Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull: Atomic Bomb

This brings together Spielberg and Lucas The Hutt for a hollow and uninspired action flick that is idiotically written, poorly acted, and above all just downright boring. We need not only suspend our disbelief in our love for Indiana Jones…we must execute it! As a film lover, the only miniscule compliment I’ll give Spielberg is that it is exceptionally filmed; his camerawork and framing is masterful, as usual. Everything else is a bomb. As in atomic bomb…like the one Indy survives in a lead-lined refrigerator. No, I can’t make this crap up.

This movie is AMERICAN GRAFFITI meets APOCALYPTO as written by Erich von Däniken. We could forgive some fantastic stunts in the first film (did you truly believe the submarine never submerged in RAIDERS?) because they were at least possible and we cheered for Indy in taking the risks, but each film became more fantastic and hard to swallow. This one gets stuck in your throat. Swinging on vines, monkeys, waterfalls, carnivorous ants, driving in the Amazon jungle (did I mention it’s a freaking jungle?), ET, Mayan and Russian stereotypes, and the temporary suspension of all three physical laws of motion makes this adventure seem more like an arcade game…just reset and start again, no risk!

Karen Allen as Marion is relegated to a shrill and annoying love-interest: she and Ford share absolutely no chemistry and their banter brings on a migraine. Ford seems to struggle with his lines and LaBeouf isn’t terrible…he’s just written that way. Cate Blanchett is laughable though she is the only one to deliver her absurd lines with any conviction. The special effects aren’t so special and look unfinished or hurried, especially the Crystal Skull: it actually looks plastic! Writing this makes my skull hurt (no, it’s not plastic) or more precisely my brain…which is what our Dynamic Duo wants us to turn off while they shovel this manure.

Maybe future critics will interpret this film as a post-modern masterpiece that abolishes typical narrative conventions in order to create a narcissistically self-parodying mode of internal logic. On second thought, probably not…they’ll just say it sucked. Final Grade: (F)

Recommendations: The Birds, Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960), Funny Games

All reviews copyright Korova, Ltd. Visit Alex at his Home Theatre Blog, http://korovatheatrepresents.blogspot.com/

indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull

iniwell, i might have to go back and see this one sober.  because i really didn’t get it.  and i hate to say it but i think i actually dozed off there in a couple spots.

of course i had been drinking beers all weekend and had taken a xanax as i thought i was going to go to bed.  but then i decided to go see indiana jones.  had a sober driver and all.

i can’t say it was as bad as my buddy Chip thought it was.  he’s a big movie buff and he said he cried himself to sleep after he watched it it was so bad.  it’s not that bad.  depends on how high your expectations are though i guess.

i try not to have any expectations.  ever since episode one i have decided it’s not worth the pain and anguish to be expecting something spectacular and getting a goddamned children’s cartoon with the worst written script and most annoying characters ever.

but back to indy, you’d think mr. speilburg and mr. lucas would have this down by now.  it’s been twenty years and you would expect them not to just mail it in.  but i think they just kinda mailed it in.  there’s not really anything new here.

don’t get me wrong, there were people in the theater that applauded when it was over.  the two teenage boys i went with loved it.  so it’s not a terrible movie.  and i’m sure i’ll go see it again to give myself a second opinion.  and whatever i think the second time around, i’m sure to purchase the dvd when it comes out if nothing else to complete my set of indiana jones films.

the special effects are some of the best you’ll see all summer and the action never stops.  ever.  it hardly stops long enough to tell the story, actually.  which i’m still kinda fuzzy on the story part…

i read a review about this film that says something to the extent the shia labouf’s character may or may not be indy’s son.  marion straight tells indy that he is his son.  who wrote that review?  i can understand not wanting to spoil anything but it’s not like that issue is even questionable.

anyway, go see this film because you know you are going to anyway.  unless you just don’t like indiana jones.  in which case you are a commie.

