At the end of the day, they're all smart men, they know exactly what kind of film they've ended up with.
Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull Discussion Thread (Spoilers)
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At the end of the day, they're all smart men, they know exactly what kind of film they've ended up with.
Dusty
just me
Twice for me! And I am NOT buying the new set, no way, no how. Lucas is a master of merchandising. He knew that simply releasing this half-assed 'Indy' film that Lucasfilm'd sell a crapload of toys/books/DVD's/etc as Indy nostalgia picked up steam. Not that that's a bad thing at all - we got tons of great Lego sets, figures, books, etc. from it. But that doesn't mean he actually believes the movie is any good at all - in fact, he's practically come right out and said it's not good
At least he's being honest - it's our fault not his 
pjam
Here on the Perimeter
Twice for me! And I am NOT buying the new set, no way, no how. Lucas is a master of merchandising. He knew that simply releasing this half-assed 'Indy' film that Lucasfilm'd sell a crapload of toys/books/DVD's/etc as Indy nostalgia picked up steam. Not that that's a bad thing at all - we got tons of great Lego sets, figures, books, etc. from it. But that doesn't mean he actually believes the movie is any good at all - in fact, he's practically come right out and said it's not good
Yep, he knows, he's seen the testing on it. Plus he just knows. And he has been hawking the DVD set in interviews...
Oh, COME ON. Even I in my most drunken anger am never that damn cynical.
pjam
Here on the Perimeter
Just business Bro, and it's smart business. Why does he keep reminding people the DVD set is out? No need for it really, I think the marketing maven in him just comes out. Their chunk of the DVD profits is phenomenal.
George only sees money. Kind of sad but the Guy is a classic inveterate Capitalist. Nothing wrong with it at all. Just sayin'.
He IS Jabba.
Dr.Mirakle32
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Seeing this film was like going to Heaven, and seeing that Jesus was an overweight black woman with no-legs. It's great to be there, but in the end you're kind of like, "WTF?"
Michael Crawford
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My impression - it was better than Temple at least.
Yes, the monkey/vines scene was painfully stupid. But I was surprised by Mutt - I didn't hate his guts! In fact, Shia did a fine job, and I'd be willing to see a Mutt flick. It's not Indy, but it could be entertaining. Just no more dumb ass swinging through trees, please.
The alien/alternate dimension angle was stupid as well. No wonder Mutt says "I don't understand" at the end - you can't because it doesn't make any sense.
But there's been stupid dialog in past Indy movies. There have been cringe worthy scenes. But the biggest let down for me in this movie is the over use of CGI. It takss all the heart out of the film. The scene with Indy on the horse, chasing the trucks in Cairo in Raiders is one of the greatest moments in movie history, precisely because it feels so 'real'. The car chases and stunts here all feel fake, look fake, and make me sad. The only action sequences that had the old Indy magic at all were the fight in the middle of the ants, and the early motorcycle sequence. The rest relied far too much on CGI and bluescreen. Ah well, leave it to George and Steve.
Yes, the monkey/vines scene was painfully stupid. But I was surprised by Mutt - I didn't hate his guts! In fact, Shia did a fine job, and I'd be willing to see a Mutt flick. It's not Indy, but it could be entertaining. Just no more dumb ass swinging through trees, please.
The alien/alternate dimension angle was stupid as well. No wonder Mutt says "I don't understand" at the end - you can't because it doesn't make any sense.
But there's been stupid dialog in past Indy movies. There have been cringe worthy scenes. But the biggest let down for me in this movie is the over use of CGI. It takss all the heart out of the film. The scene with Indy on the horse, chasing the trucks in Cairo in Raiders is one of the greatest moments in movie history, precisely because it feels so 'real'. The car chases and stunts here all feel fake, look fake, and make me sad. The only action sequences that had the old Indy magic at all were the fight in the middle of the ants, and the early motorcycle sequence. The rest relied far too much on CGI and bluescreen. Ah well, leave it to George and Steve.
Ok, well, here's the perspective from someone who's only seen anything Indy over the last 2 weeks
Quickly summed up, I'd say this was my least favorite of the 4, but thankfully, having just seen the other 3 recently, I don't have any dissappointment like a lot of you who've been waiting for more Indy for quite sometime and I was able to just treat it like another part of the series, almost as if it was part of the DVD set. In addition, I'd also say this was the weakest of the Old Characters returns films.
