Udvarnoky said:
I think it's pretty telling about Indy4's perceived quality that we have to be grateful that it's better than an action movie starring Vin Diesel or The Rock. Isn't that something we should take for granted when it comes to what I think a lot of people would call the greatest adventure film series of all time? Like, before this movie I would never have previously imagined such a comparison for an Indiana Jones movie.
If "At least it wasn't Doom or Chronicles of Riddick!" is really the best we fans can come up with for defending this movie, then I think that redefines "damning with faint praise.
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I think there are two separate and distinct elements when comparing/contrasting KOTCS to its competition: -
1) The actual production quality of the movie (whatever side of the fence you may sit)
2) The validity of a 4th Indiana Jones movie and the hunger an audience truly has for, what is in essence, more of the same (which we’ve discussed on many threads)
Personally speaking, I think KOTCS is head and shoulders above any Van Diesel or The Rock movie. I also believe KOTCS to be better than much of the contemporary competition… be it the ‘The Mummy’, ‘The Hulk’, ‘Superman Returns’, ‘National Treasure 1/2’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 1-3’ etc. etc (‘Spiderman’ possibly the only exception)… Is that not good enough? In fact, I’m struggling to think of a recent (as in last few years) family orientated action/adventure movie that has KOTCS beat (but I’m open to persuasion). Truth be known, Indiana Jones’ only real competition (of that genre) is himself…
Do I think KOTCS is a “great” movie? No I don’t… but I also think that it not being “great” does not automatically mean its poor/weak or inferior in any way (as that would apply to TOD and TLC equally). Is KOTCS a “great” Indiana Jones movie? I think all 4 movies have their high and low points. Taken as a whole, KOTCS isn’t an exceptional Indy movie (as Raiders still sets the standard as a self contained and exceptional piece of modern popular cinema), but KOTCS does have many moments that can compete with the best of the series.
Therefore, I believe KOTCS to be a very worthy (if flawed in parts) addition to the franchise. To use a James Bond analogy, KOTCS may very well be the 'Thunderball' of the series (and I'm happy with that)... but for the moment it hasn't veered off into 'Octopu*sy', or 'Die Another Day' territory (in fact any Pierce Brosnan JB movie).