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Cal Reed

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Basic Premise:

Indiana is at it again in this latest installment. The enemy is the KGB (Russian intelligence) and they want Indiana to help them find the whereabouts of a crystal skull that's fabled to give the possessor great power. Indiana isn't about to help them out of the goodness of his heart, but when the KGB take an old flame and good friend hostage, he's got no choice in the matter.

This movie was a credit to the Indiana Jones legacy. I was happy to see Harrison Ford could still pull off the character after all this time. He looked fantastic and the movie was great. Just like any other Indiana Jones movie, there were explosions, whip usage, gun fights, smart ass comments, and puzzle solving.

There were some points in the movie where I just couldn't stop laughing. Granted, I was the only one in theater who found it that funny, but I have a sick sense of humor.

I only had one problem with the whole movie... the ending. Oh don't get all scared, I'm not going to give it away. But I will say this -- I seem to remember something similar happening at the end of The Mummy Returns. My husband agreed. Eh, what do you expect? They're both Industrial Light and Magic films.

Recommendations: Star Trek (2009), Avatar, 300

D. Renee Bagby<br />
Building New Realms of Passion<br />
http://dreneebagby.com

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indy's back! But after this movie I think he should have stayed in retirement.



Now let's be honest, this was a pretty good movie. It's just that I am so sick of the Spielberg-Lucas duo that are reviving old movie favorites just to make a quick buck.



So Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set 20 years after the events of The Last Crusade. Indy is retired and lecturing. But he gets drawn back into the tomb aiding business when Cate Blanchett and some Russians ask him for help to find this magnetized alien head from Area 51. Then Shia LaBeouf comes in and says that he needs Indy's help to find-- ah wtf the movie really made no sense. Pfft!



And you know, I'm getting really sick of Shia LaBeouf sticking his hiney into every Spielberg movie possible. What kind of blackmail thing does Shia have going on with Spielberg. Practically every movie Spielberg make has Shia starring in it. I almost ripped my eyes out at the end when they nearly hinted that Shia was going to be taking over the Indiana Jones franchise. Jesus Christ I genuinely nearly had a heart attack there in the cinema.



But for what it's forth, 20 years on and Harrison Ford's still got it. I loved him as Indiana Jones in the first 3 films and I love him here. He is the only character besides Marion that I enjoyed watching only cause it was some sort of nostalgic moment. What would have really sold the film if all the girls Indy has banged in the last two films like Kate Capshaw make a cameo. That would have been awesome.



Cate Blanchett with a bob.. she looked a hell lot like my aunty with that haircut you know. It was so friggin weird how much they resembled each other. And the lousy Russian accent didn't help.. not one bit.



The stunts and the stuff Indy does in this movie has finally cross that line between realistic and downright bullshit. In the movie we have Indiana Jones being shot up in a fridge 200,000 feet in the air by an atom bomb blast and he makes it out without a scratch. In the next movie I bet the guy's gonna find a paper plate on an airplane and air board off it. I think Spielberg was a little drunk when he was writing that part.



The second part of the film turns into this really big video game where it becomes more of the obstacles than really focusing on the characters. While it still retains that Indiana Jones adventure feel, I dunno.. it just wasn't the same feeling I had when I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark.



But there were some action sequences I really enjoyed. The big car chase scene through the jungle was phenomenal. But whats up with all these bad guys having lousy aim. I mean their practically spraying bullets at Indy and not a single one hits him. They must have went to the same scooting school with the Storm Troopers or something. Oh and I love that ant scene, that was uber awesomeness!



Indiana Jones 4 is a worthy addition to the franchise but it really wasn't necessary at all. Though I did enjoy it for the most parts, I swear if they make a 5th movie I will kidnap Spielberg and George Lucas and feed them to those ant things.

