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Talkbacks

First
by NoDiggity
May 21st, 2008
11:47:47 PM
How Sweet it is
Second
by NoDiggity
May 21st, 2008
11:49:15 PM
Is pretty sweet too
Third
by NoDiggity
May 21st, 2008
11:49:32 PM
times the charm
Fourth
by NoDiggity
May 21st, 2008
11:50:03 PM
I got nothin
Damn you Prosser. Ruined my streak!
by NoDiggity
May 21st, 2008
11:51:10 PM
can't wait
by El Borak
May 21st, 2008
11:54:47 PM
til tomorrow.
took some kids to a early run all loved it.
by postalpez
May 21st, 2008
11:55:09 PM
5,6,7,13, and I'm 27. glad they got in to it the same way i did when i was a rugrat
btw
by El Borak
May 21st, 2008
11:55:40 PM
i like them all equally. and ford will be on conan in a minute.
I just got back
by red_weed
May 22nd, 2008
12:03:50 AM
my friends were all nit picking it afterwards but i dunno, i liked it. yeah some of it was ridiculous, a lot moreso than in previous movies, but hey it was entertaining. pity they shot so much on sets to keep all the secrecy. You could kinda tell. Also Kaminski's photography still feels way out of place with me. And Idny doesn't do as much action in this one, but hey, that's kinda to be expected right? Yeah I liked it.
Lame
by PotSmokinAlien
May 22nd, 2008
12:05:30 AM
Dude, this is fucking weak. When I see articles like this I feel like I'm looking at "Hey since there are so many reviews of IJATKOTCS on this site here is a place for everyone to put their talkback opinions and, more importantly, for the people who have marketed this movie to check in and see how it's doing with that 'geek' demographic some delightful person decided to devote the entirety of hollywood to." It Cool News Dot Com.

And that makes me feel bummed out.

Geeks with no life...
by JackIsLost
May 22nd, 2008
12:05:42 AM
Hate it and complain about EVERYTHING. Everyone else loved it. That's all.
Really enjoyed it.
by Novaman5000
May 22nd, 2008
12:06:00 AM
It could have been a disaster, but it was pretty great.
This movie was fucking awful.
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
12:09:25 AM
Harry, did you and I see the same movie? WTF?
Idny? I mean indy..
by red_weed
May 22nd, 2008
12:09:35 AM
Also Temple of Doom is still my favorite.
It felt like an Indy movie
by Crow3711
May 22nd, 2008
12:10:27 AM
and that is its greatest accomplishment. If you really think about it, most of the stuff that happens isn't that much more ridiculous than anything in previous films. It had that same great Indiana Jones feeling, it isn't my favorite, but all I really wanted was to be able to say I'm glad they made, and I can say that with ease. Even a "good" Indy movie is leagues better than most anything else. I give it a heart-felt "yay."
PotSmokinAlien, Harry usually puts one up for the Big Ones.
by NoDiggity
May 22nd, 2008
12:11:34 AM
And this film is a Big One, in terms of Interest.
NoDiggity
by PotSmokinAlien
May 22nd, 2008
12:16:14 AM
I like the way you work it, ::no diggity:: I got to bag ::I got to bag it up:: it up yeah / I like the way you work it, ::No diggity:: I gots to bag it up ::duh nu nuh nuh nuhhh::
Wow, this sounds less than stellar...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
12:17:10 AM
I have a feeling Cruel_Kingdom has just written the most truthful review yet. It's too bad everyone wasn't shanking and crying.
Just got back from it.
by Gilkuliehe
May 22nd, 2008
12:18:12 AM
I tried not to get my expectations through the roof for this one, and even though I have minor nitpicks, I truly thank Spielberg and Lucas for making me forget about everything else surrounding this movie and given me A GODDAMN INDIANA JONES MOVIE.

Seriously, there were moments of pure fucking joy: the nuclear test site, that 50's fight, motorcycle chase, even the ridiculous tarzan sequence was great (well, everything around the tarzan sequence).

Minor complaints: Silly jokes, so little violence and darkness (all other three movies seem R rated by comparisson), weak ending (there wasn't a single HOLY SHIT moment for me in the ending, whereas even DOOM had plenty) and... Well that's it.

I completely loved the rest of the movie, and I had a steel smile on my face for 80% of the footage shown. That's more than enough for me and I plan to see this at least three more times in a movie theater.

We have a real INDIANA FUCKING JONES movie playing RIGHT FUCKING NOW. And for that, I thank both beards and everyone else involved. Cheers.

I loved the film
by therobcat
May 22nd, 2008
12:19:37 AM
I went it frightened of watching another beloved childhood memory gutted before my eyes, but was happy to find a true Indy experience. While I too hated the monkey-Shia bit, could have done with less cgi, and found the last third (other than the ending) a bit of a mess, I love this film and I want to see it a few dozen more times as soon as possible...
So basically everyone likes this...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
12:21:30 AM
because it's nostalgic. Gee, way to go Spielberg.
CROW3711
by DoctorWho?
May 22nd, 2008
12:22:56 AM
It's good to hear it "felt like an Indy movie". That's what I was hoping for. You pretty much guaranteed my ticket.
going to see it today
by Gabba-UK
May 22nd, 2008
12:23:32 AM
at Leicester Square with a bit of luck. Expensive but I'm down in London anyways and well, Indy's worth it.
Indy 4 = A true FAN'S Dream Come True
by SigmaChi04
May 22nd, 2008
12:26:08 AM
I saw The Last Crusade in theaters with my late grandfather (who looked just like Henry Sr.) when I was 7 years old. I'm happy to say I'm not critic but thanks for not spoiling my childhood like another George Lucas production fanbase suffered. Spielberg took a very welcome traditional note in making Indy 4. It's almost as if he remembered the words of Henry Jones Sr. "Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky." The CGI never overshadows the amazing scenery (a lot less so than the matte painting outlines that were so blatant in the trilogy). The whole movie FEELS pure INDY (as for "silly plot" complaints let me remind you of the voodoo doll in temple of doom and the lack of explaining how Indy survived the U-Boat ride in Raiders (whip on periscope anyone?) among others. So just eat your popcorn and enjoy the ride. Raiders was a film made by 2 fans of Republic serials, this movie was made scene by scene for Indiana Jones fans as Spielberg promised! And by the way, Shia is 100 times better than Short Round. Not to say that's good, but at least we don't have another Jar Jar or Marcus Brody (rest in peace) to have for "comic relief".
How many licks does it take to....
by DarkCouncilus
May 22nd, 2008
12:33:57 AM
Make a George Lucas Films marketeer ejaculate of joy because of all this "articles" in spite of Indy 4? Love the movie, hate the sell-out factor in the media bitches.
I'm actually not seeing it until tonight
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
12:36:07 AM
My friends and I wanted time to actually sit around and discuss what we saw, so we decided it can wait until a time we wont get out of the flick until three in the morning. i'm sure afterwards at the local Denny's there will be much coffee drinking and shouting.
What's wrong with it being nostalgic?
by flickchick85
May 22nd, 2008
12:37:12 AM
I think Spielberg's at his best when he's being nostalgic. Minus Hook. I dunno WTF happened there. But nostalgia is EXACTLY what I want out of this movie. Silly plot details and over-the-top action have always been part of Indy's charm, and I wouldn't want him any other way.
SigmaChi04
by BadMrWonka
May 22nd, 2008
12:41:35 AM
U-Boats regularly traveled on the surface unless they had specific reason to go under. they may not have been that far away anyway. that is an old nitpick that was disproved a decade ago.

glad you liked the new one though, I'm seeing it tomorrow.

