Okay so Ive just watched it for the second time and all I'll say is...
OOGA-BOOGA-CHOOGA
But also that like a lot of people, I did enjoy it more on the second viewing. Im sure that's because once you've seen the film once you know what to expect and your expectations have either been lowered, met or exceeded depending on your point of view. I was so disappointed the first time round. And yeah, there's no question that this is in no way, shape or form the Indiana Jones film I wanted. But having accepted that it is what it is I enjoyed seeing Indy in another adventure even if it still isn't worthy of the trilogy in my eyes. Will I watch it again? Definately. Will I ever love it like the original trilogy? No. It falls short on so many levels. But I'll enjoy it as an unexceptional Indy film.
Just want to go over a few of the key elements that I liked and didn't like on the film:
- It seems to me that this film despite the nuked fridge starts off excellently. I believe there is actually a point where it suddenly stops being an awesome Indy movie and takes a nosedive into the average and mediocre. The opening scene in the warehouse is classic Indy. But it's never followed up with more. It really does show that this script is pieced together from a variety of sources.
- After seeing the film for the first time, I did two videos analysing the film on my youtube channel. One of my complaints was that the character of Mac was a bit pointless and undeveloped. Somebody commented saying that he felt that Mac was one of the most developed characters in any Indiana Jones film because he wasn't simply greedy, he was "hopelessly greedy". On this second viewing I saw what he meant and so that was one complaint that was wiped from the slate.
Oh don't get me wrong, the whole double/triple agent stuff is still nonsense, but I see a depth to the character I didn't see previously.
- The tarzan scene. Utterly beyond redemption. Just ******* stupid.
- The jungle chase. Some really stupid moments and bad CGI just ruin this for me. My opinion hasn't changed on it. And as others have stated, what a waste of the jungle cutter.
- Marion, I wish she wasn't in this film. It occured to me during the jungle camp scene when Indy and Spalko are standing together trying to solve the riddles how much I liked them working together. Then Marion shows up like a ghost at the feast to lower the tone for me. Seriously she's just ridiculously goofy in this film.
I still maintain that Indiana Jones 4 should have had a love interest who was also the villian. Not a traitor like Elsa Schneider, but a flat out villian. At the end of Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine Indy makes friends with his Communist opponent in what I found to be quite a touching scene. Spalko would've fit the bill perfectly but alas it was not to be.
- I feel there is a larger problem with the villians in this film. Namely that they aren't bad. At all. Sure they kill some soldiers at the beginning, but the audience doesn't care about some nameless grunts. They don't do anything to justify their horrible demise. Their only "crimes" are that they want what indy wants and they're not capitalists. Not good enough unless you're a flag-waving moron.
The fight with the big Russian was quite enjoyable but like most other things, just not good enough compared to the trilogy. Also I really, really felt sorry for Spalko when she died. She looks so cute and sad standing there before she was consumed
- What happened to John Williams here? Why doesn't this film have its own strong score like the other three? I hated how they reused the Grail and Raiders themes. Felt cheap. A film shouldn't need to evolk past glories for its audience. It should stand by itself. Especially Indy 4.
- I never cared much about the inclusion of the alien, and this time round, I actually quite liked it's presense. Definately had a cold menace to it.
Well that's all I can think of for now my loves.