Quin GootCrystal skulls and spaceships
May 30th 2008 10:36
If Spielberg and co were looking to provide two hours of good popcorn entertainment, well they succeeded. If they were trying to create a fitting final chapter in the Indiana Jones saga, they failed.
It's been 19 years and it shows. What this film lacked was some touches of 1980's Spielberg. It had far too much Spielberg and Lucas circa 2008.
After a great first 20 minutes or so it just fades away with the exception of a couple of good scenes. The film starts in a familiar looking warehouse with Indiana forced to help the Russians locate a powerful crystal skull. After they get what they're after we get a great chase sequence followed by a classic Spielberg scene involving atomic bomb testing and a lead lined fridge. So far so good.
But from the moment Jim Broadbent appears at Dr Jones classroom door instead of Denholm Elliot it never feels right. Indiana is told he's under FBI investigation because his double crossing mate Mac (Ray Winstone) is working for the Soviets. Forced to take a leave of absence he runs into Mutt (Shia LeBeouf) who tells him his old friend Harold Oxley (John Hurt) has disappeared while searching for the crystal skull. They then follow Oxleys trail to the grave of a disappeared Conquistador and the crystal skull only to be ambushed by the damn Ruskies again. The bad guys led by cardboard cut out villain Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) reveal they already have Oxley as well as Indiana's old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who then reveals that Mutt is their son.
They eventually escape leading to a spectacular chase sequence (in which Mac double crosses the Russians?), a run in with some giant army ants (who obviously prefer the flavour of Russians to Americans) and a fall down a three tiered waterfall. They then come upon the fabled Temple of Akator. They enter when Indiana uses the Skull to open the temple door. Upon entering they find the crystal skeletons of 13 aliens with one missing the skull they possess.
Mac then double crosses Indiana again (make your mind up son) just as the Russians arrive and take the skull. When Spalko replaces it the aliens begin to communicate through Oxley saying they want to give a great gift of knowledge. Spalko demands to know everything and is then given all the knowledge she can take until she disintegrates. A portal opens up and sucks everything up including Mac (who will no doubt double cross the aliens before long). Indiana, Mutt, Marion and Oxley escape in time to see a great big flying saucer emege and take off.
And then it ends (hopefully) with Dr Jones and Marions marriage.
This isn't the worst film ever but it's certainly the worst Indiana Jones film ever. While the first three had a very supernatural feel, this one steadily descended into science fiction. The end was a bit to similar for comfort to The X Files Movie.
And when it starts borrowing from The Mummy and National Treasure -two films it's heavily influenced- you know we're in trouble.
Harrison Ford is still great, if a little jaded looking, as Jones. He still throws a punch and cracks a whip with the best of them. Shia LeBeouf is also good as the Brando inspired Mutt and has a good rapport with Ford. And it's great to see Karen Allen back. And she is great at first but is then shoved into the background hardly to be heard from again. Cate Blanchett just dosen't stand up to previous Indy villains which is a pity because she's a great actress. Ray Winstone is just wasted. He could have been so funny in this. And John Hurts character seems to have been whipped up after they coudn't bring Connery out of retirement.
All in all I could be more forgiving if it weren't for the fact that they've ended this magic movie saga with a great big fucking spaceship.
A shame really.
5.5/10
It's been 19 years and it shows. What this film lacked was some touches of 1980's Spielberg. It had far too much Spielberg and Lucas circa 2008.
After a great first 20 minutes or so it just fades away with the exception of a couple of good scenes. The film starts in a familiar looking warehouse with Indiana forced to help the Russians locate a powerful crystal skull. After they get what they're after we get a great chase sequence followed by a classic Spielberg scene involving atomic bomb testing and a lead lined fridge. So far so good.
They eventually escape leading to a spectacular chase sequence (in which Mac double crosses the Russians?), a run in with some giant army ants (who obviously prefer the flavour of Russians to Americans) and a fall down a three tiered waterfall. They then come upon the fabled Temple of Akator. They enter when Indiana uses the Skull to open the temple door. Upon entering they find the crystal skeletons of 13 aliens with one missing the skull they possess.
And then it ends (hopefully) with Dr Jones and Marions marriage.
This isn't the worst film ever but it's certainly the worst Indiana Jones film ever. While the first three had a very supernatural feel, this one steadily descended into science fiction. The end was a bit to similar for comfort to The X Files Movie.
And when it starts borrowing from The Mummy and National Treasure -two films it's heavily influenced- you know we're in trouble.
Harrison Ford is still great, if a little jaded looking, as Jones. He still throws a punch and cracks a whip with the best of them. Shia LeBeouf is also good as the Brando inspired Mutt and has a good rapport with Ford. And it's great to see Karen Allen back. And she is great at first but is then shoved into the background hardly to be heard from again. Cate Blanchett just dosen't stand up to previous Indy villains which is a pity because she's a great actress. Ray Winstone is just wasted. He could have been so funny in this. And John Hurts character seems to have been whipped up after they coudn't bring Connery out of retirement.
All in all I could be more forgiving if it weren't for the fact that they've ended this magic movie saga with a great big fucking spaceship.
A shame really.
5.5/10
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