RATING: 6/10

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NicholasC

Last updated: 2010-02-22 02:33:43 by user01

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

George Lucas is a moron. Sure, the man had two good ideas for movies in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, but even those gems were tarnished with crappy sequels (I refer to all three new Star Warsmovies, most of Return of the Jedi, everything in Temple of Doom after Shanghai and that horseshit trailer for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles which masquerades as the opening 20 minutes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). Sure, back in the 70s, when all the other nerdy weirdos were doing their best work (Spielberg, Schrader, Scorsese et al), Lucas seemed invincible. But if there’s one thingIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull makes clear, it’s that George Lucas should’ve stopped in ’81.

The new Indie begins with Harrison Ford stowed in a trunk. Ford, who looks a bit like Spencer Tracey’s luggage these days, has been kidnapped by the Russians. The year is 1957. The Reds want Indie to help them find a mysterious packing crate stored at a top-secret U.S. military base. After donning his famous hat and cracking his famous whip, Indie makes short work of the Ruskies, and embarks on a new quest. He’s after a legendary crystal skull (no, I’ve never heard the legend either) in South America. Along the way, he meets Mutt (Shia LeBeouf), his long lost son; renews his acquaintance with Marion (Karen Allen), his long lost love; and misses the Nazis, his perfect nemesis (the Commies aren’t much cop).

Setting aside that the new movie was made because Harrison Ford missed being made a fuss of, Crystal Skull isn’t bad. If there were noRaiders of the Lost Ark, you’d think: hey, this Mummy substitute is alright! But the trouble is: Raiders. Everything that made that movie brilliant is here, but less. Compare the openings: Raiders, with its lost temple, its rolling boulder, Belloq, “Snakes!”, amphibious aircraft… the world’s greatest theme tune. And Crystal Skull, with its… warehouse. I’m trying to be kind here, but you can see where I struggle. Raiders of the Lost Ark is fast, dark, funny, sexy, and made when Spielberg, Lucas and Ford were on fire. Why make a sequel when they’re all old men? The same reason Woody Allen won’t stop: it’s familiar. Yes – there’s lots to enjoy in this movie. Spielberg still knows how to stage a chase and Harrison Ford was born too wry to let the joke be on him. But then there’s the George Lucas contribution: the MacGuffin, the axis of the story. In Raiders of the Lost Ark there’s a genuine sense of fear and dread as to what the Ark will hold, which is fulfilled with a screw-the-rating-system ending (“Shut your eyes!”). I defy anyone to feel anything at the end of Crystal Skull.

Harrison Ford has a good time as Indie. He’s been mired in dreck for ten (maybe twenty) years, but he hasn’t forgotten how to be a big star. Like Sean Connery, he gives the silly stuff dignity without being pompous. You still believe his authority and the idea he could give and take a punch. Shia LaBoeuf convinces too. He’s got Ford’s nose and that look – like he sees a fight he’d like to join – in his eyes. It’s a big task, being the son of Indiana Jones, but LaBoeuf copes. Karen Allen, beloved by anyone who mooned over Starman, is a ready foil for Ford and doubtless amazed to be playing a love interest of comparable age to the star (57 to Ford’s 65!). For the rest, they role out the Brits: Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent (is there a movie made in the last ten years without one of these guys?).

What made Indiana Jones great wasn’t that it was new; it was the way it was done. There was a breathless enthusiasm to Raiders of the Lost Ark, a very 70s/early 80s joie de vivre. Watching it now, you realize how plasticized movies have become, how buttoned down today’s summer movies seem in comparison with the break-out-the-pot-and-let’s-see-what-happens aesthetic that prevailed in Raiders, Close Encounters, Jaws… Spielberg and Lucas were making it up as they went along, using lady-killers like Ford as their wish fulfillment, mooning over Karen Allen, hanging out with Margot Kidder and whoever at a beachfront in Malibu… Somehow great ideas were born of this. Crystal Skull wouldn’t have cut it in 1981.