Nostalgia
by kafka07
May 22nd, 2008
12:41:46 AM
what's wrong with a little nostalgia?
Whip on Periscope. Nope, he left it behind.
by NoDiggity
May 22nd, 2008
12:46:00 AM
At least, he didn't seem to have it on him when he climbed on board the submarine. I think the last time we see it is when he jams the handle somewhere under the truck.
Is it too late to bring back HAN SOLO...?
by Greigy Just Wanted To Say
May 22nd, 2008
12:46:07 AM
You could pimp the Falcon and have a Greyed up Chewie. Hey just planting seed kids.
LOVE IT - DO YOUR F'N CIVIC DUTY - GO WATCH INDY 4 NOW!
by Proman1984
May 22nd, 2008
12:47:44 AM
This weekend, enjoy this with your family - the movie's fantastic!
All I have to say: FUCK YOU, George Lucas!
by Motoko Kusanagi
May 22nd, 2008
12:55:14 AM
I saw INDY 4 yesterday and it was okay - but not as great as it should've been. The most annoying thing is that fucking crystal skull which seems to have more screen time than Harrison. Seriously. Plus most of the action scenes were underwhelming at best. And that fucking UFO finale was the topping of the turd.

So, fuck you, George. Again, you've ruined a great franchise. DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!

it's a blockbuster
by Disco Banes
May 22nd, 2008
12:56:43 AM
i don't think it is possible for steven spielberg to make a bad movie (since the lost world that is), but he is capable of making a disappoiting one. So i was rather confident that i would surely enjoy this film, at least. I can say that they all kept their word, the film is a really really fun ride. But as far as good filmmaking goes, it's an ok picture (i have the same feeling about the other 3 indies, so...). Only 2 things bothered me (and that's not a lot): -the exposition part in the film, 20minutes in, where Indy meets Mutt, is too much. Not that it's too long or confusing but it's too much plot. There was a simplicity about the plots of the other indy films that i miss here. The crystal skull tale is too fat. There's a skull missing, there's a woman missing, there's a professor missing, there's already a doublecrossing partner at this stage. And indy doesn't need to simply find the skull, he has to bring it to this city, where in combination with other skulls, you can achieve 'some sort' of power. That's a big lead up for a vague goal i thought. But after this there's no stopping the indy train and you don't even think too much about where this is leading us. you can enjoy very large parts of the film without worrying about where's it going. -i'm sorry to say that i have a real problem with the ending. I didn't mind the special effects or this set as climax to the film. I minded that i hoped to have a climax after the so called climax in the film. It feels like a dud. There's no such thing as a great power that the russians want. There is no great power at all! They bring the skull in this small temple, place it on the alien, the vortex starts and... they go to another dimension... How does this fit in with the idea of this great power? I didn't know why and what was happening to cate blanchett at this point. I couldn't give an explanation for this climax as it unfolded. And that's terrible. Stuff happens, beofre you know it's over, the baddie's gone and indy escaped. Pretty soft. Although that shot of indy with the giant flying saucer was a thing of beauty, but hardly anything like resembling a climax. Now, the stuff that was great: - Shia can act (Karen Allen cant by the way) - indy vs nuclear bomb is fantastic image - Jim Broadbent was nice to see - Indy and Shia in the diner where the fight starts is a fun cool moment - finding the skull was very nicely done - the quicksand was a very nice scene - the car chase in the jungle is the best action set piece of the film - i truly love the ants (though it felt as they had to put in an ugly bug, they just had to!) - the way to enter the temple is pretty cool (you can see this in the trailer where they go down these stairs that disappear in the walls. - indy against the flying saucer is beautiful image - the interplay between indy and marion is rather charming to watch, i have to admit - cate blanchett was a lot of fun to watch Now, little stuff that didn't work: - why were these guys racing in the opening scene? - the reason why they went to that cemetery, coming from the crazy house is sill unclear to me, and who were those crazy guys protecting it? - ray winstone is lost in a simplistic character. I love Ray but i only love him in serious films, not in happy meal blockbusters like this. - karen allen can't act - the contless escape scenes. I swear to god, people escape captivity a dozen times in this film - if ray winstone was gonna switch sides again, i was gonna barf - shia swinging from the vines is a big no no - marion's trick to get the car in the water was over the top. really - the guards watching the temple are serious pussies - the last scene of the film was cute for a second but then... pff But don't worry after all i've said. I'm seeing it again this friday, it's a reall trip, a wonderful time to switch of the brain. After a stressfull day a welcome relaxation. you can compare it to casino royale in this way. So, don't wait for it, go see it
Entertaining, but Dissapointing
by davidaq
May 22nd, 2008
01:03:07 AM
enjoyed it for the most part, Ford/Shia worked great together, thought he was clearly one of the better things about the film. Liked the whole cast in general actually, although could have done without John Hurts character. quality wise id say it does fall a little bit behind the other sequels, mainly due to the last 15-20mins being the worst part of the entire series. Its a shame George Lucas and his 'Saucermen' rubbish were not somehow kept away from the film, its obvious from interviews that Spielberg and Ford were never comfortable with that. I guess they had to compromise and let George get it in there somewhere, otherwise the damn film never would have been made.
Seriously, WTF. (SPOILERS)
by Kurutteru Yatsu
May 22nd, 2008
01:03:25 AM
Tarzan LeBeouf?

Indy doing pratfalls? Looking all goofy at the wedding?

Surviving a nuclear blast by hopping in a fridge, flying at least a couple hundred yards, bouncing (more like slamming) twice on the ground before rolling to a stop and not so much as a scratch? Are you goddamn kidding me? I'm all for suspension of disbelief but there's a limit.

Good to see the crappy CGI monkeys from Jumanji are still getting work.

I guess the scarabs from The Mummy must be working too since they had to have giant ants stand in.

Skeletons merging together into a living alien? Sure, why not.

How/why does Indy get re-hired and promoted at the end?

Why make a big deal of Marion being part of the proceedings if she only gets two minutes' worth of lines?

