Everyone who knows me knows that I love Indiana Jones. Probably most of our regular readers know I love Indiana Jones. So it’s really no surprise that I was front and center when Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opened earlier this summer. Since I didn’t write a review of that film, however, many of you might not know that I actually liked it. That’s right. I liked it.
Now I know all of the critics out there have their many reasons why this movie wasn’t as good as the others and why it didn’t live up to expectations and why they thought George Lucas destroyed a piece of their childhood, yada, yada, yada. The thing is, I too saw the tiny issues with the CGI and the somewhat bigger issues of logic that permeated a couple of the scenes. Sure, a few parts were a bit silly and maybe a couple of things could have been done differently. But I still liked it.
I was going to write a full critique of what I liked about the film and why I think it’s getting a bad rap, but then I discovered I didn’t have to because Jeffrey Anderson at Cinematical just did it for me. He posted an article yesterday that perfectly illustrates my points and is fully in tune with my own line of reasoning.
I see no reason to repeat what Jeffrey has already done so well so I encourage you to jump over and read his article which is entitled 400 Screens, 400 Blows - Indiana Jones and the Defense of the Sequel. Tell me it doesn’t make sense. Tell me he doesn’t have a point. Tell me you absolutely won’t line up to see the next one when it comes out.
As for me, I’m already waiting for the next one.
I dont recall any groundhogs in the movie at all… hmmm… I need to see it again….
For me I cant understand what all the hub bub about CGI is/was, it seemed rather seemless to me. I cant pinpoint why the movie didnt grab me like others in the story…. it seemed laidback? thats not the right word…it kept seeming like ti wanted to try hard than the others but nothing happened (that probably doesnt make any sense). I liekd this movie, but it wasnt great. Mutt was a bad addition to the story I thought, his combing his hair was annoying, and the only really bad scene I thought was in the movie was the jungle scene where he swings through the vies with monkeys to catch the cars/trucks that left him behind…
Was it great, no…. did I like it yes…. will I see another, for sure!… as its hard to stay away from Indy…
Dude, the groundhogs were the very first scene of the movie.
You're right about the worst scene in the film, although there were a couple of others that were questionable.
See, the problems I had with the movie aren't even really related to the reasons he mentioned. I sort of thought the CGI was too much, but it didn't bother me. The real weird part was the swinging from vines, but whatever.
Even if that guy from Cinematical says #2 and #3 were less serious than Raiders, #4 was even worse. I definitely felt it lacked any care in trying to make us feel like the characters were in danger or cared about what they were after.
In Crusade, Indy was trying to find his father and then HAD to find the Cup of Christ in order to save him.
This movie lacked anything that felt “real” to me…the writing was bad, Ford looked lackadaisical…and I just didn't give a hoot.
Like I said in comments earlier, it just seemed like George, Steven and Harrison got drunk on their porch one weekend and wrote the script, not realizing most of the jokes would only be funny to them.
If we're being honest here, it did feel like a different movie at first. There were a few scenes that felt unrealistic (swinging from vines is one, the refrigerator scene is another) but overall, I enjoyed it way more than the 3rd movie. I can say that when Indiana's ex. Mutt's mother steps into the picture is when it really starts to feel like a classic Indy movie. Perhaps the movie needed a chick by his side to complain and cause drama. I just thought it was more fun when she came into the movie. The ending was a bit of a let down because after all that searching, nothing was revealed. No information from “them”. They just came alive, killed a couple, and left. I was expecting something a little more. But i enjoyed it.
I liked the movie…. up until the ending… absolutely hated the ending. I thought it was the dumbest thing Lucas had ever done…
And I agree that the swinging with the monkeys was horrible… however, I will confess that if another Indy is made, I will be in the theater - I just won't go to the midnight showing like I did for this one.
I can't really say if it was good or bad since I didn't see it, what I can tell is why I stopped at Indy 2. I know the Indiana Jones formula and its like get to the ending. Its like I Love Lucy, its a great show funny and all, but its like ok how does Lucy screw it up and then whats the resolution. It's lazy and condescending.
Man for the life of me I cant recall groundhogs at all… what were they doing /purpose?
Dear God Capn, your typing skills blow dude…. take a class…
Well Mr. Schwartz my typing skillz may blow but you are ugly, and I can learn to type…but you will always be ugly…
You do realize we are the same person right Einstein?
There is only one true capn and you aint him… I put you with the likes of Keifers mirror double… you are the evil Capn with no real purpose…
Whatever!
Points for taking to yourself!
Now your typing like the Capn! i hope the mirror double doesnt see that!
I couldn't agree with this post more. I went into that movie theater hoping to be entertained by some borderline-ridiculous escapes from fantastical foes interspersed with some witty quips and corny dialogue. I was not disappointed. Sure, the vine-swinging scene was a cinematic tragedy, and the ending went a bit too far, but on the whole, I was entertained. If they come out with another one, I'll buy a ticket.
They had no purpose. That was the problem. The camera pans up on them and they're in the field as the cars go speeding past them in the desert. It seems like they make another appearance too…?
I hated when Jar Jar Binks showed up… that's when I felt it really moved in to something unrealistic.
Wow, I suck
I think the word we're looking for is…anyway…
“…wrote the script, not realizing most of the jokes would only be funny to them.” That would be the script Jason would write.
Of course, only Jason will understand that…
Great. Now I'm talking to MYSELF. Dang it, Cap'n!
Like, totally.
lol, You should get a point for having the funniest comment…but I think you've reached your limit. =D
LOL… I agree so I gave it a point!
I agree completely here. I loved the new Indiana Jones movie, but I loved all the other Indiana Jones movies as well. It made me happy and I enjoyed revisitng old characters I had dearly missed, and meeting new characters. I didn't really care about all the things other people seem to complain about, because I was having fun on the adventure. That is the point after all.