Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull Discussion Thread (Spoilers)
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The Mike
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FDBMath
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There were two things that bothered me about this movie. The most glaring was the oft-mentioned monkeys. The other issue was that there were some places where words were used when a good facial expression would have sufficed and been more effective. The best example I can give of this is when Indy says "Damn, I thought that was closer" (or something to that effect) when he comes up short with the whip in the wherehouse. A disgusted look would have been much more effective and in character (see the opening of Raiders when he jumps over the pit and grabs the vine, watch his face as the vine starts to come out of the ground, or see his face when the boulder starts coming after him - kind of an "oh s#$&, what now" look).
Overall, I did like the movie and would go see it again. For me, it is nowhere near as good as Raiders and somewhere behind Crusade but in the same vicinity of Temple. Kind of like this:
Raiders
Crusade
Temple/Skull
Overall, I did like the movie and would go see it again. For me, it is nowhere near as good as Raiders and somewhere behind Crusade but in the same vicinity of Temple. Kind of like this:
Raiders
Crusade
Temple/Skull
I loved KOTCS and have already seen it twice. I think the sort of movie a lot of the fan critics wanted to see would have been ridiculous with Harrison Ford at his current age. Some things I liked:
• The '50s vibe. Ever since the TV series it's been obvious Indiana Jones is a vehicle for telling stories in the style of their subject. So young Henry meeting Kafka would obviously be told as a Kafka story, Indiana fighting an Indian cult in the '30s would be told in the pulp style of the time and Indy in the '50s would touch on everything from drag races to the Red Menace to UFOs to The Wild One to mutant ants.
• The atomic test. This was the ultimate "cap" to the series' trademark building of peril. One of the things I loved about this movie was how much fun the Big Three obviously had while making it, and in this moment that rings loud and clear. "Whatever next?" gets hit almost immediately.
• The traditional Paramount logo fade literally makes a molehill out of a mountain. It's a symbol telling stuffy fans to not take this so seriously.
• Mutt Williams. I loved pretty much everything about this character and his relationship with Indy. A perfect counterpoint to Henry Jones Sr being in the previous film.
• The two chase scenes. Possibly my favorite chase scenes in cinema since the truck sequence in Raiders. They're both just so fun.
• Irina Spalko. I think many fan critics have completely missed the point of her. She's hilarious and sends up the franchise - a "psychic" who never once manages to make her psychic powers work. It's a joke some of the audience is too po-faced to get.
• What the story is "really" about. Indy learning what life is all about - family. It's there every step of the way. He's weary and complacent and empty until he meets Mutt. And then look how the fire comes back when he sees Marion again. He doesn't need the treasure (knowledge). He already knows what's important and he takes it. Of course the film ends with Indy getting married! It's all pointless without people to share it with. It's the lesson his dad finally learned in Last Crusade, and Indy starts this film in danger of repeating his father's mistakes (see the TV show especially).
There are a few things that bugged me (though oddly not the monkeys). It would have been nice to see him use his whip more (and Mutt his motorcycle). Karen Allen seems high. Mac is pointless in the end. Indy doesn't do enough in the final reel. But these didn't detract from how much damn fun I had watching this film.
I also think the complaints about Lucas are a bit silly. Spielberg didn't shoot anything he didn't want to and Ford had to sign off too. I get the sense that much more of what worked was Lucas' idea than we probably think. His problem isn't that he's out of ideas, it's that he's surrounded by yes men and nobody is helping him separate the bad ones from the good ones. Stick him next to Spielberg and Ford nixing the chaff and what remains is wheat.
I know I'll get raked over the coals for this, but it's my second favorite Indy after Raiders. I hope they get busy on a fifth one and I can't wait for my Sideshow 12" and PF to arrive!
• The '50s vibe. Ever since the TV series it's been obvious Indiana Jones is a vehicle for telling stories in the style of their subject. So young Henry meeting Kafka would obviously be told as a Kafka story, Indiana fighting an Indian cult in the '30s would be told in the pulp style of the time and Indy in the '50s would touch on everything from drag races to the Red Menace to UFOs to The Wild One to mutant ants.
• The atomic test. This was the ultimate "cap" to the series' trademark building of peril. One of the things I loved about this movie was how much fun the Big Three obviously had while making it, and in this moment that rings loud and clear. "Whatever next?" gets hit almost immediately.
• The traditional Paramount logo fade literally makes a molehill out of a mountain. It's a symbol telling stuffy fans to not take this so seriously.
• Mutt Williams. I loved pretty much everything about this character and his relationship with Indy. A perfect counterpoint to Henry Jones Sr being in the previous film.
• The two chase scenes. Possibly my favorite chase scenes in cinema since the truck sequence in Raiders. They're both just so fun.
