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

[icruise]

I can't believe how opinions are so split about this movie. Just a few seconds before reading the post above, I read JediMike71's post in another thread. An amazing difference.

 

[The Josh]

It really is crazy isn't it. I feel like that those that like it have to defend it at every turn and that we should hate it just because some others do.

 

[Brent72]

It really is crazy isn't it. I feel like that those that like it have to defend it at every turn and that we should hate it just because some others do.

That makes no sense. Just because you like it doesn't mean everybody has to feel the same way. As I said before, I WANTED to love this movie and went in expecting to like it even if it wasn't on par with the original trilogy, but this was just a downright bad movie in every way. It doesn't even measure up to the first Mummy or National Treasure flicks as far as I'm concerned and it's probably as bad as the sequels to those two movies. I never thought I would say that about an Indiana Jones movie.

As a longtime Lucas defender I'll place a lot of the blame on him for a.) waiting this long to make the movie and b.) not using the Darabont script that Spielberg wanted to film, but he didn't approve. He can be a stubborn ******* and this movie is living proof of that fact. As much as I wanted another Indy film and hoped that it would live up to the hype now I'm just left wishing they had never even bothered with making this flick. As soon as the nostalgia of seeing Indy back in the hat wore off(after about 10-15 min.) all that was left was a bad movie that isn't deserving of the Indiana Jones name IMHO.

 

[The Josh]

Why does it make no sense? I'm not asking you to like it (I didn't even come close to saying this at all so please learn to read my post better) but saying that those of you that seem to hate it so much just keep it up that others do. No you per say but the overall hate by the few that don't like KOTCS.

I enjoyed it and felt the movie was a good movie in every way and it appears many do as well. In the end honestly I don't really give a damn if a few hate it and I'm not really gonna give any more time to those that hate it. If you hate it this much there is no point to discuss it because those folks won't be willing to see the other side just as much as anyone who says its the greatest movie ever won't see the other side. I WILL be willing to discuss it with those that can discuss what they liked and didn't like without the need of the rose colored glasses or the gallons of venom.

 

[Brent72]

So, according to you only the people that like the movie can discuss it and there's no point in those of us who don't like it giving our opinions of the film? Give me a break!!! You need to realize that different viewpoints sometimes are a good thing because it leads to intelligent discussion and exchanging of ideas, not just a circle-jerk of faint praise. I'd think after 38 million posts on this board you'd know that by now.

 

[The Josh]

So, according to you only the people that like the movie can discuss it and there's no point in those of us who don't like it giving our opinions of the film? Give me a break!!! You need to realize that different viewpoints sometimes are a good thing because it leads to intelligent discussion and exchanging of ideas, not just a circle-jerk of faint praise. I'd think after 38 million posts on this board you'd know that by now.

Again, not what I said. I said those that HATE the movie are going to be pretty much impossible to talk with. Why? They are really absolutely hating the movie to the point there is no point to discuss. I can talk with someone who didn't like it but can give it some good points.

If someone hates it to the point they prefer it never existed then where am I to really discuss why I liked it? They won't (more than likely) give any ground to the fact the movie isn't THAT bad. Just as if someone who thinks there is nothing wrong with this movie (more than likely) won't give any rope. That's all I said and all I meant. You sir are reading something not there and IMO trying to cause a stir in this thread. I've now spelled it out the best I can for you and hopefully you now understand EXACTLY what I meant.

 

[DarkArtist81]

I like hearing both sides of the story, especially if everyone stays relatively on their own sides about it. As long as no one is calling me retarded for liking it or saying that everyone who liked it is just a fanboy who can't realize how bad it is... I don't mind.

Everyone has an opinion, some loved this movie... like myself. Some hated it. What can you do?

Either way, Indy is on the screen again and those who DID enjoy it can watch it over and over again and enjoy this moment in time.

 

[Brent72]

Well, to be clear, I was never trying to cause a stir in this thread. I posted exactly how I felt about this movie and as much as I WANTED to like it, I left the theater in utter disappointment. I've waited 19 years for another Indy movie and even though I had somewhat high expectations, I never thought this would be another Raiders(or even Temple of Doom/Last Crusade for that matter). I just wanted a good time at the movies and unfortunately I don't think it delivered. It's especially disappointing after seeing how good Iron Man was and how good The Dark Knight should be that this flick couldn't complete the great summer of '08 trifecta.

 

[The Josh]

I like hearing both sides of the story, especially if everyone stays relatively on their own sides about it. As long as no one is calling me retarded for liking it or saying that everyone who liked it is just a fanboy who can't realize how bad it is... I don't mind.

Everyone has an opinion, some loved this movie... like myself. Some hated it. What can you do?

Either way, Indy is on the screen again and those who DID enjoy it can watch it over and over again and enjoy this moment in time.

That's all I was trying to say really. I guess I just suck at making my point.

 

[DarkArtist81]

That's all I was trying to say really. I guess I just suck at making my point.

I knew what you were getting at too, could see the intentions... Being a third party is always fun, easy to pop in and try and calm everything down.

 

[icruise]

'Indiana Jones' strikes gold at box office

 

[tomandshell]

I wonder how far it will go? Pirates 3 had worse reviews (only 45% positive at Rotten Tomatoes to Indy's 79%) and a mixed response from its audience, and it went on to pass $300 million. I wonder what the mass audience response and word of mouth will be for Indy...

 

[drbrad1975]

Why does it make no sense? I'm not asking you to like it (I didn't even come close to saying this at all so please learn to read my post better) but saying that those of you that seem to hate it so much just keep it up that others do. No you per say but the overall hate by the few that don't like KOTCS.

I enjoyed it and felt the movie was a good movie in every way and it appears many do as well. In the end honestly I don't really give a damn if a few hate it and I'm not really gonna give any more time to those that hate it. If you hate it this much there is no point to discuss it because those folks won't be willing to see the other side just as much as anyone who says its the greatest movie ever won't see the other side. I WILL be willing to discuss it with those that can discuss what they liked and didn't like without the need of the rose colored glasses or the gallons of venom.

Josh is the Sideshow Fan equivalent Life Cereal's Mikey.

He likes it!!

 

[pjam]

I wonder how far it will go? Pirates 3 had worse reviews (only 45% positive at Rotten Tomatoes to Indy's 79%) and a mixed response from its audience, and it went on to pass $300 million. I wonder what the mass audience response and word of mouth will be for Indy...

For those keeping rating scores, here is a link to metacritic.com. It seems to fall in line with most of the polls I've seen, including our own freaks poll. I wouldn't count Rotten Tomatoes on this one. That poll seems off...

https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/indianajones4

67% favorable...

For the record I'm an Indy lover not a hater. Raiders is one of my favorite films of all time and this wasn't the Indy film I was waiting for.

I rate it as more of a Family Theme Park Ride. A Rental.

Sorry Guys. I still love Indy!

 

[DannieDarKo]

I loved In...Diana....Jones and her Temple...

 

[The Josh]

I knew what you were getting at too, could see the intentions... Being a third party is always fun, easy to pop in and try and calm everything down.

I'm glad someone did. Thanks Josh for helping this Josh get his point across.

 

[LOTRFan]

So .....




My wife and I are just fresh from seeing this, and honestly for the first 30-40 mins I thought that the little I had read about this being a poor sequal was just fodder. Really, I had no issues at all with the atomic blast, or any of the early scenes, actually they were quite fun! Things were a little rocky with Cate Blanchett (I know, how could they be?!) the accent wasn't good ... no not at all, but she made for a good campy villain. Actually, it wasn't until we had the "guardians" of the sepulchre that I felt they were forcing it -- and force it they did. The monkeys and ants were somewhat low points for me, but the way the skulls interacted once returned, eh, well it just fell flat for me. I didn't feel it was developed just how or why they would retaliate or after needing to be "returned" destroy those who restored them? Perhaps they have some form of omniscience as far as intentions go - don't know, because as with quite a few things in this film they were never really explained.

All in all, I liked it, and don't think that this film could ever really live up to people's hopes. It makes for a fun ride though, and not really too out of step with the previous films. Honestly, I think that people are being too rough on this one.

 

[LOTRFan]

As much grief as Lucas gets for the prequels, I can honestly say that they look like The Godfather Trilogy compared to Indy IV. I'd rather watch The Phantom Menace on a continuous loop for the rest of my life than having to sit through Indy IV again anytime soon.

Ouch! That's a bit of an overstatement in my eyes ... you must really want to wash your brain!

 

[Brent72]

Ouch! That's a bit of an overstatement in my eyes ... you must really want to wash your brain!

I'm dead serious. Even though The Phantom Menace is my least favorite of the SW films there's still a lot to like in it and it still feels like Star Wars in many ways. Indy IV, however, didn't feel like an Indiana Jones movie at all to me. I mean, can you imagine a scene in the first three films where Indy takes cover in a refrigerator? It was just a bad script to begin with and I blame Lucas for that. He didn't give Spielberg the chance to use the script he really wanted to film(the infamous Frank Darabont draft from a few years back) and as a result Steven was left trying to make a movie from this mess. It makes you wonder what could've been if a better script had been filmed.

 

[tomandshell]

After numerous drafts from numerous writers over the years, and particularly after the Darabont script fell through and they were going back and forth with Jeff Nathanson, Lucas actually stepped back from the writing process:

So then we got David Koepp, and he said, "I'm not going to be between you guys." From that point, I would tell Steven what I wanted to happen and Steven then told David, so there was this hybrid, which was basically me telling Steven and Steven deciding what he wanted too tell David, and then David trying to interpret Steven.

I worked primarily with Steven. I had some meetings with George, but mostly George talked to Steven about his ideas, then Steven and I would work together.

I don't think that it was until Lucas was willing to step away and let Spielberg take the lead and be the one primarily working with the writer that they were finally able to come up with a script that everybody could agree on and move forward with production.