I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
The first time I had contact with Indiana Jones was in 1993 when I taped the Friday Night Movie on TV2 and watched it first thing on Saturday morning. It was The Last Crusade, and I loved it. I immediately became interested in archaeology, or at least the idea of archaeology. I went to my school library, got out a book on ancient treasures and read it from cover to cover. Later that year I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It was creepy, with all that ripping out of hearts. I loved the minecart chase and the rope-bridge climax. Raiders of the Lost Ark came soon after that, capping the trilogy for me in reverse order. And there was even the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series.
After many years of watching and re-watching these films on my worn VHS tapes, I come to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. There's a massive level of anticipation. I haven't been this excited since The Phantom Menace was released in 1999.
Fans will should reassured right from the start - the retro Paramount logo is just like it was in the 80s. It's clear that this film has been made as a slice of nostalgia, featuring many references to the previous films. But it's the new stuff that's most exciting. I loved the 50s setting, in the age of Atomic testing and communist blacklisting. After opening with Elvis' Hound Dog on the soundtrack as a car full of carefree students pursues a military convoy along a Nevada desert road, we soon turn up at the infamous Area 51. An early highpoint comes when Jones escapes into a mock town, set up for a nuclear bomb test, moments before detonation. It's a fresh idea for the franchise, and a welcome one.
Shia LaBeouf is great as flick-knife wielding 'greaser' Mutt Williams, who values his motorcycle more than his education. It's not hard to imagine this character reprised in further films, perhaps even on a solo outing. Cate Blanchett's villainous psychic Russian scientist is hammy in true pulp fashion, but Ray Winstone’s piggish Cockney archeologist could have been used more. John Hurt plays a role that's like Ben Gunn from Treasure Island – in short, a babbling fool. Harrison Ford proves he can still play an action hero. He makes for an older, wiser Indiana Jones - more world-weary and melancholic.
But (and this is a most unwelcome 'but') there is something ultimately underwhelming about this film. I've been struggling to put my thoughts into words for several days.
Have I become a film snob? In the years since discovering these Jones movies, have I moved away from a love of these serial adventure blockbusters, and replaced it with obscure arty nonsense? Has the negative opinion on creator George Lucas and the harsh treatment of his Star Wars prequels clouded my judgement? Have I simply outgrown the target demographic these films are aimed at?
In fact, I'd say that the precise reason for my uneasy feeling about the fourth Indiana Jones adventure is due to far too many moments feeling downright fake, e.g. the vine swinging and the fridge escape. The frequent dives in a vehicle over waterfalls just go beyond unbelievable; it's as if Indiana Jones has actually become invincible – he's hardly even gasping for air when they surface. Stunts are only impressive when we know that real people are actually performing them. Spielberg seems to have underestimated the audience in this respect.
The pulpy cliffhanger action works best when pulled off in the retro style. The motorcycle chase through Marshall College, as Dr Jones is pursued by Russian spies, is probably the best sequence. Such a feat could actually be pulled off in real life, giving it a credibility that the CGI sequences lack.
This CG-specific complaint comes, of course, from a hugely demanding Indiana Jones fan. To be fair, Crystal Skull is packed to the brim with fun and action, and should be noted for revealing a more mature side to Dr Jones. I had fun, and I've already seen it twice.
But ultimately, and sadly, I have to admit that Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull is not quite the brilliant adventure I was hoping for. The story, characters, locations, music and direction are great, and the 50s Cold War setting is terrific, but the frequent trips into over-the-top territory sadly mean this adventure is flawed. In attempt to wow those of us who have 'seen it all', Spielberg has tried to up the ante and has pushed our suspension of disbelief to breaking point.
Reviewed by Andrew Hedley
Sure it make have a bit unrealistic parts in it, but he is INDIANA JONES, hes an action hero, basically invincible. To understand the ending, you need to think about it. Most people just go, What? Thats a bloody stupid ending then forget about it, however, since when would a Crystal Skull NOT be alien-like? I think people just need to stop going on about its bad-points and just enjoy it. It was truly better than The Dark Knight. If you want a good movie, go see this, Please don't make the foolish choice of skipping this movie.
