By now, you’ve probably seen “Jurassic World” if you’re a dinosaur fanatic like me. You might have even been so excited that you saw the midnight premiere. But if, for some reason, you haven’t seen the original “Jurassic Park” or either of its (less exciting) sequels, you need to a) rethink the past 20 years of your life or b) watch the movies and then weep with regret over the poor choices you’ve made. You will have missed out on years of love for dinosaurs, the beautiful and occasionally tear-inducing theme music by the acclaimed John Williams, the misguided belief that dinosaur DNA could be extracted from mosquitoes in amber, and nightmarish lessons taught by Sam Neill. (The last two of which might not have been the worst to skip).

Sam Neill knows how to talk to children

That said, “Jurassic World” can be viewed as a stand-alone film, so it’s okay if you missed the originals! The new addition to the franchise has action, amazingly life-like dinosaurs, technology that transcends current theme park capabilities, and (most importantly) an Indiana Jones-esque Andy Dwyer--aka Chris Pratt.

With over $460 million at the box office, “Jurassic World” is on track to become the fastest-grossing film to hit $500 million. While some critics note the film’s one-dimensional characters and lack of originality, the blockbuster is visually stunning and undoubtedly a must-see movie of the summer. It can also teach you quite a few life lessons. (SPOILERS AHEAD).

1. Learn from your past experiences: Hey, maybe if dinosaurs escaped and went on murderous rampages 20 years ago, it’s not a good idea to open the exact same park. Or attend a park where civilians were once attacked by dinosaurs. This invaluable lesson that was learned by hundreds of park attendees who fled flying Pteranodons can be applied to your life. If something didn’t work the first time and caused several untimely deaths, it might produce the same results a second time.



Kids screaming in terror in both "Jurassic World" and "Jurassic Park."


2. Always have a back-up plan: Say, an evacuation plan in case of another dinosaur escape. The majority of tourists were left to fend off Pteranodons and hide among the wreckage because there weren’t enough boats to escape the island. Always have an extra life boat (aka a back-up plan). I remember this being a problem in a James Cameron movie.

Innocent park-goers fleeing from Pteranodons.


3. Wear sensible shoes: If you need to scamper through miles of jungle in search of your missing nephews and a raging Indominus Rex, you won’t want to wear three-inch heels. Unlike depictions in the movie, you will not survive being chased by a T-Rex in those shoes. Dress appropriately for a given situation.

Unrealistic portrayal warning: do not try this at home.


4. Never lose a sense of wonder: A major theme of the movie dealt with society’s growing indifference toward the newest attractions. It was once amazing enough to see living dinosaurs, but people grew bored and wanted thrills-- scarier, genetically-modified dinosaurs to “up the ‘wow’ factor.” A critique on modern society? I think so. Find wonder in the smallest things and just enjoy life!

"Welcome to Jurassic World."

5. Be optimistic about your future: No one was more shocked than I at Chris Pratt’s transformation from Andy Dwyer to Starlord in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and Owen Grady in this movie. This could always happen to you! I’d like to think it was his positive outlook on life rather than intense workouts and a strict diet that led to his increased box office success and leading-man status.



The world's reaction


I’ve seen each movie in the “Jurassic” franchise multiple times and learned countless lessons about life. Although I should probably take my own advice, I would be the first in line at a park with living dinosaurs.




In the off-chance you want to see the new film without buying tickets, check out: