Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull Discussion Thread (Spoilers)

[The Mike]

I seriously doubt it'd be Mutt Williams, not now. Even Mutt referred to Marian as Mary Williams only to have everyone else call her Marian Ravenwood once Indy saw her.....names seem to be interchangable in this film and I wouldn't doubt that Mutt would be no different. Even Marian referred to him officially as Henry Jones III. Once he started calling Indy "dad" why wouldn't he change himself over to Jones?

Not to mention that Indy gave himself the nickname Indiana didn't he? Its not like Mutt couldn't just say call me Indiana while out on adventures. Its a nickname like "Mike" or "Bobby"....

 

[tomandshell]

If Indy is in a fifth film, even in a reduced role like Connery's was, it will still be called "Indiana Jones and the..."

Jack Sparrow didn't appear in Pirates 3 for what, 35-40 minutes? But he was still the star of the show once he showed up on screen.

But I would be absolutely shocked to see a fifth film after the mixed response to this one. I will be interested to see what the general public thinks about Indy IV and what the box office will be. The critics and die hard fans that had to see it at midnight or on opening day are mixed (seems to be about 2/3 positive). Will the average ticket buyers seeing it over the next week have a good time and recommend it to others? We shall see...

 

[Agent0028]

Mutt was a pretty cool character (still don't like the name) but I don't know that I'd really go for him having his own series. But the only way to find out is to make one I suppose. And I would go see the first one just out of curiosity.

 

[The Mike]

True but if there is a fifth film and it does well I can see it moving into a sixth where Shia becomes the main character and my wonder is if they'll keep the Indiana Jones heading if Harrison isn't in it. I think they will, I think that they'll make so that Indiana Jones is the guise that Dr. Henry Jones takes upon himself while out on adventure and that Henry Jones III or Mutt would still go by Indiana Jones as a homage to his father.

 

[scubasteve]

Eh...I don't see any more Indy films being made after this one. I think this is it. Although Lucas and Ford have expressed interest, I don't see the Ford/Lucas/Spielberg team coming to agreements on any future scripts. I think the Indy series is done, as far as films go. It took 19 years to bring this film to the screen, and it's now more clear than ever that the first three cannot be beaten. No need to try again. Time to wrap this baby up and put a bow on it. It's been a fun ride, and thank God for all this sweet merch!

 

[Sick Boy 82]

Good movie, but WTF???? Really, stealing the end scene from X-Files much??!! Those ^^^^ing aliens!

Well, I've got to say, if they made one of those skulls 1:1, I would be willing to pay up to $1K for it. That thing was ^^^^ing sick!!! Not a great Indy movie IMO, but a very good movie none the less. A good Indy movie. I was hoping for a bit more action. And it was just a bit to talkie. But other than that, thumbs up. 3.8/5.

I've got to say that Shia gave a pretty good performance and that I would have boned Cate hard!! She looked good! The winds of fate thing at the end of the wedding was cool and I would watch Shia as Indy. I was pissed that my theater didn't show the Eagle Eye trailer. I wanted to see it on the big screen.

It did $25 million the first day, so I'm guessing over the weekend, it'll do over $100 million. Maybe closer to $150 million.

 

[IronFingaz]

Good movie, but WTF???? Really, stealing the end scene from X-Files much??!! Those ^^^^ing aliens!

Well, I've got to say, if they made one of those skulls 1:1, I would be willing to pay up to $1K for it. That thing was ^^^^ing sick!!! Not a great Indy movie IMO, but a very good movie none the less. A good Indy movie. I was hoping for a bit more action. And it was just a bit to talkie. But other than that, thumbs up. 3.8/5.

I've got to say that Shia gave a pretty good performance and that I would have boned Cate hard!! She looked good! The winds of fate thing at the end of the wedding was cool and I would watch Shia as Indy. I was pissed that my theater didn't show the Eagle Eye trailer. I wanted to see it on the big screen.

It did $25 million the first day, so I'm guessing over the weekend, it'll do over $100 million. Maybe closer to $150 million.

Sucks you didnt get to see the Eagle Eye trailer. That movie looks sick!!! Can't wait to see it!

"Given its Friday haul ($31M), Indiana Jones might find its way to $110-120M over the four-day Friday-to-Monday which would put its five-day cume at $135-145M."

 

[Darklord Dave]

I'm not going to read all the posts, I get the impression that most of it is negative.

But I loved this movie! Absolutely my favorite Indy after Raiders. The shot with Indy and the mushroom cloud - (echoed later with Indy on the other side of the frame with the flying saucer) - was a perfect set up for the send up of paranoia films of the '50s - aliens (who are really the Communists) are coming to take over.

Certainly the alien angle was no more ridiculous than the idea of the Ark or the Grail, although them being from another dimension rather than open for interpretation was a bit awkward.

The only over the top scene I had a problem with was Mutt Tarzaning through the trees - but that wasn't any stupider than the dinner party in Temple of Doom.

I've watched all the Indy movies recently - and nothing holds a candle to Raiders - it is a perfectly crafted film on almost every level. But for a popcorn flick that was fun and had me grinning throughout - the Crystal Skull is up there! And Karen Allen looked great, especially for a 57 year old.

 

[The Monster]

I did not get to see Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull yet!!!! Will I enjoy it????

 

[Deak Starkiller]

Ok, I know this may be weird to post here but I figured you Crystal Skull lovers could shed some light on this? did the change the ride at Disneyland?

edit: I guess this is the name of the ride at Tokyo Disney since 2001!! No one ever made the connection WTF?

 

[galactiboy]

Just got back from seeing the movie... I've intentionally avoided this forum and movie threads so I wouldn't get any judgements beforehand.

