I think it's the free passes some people are giving it due to it having the 'Indiana Jones' brand that's getting under some peoples' skins... not 'hate' of a mediocre-at-best film. It's almost as if they/we feel tricked in a way. If this film did not have the Indy brand attached, many people 'defending' it would be tearing it to shreds - or simply ignoring it - similar to something like, say, 'The Mummy Returns' (yeah, I said it - another 'enjoyable film if you check your brain in at the door'):
1) The characterizations are really weak - I felt nothing for any of them, least of all any type of real suspense. With good/re-watchable films - I STILL feel suspense, no matter how many times I've seen them.
2) The simple adventure plot (something that stands out so prominently in other Indy films - and other good action flicks) has been bloated beyond recognition. See POTC3 for another overdone plot that takes away from the film as a whole.
3) It's filled with 'filler' CGI stunts that don't add anything to the story... nuclear blast, prairie dogs, vine swinging, etc. - which, if you really think back, most of the other Indy films don't have that filler - pretty much every stunt and effect - no matter how ludicrous - led to the ultimate goal, which is one of the reasons why they are so highly thought of, not only just for their 'fun' factor...they were tightly written and directed.
4) The dialog is stilted and unnatural for most of the film. Not to mention the lighting and sets.
I honestly believe that these are some of the reasons why the positive reviews are mostly lukewarm at best ("aaaawwww, it's Indy and Harrison, we can't be too mean!"), and the negative reviews are pretty darn negative.
Personally I LIKE the plot of interdimensional 'aliens' - it's different and cool. I DO NOT like how it was explained/shown and littered with way too much exposition. It's like they picked a plot that most people have no idea about, and realized halfway through that not many people in the audience would know the Crystal Skull myth, so they threw all kinds of stuff in there to 'strengthen' it. You don't have that problem when you pick a 'MacGuffin' (god I hate that word) that is more familiar, such as the Holy Grail. Even the magic stones from Temple of Doom were much more easily explained. And even then, part of the lure of past Indy films is the UNEXPLAINED. Don't beat the audience over the head with reasons and explanations - just do it, but make it good!
I also wish they had explored Area 51 more in-depth - love the whole conspiracy angle, which they really did nothing with, and I also wish that the whole opening segment had more to do with the plot as a whole. In essence, what the heck did they need that 'alien' body for anyway? It had absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film! Same with the nuke.
BTW, I just watched the first half of TOD last night, which I also hadn't seen in at least 5 years (probably more like 10), and dang do I love that part when they're stuck in the room with the lowering ceiling and Indy's trying to get Willie to pull the lever and she's flipping out about all the bugs
"SHUT. UP." ... "NO, your OTHER right" ... and he sticks his fist through the hole at her. I was rolling
There was absolutely nothing like that in KotCS. The closest thing was the snake scene, but even then I couldn't laugh because all I was thinking about was, "Why doesn't he just use his whip?" I guess maybe he didn't HAVE his whip, but they how come he had it later to try to save Mac?
Anyway, I'm glad some people are enjoying it, which is the whole reason I didn't want to get into it before more people had seen it. But I just can't enjoy it
Went in having read NO reviews, no spoilers, no nothing, with very low expectations, and when a film doesn't even reach those, well, there's nothing else I can do - I've already given it the best chance it's gonna get from me.
Why? Last time I checked this is a fan board, nothing official. If I'm not allowed to express my opinion as a 'fan', well now, that would really suck. I still love Indiana Jones right up there with the OT Star Wars. I still LOVE all the product we're getting, and I still respect and admire both Lucas and Spielberg - maybe not for creating a great film this time around, but definitely for creating the series as a whole and what they've been able to make out of it - CULTURAL ICON is a pretty awesome result!
(and... girl not dude
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