• Irina Spalko. I think many fan critics have completely missed the point of her. She's hilarious and sends up the franchise - a "psychic" who never once manages to make her psychic powers work. It's a joke some of the audience is too po-faced to get.
• What the story is "really" about. Indy learning what life is all about - family. It's there every step of the way. He's weary and complacent and empty until he meets Mutt. And then look how the fire comes back when he sees Marion again. He doesn't need the treasure (knowledge). He already knows what's important and he takes it. Of course the film ends with Indy getting married! It's all pointless without people to share it with. It's the lesson his dad finally learned in Last Crusade, and Indy starts this film in danger of repeating his father's mistakes (see the TV show especially).
There are a few things that bugged me (though oddly not the monkeys). It would have been nice to see him use his whip more (and Mutt his motorcycle). Karen Allen seems high. Mac is pointless in the end. Indy doesn't do enough in the final reel. But these didn't detract from how much damn fun I had watching this film.
I also think the complaints about Lucas are a bit silly. Spielberg didn't shoot anything he didn't want to and Ford had to sign off too. I get the sense that much more of what worked was Lucas' idea than we probably think. His problem isn't that he's out of ideas, it's that he's surrounded by yes men and nobody is helping him separate the bad ones from the good ones. Stick him next to Spielberg and Ford nixing the chaff and what remains is wheat.
I know I'll get raked over the coals for this, but it's my second favorite Indy after Raiders. I hope they get busy on a fifth one and I can't wait for my Sideshow 12" and PF to arrive!
D
DarthNeil
Guest
Great first post barbelith, and welcome.
Watched it for the third time today... Still think it's great.
Watched it for the third time today... Still think it's great.
tomandshell
Blue Flame of the West/Mod
I am going to try to see it again so that I can formulate some better opinions and ideas about it. It's so hard comparing it to films that I have had memorized since my youth.
BadMoon
Demi G0D Overseer
Do it! I freaking thought Irish was crazy about not talking about it at first. I now not think that way at all. Go watch it just to enjoy it and you will.
uscmhicks
Super Freak
just went to see this again and didn't like it as much.
I would love to watch raiders at the cinema , or at least the first 15 minutes !
Man , I guess I need a bigger tv.
I would love to watch raiders at the cinema , or at least the first 15 minutes !
Man , I guess I need a bigger tv.
Trevolver
Browncoat
I just needed to pop my head in and say again just how dead wrong I am about this movie. Saw it again today and it's just tremendous fun. Every scene is a joy to rewatch, and the cringe-worthy moments are becoming less jarring.
Everyone needs to watch this movie 15 feet from the screen. it's amazing to see the characters so large and to hear the music and sound so loud.
The intro/prologue is right up there, for me, with some of the best moments in the previous films.
Trev
Everyone needs to watch this movie 15 feet from the screen. it's amazing to see the characters so large and to hear the music and sound so loud.
The intro/prologue is right up there, for me, with some of the best moments in the previous films.
Trev
BadMoon
Demi G0D Overseer
I thought the same thing.
Once you let it all go you just enjoy it. I can't wait to see it again.
Agent0028
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I always sit in the second row it's awesome, and I can get to the theater almost anytime and the seat is open. Usually I get there early enough to get the one in the direct center and put my feet up on the bars for the wheelchair in front of it.
I thought the same thing.
I wonder how much over thinking that happened with this movie. I went in looking to enjoy and I did which is why I came out with the review I did.
DarkArtist81
Super Freak
I saw it again with my Dad tonight, it was a great experience. He said that the scene that hit him the hardest was the one where Indy is looking at his father's photo.. "Life stops giving you things and starts taking them away". We've both lost so much in our journey, so that line really rang true with both of us...
Dad and I have had our ups and downs, but movies have always done much to bring us together. This Indy movie was awesome to see with him, I don't think I will forget it anytime soon. Especially with the theme of this film being what it is, it really was cool to see it with Dad.
Dad and I have had our ups and downs, but movies have always done much to bring us together. This Indy movie was awesome to see with him, I don't think I will forget it anytime soon. Especially with the theme of this film being what it is, it really was cool to see it with Dad.
That line is the key to the entire film. Life gives Indy one last chance in the form of Marion and his son and he's smart enough to grab onto that with both hands and hang on. KOTCS had to end with the wedding.
DarkArtist81
Super Freak
I totally agree with you. It's the heart of the film. The story really doesn't matter, what it was really about was Indy finding his family and cherishing the moments he would have with them for the future. Very much like Crusade, but a different Henry Jones receiving "illumination".
I'm with ya. When I went and saw this Thursday night Indy said that and it hit me how much my Dad means to me. Which is why I love the fact he's gone with me the last three years to SDCC.
I would totally agree with that.
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