The entire last half hour of the movie: No, that's cool. You don't need to have Indy do anything. He can just stand around. Totally fine.

A fucking flying saucer? The aliens were archaeologists, but they stuck around to teach the Mayans about machinery, paved roads and advanced construction and be worshipped as gods?

And last but not least, what the fuck was the deal with the statue of Marcus? Was there even a point there?

I already said this in another TB but I'll say it again-- that was *not* how I wanted to feel walking out of an Indiana Jones movie.
TEMPLE OF DOOM is the best out of all of them!
by Mike_D
May 22nd, 2008
01:08:24 AM
Havnet seen Indy 4 yet though but thought I'd chime in.
There was a UFO ending?! WTF?!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!
by Mike_D
May 22nd, 2008
01:15:06 AM
I just spoiled the movie for myself by reading this talkback. I hate myself.
UFO's????
by lb
May 22nd, 2008
01:16:48 AM
I am not happy about that at all.
Nostalgia is fucking fine and dandy....
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:22:24 AM
if the movie has a little something more than my slobbering idiot kids enjoyed while I sat there watching them pick their nose with a smile on their faces. That is not an Indiana Jones movie nor should it be billed as one. And no it is not that I've changed, it's that Lucas the Hutt should've handed some of this shit over to someone else when his cunt wife left and took whatever was left in his tank with her.
terrible shit movie
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
01:24:05 AM
shite. I loved the bit where indy grabs the hat ay the very end out of shia's hand, but the rest of this was crap.
This movie is shaping up just like...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:25:45 AM
TPM. At first nobody wants to come out and say it, but give it 6 months and most everyone will be asking themselves what the fuck happened to IJ.
J
by twojawas
May 22nd, 2008
01:26:59 AM
Sadly, it was not very good. There was no sense of urgency at all. I could have cared less about who had or got the crystal skull. There were a few moments when you felt that it could all work, but ultimately a real disappointment. Harrison seemed very disinterested during the entire film. The only time I laughed was at the Marcus Brody bit that I won't spoil for anyone. Go see it, but believe me you won't be busting to see it again.
ironic_name, well I guess I was wrong...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:27:24 AM
it's starting already. Was this as bad as I think it's going to be?
twojawas...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:29:35 AM
Honestly, was it TPM bad or AOTC bad? Or more like Star Wars Holiday X-mas Special bad?
sort of entertaining, but SOULLESS
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:31:28 AM
definately boring at parts, too. The whole describing the background about the crystal skull was too forced and ... boring. Chase scenes were decent, directing good. Alien payoff was uninteresting. Love story wasn't sold very well. Father son relationship wasn't that bad, shia was fine. Ray winstone's character was stupid and had no background or connection, who cared about betrayals etc. Id say the best scene was indy getting nuked, because that's what the movie felt like when it was over.
poeticwarriorIII ...
by twojawas
May 22nd, 2008
01:32:10 AM
Just not good. The story was the bad part. I really think that Harrison could have pulled it off with a good script because he still looked like Indy. It seems that anything Lucas touches now days just turns to poop.
Yes, it was as bad as you thought it was going to be...
by therealhenryjonesjrjr
May 22nd, 2008
01:33:36 AM
Speaking in all honestly, and entirely from the heart as a Indy fan since I was six years old, this movie was horrible. I was really hoping it was going to be great, and that I'd have one more Indy film (that I actually saw in theaters) to enjoy, but for me, now more than ever, the series ended with that sunset ride in Last Crusade.
poeticwarriorIII I might just be in a shitty mood
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
01:34:04 AM
seeing the beautiful cate blanchett - who was pregnant during some of the filming - playing a russian [yay!] get killed [boo!] in a awful way does that to me.
Thumbs Up
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:35:52 AM
I love how people get bent out of shape by Indy in the fridge... or the Crystal Skull/Alien Plot... but three magic rocks make perfect sense? WTF? Or how about a cup that keeps you young? Or how about a box that melts your face off? Or how about falling out of the sky on a rubber raft into India. Some people seem to forget that the first three movies all had far out plots... over the top action sequences... and exposition up the ying yang. Every Indy movie has that 5-10 min scene where the main exposition takes place. The ark. The stones. The grail. The skulls. The formula is there. KOTCS delivers BIG TIME! It's not the lightning in the bottle that RAIDERS was... but it sits very nicely on the shelf with the other two sequels. And there are actually some themes in this movie that give the movie some weight (which most people don't even bring up because they're too busy looking for what they complain about). Loosen up. This is not the Star Wars Prequels Syndrome. Lucas did not rape your childhood. Perhaps you are responsible for that and should actually own up to it for once in your life. Indy 4 is refreshing in a sea of really bad action/adventure movies that have come out since the 90's. I thank you Harrison, Steven and George for making this motion picture. Cheers!
Don't waste your money on this
by Ecto-1
May 22nd, 2008
01:36:03 AM
just stay at home and watch Raiders again. I had to watch Raiders after seeing Crystal Skull to remind myself that these guys CAN make a great film. After the mess that Lucas made of the Star Wars prequels it came as no surprize to me how bad Crystal Skull was. It was just way too silly. Ford will always be Indy, just as Connery will always be Bond. Time to pass the hat to someone else. Just not Shia. I don't mind watching him, he's alright, but he's just not a good Indy replacement. Oh yea, and keep Lucas the hell away from the script!!
twojawas, well shit...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:36:14 AM
That sucks although I really felt it was going to be like this with the whole son bit. I definitely think Ford could've pulled it off with a better script. He still looks good. They should've dropped the old fart dead beat dad angle and just bought some hair dye and made an old fashioned IJ movie. Lucas is eating himself.
Wow, poeticwarriorIII, I thought you'd seen it already
by flickchick85
May 22nd, 2008
01:36:23 AM
Your mind is CLEARLY already made up. Are you really going to pay to see something you already hate? I hope not.
strengths in narrative
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:37:24 AM
i think the antagonist was decent, blanchett's character. The embroiling of indy as a traitor at first, the scene were he endures a nuclear bomb test. Scene with shia in the diner was fun, had a good sense of playfulness. The motorcycle chase scene was fun, exciting. Crazy john hurt was kind of amusing at certain points. Banter between indy and mutt was pretty good, before *spoiler* he found out their connection. Yeah that's really about it.
Absolute GOLD
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
01:39:49 AM
Genius, wow. YES.

We watched Raiders, and followed it with Skull, and...wow. What a perfect pair. Mutt is genius, so much better than I thought he'd be. I'll be there for a Mutt sequel in a SECOND.

I'll admit that I was let down by the climax, I actually liked Stuart's climax (hell, I kind of like Stuart's script better in general, aside from really loving Mutt, and the opening--OH, THE OPENING!). But, really, being let down by the climax is par for the course for an Indy movie. What was Raiders? Oh, the Ark killed the Nazis, the end. Big freaking whoop. What's awesome is the rest of the film, and this was.

