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Review #645 of 365
Movie Review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) [PG-13] 124 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.50
Where Viewed: Harkins Ciné Capri at Northfield 18, Denver, CO
When Seen: 25 May 2008
Time: 6:30 pm
DVD Release Date: 14 October 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
After the Credits: There is nothing after the credits
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Directed by: Steven Spielberg (Munich)
Screenplay by: David Koepp (Zathura) Story by George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson with characters by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Harrison Ford (Firewall) • Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There) • Karen Allen (When Will I Be Loved ) • Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) • Ray Winstone (Fool's Gold) • John Hurt (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) • Jim Broadbent (Hot Fuzz)
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On the heels of the success of what most believed would be the ending chapter of the 'ginormously' successful Indiana Jones trilogy, rumors and speculation began to circulate that producer / director Steven Spielberg and Indy Jones production partner George Lucas would be open to a fourth film. Yet, as time wore on and no news was not good news, a time clock was added to the mix suggesting they'd better make the film ASAP to ensure participation by Sean Connery. Well, the wait for the fourth film is now over, the speculation laid to rest, the rumor sites all quiet (except for speculation of a 5th film of course), and a detail that should be spoiled, Sean Connery appears only in a photograph on Henry Jones's desk despite being alive and well, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull roars on to the big screen at last with beguiling force and rampant nostalgia. Filmed to look and feel like the next chapter in the saga, it works in every way but one. How many books have you read where three chapters take place around the same approximate time continuum and then jump ahead some 20 years in the next without making any attempt, however small, to fill in the gap with something about what's been going on in the lives of those in the continuum? Well, it's a jolting lurch forward in this David Koepp screenplay right smack into the thick of a new Indiana Jones adventure. It bears reminding to those fans of the previous films that there was never a lengthy build-up to the action or anticipation of the adventure in the previous films. Not like a lot of super hero films, etc., where there's half an hour of back story and build up. Within a few minutes, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is back. He's back with some of his old friends George McHale (Ray Winstone), a new side kick named Mutt Williams(Shia LaBeouf), and a former love interest. The story, while surely contrived, probably overly conspiracy theory driven, and quite a bit less auspicious in the way it unfolds vs. the other three films, stands more like a launching pad of a new series of adventures rather than a capstone to the series. Basically, the nuts and bolts of the story are that Mutt and Indiana Jones travel to South America to retrieve a missing archeologist named Professor 'Ox' Oxley (John Hurt) who has been rambling on and on for years about a crystal skull (hence the unholy long title to the film). Using them to get a hold of the crystal skull for their own use are former agents of the Soviet Union KGB etc. led by super baddy, Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett).
For the masses who've seemingly awaited this film for decades, the film will ring the familiar adrenalin pumping Indiana Jones thrill-ology evoked by the others, but with a slightly older feel. There are playful references to the 'older' Indiana Jones by him and other characters, but Harrison Ford's age and portrayal of the character really didn't skip much of a beat from his earlier days. In other words, he's still the same old, wise-cracking, extraordinary live human super hero he was. Most of the time, you won't really notice any difference. In that, Harrison Ford has done a spectacular job of rekindling this character, sort of shaking off the dust and putting him back on like a comfortable old pair of shoes forgotten in the back of the closet and now back in fashion. Shia LaBeouf comes in off the tail of his leading role in Transformers and plays a kid straight out of the 1950s constantly combing his impossibly large hair. His performance was not spot on perfection, probably a B+. He looks the part, but somehow doesn't totally seem immersed in it.
…more like the beginning of a new series…not a bad thing it's just not what many fans may have been expecting.
Cate Blanchett, capable of nearly anything when it comes to acting, is superb as the villainous Irina Spalko. Even though her character's a bit of a caricature, she seems to revel in it amping up the idiosyncrasies and the commensurate facial scowls to a rare art form. Mr. Spielberg has captured much of the sense of adventure of the first three films—people tend to forget that the first one was far from perfect—by avoiding an over-reliance on CGI and computer effects preferring to stick with as much live action as possible. The film suffers from a couple of things. First, there's a major double cross that occurs that either reveals bad writing or a failure in the character of Indiana Jones. Second, sort of like the way the alien ending of Mr. Spielberg's A.I. goes out there to a place most people would sort of hope it never did, the story here delves into the "Coast to Coast with George Noory" conspiracy theory library a bit too deeply. A lot of people are going to be very annoyed with this whole line. Rather than sticking to the previously successful searches for glorious treasures and archeological artifacts of the ancient world, this story goes a little Area 51.
On the whole, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (note: title way too long—might have been better titled "Indiana Jones Phones Home"), is a patient successor to the trilogy. It's more like the beginning of a new series, though, than the continuation of the old. That's not a bad thing it's just not what many fans may have been expecting.
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Cast Members
Harrison Ford • Cate Blanchett • Karen Allen
Shia LaBeouf • Ray Winstone • John Hurt
Jim Broadbent
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writer
David KoeppCD Soundtrack
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Review-lite
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) [max of 150 words]
Harrison Ford rides again, this time as Indiana Jones in the 1950s. He's old, got a new side kick named Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), and a new arch villain courtesy of Cate Blanchett. Don't expect a cameo from Sean Connery, however. This film is about Indiana Jones's future not his past, and while the plot may be a bit too much "Coast to Coast with George Noory" for a lot of people, it's a dutiful homage to the past and a send off toward a new future in the series. The adventure is high, the portrayals sharp, and the old Indiana Jones is back.
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2 comments:
Hey you see Quint from AICN is doing his own movie a day thing? I call shenanigans!!! GET MY BROOM!
I loved the new Indy movie! It was nice to get away from thinking about trying to sell an employee timesheet and be able to relax and enjoy some mindless entertainment.
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