Sure it make have a bit unrealistic parts in it, but he is INDIANA JONES, hes an action hero, basically invincible. To understand the ending, you need to think about it. Most people just go, What? Thats a bloody stupid ending then forget about it, however, since when would a Crystal Skull NOT be alien-like? I think people just need to stop going on about its bad-points and just enjoy it. It was truly better than The Dark Knight. If you want a good movie, go see this, Please don't make the foolish choice of skipping this movie.
Without offering spoilers for those still yet to see this “film”, this is certain not the film Indiana Jones fans were expecting. The anticipation built up over the past 17 odd years (since Indiana Jones and the last crusade) awaiting a fourth installment for the franchise saw the rejection of the praised and hailed Frank Darabont script and another tremendously dire script from the king of disastrous popcorn dialogue, George Lucas. For those who grew up with and followed the Indiana Jones franchise and are/were expecting more of the same prepare for disappointment. With flash over substance, bland dialogue, an overly science fiction storyline, too much emphasis on CGI and cute furry computer generated animals this film is an Indiana Jones movie in name only. Much of the story revolves around an obvious plot device which is, as I stated obvious from the entrance of Shia LaBeouf’s character (without wanting to spoil the story, I sure most are already aware of what I’m referring to). Sadly a stellar cast merely trend around an abortion of a script simply waiting to get paid for their efforts, and none will hold their heads up proudly as profound cinematic moments in (some cases) decade spanning careers. Karen Allen returning as Marion Ravenwood is nothing but a background filler to offer a scream once in a while and some badly hashed lines before scurrying back into a usually static background of other actors awaiting their lines. The same can be said of many of this cast, with perhaps Ray Winstone being the exclusion as his character seems to be the only one developed if at all. In all honesty I left the cinema disappointed, which forced me to don a fedora and whip to scour the internet for the long lost archeological relic known as the Darabont script.
The first half of the fourth instalment is quite good. The typical deepening mystery is handled well, as is the snappy dialogue between the two rough-edged leads. Then we descend into morbid cartoon nonsense as poor over-the-top CGI (I swear that technology has only worsened since Spielberg gave us the solid effort of Jurassic Park a dozen or so years ago...) lowers one of the great adventure franchises in film to the level of Alien vs Predator. Thank goodness Harrison Ford has still got that screen charisma working.
I must admit, i was rather excited about this one. Unfortunately, i may have set my expectations too high. I would definitely say enjoyable, just not great, so only 3 stars for me (time to go and see Iron Man again, that will cheer me up) :)
And you may disagree – but that’s fine. Indiana Jones is about nostalgia, that’s what it was conceived from. It’s suppose to be the joy of all that stuff from George and Steven’s childhoods. Their heroes reborn in the most awesome hero of their age – given adventures that only the 21st Century’s whiz-banggery could produce...There’s a lot of magic in this film. A lot of it. I don’t think you have to be a chapter and verse fan of Indiana Jones to love it. Yes, LOVE IT. I think you just have to let go, believe and be willing to have another adventure with INDIANA JONES… because nobody, anywhere does it like Indy.
1/2 It's not a great movie, but it ticks all the boxes for Indy fans. It's one last chance to enjoy the world's favourite relic-seeking archaeologist before he, himself, becomes a relic.
A slick, fun film that has by no means sacrificed the fast action beats of the first three.
Director Steven Spielberg seems intent on celebrating his entire early career here. Whatever the story there is, a vague journey to return a spectacular archeological find to its rightful home -- an unusual goal of the old grave-robber, you must admit -- gets swamped in a sea of stunts and CGI that are relentless as the scenes and character relationships are charmless.
As it turns out, it's not whether Harrison Ford is too old to be cracking the whip. Playing the movies' greatest archaeologist-adventurer 19 years after his supposed "Last" Crusade, Ford might be ancient. But he's hardly a ruin. Sure his timing on the occasional punchline might be off but the hat still fits.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 22nd May 2008.
Release date: May 22nd 2008.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