Awesome before Mutt showed up, awesome after Mutt showed up, awesome right up until the spoiler pops onto the spoiler and then the spoiler starts spoilering and then the spoiler gets spoiled into spoil and the huge spoiler starts spoiling out from the spoiler....

But let me repeat. Great film.

and I went in with an open mind
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
01:40:05 AM
I'm not one of those nerds who feels superior in being snooty.

but if you have indy survive a nuke by getting in a fridge..

well, 15 minutes in and I told my brain to not bother caring.. obviously the roadrunner was going to appear not long after.. in fact we get a dramatic gopher who looks like she just dropped her washing.

but hey, the last crusade is a good ending for me.

ironic_name...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:40:22 AM
At least we still have Raiders!
One word: Balls!
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
01:41:02 AM
The Alien shit didnt bother me at all, it was just soulless and empty as someone earlier said.. And the CGI made it not feel like an Indy flick in some parts.. I walked out of the theater thinking the old PC game Fate of Atlantis gave me more Indiana joy than this piece of big budget shit
I was kinda bored..
by pk68
May 22nd, 2008
01:41:57 AM
during part of it. And the car chase in the jungle just didn't work, it almost seemed like they were moving too slow. It's the 3rd best of the series, at least it was better then Doom, which is not hard to be.
what was the ending like in the other script??
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
01:42:13 AM
flickchick85...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:43:04 AM
If you can't tell from the trailers this was going to be bad then that's your problem. I just wanted to make sure it was what I thought it was and you can bet your ass at this point I'm not paying to see it.
some more problems
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:43:07 AM
the dialogue often times didn't seem to have very good pacing. it was either too slow or just didn't show a good connection between the people talking. it felt like the actors were bored, it didnt have energy. the audience didnt get a compelling reason ever to invest their attention in the exposition about the skull, when id say in the other films that existed. it tried to place the audience in the middle of the story and expect us to have these connections already, which wasnt the case. i think the idea of a crystal skull and getting 'magical powers' is just too far outside of our myth to really connect at all. And you know what, moriarity, no ford didnt have that spark back in his eyes, a lot of his acting was still pretty dull.
Bring On #5
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:43:38 AM
While you still have Ford. He can still deliver the goods!!! KOTCS is proof of that.
pk68 do you have Downs syndrome?
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
01:43:42 AM
Better than Doom?? wtf
Admit it...
by greysky
May 22nd, 2008
01:45:06 AM
the movie was bad. It had some good moments, but overall not the best out of them all. I am pretty pissed right now, becaue I was so pysched to see this tonight.
Pretty good considering
by leveldwella
May 22nd, 2008
01:45:19 AM
the vintage.
poeticwarrior
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:45:20 AM
why dont you fuck off? this is for people who saw it? i dont care about your stupid fucking reasons for not wanting to see it. go rant to yourself in a mirror you narcisstic piece of shit.
and [spoilers]
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
01:45:52 AM
spalko is now.. what? was she transmuted into a higher consciousness? vaporised? I couldn't make a better movie, but I could improve this script.
I loved it.
by MetiphisLabs
May 22nd, 2008
01:46:39 AM
Don't care what anyone says. And yes I hate the Star Wars Prequels.
One line from Shia sums it up at the end...
by strider_is_hot
May 22nd, 2008
01:46:44 AM
"I don't understand"....

.... why they made this movie.
Snake: the other script
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
01:48:19 AM
Think huge aerial battle between US Air Force and UFO's. Corny? Possibly. Awesome? A good chance of being. Better than the crap we got in KotCS? Oh for damn sure.

Was I the only person jumping up in their seat when Ford said 'What, saucer men from Mars?' Man, I really loved that script....

greentealite...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:48:57 AM
I would but your whore mother was already with a customer cunt. And I'm not sure if you know what narcissistic means or not you illiterate bastard but you're kind of the pot calling the kettle black you ignorant fucking cunty.
yackbacker
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:50:50 AM
it wasnt so much the cgi but the ineffectual plot, and the lackluster acting from ford and uh marion that i thought brought it down. no decent human connection. did anyone honestly care that they got back together at the end? i wanted to leave when i saw that cliched wedding scene ending.
Ehhhh...
by 24200124
May 22nd, 2008
01:51:05 AM
First the bad: things went way too fast; there's not a lot of decent interaction between the characters; and who knew that the producers liked "The X-Files" movie?
Now the good: INDIANA JONES IS BACK. It's thoroughly enjoyable and it's worth a watch in a movie theater. My head's still spinning, though, and that's not necessarily a good thing...
Christians Hate This Movie... Bwahahahaha
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:51:22 AM
They made the Art and Grail cool... and now Lucas and Spielberg bring up "Aliens" in Indy's world. How dare Lucas and Spielberg!! Don't they know that human beings are God's children ? Watch... how all the haters come out and are really just angry that Indy didn't find The Cross Of Jesus!!! Oh this is gonna be fun!!
I had a good time
by BusDriverStu
May 22nd, 2008
01:51:33 AM
Just got back, and I really enjoyed the movie. The movie should get nominated for make up because Harrison doesn't look nearly as old as he does in real life. He returns to the role with ease. For the most part I don't have any complaints, however, Marion didn't have enough to do, the monkeys were too much, and *spoiler* I really don't think it was necessary to show an actual alien. But other than that, I was entertained throughout, and is on the same level as the other sequels.
poetic
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:52:26 AM
you're trash. get out. you want to know what narcissistic means? look at your past posting, if that doesn't define it for you, i guess you're the one who's incapable and illiterate, 'cunty'.
Strider_is_hot
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
01:53:00 AM
well said also what the fuck has the star wars prequels got to do with this film?? Why arnt people comparing it to Minority Report or ET?
My theater
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:53:39 AM
about 1/10th of the full theater clapped, but most people were eager to shuffle out. people weren't too thrilled either.
Spalko
by Kurutteru Yatsu
May 22nd, 2008
01:53:57 AM
I'm going with vaporised.
Didn't hate it, Didn't love it...
by Kelvington
May 22nd, 2008
01:53:58 AM
I think it seemed like a very mixed bag, the UFO stuff we could have done without. More from the Janitor from Scrubs and way less CGI. If this film was done on a smaller scale, and more in keeping with RotLA, then I would be happy.

Plus I hated the double/triple agent bullshit.

