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- First reviewMay 22, 2008
- Last reviewMay 22, 2008
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FilmGuy712's Reviews
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Indy's Back...Kind of
PostedMay 22, 2008
FilmGuy712
from Wilmington, NC
It's been almost twenty years since Indiana Jones was on the big screen for his 'Last Crusade' and fans have been dying for a new chapter in the saga, however entering 'The Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls' may not have been the best addition to the franchise.
After nineteen years, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) returns to the big screen in search of a crystal skull which the Russians would like to use against America. The only other character from the previous films returning is Karen Allen, playing Marion Ravenwood.
Fans who've recently seen the previous three films will notice a difference in tone, speed, and structure of this film compared to the others. The audience is thrust into this story as quickly as possible. The other three films warm up to the main story with opening sequences that are kind of related to the main plot, meaning characterization and establishment of the setting, however in this one, we are almost immediately introduced to the bad guy. There are no warm ups I.E. no men in black hats tailing Jones from behind a newspaper.
Indy's usually pretty good at picking friends however one of his so called friends is playing for the other side, which is reveiled in the first ten minutes of the film. It is a character who we neither care nor feel bad for Indy because there's simply no characterization behind him. His handler, Cate Blanchett, plays a villanous comicesque villain right down to her ridiculous bowl hair cut.
However, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has some good throw backs to the original three. Indy drives and wrecks alot of vehicles (See Raiders of the Lost Ark), Indy is also forced (or he's rather curious) to look into the eyes of the crystal skull (See Temple of Doom when Indy drinks the blood of Khali), and of course the comical banter between Henry Jones, Sr. and Jr. in 'The Last Crusade' comes out between Indy and his new friend, Mutt (Shia Labeouf).
The other aspect of this film that makes it different from the others is that is in danger of taking itself too seriously. What I mean by that is that it is funny and Indy has his comical quips but no where near as much as the other three. Marion and Indy rub each other like sandpaper to start but eventually she becomes more lovey dovey than I remember her being in the first film. At the same time Indy doesn't have his same old comical moments during extended fight scenes which was a dissapointment as well. The previews also advertised the fact that team Spielberg and Lucas took into account Indy was no longer as young as he used to be, and there were only a few moments when we were drawn comically to that.
Overall it's an entertaining film, however fans of the other three will be dissapointed and feel jipped. The experience of seeing Indy on the big screen was still refreshing due to the fact I was too young to see the others on the big screen when they originally came out. It's entertaining but I had a feeling just from watching the previews that this installment would've turned out just OK.
After nineteen years, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) returns to the big screen in search of a crystal skull which the Russians would like to use against America. The only other character from the previous films returning is Karen Allen, playing Marion Ravenwood.
Fans who've recently seen the previous three films will notice a difference in tone, speed, and structure of this film compared to the others. The audience is thrust into this story as quickly as possible. The other three films warm up to the main story with opening sequences that are kind of related to the main plot, meaning characterization and establishment of the setting, however in this one, we are almost immediately introduced to the bad guy. There are no warm ups I.E. no men in black hats tailing Jones from behind a newspaper.
Indy's usually pretty good at picking friends however one of his so called friends is playing for the other side, which is reveiled in the first ten minutes of the film. It is a character who we neither care nor feel bad for Indy because there's simply no characterization behind him. His handler, Cate Blanchett, plays a villanous comicesque villain right down to her ridiculous bowl hair cut.
However, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has some good throw backs to the original three. Indy drives and wrecks alot of vehicles (See Raiders of the Lost Ark), Indy is also forced (or he's rather curious) to look into the eyes of the crystal skull (See Temple of Doom when Indy drinks the blood of Khali), and of course the comical banter between Henry Jones, Sr. and Jr. in 'The Last Crusade' comes out between Indy and his new friend, Mutt (Shia Labeouf).
The other aspect of this film that makes it different from the others is that is in danger of taking itself too seriously. What I mean by that is that it is funny and Indy has his comical quips but no where near as much as the other three. Marion and Indy rub each other like sandpaper to start but eventually she becomes more lovey dovey than I remember her being in the first film. At the same time Indy doesn't have his same old comical moments during extended fight scenes which was a dissapointment as well. The previews also advertised the fact that team Spielberg and Lucas took into account Indy was no longer as young as he used to be, and there were only a few moments when we were drawn comically to that.
Overall it's an entertaining film, however fans of the other three will be dissapointed and feel jipped. The experience of seeing Indy on the big screen was still refreshing due to the fact I was too young to see the others on the big screen when they originally came out. It's entertaining but I had a feeling just from watching the previews that this installment would've turned out just OK.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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