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- First reviewMay 25, 2008
- Last reviewMay 25, 2008
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JJ2008's Reviews
Overall rating
5
/
5
Exactly the movie it needs to be!
PostedMay 25, 2008
JJ2008
from Madison, WI
KOCS is action-packed, funny, a bit scary, and exactly what a summer blockbuster/popcorn movie is supposed to be--two hours of sheer entertainment. Above and beyond that, this movie accomplishes exactly what it sets off (and needs) to do--it reintroduces the Indy franchise/brand to the market, it pays some homage to the original three movies, and finally, it creates a bridge from the past to the future.
Shia LaBeouf was a fantastic choice to play Mutt--kudos to the casting director who made that decision. He has a great rapport with the rest of the cast, and fits the role perfectly.
Cate Blanchett does a decent job of her role as well--who knew that Queen Elizabeth/Galadriel could pull off playing a stereotypical Cold War Russian babe (ala Natasha from Underdog) so well? Then again, she *is* an Oscar winner. While I thought I heard a tad of a British accent peeking through every once in a while, it was a solid performance.
Karen Allen was the appropriate choice to return as Indy's lasting love interest, and the years have treated her well. While not as much of a central character to the movie as she was in Raiders, she does a decent job with the material she's given.
It seems to take a little while for Harrison Ford to allow Indy to fully emerge from wherever he's been stored for the last 19 years, but he finally does. It's worth noting that Indy seems most Indy-like when Mutt shares that screen with him; Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf play off each other very well.
It's also worth noting that Harrison Ford has allowed Indy to age gracefully. While Ford is still in excellent shape for a 66-year-old, and pulls off some decent stunts and fight scenes in a totally believable manner, it would have been cringe-inducing to see him trying to act like a 40-something Indy. The introduction of Mutt (who can pull off the same stunts--and more--as the younger Indy) and the fact that the movie accepts that 19 years have passed makes the rest of it all work.
The plot does leave some unanswered questions and some "Huh?" moments, but plot doesn't seem to be a summer blockbuster film's strong spot, anyway. A more strongly-plotted film may have been desirable, but this one works well enough.
For fans of the original three films, there are nostalgic hat tips to each of them, with a playful nod to Ford's other blockbuster Lucasfilm role as well ("I've got a bad feeling about this.")
At the screening I attended, the movie ended to light but sincere applause from the audience.
All in all, I'd recommend this with no hesitation. See it in the theater; it's what summer movie-going is meant to be!
Shia LaBeouf was a fantastic choice to play Mutt--kudos to the casting director who made that decision. He has a great rapport with the rest of the cast, and fits the role perfectly.
Cate Blanchett does a decent job of her role as well--who knew that Queen Elizabeth/Galadriel could pull off playing a stereotypical Cold War Russian babe (ala Natasha from Underdog) so well? Then again, she *is* an Oscar winner. While I thought I heard a tad of a British accent peeking through every once in a while, it was a solid performance.
Karen Allen was the appropriate choice to return as Indy's lasting love interest, and the years have treated her well. While not as much of a central character to the movie as she was in Raiders, she does a decent job with the material she's given.
It seems to take a little while for Harrison Ford to allow Indy to fully emerge from wherever he's been stored for the last 19 years, but he finally does. It's worth noting that Indy seems most Indy-like when Mutt shares that screen with him; Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf play off each other very well.
It's also worth noting that Harrison Ford has allowed Indy to age gracefully. While Ford is still in excellent shape for a 66-year-old, and pulls off some decent stunts and fight scenes in a totally believable manner, it would have been cringe-inducing to see him trying to act like a 40-something Indy. The introduction of Mutt (who can pull off the same stunts--and more--as the younger Indy) and the fact that the movie accepts that 19 years have passed makes the rest of it all work.
The plot does leave some unanswered questions and some "Huh?" moments, but plot doesn't seem to be a summer blockbuster film's strong spot, anyway. A more strongly-plotted film may have been desirable, but this one works well enough.
For fans of the original three films, there are nostalgic hat tips to each of them, with a playful nod to Ford's other blockbuster Lucasfilm role as well ("I've got a bad feeling about this.")
At the screening I attended, the movie ended to light but sincere applause from the audience.
All in all, I'd recommend this with no hesitation. See it in the theater; it's what summer movie-going is meant to be!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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