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008)

BACK COVER SYNOPSIS: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas bring you the greatest adventurer of all time in a film packed with “sensational, awe-inspiring spectacles” (Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES). Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull finds Indy (Harrison Ford) trying to outrace a brilliant and beautiful agent (Cate Blanchett) for the mystical, all-powerful crystal skull of Akator in a quest that is filled with “spectacular fun” (Claudia Puig, USA TODAY). Teaming up with a rebellious young biker (Shia LaBeouf) and his spirited original love Marion (Karen Allen), Indy takes you on an action-packed adventure in the exciting tradition of the classic Indiana Jones movies!

FILM REVIEW: Despite the fact that the major players from the original films were back to execute this latest instalment in the Indiana Jones franchise, one could not help but be sceptical about “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” for the simple fact that so much time had passed since the last film that there was the inevitable question of whether or not the film could resonate in today’s cinematic world and whether or not it would be as good as the previous films. On balance, this film is probably about as good as the previous two sequels, if not the original “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, but there are some glaring issues with the film that would certainly dent your enthusiasm for everything Indiana Jones. There’s certainly nothing wrong with Harrison Ford, and in fact, you would be hard pressed to tell that any time has passed as he looks almost the same as he did before. The central object that Indy goes after is perhaps one of the series best in the mystical and powerful Crystal Skull; and the film makes the unusual, but logical move of pushing the series in to the late fifties to account for Ford’s age which allows the story to include Communists as the bad guys and a new visual aesthetic representing the 1950s. The down side comes in the form of certain choices made by both Spielberg and Lucas, including the use of some very silly humour, uninteresting secondary characters and a preponderence of computer generated images which give the feeling that the film was shot almost entirely on soundstages as opposed to live locations which the previous films had done. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is a decent Indy adventure that will entertain, but it comes up short in several areas.
The film opens with a great re-introduction for Indy’s character as he is forced to help the communists, lead by an icy Cate Blanchett, to penetrate Area 51 in search of a mummified alien corpse. There is a nice reference to the Ark Of The Convenant from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and the first shots and action are just as great as the previous films. The film then moves on to Indy being pulled in to the search for the Crystal Skull when Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) convinces Indy to take up his mentor’s (John Hurt) quest to find the mystery city of Akator where the skull must be returned. This is where the strength of this film lies in that the mystery at the heart of the film is quite strange and mystical, offerring a paranormal feeling that betters the search for the Holy Grail from the previous film. The Crystal Skull itself is spooky to look at, particularly with its pulsating energy which manages to control people’s minds. Before long, Indy traverses the globe, investigating strange caves and pyramid structures before he finds Akator, and the resting place for the Crystal Skull. Spielberg still shows he has an affinity for the material, creating a lot of mystical and fun sequences which are up there with the best of the series while simultaneously updating the film for the modern audience. It is in this respect that the film still manages to stand along side the previous sequels made.
Each of the Indy films opens with the Paramount logo morphing in to a real mountain; this time however it morphs in to a mole hill with a little gopher digging its way out of it. This change in motif towards the silly encapsulates what is probably not right about this instalment in the franchise which make a mockery of the whole thing. The subsequent sequences of Indy escaping from the communists and managing to survive a nuclear blast by locking himself in to a lead-laden fridge is absolutely ridiculous and one cannot imagine such a stupid sequence appearing in any of the previous Indy films. However, things do not let up there with LaBeouf’s character Mutt learning to swing through trees from monkeys, Indy and Marion bickering like school kids while sinking in quick sand and the horrifying moment where Mutt almost picks up Indy’s hat in a nod to say he may be the character to continue the franchise in Indy’s footsteps (thankfully Spielberg chooses to have Indy pick up the hat before Mutt can). All of these moments cheapen the film greatly, and one has to wonder about the hand of George Lucas in any creative capacity in a film these days; he had such a good touch in the 80s but it seems to have turned extremely corny and dumb. Spielberg is guilty somewhat for allowing it to happen, but at least he manages to handle all this better as a director than say what Lucas did on the Star Wars prequels.
Another major problem with the film is its extensive reliance on computer generated special effects. The Indiana Jones films were like James Bond films in that they relied on getting everything in camera which gave a feeling of authenticity to the storytelling. With even big action sequences filled in with blue screen vistas, everything now appears to have been shot in a studio and the realness is gone entirely. Fair enough for the climax in that it involves aliens and a very exotic location, but the big jeep chase sequence which sees Indy fighting to get the skull away from the communists is about as fake as they come. This is where things are disappointing with this film, especially when you remember back to the excellent and realistic-looking sequences in previous films such as the truck chase in “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” or the tank chase in “The Last Crusade”.
Indy films have not been known for great acting but even so, this instalment manages to downgrade this as well. Harrison Ford does a great job of reprising Indy, but the remainder of the cast seem to struggle, particularly Cate Blanchett who is normally brilliantly but quite terrible here with her poor Russian accent, and Shia LaBeouf who looks bored most of the time and would rather be somewhere else. The previous films had memorable supporting characters but there do not seem to be any on show here. Thankfully the film rests on Ford’s shoulders and he does not disappoint in this regard, recreating Indiana Jones with the same tenacity and fun that he did in the previous films.
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is a decent entry in the Indy franchise and manages to hold its own against the previous sequels, but something has been lost in this new film; it may be wise for Lucas and Spielberg to leave this franchise alone now as some of their choices in this film, if continued and expanded upon with another film, could destroy the reputation of the franchise.

