to be an interesting character, but her inability to communicate makes it difficult to understand who she really is. Visually, the movie is decent, with some impressive sequences and well-designed t-rexs. However, not all the dinosaurs are up to par, and the rushed pacing means we don’t fully appreciate the impressive visuals.

What I loved most about the movie was the concept, particularly the emergency element that sets a clock on the mission and makes it time-sensitive. However, the movie could have done more to play up the mystery of where the characters are and whether they’re time-travelling. It could have been much more engaging if the story had taken more risks and played with the potential twists and turns.

Ultimately, the movie’s predictability, repetitiveness, and rushed pacing make it forgettable. As a child, I remember imagining how men and dinosaurs would survive together, but this movie doesn’t quite deliver on that promise. It could have been so much more with a little more effort and investment.

Have you seen this movie? What did you think?

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