Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

[john audley]

I have just seen the latest Indiana Jones. Is it permissible to discuss its merits here?

[phil]

Is it any good?

[john audley]

name='phil']Is it any good?

I would assume that the answer is OK? Don't want to be out of line

Well

To start with the age rating for the film is 12 years and I would say that the script would suit that age group in particular. This is not to say that I have anything against Spielberg who has done some great works (apart from The Goonies!) but this film could have been so much better.

  Spoiler:

The script idea is good and contains two first class elements - the 1950s period and

the Christal Skull. Unfortunately both ideas are not used to best advantage.

I would have thought that the 1957 period, if used dinamically for the first half of the film - top nostaliga inputs - music, period clothes, culture - would have attracted the current granddad age group to even accompany their grand (teenage) kids of today.

A double success but apart from a couple of mis-placed old records and one coffee bar scene there is no real connection to the period that could easily be any period to 1970.



The film starts with the Russians being the new (or the old) nasties but this is well out of date now and the way the film portrays them as being able to run riot across America and within area 51 comes over as ludicrous to say the least. Spielberg 'borrows' from at least six films and it shows badly. Indi is engaged in the first Area 51 encounter alone to destroy a few dozen Ruskies but their seems no connection to his arrival at the atom bomb constructed village that is to be destroyed and he saves himself by hiding within a fringe!



The middle of the film is rather boring without real explanation for the reason to locate this skull (followed by the remaining Ruskies) to South America where he meets John Hurt who then acts every one off the screen.



The conclusion is the hidden city that is really an Alien hidden base with a ring of 13 skeletons and 12 skulls (waiting for number 13). The logic of the film was to search for hidden gold (I concluded!) but it has too many plot lines and the comedy does not work (little that there is). There is no explanation why this complex exists, how it got there or why it is waiting for the 13th skull or how it was successfully taken away leaving 12!

The script is rather a mess but it could have been much better.

Harrison Ford does show his age I am afraid and his new found son could have done more of the leaping to make it credible.

[eric7885]

This film has received good reviews here in Canada. But,I am in no hurry to run to the cinema to see it. I never took much interest in the previous films of Indiana Jones. It has been around 20 years since Harrison Ford acted in these films,he is a little old for this type of role now. That is my opinion,I am sure others would disagree with me. Cheers Ron Larkin

[DB7]

A mate today dubbed it 'painfully average'.

[Marky B]

I will go and see it,but I have misgivings as the series ended on a high (my opinion is the same about an intended fourth "Bourne" film). However,we shouldn't read into the opinions of critics in the media.

Ta Ta

Marky B

[john audley]

name='Marky B']I will go and see it,but I have misgivings as the series ended on a high (my opinion is the same about an intended fourth "Bourne" film). However,we shouldn't read into the opinions of critics in the media.

Ta Ta

Marky B

I would assume Mark that much of it is meant to be funny but perhaps my humour is waining - I could not see much. To be blown up by an atom bomb and survive via hiding in a fridge is slightly humourous but the thing hits the ground at 500 mph and roll countless times to break every bone one would think!



The best 'slapstick' is when Hindy's son takes off Tarzan and swings the jungle in vines to be copied by countless monkeys (very good!) but placed in the middle of the most violent scene it totally mis-fires.

[lordtednfs]

I'm off to see it tomorrow with my good lady and for less than a fiver I will get to see the movie and have a meal afterwards.



The reviews are good , but Harrison is begining to look his age, too much of the younger lady I think!



__________________

Hooked off the line

[john audley]

name='lordtednfs']I'm off to see it tomorrow with my good lady and for less than a fiver I will get to see the movie and have a meal afterwards.



The reviews are good , but Harrison is begining to look his age, too much of the younger lady I think!



__________________

Hooked off the line

Model T Ford:Actually if there were a really attractive female it would improve the film but there is not - all very butch even the ladies

[lemmycaution]

My 14-year-old son saw it today and was not impressed. Perhaps it is geared a little too much to the boomers.

[Third Man]

It's all very self-referential and the first half hour creaks and groans... well like a creaky groany thing!



Too much CGI as well, which makes me wonder if this type of thing is written into the contract of film makers i.e.; you must use a certain amount of CGI to fulfil the producers and various executives wishes.



The whole thing stinks of money making filmmaking and one has to wonder what Spielberg was attempting here? He's definitely trying to tie this one in with' Close Encounters of the Third Kind'



Simon

[phil]

It sounds like the series is going the same way as the STAR WARS films, I still have'nt seen the last one of those yet.

It's very difficult, almost impossible to catch the feel of something after a 20 year gap. I'm in no hurry to see it, I'll wait till it comes on TV.

I heard on the radio that there's already an INDY 5 in the pipeline.

[donna]

I loved the first one thought it was fantastic, as was the second then for some reason I lost interest even with the input of Sean.

[dremble wedge]

Haven't seen it yet, but I probably shall do.



To be honest I thought Raiders was a masterpiece and the next two merely... okay (I suppose Crusade is slightly better than Temple due to Denholm Elliott returning and there being no Goonies in it).

[john audley]

name='phil']It sounds like the series is going the same way as the STAR WARS films, I still have'nt seen the last one of those yet.

It's very difficult, almost impossible to catch the feel of something after a 20 year gap. I'm in no hurry to see it, I'll wait till it comes on TV.

I heard on the radio that there's already an INDY 5 in the pipeline.

My initial draft says the point for me, that I have no problem with the 19 years of gap

or Hindy coming out of retirement or the era of the 1950s. It is the silly script content that is the problem when all the ingredients were there for another successful package. The script is straight out of a 'Superman' comic for the under 15 age group.



Here we do have a good point surely? A script should be aimed at the precise audience it intends to reach i.e., children, teenage, adults, men, women and family. All these groups were catered for in my youth very well.



Incidentally, Indy makes a point of a skull being within the British Museum and then finds this lost skull that must be returned to make the 13. Well, 2 from 13 makes 11 according to my sums

[Automotivehistorian]

My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed the filem; so much so we are going to have another go! Mind you we were in (our opinion) the most beautiful cinema in the country, the Odeon in Salisbury, with its tudor architecture. I would have loved to have seen it in the much-lamented Gosport cinema, which had at the end the largest screen on the South Coast. Godzilla was a marvel on that screen.

[Automotivehistorian]

My daughter has just indicated that Spielberg might be doing some more Indy films!

[image45]

name='DB7']A mate today dubbed it 'painfully average'.

Yes sadly it was,a shame when you remember why you went to the picture house to watch it in the first place!

[john audley]

name='Automotivehistorian']My daughter has just indicated that Spielberg might be doing some more Indy films!

I do hope that he finds a good script writer next time that might appeal to the over 12s

[1stas]

name='john audley']I do hope that he finds a good script writer next time that might appeal to the over 12s

Ford - too old

Blanchett - miscast

Winstone - played Winstone

Hurt - underused

Allen - boring

LaBeouf - more ham than beef



Apart from all that it wasn't bad!



My 13 year old son said it was good, but not as good as his popcorn!