TECHNICAL REVIEW: Given this DVD was produced out of Lucasfilm, the transfer is nothing short of spectacular. This film was shot on film at Spielberg’s insistence but the transfer gives the impression of an all digital film; the picture is crystal clear with perfect colour representation and sharpness. The soundtrack is likewise brilliant, making full use of the surrounds in all the big action sequences, and even the quieter moments, particularly the spooky climax in the alien temple. Overall, the transfer of this film to DVD has been done brilliantly.

EXTRAS REVIEW: The extras package on this DVD is excellent. Although Spielberg does not offer an audio commentary (as he usually doesn’t), the film has numerous featurettes covering the making of the film, including a great one on the pre-production phase where Spielberg, Lucas and Ford discuss why this film took so long to get made, who pushed for it the most and how the whole thing had to be re-imagined in the wake of so much time having past since the last film. In addition to the extensive featurettes are a number of photo galleries, trailers, pre-visualisation sequences, and subtitles. Overall, a solid collection of extras that complement the main feature very well.

BOTTOM LINE: Worth having in the collection if you're an Indy fan.

FILM RATING: 7.5/10 -- EXTRAS RATING: 8/10 -- OVERALL DVD RATING: 7.5/10 

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Todd Murphy <br />
http://www.allaboutmovies.net

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008)

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana Jones is back with style with a strong central concept, great character moments and entertaining sequences that we've come to know and love, despite not quite hitting all the marks (and in fact missing some completely) that the previous films did.

THE GOOD: The single biggest question mark hanging over this new instalment in the Indiana Jones series was whether or not Harrison Ford could still play the role at his age without any mobility assistance; I'm glad to say that he's most definitely up to it and for much of the running time you can believe that no time has passed at all, save some scenes where they make his age a blatant issue. It's great to see Ford back in action and in a strong, dignified role after a string of woeful and forgettable films ("Hollywood Homicide" any one?). Story-wise, this film has a lot going for it, least of all being the Crystal Skull itself and it's tie in with an alien civilisation that helped teach early humans to build technologies more advanced than they were capable of at the time. Whenever the story moves toward the Skull itself, there is a certain spookiness about it, especially its ability to communicate telepathically with people and is best exemplified in the finale when it is returned to its altar and combined with the other alien skeletons in a spectacular finale. As this object revolves around an alien artefact there's a visit at the outset from the film to Area 51 where our main villain played by Cate Blanchett wants to steal the body recovered from the Roswell crash in 1947; all nice touches. Continuing the theme from "The Last Crusade" of Indy's family, we're introduced to Indy's son played by Shia LaBeouf who does an amicable job of exhibiting his father's traits, and Karen Allen returns as Marion and it was nice to see the feisty relationship between Marion and Indy back on screen. The action is probably on par with the previous films, and Spielberg and Co. manage to make these quite entertaining and at times funny (harkening back to the old Saturday afternoon serials which these films are based upon). There are quite a few references to Indy's age in this film, but they're worked in organically and after a few scenes you don't really notice his age as your swept up in the story. What works well in this film is that it still has many of the elements that made the previous films so good, so when you walk out of the cinema, you feel as if you've watched another Indiana Jones film and not some tired cash in which is a shadow of its former self.

