Heh heh I really like this illustration by *jollyjack which sums up my frustrations about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skulls.
Don’t get me started on the monkeys.
Archive for May, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Disappointment
May 26, 2008**Please note this post contains a couple of plot spoilers, so don’t tell me later that I spoiled the film by reading from now on. Consider this a warning**
The title of this post says it all. I really hate admitting it as I love the Indiana Jones films, but I didn’t enjoy Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls.
I was brought up on these films in the 80’s and so I was scared entering the cinema yesterday after reading such review quotes like “George Lucas raped my childhood, again”. And, I might have to admit that I agree with that reviewer (even though that reviewer is probably fat, knows more about the films of George Lucas than George Lucas, lives in his mum and dad’s basement basically a film-hater when really deep down he digs them).
George is trying too hard. He did the same with the Star Wars prequels, there’s too much going on the screen, pushing the boundaries of visuals and storytelling – like having 2 or 3 car chases in the one scene instead of just having the 1, stepping into the realms of fantasy rather remaining in action where the original films stayed, and realistic. Indiana Jones – realistic?! I know, but here’s an example:
Remember the truck chase in Raiders? Indy got thrown put the windscreen, dragged along the dirt, got punched up and eventually shot in the arm. Great gritty, physical stuff, will he make it you ask yourself?
Touch and go. Barely. You can feel every punch and kick.
There’s a scene in the new one where Mutt (Shia LaBouf(sp?) character) is sword fencing Cate Blanchlett’s character and they are both standing on different jeeps racing through the jungle.
Where’s the gritty, realistic action there? Its all a bit whimsical isn’t it. There was no sense of peril in most of the scenes.
Don’t get me wrong, I was liking the film up to a point where Karen Allen (Marion from Raiders) appears, then it just went totally hokey and started becoming a bit of a joke, with the tongue suitably forced into its cheek.
Too many special effects and you could tell it was SFX. With something like Indiana Jones, if it needs SFX, don’t do it. Again you are going into the realms of fantasy and the laws of physics are out the window and you start removing yourself from the enjoyment and belief of the film.
Ok I’m starting to rant and nit-pick. It was an Indy film, but not really up there with Raiders and/or Temple of Doom. I enjoyed seeing the character up there on the big screen again and hearing the Raiders March, but it was a shame that what made Raiders so great was forgotten about.
Oh hi by-the-way. I know its been a while. Can’t say when the next post will be.
