Indiana Jones: Is it even worth renting on DVD?
October 16th 2008 00:15
I realize this is a popular blogging topic, so I will offer both succinct and specific personal review of this film. For those that are huge fans of Spielberg’s Indiana Jones films; Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), you will no doubt have already seen the film at the cinema giddy with anticipation. You no doubt left shaking your head.
For those, like myself, who didn’t rush headlong on opening night to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), was wondering whether or not it’s worth a night in at home. Well, let me put it this way, unless you are a DEVOTED Indiana Jones fan, or subscribe to the belief that Lucas and Spielberg ‘ can do no wrong’, you may in fact actually LIKE this film. But the rest of the general movie going public, unless they’ve had a recent lobotomy or still wear nappies, will not. I can guarantee it.
There are a series of problems with this film notwithstanding the implausibility of Cate Blanchett’s accent, surviving an atomic bomb in a fridge, or the magnetism of quartz.
Firstly, when you hold the films namesake in your hands – that is – The Crystal Skull – should it actually look heavy? ah well - der!! The answer is yes, simple acting skills have simply flown the coop in this one. There were too many pats on the back Spielberg, and it shows – how could you let this simple stage and prop direction slip? Suspending our disbelief in the existence aliens or the supernatural is one thing, but having actors toy around with what clearly is a polystyrene-crystal quartz fake – is unheard of!
But having said this, the film is GENIUS when it comes to its cinematography and music. Janusz Kaminski (Munich, Saving Private Ryan) and John Williams (too many GREAT films to list!) can do no wrong. And they are not to blame for this blunder. The film is a pleasure to WATCH and HEAR in most parts.
While the story – the hunt for an ancient crystal skull belonging to a race of alien beings, who are trapped in the Peruvian jungle, until it is returned to its owner – is good, great in fact – but it is NOT an Indiana Jones story. It doesn’t fit. The tongue-in-check humour, reckless and implausible sense of fun, adventure and near misses, don’t fit with the science fiction element of this intriguing story.
Speilberg (direction) and Lucas (story) missed the mark on this one. And badly. If it were another film, with more depth and characterization, it could have survived and perhaps done very well, but this is a light-hearted, ‘for the good ‘ol days’ reprisal of a series of films that were of their time. And should stay there.
Let’s face it - what’s made in the eighties should stay in the eighties. This is the twenty first century and filmmaking has changed dramatically. We are a more educated audience, in the ‘blow me away' sense, and while this film would have been filling seats in the series heydays, it’s just too simplistic for today’s pleasure, action and mind-twisting - hungry audience.
I am not going to give away any major story lines – because you should watch it for yourself. But don’t turn to me in disappointment – you were duly warned.
There are a series of problems with this film notwithstanding the implausibility of Cate Blanchett’s accent, surviving an atomic bomb in a fridge, or the magnetism of quartz.
"Now you will believe that I am Rosa Klebb in From Russia with Love"
But having said this, the film is GENIUS when it comes to its cinematography and music. Janusz Kaminski (Munich, Saving Private Ryan) and John Williams (too many GREAT films to list!) can do no wrong. And they are not to blame for this blunder. The film is a pleasure to WATCH and HEAR in most parts.
While the story – the hunt for an ancient crystal skull belonging to a race of alien beings, who are trapped in the Peruvian jungle, until it is returned to its owner – is good, great in fact – but it is NOT an Indiana Jones story. It doesn’t fit. The tongue-in-check humour, reckless and implausible sense of fun, adventure and near misses, don’t fit with the science fiction element of this intriguing story.
Speilberg (direction) and Lucas (story) missed the mark on this one. And badly. If it were another film, with more depth and characterization, it could have survived and perhaps done very well, but this is a light-hearted, ‘for the good ‘ol days’ reprisal of a series of films that were of their time. And should stay there.
You shouldn’t be smiling Steve!
Let’s face it - what’s made in the eighties should stay in the eighties. This is the twenty first century and filmmaking has changed dramatically. We are a more educated audience, in the ‘blow me away' sense, and while this film would have been filling seats in the series heydays, it’s just too simplistic for today’s pleasure, action and mind-twisting - hungry audience.
"Help me get out of this movie!"
I am not going to give away any major story lines – because you should watch it for yourself. But don’t turn to me in disappointment – you were duly warned.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Harrison Ford looked so pitifully disinterested I wanted to cry. A very sad figure is Indy in the 21st century.
The talk of a 5th film now is truly depressing.
Comment by Raquelle
I love Spielberg, but sometimes its apparent he has too much money and power to toy with. Having said that he's a genius and rightly so.
I wish I was his position!
So I take it you wont be running to see the fifth?!
Raquelle
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
All we were given were pathetic set pieces linked together by nonsensical filler.
After, I watched "Raiders" again... the lack of CGI made the visuals even more incredible, and the plot actually has elements to it. Tantalizing clues, small failures, desperation.
The new film is a travesty - and I don't understand what there was to enjoy about it?
By the end, it was just insulting.
Comment by Raquelle
Comment by Geoffo
Totally agree on the skull - prop thing. The whole aliens thing though didn't bother me that much, I'm prepared to suspend my belief as far as that is concerned but I thought all the action sequences were terrible.
The sword fight was the worst. How can there be so much clearing when the machine that was doing it has just been blown up? And why does Mutt use a sword when Indy tells him to find something to fight with when there is a perfectly good machine gun attached to the front of the vehicle. There's no way anyone could stay balanced like that between the two vehicles. And then they fall down 3 massive waterfalls, there is no way all of them would have survived.
I then watched a behind the scenes segment on the DVD, Speilberg should openly admits that for a long time he resisted, claiming that he was done with series, he should have stuck to his guns. Hearing people like the script writer and the costumer wank on about how tough their job was, was sickening.
said he tried to make the movie stand on its own, how can a movie stand on its own when the main love interest returns from a previous movie?!?!
I also felt like punching the costume designer who said it was so hard to find a hat, jacket and whip the same as the original. That gear is part of cinematic history, there must be dozens of them scattered throughout a punch of museums.
Needless to say I was very disappointed, the movie fell well short of expectations. I enjoyed Rocky Balboa and Rambo, there was a good continuation of the story, despite being decades on, but not here.