THE BAD: Despite being a good Indy film, there's something missing from this instalment. It has the usual components that made the old films work, such as character, action and a fascinating archaeological object in the Crystal Skull. And it is an entertaining adventure film with some excellent action. However, one of the strongest elements of the previous films in the series involved the mysticism surrounding the object that Indy was chasing and in this film, despite an excellent finale where we finally get the power of the skull emerging for all to see, we don't really get a sense of the mystical aspect to the story. Spielberg and Co. are too focused on including too many scenes which function as explanations for why this film should exist (ie backstory: what happened to Indy's father and Marcus Brody, what happened to Indy in the years between this film and the last, poking fun at and/or acknowledging Indy's advancing years). As a result, not as much emphasis is placed on the Crystal Skull itself and its power which is a shame because it was perhaps one of the strongest concepts in all of the movies (definitely better than the Grail from "The Last Crusade"). Cate Blanchett, despite putting in as strong a performance as possible in a film like this, isn't really as nasty a villain as those from the previous films, and the lack of any other villainous characters (there was usually more than one in the previous films) leave this area of the film a little flat. Another thing that felt a bit off was the lack of pre-story sequence where we see Indy in a mini-adventure that has nothing to do with the rest of the film (as with the previous films). Instead, right from the beginning we're right in to the main story; this might also have been a symptom of Spielberg and Co. wanting to devote more screen time to explaining the existence of this instalment. And Indy's main music theme doesn't actually appear in the soundtrack all that often. It's a shame because these types of things do detract from the film leaving you feeling with a "that was good but it lacked something..." feeling when you walk out of the cinema.

RATING: 7.5/10

Todd Murphy <br />
http://www.allaboutmovies.net

Movie Review - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Long titles and long waits for another Indy movie aside, what everyone wants to know is if this movie is another definitive and rewarding jaunt into the Henry Jones universe. When George Lucas and Steven Spielberg team up, what do you expect in a movie? You probably expect a kick-ass moviegoing experience, especially on the big screen, and you'll definitely be rewarded by Crystal Skull.

By now, you should know who the stars of this movie are. Spielberg directs, Harrison Ford reprises his role as Indy, and Shia LeBeouf plays Indy's partner in his excursions as Mutt Williams - who we learn is someone important to Indy's life as well! Cate Blanchett plays Irina Spalko, a Soviet who wants to brainwash citizens, and Karen Allen plays Marion Ravenwood, Indy's old fling. Yes, yes, so that's the cast, but where does the story take us? Indy is kidnapped by Soviets who want to find an ancient mythic artifact, the Crystal Skull, which is supposedly from beings more advanced than humans who built a city of treasure that, when the skull is returned to it, one will gain its power. The Soviets know a little of what this power is, and they want to brainwash people into being communists, so they take Indiana Jones hostage to help, who escapes and gets into contact with Mutt, whose uncle Oxley and his mother have been kidnapped by Irina. Mutt and Indy bond together as they search lost ruins to uncover the Crystal Skull, which has been left by Oxley after he found it. Through laborious chases and incredible survival odds, Indy, Mutt, his mother Marion, and Oxley make it out of the clutches of Soviets, deadly tribes, fire ants, waterfalls, federal agents, and even some more obstacles to get to the lost city of the Crystal Skulls, where the Soviets try to gain power from the treasure, but encounter a surprise they hadn't foreseen.