I'd say they rank:
1. Rocky Balboa
2. RAMBO
3. Live Free or Die Hard
4. Indiana Jones: KOTCS
Having said that, what pulled me into Indy based on seeing ROTLA and feeling compelled to see the other 3 was the sense of childhood fun and exploration and adventure. Perhaps because Lucas, Ford and Spielberg are all much older now, I just didn't feel that was in this movie. The traveling shots with the map like the old Indy movies was nice to see, but in this one I didn't find a sense of "oooh, where are we going now" like in the others. I also felt Indy himself didn't quite have that desire to dig into history; like with his father, he was out to rescue someone close to him and all, but even in rescuing his father, there was an excitement in him as he found the clues and all, but I just didn't get that from him in this one. Another thing that I wasn't a fan of that felt like a departure from the series was the Marion-Indy relationship. At first, it was great, same old back and forth relationship, similar to Han and Leia, but after the first few scenes together, it got to lovey and all that, I enjoyed the humor and fun of Indy willing to put Marion in harms way and such to accomplish things and they were more protective of one another. Had she been in Crusade so we could see their relationship evolve, it might have felt better, but leaping from how the were in Raiders to KOTCS seemed a bit extreme. The biggest thing for me, which I'm sure is the gripe of most people, which made this film not feel like it fit was the beings from another world plot. Granted, the circumstances around the Ark and Temple and Grail were otherworldly, BUT, they felt plausible and conceivable to a degree. Beings from another dimension just didn't feel like something for Indiana Jones and really had me thinking about Alien vs. Predator, which is not good because I thought the concept was pretty weak in that movie.
So, ultimately, most of what I didn't like about the movie were things that to me made it feel like it wasn't an Indy film. Having said that however, were I to look at it as just a movie by itself, my only issues with it would still be the other dimension beings plotline, and I felt like Mutt was underdeveloped. I think Shia has a great natural feel to his acting, in Transformers I thought he was just being himself and not pretending to be anyone and same in Indy, but I felt like Short Round had more of a chances to show who he was and what he was capable of in Temple than Mutt in this one, which is a shame because I did like what was there.
I will say, about 80-90% of the first 2/3 of the movie felt like an Indy movie with the fights and exploring and all, and then the last act got down to about 50%.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie, like I said if it were a solo film I'd feel different, but being part of a series, I find Temple feels more part of Indy than this one. I can't articulate so well what I enjoyed, but I did enjoy watching it.
Quickly summed up, I'd say this was my least favorite of the 4, but thankfully, having just seen the other 3 recently, I don't have any dissappointment like a lot of you who've been waiting for more Indy for quite sometime and I was able to just treat it like another part of the series, almost as if it was part of the DVD set. In addition, I'd also say this was the weakest of the Old Characters returns films.
I'd say they rank:
1. Rocky Balboa
2. RAMBO
3. Live Free or Die Hard
4. Indiana Jones: KOTCS
Having said that, what pulled me into Indy based on seeing ROTLA and feeling compelled to see the other 3 was the sense of childhood fun and exploration and adventure. Perhaps because Lucas, Ford and Spielberg are all much older now, I just didn't feel that was in this movie. The traveling shots with the map like the old Indy movies was nice to see, but in this one I didn't find a sense of "oooh, where are we going now" like in the others. I also felt Indy himself didn't quite have that desire to dig into history; like with his father, he was out to rescue someone close to him and all, but even in rescuing his father, there was an excitement in him as he found the clues and all, but I just didn't get that from him in this one. Another thing that I wasn't a fan of that felt like a departure from the series was the Marion-Indy relationship. At first, it was great, same old back and forth relationship, similar to Han and Leia, but after the first few scenes together, it got to lovey and all that, I enjoyed the humor and fun of Indy willing to put Marion in harms way and such to accomplish things and they were more protective of one another. Had she been in Crusade so we could see their relationship evolve, it might have felt better, but leaping from how the were in Raiders to KOTCS seemed a bit extreme. The biggest thing for me, which I'm sure is the gripe of most people, which made this film not feel like it fit was the beings from another world plot. Granted, the circumstances around the Ark and Temple and Grail were otherworldly, BUT, they felt plausible and conceivable to a degree. Beings from another dimension just didn't feel like something for Indiana Jones and really had me thinking about Alien vs. Predator, which is not good because I thought the concept was pretty weak in that movie.
So, ultimately, most of what I didn't like about the movie were things that to me made it feel like it wasn't an Indy film. Having said that however, were I to look at it as just a movie by itself, my only issues with it would still be the other dimension beings plotline, and I felt like Mutt was underdeveloped. I think Shia has a great natural feel to his acting, in Transformers I thought he was just being himself and not pretending to be anyone and same in Indy, but I felt like Short Round had more of a chances to show who he was and what he was capable of in Temple than Mutt in this one, which is a shame because I did like what was there.
I will say, about 80-90% of the first 2/3 of the movie felt like an Indy movie with the fights and exploring and all, and then the last act got down to about 50%.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie, like I said if it were a solo film I'd feel different, but being part of a series, I find Temple feels more part of Indy than this one. I can't articulate so well what I enjoyed, but I did enjoy watching it.
Worse than LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD? Ouch!
Well, not comparing them as movie to movie because they're so different. Really the rankings are based on how I feel the new films contribute to their respective series and feel like they're part of that series. I think you'll agree with me Rocky Balboa and RAMBO were not only fitting sequels but actually top films in their series, contenders with the originals in both. LIVE FREE was not better than Die Hard, but I did feel it was closer to the first movie than either 2 or 3, and was overally a better movie than Die Harder. Indy 4 reminds me of the old Sesame Street game, one of these things does not belong.
See, I thought LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD was about the worst movie I've seen in years.
D
DarthNeil
Guest
You sir are correct... When John/Bruce turned into Captain America riding an F15 that was it for me... Done.
DarkArtist81
Super Freak
I still loved LFODH, but again... it was over the top as HELL. The F15 bit was a little much for me too.
But I'm really shocked at the Indy hate going on. It had plot holes and some CGI craziness, but overall it was a fun flick. I guess I'm just shocked to see so many people hating it.
But I'm really shocked at the Indy hate going on. It had plot holes and some CGI craziness, but overall it was a fun flick. I guess I'm just shocked to see so many people hating it.
That's how I feel in few words, it had some problems but it was still a fun movie. I didn't walk out wishing I hadn't seen it
Dusty
just me
I still loved LFODH, but again... it was over the top as HELL. The F15 bit was a little much for me too.
But I'm really shocked at the Indy hate going on. It had plot holes and some CGI craziness, but overall it was a fun flick. I guess I'm just shocked to see so many people hating it.
Then I suggest you stay away from the TalkBack at AintItCool - for your peace of mind - those are some crazy kids over there!
Night guys, it's been fun!
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Crazy kids? You're being far too kind to them.
It was a fun and entertaining movie, but the WORST INDY MOVIE!!! And with the exception of some moments, the rest of it was like some bad dream...it doesn't FIT in the original Indy trilogy...
I read a review that stated something very interesting: "It's like Lucas and Spielberg were battling it out on screen". Very true as some scenes REEKED of Lucas and then he has the GALL to then turn around and DISS the film? He probably battled hard for all the crap HE forced to be in this movie and then he wants to wash his hands of it? What an idiot!!! He was much better when he didn't surround himself with "Yes Men".
I remember hearing they had numerous scripts that Spielberg and Ford liked, but Lucas ALWAYS wanted aliens (excuse me..."trans-dimensional beings"...they made sure to say that plenty of times).
I try to take into fact that the 50's was a time of "flying saucer craze" with Roswell and the threat of Communism and whatever the USSR was doing "over there"...but for Indy...IT DOESN'T WORK and you're drawing him into a field that he shouldn't be in! Stick with the Arks, the Holy Grails, heck...even THE FATE OF ATLANTIS would've made a better movie!
I was entertained, but in the end...I was also disappointed. Please redeem this movie with a proper one.
I read a review that stated something very interesting: "It's like Lucas and Spielberg were battling it out on screen". Very true as some scenes REEKED of Lucas and then he has the GALL to then turn around and DISS the film? He probably battled hard for all the crap HE forced to be in this movie and then he wants to wash his hands of it? What an idiot!!! He was much better when he didn't surround himself with "Yes Men".
I remember hearing they had numerous scripts that Spielberg and Ford liked, but Lucas ALWAYS wanted aliens (excuse me..."trans-dimensional beings"...they made sure to say that plenty of times).
I try to take into fact that the 50's was a time of "flying saucer craze" with Roswell and the threat of Communism and whatever the USSR was doing "over there"...but for Indy...IT DOESN'T WORK and you're drawing him into a field that he shouldn't be in! Stick with the Arks, the Holy Grails, heck...even THE FATE OF ATLANTIS would've made a better movie!
I was entertained, but in the end...I was also disappointed. Please redeem this movie with a proper one.
DarkArtist81
Super Freak
The Aliens didn't bother me in the least, it was part of that time period and made sense for Indy to deal with. If they had done a film set in the 50's and DIDN'T touch that, I'd have been disappointed. At least he came upon them via tombs and classic archeology and not some other method. So it made sense to me. Indy wasn't hunting aliens, but he still found them.
Where/when did Lucas "diss" the movie or wash his hands of it? Everytime I read or hear him talking about it he says the exact opposite.
Exactly. The alien element (the whole McGuffin, actually) is my favorite aspect of the movie. It's probably the one positive contribution Lucas made to the flick.Similar threads
