The nostalgia that captivated us in the three previous Indiana Jones films is nowhere to be found in this one, much like a treasure that Indy (Harrison Ford) is always digging for in the depths of the earth. This is one treasure that Spielberg, Lucas, or script writer David Koepp can?t conjure up. Wiped clean away from the screen are the action scenes that not only glorified the trilogy, but glorified the entire action genre. The saying ?they sure don?t make them like they used to? has never felt truer. The only consistent things here are the opening vintage Paramount logo and the inspirational20theme music by John Williams ? which suffers because we can?t muster up anything to cheer for.
How is this for a reasonable plot: Indy joins forces with a Marlon Brando/James Dean look-alike named Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) and his mother Marion (Karen Allen) ? who was left behind by Indy after the first film?to find a crystal skull, located in Peru. The skull has magical, mythical powers and ? this being 1957 ? has to be kept away from the Russians instead of the Nazis. The skull possibly holds evidence to the existence of aliens and to the golden city of El Dorado. It?s a plot that meshes National Treasure like stunts with X-Files like aliens. The movie eventually chokes on its many plots, while viewers begin to grasp for dear life. With twenty years between films, this is what two masterminds come up with? Puh-lease. Other than the opening shot of Indiana getting out of a car, set against a gorgeous, desert background, there isn?t a single scene that is worth remembering.
We remember the weird Nazi man who donned an uncanny pair of specs, the bloodthirsty savage who was out for the hearts of his victims?literally?and the blonde femme fatale Nazi who would do anything to obtain the Cup of Life. While Blanchett shows no signs of breaking out of her hypnotic state of dullness, Ford knows what his limitations are in the title role, and doe s what he can with what he?s given. He is less a whip-cracking, globetrotting archeologist than an instructor to Mutt. A door is left open to LaBeouf, who would probably love nothing more than to take the new role as Indiana Jones.
That scares me.
How is this for a reasonable plot: Indy joins forces with a spoiled nightclub singer and a kid named Shorty in order to find a rock, located in India. The rock has magical, mythical powers and has to be kept away from the Thuggees instead of the Nazis. The rock is one of five, and if they are all brought together, they'll glow because they have diamonds inside them. The Thuggees plan to use the five rocks to overthrow every major religion, although it's never really explained how they intend to do this. Fortunately for Indy, the British show up with some rifles before the Thuggees find all the rocks.
We remember the weird Nazi man who donned an uncanny pair of specs, the bloodthirsty savage who was out for the hearts of his victims?literally?and the blonde femme fatale Nazi who would do anything to obtain the Cup of Life.
The Man said:
WeAreGoingToDie said:Does anyone else think Mutt's stunt double looks a little like Booger?
nitzsche said:When everyone is running to the river, it's obviously doubles.
IndyFan89 said:<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gA6lWfNuYZg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gA6lWfNuYZg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Major West said:Can you please stop thread crapping? It's turning into troll behaviour.
The Golden Idol said:Indy's temper was never really too good.
Crack that whip said:The more things change, the more they stay the same...
1938
1957
1992
TheMutt92 said:Now that is really scary!
Darth Vile said:Comingsoon.net – “For me, it was a tremendous thrill to see Indiana Jones back on the big screen again. The moment he appeared with the hat and the whip, I was overjoyed. And fortunately, Harrison Ford still has what it takes to make Indy exciting. He more than handles himself in the fight scenes, but it's the humorous moments that really make him stand out. His interaction with Marion is fantastic and as they alternately bicker and attract each other, Ford is at his finest. They also go out of their way to emphasize Indy's role as a teacher in this movie – all the way from the classroom to the jungles of South America. I'd say this is Harrison Ford's best performance on the big screen since "The Fugitive" in 1993 simply because his character has so much life in him. Ford seems to have been sleepwalking through many of his recent roles… but not here. Indy fans will be rejoicing along with me”.
Crack that whip said:The more things change, the more they stay the same...
1938
1957
1992
WeAreGoingToDie said:Very true to the above post. I have read my share of negative reviews, but it is NEVER mentioned in a negative review that Ford failed at reclaiming the role of Indy. And personally, that is all I wanted and that is what I got (and more).