PoeticWarrior
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:54:01 AM
Now there is an oxy"moron" if I ever heard or read of one. Can't even follow the simple guide to what this forum is even about. HAHAHAHA
Man, was this bad...
by SmokeFilledTavern
May 22nd, 2008
01:54:04 AM
Only scene I liked was the opening with the Elvis tune. I hated LAST CRUSADE, but I think this may actually be worse.
okay george, now that you've gotten that out of yr system..
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
01:54:43 AM
give us a lettermans versus greasers movie! lucas could make a fun movie. just don't write it.
My theater too...
by greysky
May 22nd, 2008
01:55:09 AM
It was just silent at the end, I think everyone was in shock, just like me
My theater too...
by greysky
May 22nd, 2008
01:55:22 AM
It was just silent at the end, I think everyone was in shock, just like me
is that it?
by FrenchBastard03
May 22nd, 2008
01:55:36 AM
thats what i felt like after the credits started rolling. i so very much wanted to love this movie, wanted it to "feel" like an indy movie like everyone on this site has been talking about, and yes there are some entertaining bits in there, but it just doesnt feel like a cohesive whole. it feels like a bunch of bit part ideas lucas had and wanted in the movie all thrown together (indy gets nuked, indy falls down waterfall THREE times, mutt is tarzan, indy sees UFO). there didnt seem to be an arch in any of the characters either. as bad as people say Last Crusade was, at least you felt by the end of it that Indy had really rekindled something with his father. this time we get Indy finding out 20 years after the fact that he's a father, and all he does is make jokes about it?(you're going to finish school!!) and by the end, i didnt really see him as any more a father figure as when he first met him. karen allen was completely wasted and one dimensional, along with ray winstone. and does john hurt really have to be brought down to the level of comic relief? thats the problem, not enough depth to these characters whereas i felt even short round and willie scott had depth. there i said it, i hate to, but its the truth. damn you george lucas, id really like to see what that frank darabont script looked like.
Entertaining...but that's it
by ZoeFan
May 22nd, 2008
01:55:39 AM
While many have called it "souless", I'd say it has 1/10 of a soul. Any other director and I'd completely agree. I'd characterize this movie as Ultimate Cash Grab. There really was no reason for a lot of what the movie offers to the viewers. For example, there's a reason why events happen as they do in Last Crusade. However in this installment, there's really no rhyme or reason why certain characters exist or events take place. Also, it's kind of hard to suspend your disbelief watching Indy run around like he's 25. I'd say go see it at a matinee.
SPOILER
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
01:56:00 AM
Also wtf happened to Spalko at the end?? why did ET kill her??
about the script
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:56:25 AM
yeah i guess you could say it was the biggest issue.. the nods to past films might've been permissible if the story was really engaging, and good... but they felt cornballed here. I didn't hate the movie, I don't exist on a bipolar scale when I think about movies.. just forgettable, I guess your word applies best. But the real question is, will this thing make it big first weekend and fall off the face of the planet in a few weeks afterwards?
craptastic
by bobbychez76
May 22nd, 2008
01:57:10 AM
this movie is crap...everything george lucas touches dies. what was the plot of this movie again? why were the feds chasing indy and what happened to them after the first half hour ? bad bad movie...
Shia and Karen Allen
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:57:39 AM
Were some of the better things about this movie. Although once ACT 3 kicked in... all of the interesting character dynamics between Ford and these two disappeared to service finishing out the plot. I wanted more Indy and Marion. Instead we got a couple of fun scenes initial scenes that started off great and then fizzled to service the Crystal Skull stuff.
Just saw it too
by OQuaTanginWann
May 22nd, 2008
01:57:54 AM
Not stellar, but I was expecting it to flat out suck. The most important thing is it didn't do anything to make the original films less great. As someone else pointed out, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis had a better story.
Loved it.
by critch
May 22nd, 2008
01:58:07 AM
My second favorite Indy movie, ahead of Crusade and Doom. I'm not sure what the haters were expecting. Probably Raiders again. Go masterbate to the Lost Ark and leave the rest of us alone.
Mako

whatever medication you're on..
by ironic_name

May 22nd, 2008
01:58:20 AM
you're either aren't taking enough or you are taking too much.
Spielberg spent too much time with Cruise
by SmokeFilledTavern
May 22nd, 2008
01:58:32 AM
Thetans!!!
My theater cheered
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
01:59:27 AM
Actually, we cheered several times, but we cheered loudly at the end of the film, all of us. This film is going to make millions.

Someone earlier said this'll be like TPM: you like it at first, but then six months later, you finally admit it was crap. Well, dude, do me a favor. Go back and watch TPM with an open mind. That was a GREAT film. Which is exactly what you'll realize about Crystal Skull in a few years.

we should have heeded Shogun's warnings
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
01:59:35 AM
the more i think about this movie the more my balls hurt
UFOS?
by BringingSexyBack
May 22nd, 2008
01:59:43 AM
It's worse than I thought.
plissken
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
01:59:46 AM
In soveit Russia, ET melts your face.
Ironic_Name
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
02:01:28 AM
I've never been balanced... so I would opt for not taking enough.
YACK CONFIRMS IT
by BringingSexyBack
May 22nd, 2008
02:01:32 AM
I'll be seeing this late June.
phantom menace a great film ???????
by bobbychez76
May 22nd, 2008
02:02:11 AM
is this guy kidding? that movie sucked and this might be worse...better acting in indy and the aliens, but it felt like it was put together with scotch tape and filmed in georges cellar.
spalko became the starchild, like in 2001
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
02:02:14 AM
thats my story and I'm sticking to it.
Maybe you could convince me about Ford
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:02:27 AM
Maybe again it was just the script, but I swear some of the scenes came off making the relationships between the actors seem very stilted and unnatural. And I don't mean unnatural in a good way, but like, they're reading lines.
SPOILER ALERT
by thebearovingian
May 22nd, 2008
02:02:34 AM
Highlight inviso-text to read:

It is INDIANA JONES every second of it!
by wadi77
May 22nd, 2008
02:02:59 AM
Just saw it.

Those who says otherwise, just forgotten how to enjoy Indiana Jones film like they used to. And really just nitpicking.

Watching it again tomorrow, and the day after. Bring on the Blu-ray!

insy 4 is mcdonalds icecream: tasty, but really shitty, too.
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
02:03:33 AM
David Koepp And George Lucas
by davidaq
May 22nd, 2008
02:03:42 AM
Bastards, both of 'em.
THANKS YACK
by BringingSexyBack
May 22nd, 2008
02:03:44 AM
You my point man on new releases.
Yatsu has a point.
by RandySavage
May 22nd, 2008
02:04:20 AM
I didn't leave the theater feeling that great, although I don't yet know why.

The good news is that for a majority of the film Ford was able to climb out of the coma he's been in for the last 19 years and resurrect Indy.

