Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
Review by Josh Peterson
2hrs. 3 min.
PG-13
CAST
Harrison Ford .....................as Indiana Jones
Karen Allen......................... as Marion Ravenwood
Shia LaBeouf .....................as Mutt Williams
Cate Blanchett ...................as Irina Spalko
Ray Winstone ................... as"Mac" George Michale
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Review by Josh Peterson
2hrs. 3 min.
PG-13
CAST
Harrison Ford .....................as Indiana Jones
Karen Allen......................... as Marion Ravenwood
Shia LaBeouf .....................as Mutt Williams
Cate Blanchett ...................as Irina Spalko
Ray Winstone ................... as"Mac" George Michale
Directed by Steven Spielberg
There was also a lot of character interaction that was kind of glossed over. I will try to explain without ruining anything. Some
people had just met. They found out they had a lot in common. This common ground should have been discussed, because this
common ground is usually emotional. These characters just quipped at each other while doing battle from moving vehicles.
Somehow, they accepted their fate as having things in common. No need for any heavy emotional lifting.
Indiana Jones isn't a character drama. That's for sure. In the Crusade, the relationship between Indiana and his father played out
in a natural way. They discussed their respective emotional states and still managed to have a rip-roaring adventure. That's
called, from what I understand, good story telling.
In any case, I will not try to assuage you from seeing this movie. It has its moments, but it seems slapdash. Way to cash in on our
shared nostalgia and give us a substandard product, Hollywood!
people had just met. They found out they had a lot in common. This common ground should have been discussed, because this
common ground is usually emotional. These characters just quipped at each other while doing battle from moving vehicles.
Somehow, they accepted their fate as having things in common. No need for any heavy emotional lifting.
Indiana Jones isn't a character drama. That's for sure. In the Crusade, the relationship between Indiana and his father played out
in a natural way. They discussed their respective emotional states and still managed to have a rip-roaring adventure. That's
called, from what I understand, good story telling.
In any case, I will not try to assuage you from seeing this movie. It has its moments, but it seems slapdash. Way to cash in on our
shared nostalgia and give us a substandard product, Hollywood!
REVIEW By: Josh Peterson
George Lucas is out of his damn mind. Someone, possibly Spielberg, needs to take George Lucas aside. That person needs to
lovingly stroke George's hair, tell George everything is going to be OK, recount a story about rabbits, then break George's
neck in order to stop George from destroying all the pretty things.
The beginning of the movie is total rubbish. Indiana Jones survives a nuclear blast by hiding in a lead-lined refrigerator. And
we, the people in the theater, were all like WTF? This is not an Indian Jones movie. This is the Riddick Chronicles or some
other such nonsense.
The middle of this movie was the best part. There were times, like the jungle chase scene, that felt like a real Indiana Jones
movie. The scene where Shia and Indy were being chased through a college campus by communists was also very enjoyable. If
the movie were cropped from the meeting between Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf to the point where Indy and his "gang"
enter the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, this movie would have been great. Unfortunately, the movie was laden with wackiness.
George Lucas is out of his damn mind. Someone, possibly Spielberg, needs to take George Lucas aside. That person needs to
lovingly stroke George's hair, tell George everything is going to be OK, recount a story about rabbits, then break George's
neck in order to stop George from destroying all the pretty things.
The beginning of the movie is total rubbish. Indiana Jones survives a nuclear blast by hiding in a lead-lined refrigerator. And
we, the people in the theater, were all like WTF? This is not an Indian Jones movie. This is the Riddick Chronicles or some
other such nonsense.
The middle of this movie was the best part. There were times, like the jungle chase scene, that felt like a real Indiana Jones
movie. The scene where Shia and Indy were being chased through a college campus by communists was also very enjoyable. If
the movie were cropped from the meeting between Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf to the point where Indy and his "gang"
enter the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, this movie would have been great. Unfortunately, the movie was laden with wackiness.
Everything was tainted by that horrible crystal skull. The skull looks like someone took an H.R. Geiger alien head and had it
turned into bric-a-brac. It was filled with colorful liquids that looked like melted popsicles. These popsicle juices would boil when
the skull was using its psychic powers.
The skull turned out to be an alien's head. (Doy!) The alien wanted his head back so he could go home. The Russians wanted
the head so they could have crazy mind powers. I wanted a plot based on folklore, not the whimsical fantasies of alien
enthusiasts.
Take a look at the first three Indiana Jones movies. Most people claim that Raiders and Crusade are the best, but Temple of
Doom is also good. Temple of Doom is an amazing movie. Watch it again if you haven't. There isn't a dull moment in it. The
reason that people like Crusade and Raiders better is because the artifacts in the movie are exciting and understandable.
Raiders had the Ark of the Covenant. Crusade had the Holy Grail. Temple had some glow-y rocks. No one cares about glow-y
rocks.
In the first three Indiana Jones movies, the supernatural was used sparingly. We knew Indy was living in a fantastic world, but
that aspect was usually downplayed. Indiana didn't seem to care much for the supernatural that existed in his world. He was,
after all, a scientist. Temple used the supernatural much more overtly than Raiders and Crusade. That may be another reason
why it isn't the crowd favorite. Kingdom, however, was the greatest abuser of the supernatural. Things start getting ooky within
the first ten minutes of the movie and only get ookier from there.
There were South American ghost ninjas, flying saucers, people who apparently lived in walls, aliens, psychic powers, Area 51
and much, much more.
turned into bric-a-brac. It was filled with colorful liquids that looked like melted popsicles. These popsicle juices would boil when
the skull was using its psychic powers.
The skull turned out to be an alien's head. (Doy!) The alien wanted his head back so he could go home. The Russians wanted
the head so they could have crazy mind powers. I wanted a plot based on folklore, not the whimsical fantasies of alien
enthusiasts.
Take a look at the first three Indiana Jones movies. Most people claim that Raiders and Crusade are the best, but Temple of
Doom is also good. Temple of Doom is an amazing movie. Watch it again if you haven't. There isn't a dull moment in it. The
reason that people like Crusade and Raiders better is because the artifacts in the movie are exciting and understandable.
Raiders had the Ark of the Covenant. Crusade had the Holy Grail. Temple had some glow-y rocks. No one cares about glow-y
rocks.
In the first three Indiana Jones movies, the supernatural was used sparingly. We knew Indy was living in a fantastic world, but
that aspect was usually downplayed. Indiana didn't seem to care much for the supernatural that existed in his world. He was,
after all, a scientist. Temple used the supernatural much more overtly than Raiders and Crusade. That may be another reason
why it isn't the crowd favorite. Kingdom, however, was the greatest abuser of the supernatural. Things start getting ooky within
the first ten minutes of the movie and only get ookier from there.
There were South American ghost ninjas, flying saucers, people who apparently lived in walls, aliens, psychic powers, Area 51
and much, much more.
Kate Blanchett was in the movie, but I wonder why. Her character didn't really do anything that mattered. I think she was
supposed to be like that black-hatted fellow who got melted in Raiders, but her character had a lot less to do. Her outfit was nice.
supposed to be like that black-hatted fellow who got melted in Raiders, but her character had a lot less to do. Her outfit was nice.
The Weekend Film Review:
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
 |  |