This fourth installment in the Indiana Jones series is quite the rush. Seeing it in theaters is a must, only because the full impact should be felt on a giant screen. The movie is like steroids made from light on a screen. It's fun, it's fast-paced, it's full-on action packed. Yet those people who don't enjoy unbelievability, who think that their movies must have an air of realism, will probably deny the enjoyment that the average movie-goer who likes to be entertained for the sake of entertainment will feel. Stunts and action scenes are genuinely outrageous. As the movie makes its way towards the conclusion, one can feel the testosterone increasing. And with that increase in hormone comes a serious decline in verisimilitude.

The unbelievability wouldn't be so bad if it looked real. But at times, the stunts seem really faked. In a chase sequence with a sword fight happening between two cars, the audience can see the cars looked slowed-down. A jungle scene is at first understandable, where one can lay their disbelief aside, but as the stunts keep increasing and the realism of the footage steadily decreases, one must step back from the breathless chase and say, "Come on, this is a little TOO far, even for Indy."

That's not to say that the movie isn't extremely entertaining. Everything happens so quickly that the audience can't even realize that the whole two hours has gone by before the movie's over. There's not really a slowdown between each scene, and there's barely any serious dialogue spoken before another showdown between Soviets or tribal people happens again. Oh, and while we're on the subject of dialogue, it's somewhat corny. I imagine that it was written to be that way, but with lines like, "Dance on your own time," spoken by Ford as LeBeouf attempts to shake off some scorpion, the movie's tone seems more laughable, like science fiction pulp instead of action-adventure.

I'm not writing Indy off, however. Taking into account the movie's presentation, I came to the assumption that the cheesy acting and over-the-top science fiction plot (which I found disagreeable as the super-beings actually were supernatural interdimensional creatures rather than "aliens," as Spielberg and Lucas have their roots set in) was supposed to be intentional. Whether that was the intended message or not, it worked out to feel that way, which helped boost the fun level, in my opinion. Yet while there was enough action and humor (which even poked fun at Ford's growing age), there seemed to be something missing from this installment of Indy. Maybe it was the villain played by Cate Blanchett, who didn't seem to be as evil as the movie tried to depict her as, or maybe it was the lack of rolling stone balls. It certainly wasn't LeBeouf or Ford, who both played their roles excellently, and exuded charisma and strong camaraderie towards each other.

Indy might be losing steam, but Ford is not. Next time, Lucas might want to pen a better script, but Spielberg's stylish cuts and transitions of scenes make up for it. If there is a next time, maybe we'll see LeBeouf take up Ford's role. See this movie, but just remember that it probably won't be the Indy that you used to know - times have changed.

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Last updated: 2010-01-17 09:07:05 by user01

Indiana Jones and Kingdom of The Crystal Skull

he movie follows an old man’s quest to return a crystal skull to its rightful owner who turns out to be an alien. It is directed by Steven Spielberg which might explain where the extraterrestrial creature comes from.

Actually I haven’t seen the prequels but it shouldn’t matter. As one of the most popular adventure movies of all time, the latest installment of Indian Jones series doesn’t quite live up to its reputation. It is not much of an entertainment and it can’t be taken seriously either. The script is weak and slack. The characters are unable to capture the audience. Overall, it seems like a scrawny slapstick comedy.

On a brighter note, this movie is harmless and laughable (take it as compliments). Although given the choice, I’d pick another movie. The supernatural ending really ruins it for me.

I doubt they’re going to make another sequel but who knows. Indiana Jones can conveniently pass his hat to his son, Mutt Williams (Shia Labeouf). I reckon that is one of the reasons for his sudden appearance.

If you’re curious about the ending, go ahead and watch. Even if you thought this movie too farfetched, you might want to consider watching (when you have plenty of time to spare) just to get a good laugh at its absurdity.

Gah. John William’s musical score is playing continuously in my head.