Yackbacker you just broke my fucking heart
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:04:23 AM
A funny thing happened to me today. I had been preparing for the worst for so long that a strange serenity came upon me and I started to get a bit, how do you say, excited. but now I'm right back where i was. National Treasure and The mummy? My God, those are too franchises i couldn't find any more repugnant. Horrible cynical messes the both of them and why people like them I have no idea. Watching the Mummy 2 actually, in a small way, shaped the way I see modern genre filmmaking. After that is when i realized how badly directors had started playing to the worst sensibilities of the idiot throngs, so dropping a gauntlet like that is almost personal. You are wrong about one thing though. if the film is as you say it is, and i have no doubt, it is anything but harmless. it shows that even the most mighty of the genre filmmakers have gone down the path of unholy evil (I hope y'all are catching my hyperbole with that one....but still). It, whether we like it or not, in the back of our heads will always tarnish the ones before it. It's outright cruel, whether malice was meant or not, to deliver a product like that and call it Indiana Jones. It cheapens genre filmmaking as a whole.
Maybe you'll flame me for this but
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:04:23 AM
I thought Speed Racer was better. A lot better.
insy is quatolopec for indy.. walk it through mayan to get the d
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
02:05:18 AM
Audience Cheered!! Indy's Back!!
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
02:05:35 AM
My audience cheered at the end... and even though I may be on medication... there was no way I could slip anything into the 200+ drinks that other people were drinking before the movie started.
ialect.
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
02:05:49 AM
no character development either....
by bobbychez76
May 22nd, 2008
02:06:11 AM
did anyone care cate got mindfucked by the aliens....i loved seeing belloq get his face melted...and mola rom zula rom get fed to the gators, and even when whats his face "chose poorly" at least you kinda hated those bad guys. i really didnt give a shit about any character in this movie. I got mildly excited when i realized the fbi agent was janitor from scrubs
my take
by whiskey_dick
May 22nd, 2008
02:06:58 AM
I saw the movie from the perspective of a kid who saw the first 3 and loved them then forgot about them for a decade or so. I was definitely a huge fan and Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actors but I just sort of lost touch with the movies like a best friend who moved to college. I came into the movie expecting to enjoy it but without a lot of detailed memories of the previous adventures. Overall I thought it was a very good movie but it was kind of crippled by all the hype surrounding it. The revelation the Mutt was (gasp!) Indy's son was entirely ruined by the fact that we've all known since they cast Shia who he was going to play. Maybe I was wrong (the people I saw it with agreed with me though) but it seemed like they 'discovered' that the skull came from a non-human source at least a half-dozen times. The skull itself also looked like shit. I won't back down from that gripe. I'm sure you'll be able to buy an exact replica at WalMart for twelve bucks within a few weeks (if you can't already). The story was good but seemed to have a lot of threads that came out of nowhere and then disappeared just as suddenly. Were they native crypt guards undead or just really patient? If they were undead how could the russians slaughter them with guns? Why make such a big deal out of Mutt's bike if they just lose it and forget about it five minutes later? I guess I've focused on a lot of negatives here. I loved the greasers vs. preps diner escape, the trip through the library, Jim Broadbent, the genuinely surprising military convoy opening sequence, and Prof. Oxley. Marion was great too. She did get put in the background a bit but I thought the character was still completely there. My favorite moment though, and I might get some flak for this, is that Neil Flynn's cameo in the movie leaves open the possibility of the most intricate movie-tv show-real life crossover ever...with Scrubs ending, the Janitor has left Sacred Heart to continue his fruitless cinematic pursuit of Harrison Ford.
The audience I saw X3 with cheered
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:07:11 AM
Cheering when it comes to a mass of people and a popular franchise, means absolutely nothing. it's not proof or even indicative of any sort of greater truth, so let's not go there.
4th best Indy ever
by Logan_1973
May 22nd, 2008
02:07:19 AM
Overdone SFX and a stupid plot is what killed it. Way to many artifical environments: gone are the days they actually shot an Indy film in a jungle or a desert. And the plot/macguffin? Dumb. Just plain dumb. SOOO happy we got the writers back off strike!
Mako
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:07:47 AM
By drinks I guess you mean, alcohol. I kind of thought about getting stoned to see this but made a good decision going sober. I would've been depressed by the end. Trust me the guys sitting behind me who, before it started, kept saying "dude im so stoned" were silent the whole movie.
Speed Racer is much much better
by SmokeFilledTavern
May 22nd, 2008
02:08:11 AM
and IndustyKiller, your points are great...although I fear you'll get much flaming from those who can't admit that this was one shockingly lame excuse for a genre film.
This movie is...
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
02:08:44 AM
A decisive moment in the history of Western civilization! Watching this film one thinks not simply of the history of popular movies but the history of the last century.
greentealite...
by ZoeFan
May 22nd, 2008
02:08:51 AM
I too liked Speed Racer more. In fact, I'm going to see it again. However, I won't be seeing this installment of Indy again for a long time.
I need to see it again, preferably drunk. . .
by krullboyisback
May 22nd, 2008
02:09:02 AM
was too excited to make an objective assessment, but wish th alien stuff was a little less prominent. . .just keep the aliens dead
Unfortunately, Kurutteru Yatsu is right
by Stollentroll
May 22nd, 2008
02:09:35 AM
I can't believe they screwed it up so bad.
Holy shit Neil Flynn is in it????
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:09:36 AM
They fucking BETTER use that in the Scrubs finale.
national treasure 2 and the crystal skulls...
by bobbychez76
May 22nd, 2008
02:10:18 AM
did i just buy a movie about a city of gold that had a scene with a giant stone slab that moved with the characters shift of weight ?
Dug it
by Thorstrongstone
May 22nd, 2008
02:10:57 AM
Sure, there were a few plot development problems(moved too quickly), and some of plot turns were not addressed , but I thought it was a lot of fun.

