Jepsen on 31/5/2008 at 14:31

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When the movie started and the gopher emerged from the ground, I initially thought it was a preview for some new Ice Age movie.

It was all downhill from there.

rachel on 1/6/2008 at 15:55

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Plus the fact they used the old Paramount logo was a really nice touch.

Keeper_Andrus on 3/6/2008 at 01:57

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Fucking aliens? Really?

I mean, I had to see it because it's Indiana Jones. But seriously, WTF.

Rogue Keeper on 3/6/2008 at 09:37

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I don't think those violent scenes in previous films, which you have mentioned, were filmed in sufficiently gory or explicit way to make the movies more 'mature'. Nazi thug being torn apart by airplane propellers? Smart editing makes you think you saw something gruesome, but in fact it was just your imagination which made you believe it. Belloq's and Toht's end? That scene looks like if it was taken from a comic book (and from the point of FX advancement today it looks quite funny). Remember it was reaction to Temple of Doom, which made Spielberg to discuss rating matters with MPAA and as a result, PG13 cathegory was established to fill the gap between PG and R, essentially giving birth to 'thriller for teenagers' in US rating system. Assembly cut of Raiders was R rated and I can only guess what violence they had to commit on the material to achieve PG. Temple of Doom was the darkest of the series and still, many consider it as the weakest one - it's a ride on ballistic missile which won't allow the audience to take a breath, but the script is so weak. Somehow unsuccesful attempt to put Indy into the same box as James Bond. And more like a theme park attraction than real film.

Now onto the last attempt...

[spoiler]
Regarding the last movie, it's certainly better than Temple of Doom, but I can't precisely estimate how to compare it with the rest two. Almost certainly it never overcomes cult status of Raiders and Last Crusade, but I'm also sure that time will prove qualities of Crystal Skull. The plot, structure and style of Raiders/Last Crusade/Crystal Skull is more or less on the same level, well, Spielberg and Lucas know what mold suits Indy movies best and they know how to draw the best out of it. Irina Spalko is a very charismatic, worthy villain, maybe one of the best opponents Indy could face so far and obviously the role was a yummy cake for Blanchett. Mutt is surprisingly sympathetic sidekick, his role is not trespassing it's obligatory limits, Shia LaBeouf plays the role of hotblooded greaser with surprising timidness and his mutually enriching relationship with Indy works flawlessly. Colonel Dovchenko fills the established role of hardboned thug, so the hero can have somebody tough to bash (and who can bash the hero in return). What I was missing was a comical but sympathetic old mentor like Marcus Brody, Sallah or Indy's Father, but oh well, we can't have everything, probably it would be an old idea and since this film slightly overshadows generational change ("I'm old enough to play my own father."~Ford) it was for better. The ambition was to make an adventure film which would prove that even older actors can be eficient, attractive, but ultimately human heroes, and not only Ford but also Karen Allen succeeded in this. I couldn't recognize John Hurt until the very end of the film when he looked like a civilized person again - a deed of honest makeup and acting of a true nutcase. Probably I can complain about the role of "Mac" McHale, which would certainly deserve more space to perform and evolve and I think his treacherous nature is reduced to be more or less just a filler. Pity.
Technically it's an example of 'old Hollywood' moviemaking (I guess today we can reliably mark 1980s moviemaking as 'old school', but also taking into account that even first the Indy films were a tribute to classic Errol Flynn types of heroes of 1930s Hollywood and moviemaking of such classics), the CGI has the purpose which suits it best - to decently improve the image, and not to redirect audience's attention from actors and logic of the story. Oh yes, logic of the story and all... again we have few logically doubtful displays, but THAT'S IT MANG. I dare to say that the survival tip with lead refrigerator will become a classic scene, no matter how doubtful it is. One should know how to film unrealistic scenes and Spielberg certainly knows it - we can have an eyeroll or two watching them, but it's an eyeroll with satisfied smile, not a sarcastic grin.
Truthfully said, the aliens work better than I presumed - they're neither friendly ETs fitting into children's closet, nor vile demons from the stars of War of the Worlds desiring nothing smaller but to wipe out humanity completely. We all know those legends of ancient indian tribes having been visited by aliens who advanced their technology - so there is nothing wrong that Indy movie decided to take this urban myth (?) as the source of inspiration. Moreover it fits into the timeline, what would be America of 1950s without nuclear threat, Red Scare and UFOs? Several people were hired to make script for IJ4 in past 19 years and Lucas himself couldn't find sufficiently original MacGuffin for new film. Anybody has more original idea? And as it was with the Ark of Covenant and Holy Grail, even the aliens remain a completely unresolved mystery at the end of the film, the villain is again punished by higher powers, but the hero doesn't end without reward. The relic of his dreams is gone, but again he learned something, discovered something new about himself and realized what would be important in simple man's life - may it be rediscovery of his lost love, so what?
[/spoiler]

It's this combination of charm, wit, nostalgia, sense of wonder, childlike desire for resolution of mystery, adventure and in the first place *not overly serious uptake of it's own genre* what made these films popular. Kingdom of Crystal Skull offers all of this, a solid Indy movie. Don't expect anything revolutionary, even the stories of silver screen heroes have their boundaries, in order to stay what they are. Nothing more, nothing less, as we are used to like it. He's older, he pants more, but he's also a lot wiser and still works reliably. These films are like a good wine - they get better with age.

And special prize goes to marmots.

rachel on 3/6/2008 at 11:28

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Already tried. Had to quit in Venice because of the commercials.
(can't stand a 20 mn pause in a film, let alone four... :nono: )