And after seeing it I really enjoyed the movie, and I'd agree w/Dave that its as good or better than any of the other sequels. Some parts are very over the top, but still fun and I think they did a very admirable job of keeping the feel of the original films.

Finally I'll have to eat some crow here, Shia was actually good in the movie, I wasn't even slightly annoyed by him. And at the end when he picked up the hat (for a moment) I though... "I'd see a sequel if he was the main character".

 

[IrishJedi]

But I loved this movie! Absolutely my favorite Indy after Raiders. The shot with Indy and the mushroom cloud - (echoed later with Indy on the other side of the frame with the flying saucer) - was a perfect set up for the send up of paranoia films of the '50s - aliens (who are really the Communists) are coming to take over.

Agreed, even though you've stolen some of my thunder with that observation.

 

[tomandshell]

The more I think about the Skull as the McGuffin, the more I think it fits in with the others (maybe not the Stones). The Sankara Stones get my vote for the weakest McGuffin, because they aren't even truly lost--at least the central one isn't. It's normally on display in the village and just gets stolen and Indy is asked to bring it back. Not a lot of archaeology involved. The Stones don't seem to have any great power that defeats the enemy or anything--they just light up and apparently bring health back to the village (although that happens the stone is returned, so we don't see it firsthand).

The Skull, the Ark and the Grail were all being pursued by the villains in order to gain an advantage over their enemies, and all have a basis in the supernatural. If the Ark had made it to Berlin, Hitler would have been the one with the melting face, so actually Indy shouldn't have intervened. With the Grail, what would have happened if Indy hadn't kept it our of their hands? Nothing, because it would have lost its power the moment it passed the seal--so it turns out that the stakes weren't as high as we thought. In the new film, like Raiders, Indy allows the bad guys get their hands on the prized object, but the thing ends up taking care of itself and defeating the bad guys on its own. (Something the Grail actually did with Donovan as well.) Indy just closes his eyes and lets the villains get what they deserve for presumptiously biting off more than they can chew. As in Last Crusade, where the point was to heal the relationship between Indy and his father, the search for the Skull is really meant to restore his relationship with Marion and his son, and with his former friend Oxley (who, like his father, needs to be healed by an encounter with the artifact).

 

[galactiboy]

I think the Skull was a good McGuffin... especially that it starts out in their minds as one thing and later is found out to be completely different and even more powerful.

I was worried about the Indy Vs Aliens idea, but it actually worked really well... definitely liked the change from everything else being a religious artifact.

 

[Entropy]

The Stones don't seem to have any great power that defeats the enemy or anything--they just light up and apparently bring health back to the village (although that happens the stone is returned, so we don't see it firsthand).

We never see what the stones can do except the heart thing, true. But we never see all five stones together either.

 

[Darklord Dave]

The more I think about the Skull as the McGuffin, the more I think it fits in with the others (maybe not the Stones). The Sankara Stones get my vote for the weakest McGuffin, because they aren't even truly lost--at least the central one isn't. It's normally on display in the village and just gets stolen and Indy is asked to bring it back. Not a lot of archaeology involved. The Stones don't seem to have any great power that defeats the enemy or anything--they just light up and apparently bring health back to the village (although that happens the stone is returned, so we don't see it firsthand).

The Skull, the Ark and the Grail were all being pursued by the villains in order to gain an advantage over their enemies, and all have a basis in the supernatural. If the Ark had made it to Berlin, Hitler would have been the one with the melting face, so actually Indy shouldn't have intervened. With the Grail, what would have happened if Indy hadn't kept it our of their hands? Nothing, because it would have lost its power the moment it passed the seal--so it turns out that the stakes weren't as high as we thought. In the new film, like Raiders, Indy allows the bad guys get their hands on the prized object, but the thing ends up taking care of itself and defeating the bad guys on its own. (Something the Grail actually did with Donovan as well.) Indy just closes his eyes and lets the villains get what they deserve for presumptiously biting off more than they can chew. As in Last Crusade, where the point was to heal the relationship between Indy and his father, the search for the Skull is really meant to restore his relationship with Marion and his son, and with his former friend Oxley (who, like his father, needs to be healed by an encounter with the artifact).

An excellent point and makes one think. (Temple of Doom doesn't apply to this and may be why it's my least favorite.)
Indy is always about the pursuit and sharing of knowledge. "It belongs in a museum!" so that others can learn from it. But in the main Indy films, he sacrifices the object of knowledge for people he loves. and it is the pursuit of knowledge (or power) that is the undoing of the villains.

 

[Entropy]

An excellent point and makes one think. (Temple of Doom doesn't apply to this and may be why it's my least favorite.)
Indy is always about the pursuit and sharing of knowledge. "It belongs in a museum!" so that others can learn from it. But in the main Indy films, he sacrifices the object of knowledge for people he loves. and it is the pursuit of knowledge (or power) that is the undoing of the villains.

Can't one construe the same for TOD? Indy sacrifices fortune and glory for the greater good, realizing it's true power is with the people and the restoration of their families and village. Mola Ram in his greed for power reaches for the stone only to bring about his own destruction.

 

[Kabukiman]

If I have to read or hear the word "McGuffin" one more time, I'm going to ^^^^ing puke.

I've never even heard that term before, the new Indy flick comes out and suddenly everyone's a ^^^^ing expert.

 

[Entropy]

If I have to read or hear the word "McGuffin" one more time, I'm going to ^^^^ing puke.

I've never even heard that term before, the new Indy flick comes out and suddenly everyone's a ^^^^ing expert.

Blame Alfred Hitchcock

 

[The Mike]

I had a couple of McGuffins today, they're on the dollar menu now so its both affordable and delicious.