To those who complain about the sci-fi or over-the-top parts: shut the fuck up. Raiders=Killed a bunch of fellas with the power of God; Temple=leaped out of a plane in an inflatable raft. Crusade=eternal youth(actually, did not seem to work for Indy, strangely).
The Mutt Nickname
by BrotherOdd
May 22nd, 2008
02:12:18 AM
Henry Jones, Sr. "Indiana was the DOG'S name." Henry Jones, III: Nickname is Mutt Connection? Yes? No?
rumple foreskin
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:13:01 AM
I agree with your point about the score. It felt like a dumb vaudeville hearing short flourishes of indy's theme when some stupid joke flashed across the screen. Like cues that we should be enjoying this scene, it felt like a sitcom at points. But some of the directing was pretty damn good, I can't say Spielberg was really lazy, but I guess he tried to deal with a stinking pile of script.
Indy gets married? fuck that
by oneiros88
May 22nd, 2008
02:13:19 AM
I wanted it to be good, but no more sequels or prequels from Lucas. I can't take this bastardization of my favorite franchises. I don't care if he thought them up, he's lost touch with any creative and artistic abilities he ever had. He's a an opportunist hack. This movie bored me, I just didn't care, No character, Shia embarrassed himself, Harrison was cool but old, Cate Blanchett was ok (she looked like Diablo Cody). John Hurt did what he could. I don't believe Spielberg directed this, there is none of that artistry he usually displays. And Koepp script is just set piece after set piece, taking every second it could to reference the older films. I'd rather just watch them then be reminded how good they were, and how obviously dissapointing this one is.
This is just way more negative than I thought it would be
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:13:42 AM
interesting
No, wadi77
by Kurutteru Yatsu
May 22nd, 2008
02:13:50 AM
I've watched the first three on TV at least three times in the past week alone. Not only did I still enjoy them, I actually found myself liking Doom more than I used to. Crystal Skull is simply the weakest film in the series by a mile. Riding off into the sunset at the end of Last Crusade is where Indy's story should've ended.
worse than allan quartermain
by bobbychez76
May 22nd, 2008
02:14:19 AM
ya its that bad
Thorstrongstone, eternal life in LC
by krullboyisback
May 22nd, 2008
02:14:37 AM
was limited to the temple where the Grail was located. If you recall, the knight says that the power of the Grail is limited to the great seal at the entrance of the place. . once you leave the area, you are normal again, and the Grail can not leave the area
Too late Yack, already bought my tickets
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:15:00 AM
Tell my wife I love her very much.
Indiana Jones VS Alien VS Predator.
by The Dark Nolan
May 22nd, 2008
02:15:37 AM
I just saw the midnight showing, holy fucking shit, the plot is from AVP, aliens fucking come to earth to teach us about building technology. FUCK you Koepp for writing that piece of shit, and fuck you Lucas for destroying your own amazing works. This film was AVP, The Mummy Returns and Pirates of the Fucking Carribean put together, a CGI shitfest. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Lucas said "A special effect is a tool, a means to telling astory, a special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing." Take your own advice Lucas, you suck!!! Christopher Fucking Nolan is the new GOD!
Lets see what other previously decent-mediocre movies we can say
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:16:21 AM
From Hell was better
Since we're ranking things....
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
02:16:25 AM
2008:

1. Iron Man

2. Indy 4

3. Speed Racer

All Time (Selected): 1. Star Wars

2. Raiders

3. Spider-Man

4. LotR: FotR

5. Iron Man

6. X-Men

7. X-Men 2

8. Indy 4

9. Spider-Man

10. Batman Begins

undecided
by heks
May 22nd, 2008
02:16:29 AM
I just got back from a midnight showing and I'm reserving judgment on the movie until I see it again tomorrow. I have decided, however, never to go to that theater again. Why you ask? And why am I reserving judgment on the movie?

Well, imagine watching Indiana Jones 4 as a play, with the dialog coming to you across a distance and with virtually no musical score whatsoever ... except for maybe a tape deck some kid left on by accident backstage. That about sums up my movie-going experience tonight. I got to see a movie scored by John Williams without actually getting to hear the score. It was like watching a movie on your surround sound system but all channels except for the center channel have gone inexplicably dead. Hence, it seemed more like I was watching a play than a movie. I think they had the Indy theme in the movie somewhere, but I couldn't really tell. So I'm pissed. It made everything seem unreal.

I'm undecided on the alien bit, because they aren't actually space aliens but beings from another dimension, which I prefer to the idea of space aliens. The problem is that they look too much like stereotypical space aliens ... but I guess they're trying to use these being as the explanation for supposed alien autopsies.

There was some good action ... or at least I think there was. It all felt very low-key with the crap-ass center channel sound. That explosion you see in the trailer with the piece of the vehicle flying towards the truck Indy is in sounded approximately like someone knocking on a door.

Tarzan Shia was pretty retarded ... but Shia himself was actually quite good, as was the chemistry between him and Ford.

Two things that I found distracting and unlike previous films were glowy hues used by the new cinematographer and the fact that there were so many small-scale shots. The previous films had lots of wide establishing shots and just wide-shots period making it obvious that people were outside. This one had a few "outdoor" scenes that seemed like they were shot on sound stages. I'm particularly thinking of the camp scene where Marion shows up. It's like they were afraid to move the camera to far too any direction for fear of exposing the stage or something. That might be the only one that seemed obvious, but it was kind of annoying. It almost seemed like an indie film rather than Indy film in the scene ... like they were trying to save their budget and not blow it on showing a bunch of trees in the jungle or something.

Finally, Koepp wrote some pretty wooden dialog in a few places ... stuff that probably read well on paper but didn't sound right when spoken. I'm kinda surprised Ford didn't say, "this doesn't sound natural". The two things that jumped out at me were when he found the conquistador's body and said, "It's him. It's (insert name) himself" (the "himself" really sounded out of place) and his line during the finale where he says something like, "Their treasure wasn't gold, it was knowledge. Knowledge was their treasure." Thanks, I got that point when you said it the first time. I didn't need you to quickly repeat it. That line might have worked if it was reflecting personal realization of some kind personally profound notion, but I think he was just saying it to Mutt. It seemed odd.

Completely unrelated to last point is the find that it kinda sucked that he didn't see the ark.

Anyway, it might seem like I'm complaining about a lot of stuff, but like I said, I'm reserving judgment till I see it in a proper theater tomorrow. A lot of stuff is really kinda nitpicky, and I might very well have noticed the same issues with the previous films if I saw them for the first time without any musical score and what little sound there was at an underwhelming volume.