Mel says: 6.5/10

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones returns to the big screen after 19 years in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Before I begin, I must make something clear. I have seen many critics reviews of this film that do nothing but compare it to the original trilogy. I find this to be terribly unfair, and I am here to review this film as a singular piece of work. Harrison Ford stars as the title character Indiana Jones, a professor who insists that the best way to become a great archaeologist is to get out of the library. In this new adventure, Indy faces a new enemy in the form of the Soviets, specifically Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). Spalko is a leading scientist that specializes in the study of psychic ability. Her search for knowledge has brought her to Jones, who she hopes can lead her to a source of earth shattering power: a crystal skull. Legends say that whoever returns the crystal skull to its rightful place will be given control over the power it possesses. With some help from old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and her son Mutt Williams (Shia Labeouf), Indy must race against the Soviets to keep this magnificent power out of their grasp. With lots of old style action sprinkled with new age effects, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a fun ride that is thoroughly entertaining.

There is something that has really bugged me about other critics reviews of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and that is the recurring theme of calling it "too farfetched". Are we supposed to believe that the previous 3 Indiana Jones films were not farfetched? In Raiders of the Lost Ark, spirits rose from the ark of the covenant and obliterated Nazis. In Temple of Doom, men had their heart removed from their body, yet they continued to live. In The Last Crusade, a centuries old knight guarded the cup of Christ, and a man drank from the cup and melted. Yet all of these films are considered classic adventure films. So why not Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Yes the inclusion of aliens in the plot may be a bit over the top, but when has the Indiana Jones series not been over the top?

I am not saying Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is flawless, as it is far from it. I do believe that the plot was a bit flimsy, but it became overshadowed by the excellent direction of Steven Spielberg. He will not be winning any Oscars for this film, but Spielberg fluently expresses his knack for creating an exciting feature that knows how to make your heart race. The action sequences in Crystal Skull are very well put together, and Spielberg does a good job of keeping everything within reason. At times, especially in the beginning, Crystal Skull was very bogged down and uninteresting, but once you make it over that hump, Spielberg does not disappoint. Once the pace begins to increase it stays that way and keeps you content.

Harrison Ford proves age is not an obstacle as the dauntless Indiana Jones. At age 65, Ford still makes it seem seamless to encompass the role of the audacious adventurer that we have come to know and love. He seems almost born to play this role. Ford's on screen charm is highly contagious as he seems to illuminate the rest of the cast as well as arouse joy and interest in the audience. Cate Blanchett lays on the thick Russian accent as villainess Irina Spalko. Blanchett scowls her way through the majority of the film, not providing the high caliber performance one would expect from an actress of her level. Shia Labeouf once again proves himself to be a strong young actor as Mutt Williams. Working along with Ford, Labeouf's performance is often times able to keep the movie afloat during those sinking moments that popped up every now and again. I would not be surprised if we see an Indiana Jones 5 that places Labeouf as the lead, and I would welcome this change with open arms. The resurgence of Karen Allen's character Marion Ravenwood seems a bit contrived, especially since she played such a small part in the film. It felt as though the only reason she was there is so that Spielberg could give us the ending that he did. Near the end of the film, I had actually forgotten Allen was even in the movie, because she seemed to blend in with the scenery.

There is one thing you must remember before watching Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. And that is to not expect anything. It is one thing to hope for a movie to be good, and a completely different thing to expect a movie to be good. Having an expectation is another way of having a bias. If you are expecting another Raiders of the Lost Ark, you are not going to get one. Expectations can ruin a movie. Watch Crystal Skull as a single film, and then afterwards you may rank it amongst the other films in the series if you like, but do not judge it by the standards set by the other films.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a solid adventure flick that is not lacking flaws, but is also not lacking excitement. Even with a slow going first 20 minutes, the film picks up momentum that is culminated to a final scene that is visually stunning and beautiful. Crystal Skull does not reinvent the Indiana Jones franchise, but simply continues it as though it never left us. Worth multiple viewings, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a fine addition to the franchise and although it may not be everything you wished for, it is a very good film. My Rating (7.5/10)

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