Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [12A]
Harrison Ford sets off once more. |
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Pamplemousse is perhaps a bit harsh about this movie, but doesn’t mention the thing I found most disappointing about it: namely, its blatant ripping-off of bits from other successful action adventure movies. For example (and in particular), The Mummy, (those disgusting scarab beetles, which become giant red ants in this movie, the Benny character who can’t help going back for more gold) The Mummy Returns, (jungle, pyramids, dart-blowing weird tribespersons), National Treasure 1 and 2 (subterranean multi-national treasure house, tilting stone disc, arrestingly dangerous methods of illumination) Star Gate (pyramids were in fact built by aliens) and Star Trek number whichever (the one where Captain Kirk discovers he has a son).
The original Indiana Jones movie was really innovative and changed action-adventures movies forever, and the aforementioned other movies all owe it a debt, so this copycat stuff is a big let down; one expected better. Set twenty years after The Last Crusade, this movie shows us an older Indie, but apparently none the wiser – at sixty five we are asked to believe that he’s still capable of beating the crap out of bad guys thirty or forty years his junior, and would rather sink in quicksand than grab a snake to be pulled out. The older Indie appears craggy, but suspiciously unwrinkly – I suspect his lines have been cine-magicked out – we are even given an opportunity to inspect the Ford torso, which appears to be in pretty good shape for a chap about to draw his pension. Where, however, was the wit and warmth of the character in the previous movies? Part of the erstwhile charm of Indiana Jones was that he appeared to be a genuine underdog, a man of integrity who did not expect to come out on top, who enjoyed improvising but anticipated a certain amount of pain – but here it’s as if he knows that everything’s going to work out and he’s kind of sleep-walking through it. The other people were very good, however. Definitely a special mention for the steely-eyed Cate Blanchett as the evil Ukrainian baddy; it was lovely to see Karen Allen again, just as feisty and sparky and foul-mouthed as in the original movie; but most of all, Hell-oo to newly grown-up Shia LaBoeuf, who was rivetingly charismatic as the engagingly named Mutt Williams. LaBoeuf is now twenty one, and the rest of his face is catching up with his very impressive nose – he is tall, broad-shouldered, not classically handsome, but discerning teens would climb over Zak Efron anyday to get to him. He has the priceless quality of being able to appear a real, three-dimensional, feeling, suffering, person in even the silliest movies (Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle, Transformers), and his appearance in this one certainly rescues it from a plummet into the Don’t Bother category. I would say it’s a Must-See, but I can’t see people going back to see it again and again. Andrea Hopkins, 30/05/08 Much as with 'The Phantom Menace', 'Indy IV' was always going to have an almost impossible task to pull off. However I think Indy IV comes considerably closer than TPM did. It is true that some of the magic of Raiders and wit of Crusade are missing, but how do you recreate that? Sean Connery and Ford's chemistry was spectacular. The film has some wonderful set pieces, and some not-so-great ones that leave you feeling a little disapointed by how unrealistic they are; the classic Indy movies were always escapist, but you could just about see a man surviving the action portrayed. I enjoyed Ray Winstone, although I felt that we could have seen a bit more of the reasoning behind his character's actions - not that this was Ray's fault in any way: his performance was a highlight. The original Indy films changed the way cinema looked, forever: this was never going to do that. Despite this, Indy IV is an enjoyable, worthy addition to a group of great films. Ed Blagrove, 29/05/08 This was thoroughly good fun. Polished action sequences, the usual humour, agreeably ridiculous plot, and not too much Spielbergian shmaltz. It won't change anyone's life, but it's a perfectly worthy addition to the franchise. Brian Damage, 28/05/08 A sinking ship . A stinking, sinking ship. I have to admit I was rather looking to the return of Indiana Jones but I'm afraid this has to be the damp squib of the year. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg owe me one. Actually to be more accurate they owe me the 2 hours and 24 minutes of my life I shall never get back again. Indiana Jones's fourth cinematographic outing is a disaster. A bad, sad attempt at recapturing a successful and on the whole rather enjoyable Hollywood formula. The dialogue is so pedestrian it leaves you wondering what on earth Lucas and his co-writers were thinking about. There is none of the wit, humour and self deprecation of old and the actors are left to fend for themselves, looking wooden and ill at ease with their roles. The lines are delivered straight with no sign of the ironic twinkle "Indie" fans will remember fondly and Harrison Ford appears almost robotic in his protrayal of one of Hollywood's best anti-hero creations. Even Cate Blanchett does not manage to salvage this sinking ship, as her character is so clichéd as to be hammy. "Indie" movies were always pure Hollywood, but fun, and offered a good dose of escapism for your buck. This one just wanders around looking rather lost, and has all the charm and appeal of a comatose halibut. I found myself thinking of my shopping list during the movie, never a good sign. The script is lack-lustre, clumsy and utterly devoid of interest. The plot is so thin and ridiculous it beggars belief as to how a team of esteemed, experienced writers could come up with anything so tedious and so bland. It relies heavily on special effects ( not very good ones at that) and one wonders whether perhaps this movie might have been better left unexcavated. Over-hyped and over-here, but if you loved "Raiders of the Lost Ark", it will leave you dismayed and rather despondent. There is nothing good I could find to say about this piece of cinematographic trash. Bad script, bad special effects, bad plot, wooden acting and worst crime of all, really, really boring. It even manages a few saccharine moments of pure Hollywood self indulgence and there is no sparkle or chemistry between any of the characters. It appears to have been a very expensive way to introduce a new "candidate" to replace "Indie" in the future and I dread to think what movies we have to look forward to if this is the standard set for future offerings of this type... Do not bother unless you wish to escape from the rain and have a snooze on a dry cinema seat. You have been warned. Pamplemousse, 26/05/08 |
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