I'll give my thoughts tomorrow after I see it again.
I was hoping the critics would be wrong
by oneiros88
May 22nd, 2008
02:17:25 AM
I mean I really enjoyed Speed Racer,but this...
I like Temple of Doom
by SmokeFilledTavern
May 22nd, 2008
02:17:35 AM
The most overlooked film. It's tight, action-packed and has one of the most colorful and entertaining opening sequences in Spielberg's canon. It's also the darkest and pulpiest of the films, and I kind of like watching it more than RAIDERS these days (just because that one I've pretty much commited to memory). Never really warmed up to CRUSADE and I expect from here on in, I'll just look at SKULL as a mind-fuck of nonsense that is never boring, but never very good either.
LUCAS RAPED MY CHILD!!!!!
by TheMcflyFarm
May 22nd, 2008
02:18:20 AM
Seriously, I must report this to the authorities. Oh, loved the movie, btw.
Ranks
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:18:37 AM
1. Speed Racer 2. Iron Man 3. Porn I watched on youporn a few days ago 4. Indy 4
Cheering Normally Means People Had A Good Time
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
02:18:40 AM
What I love about the geeks on these forums... and that includes people like myself and IndustryKiller... is that we have this elitist attitude about what makes a good or bad film. We raise the stakes and find the flaws in everything we see, and forget to often let a movie be "entertainment escapsim". I know you work in the industry... and so do I. And at the end of the day... it doesn't matter what the hell people like you and I think. It's the general public that matters. I liked INDY4. I enjoyed it. Just like I did TOD and TLC. I love RAIDERS. By the way... I refuse to see X3 cause I really didn't like the first two. Not that this really matters.
Critics say Good. Talkbackers say "Shite!"
by V'Shael
May 22nd, 2008
02:19:21 AM
My expectations have been suitably lowered.
poeticwarrior
by flickchick85
May 22nd, 2008
02:19:46 AM
At least you're not paying to see it. And the trailers actually haven't shown much (a cheesy line or two from Indy, but that's to be expected, and some frustrating CGI, but that's about it), so no, I haven't judged the movie yet based on them. Frankly, there are just as many positive reviews here as negative so far, so I'm trying to hold off judgment 'till I see it tomorrow.
GregoryHarbin...your list
by SmokeFilledTavern
May 22nd, 2008
02:19:52 AM
No RAMBO?? I thought that was the REAL return of a great american action hero.
"Entertaining but that's it?"
by Bungion Boy
May 22nd, 2008
02:20:00 AM
Sounds like a ringing endorsement. It may not be a masterpiece but if it entertains then didn't it do its job? I think that Last Crusade was entertaining but not much else. I still love it. Crystal Skull was cheesy, over the top, stupid, ridiculous, but frankly I had a blast. Was it perfect? Good god no. The car chase through the jungle was a bit too much. I didn't buy any of the movements as the actions of human beings. But I said, what the hell. I went with it and took the ride. I just laughed and had fun. This might be the worst in the series. Maybe not. But compare it with what George Lucas did with the Star Wars prequel. Steven did a good job considering. I hope they make another one. Even if it's another step down. I just like to see the hat and the whip. Tonight, I felt like I was 6 years old again. I've seen better movies than this that couldn't do that.
Good, but flawed.
by HaveBeerWillTravel
May 22nd, 2008
02:20:37 AM
Bitchest first: The first few minutes of the opening were great in terms of establishing a sense of time, which I found important. The set-piece in the warehouse was enjoyable, but it came too early. I would have preferred some low-impact re-acquainting with Dr. Jones and his universe prior to getting thrown right into the plot and it's (admittedly goofy) Macguffin. In point of fact, you could really just cut the first twenty minutes of the movie off and start things up at Marshall College. Speaking of the Macguffin, it was weak--weaker than the Holy Grail. As someone said above, I didn't particularly care who had the skull or where the hell they took it. It was NOT, however, inappropriate. I do not get the whining about the alien thing, though. I thought it meshed well with the time-period--spacemen were a major trope in pop film of the '50s. It was sufficiently infused with archaeological junk to retain the Indiana Jones feel. Ray Winstone's Mac was completely useless. "He's a traitor!" "Wait, he's not a traitior!" "HA, TRAITOR AGAIN, SUCKERS!" He fulfills the same purpose as Last Crusade's Ilsa, but with even less emotional impact. Jim Broadbent serves as little more than a surroage for Denholm Elliot because exposition required such a surrogate. Sort of sad. The effects were absolutely fine, in my personal opinion. The only moments when I had a problem with the SFX execution coincided with the set-pieces that took me right the hell out of the movie--the bomb test, the rocket-sled, the Mutt-as-Tarzan bit, and the final spaceship sequence most egregiously. (The cute animals were also pretty pointless.) I said earlier that I thought the spaceman trope was appropriate, but three of those four action pieces are evidence of that atomic age/retrofuturistic trope being grievously oversold. Purely positive: I liked the chemistry between LeBeouf and Ford. I liked the development of the relationship. I thought Karen Allen was used just fine here, and the Marion-Indy dynamic rang true, evoking some of what made Raiders such a great movie. (The wedding, however, was trite.) I loved the bike chase. I loved the truck fight. I loved the graveyard fight. To be honest, despite all that bitching above... I really liked this movie. For all its flaws, it has that Indiana Jones je ne sais quoi, and that's what I wanted most of all. I'm a happy man.
Keep Hate Alive!
by Dark Knight Lite
May 22nd, 2008
02:20:58 AM
You people who are incapable of enjoying anything have my sincere pity.
Is it closer to Last Crusade or Temple of Doom?
by flickchick85
May 22nd, 2008
02:21:17 AM
I actually greatly preferred Last Crusade, so I'm hoping it's closer in tone to that. I mean, I'm not including Raiders b/c I know that ain't happening.
CHUD guys hated it
by CuervoJones
May 22nd, 2008
02:21:35 AM
Once more, they show us how little they know.
Mako
by greentealite
May 22nd, 2008
02:22:15 AM
I'm really not that elitist about movies myself, but i wanted to explain how it could be picked apart. Even with an open mind and not being too critical, i was entertained during some of it, and bored during some of it, and the end had very little payoff. That's about it in 'how i dun liked it' terms.
"It's the general public that matters."
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:23:12 AM
How??? in box office receipts. Yup in monetary bullshit it certainly is the general public. Which is why Shrek 3 and Spider Man 3 were the biggest films of last year. The "general public" doesn't count because they will love literally anything. And it's not their fault. When you have four kids and a mortgage movies aren't the most important thing in life. But the fact remains is 90% have no fucking taste to speak of whatsoever, and therefore we are justified in seeing their point of view (generally, not individually) as irrelevant.
GreenTea
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
02:23:51 AM
They were silent while stoned behind you? LOL Maybe they were looking too long into the Crystal Skulls eyes!! "Woah... dude... it's talking to me man!!"
Do you remember how to have fun at a movie anymore?
by mjayp99
May 22nd, 2008
02:24:19 AM
These talkbacks just start to depress and tire me out now. It’s an Indiana Jones movie for god’s sake. So many of you knew you were going to hate this before you even saw it, and now you revel in your ability to publicly state how right you were. I feel bad for anyone going into a movie, especially a summer action popcorn movie, looking for something to hate. It’s as if some people are actually angry that this movie isn’t terrible. For all of you that just can’t get over how George Lucus ruined your childhood by making silly sequels to movies that featured Walrus Man, A giant Millennium Falcon eating space slug, and the Ewoks, I say… Indiana. Let it go.
Krull
by Thorstrongstone
May 22nd, 2008
02:26:07 AM
Ah yes, I had forgotten about the seal. Thanks for the reminder.

Everyone having doubts: It is a fun movie, bitch all you want because, at the end of the day, it is going to be enjoyed by millions while your pathetic, angry, bitter comments will be forgotten by the 12 people who read them in about, oh, 48 hours.
Too Indiana Jonesy.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:26:58 AM
I WANTED to like it!!!!
by The Dark Nolan
May 22nd, 2008
02:26:59 AM
I am the easiest guy to please, and not just in bed, but this movie was just so bad, I couldn't even convince myself to have fun at it, it's that bad.
It's out already?
by ebonic_plague
May 22nd, 2008
02:28:36 AM
Huh.
The General Public Is Irrelevant?
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
02:28:48 AM
Not when they're the reason you or I are receiving a paycheck. Hey look... have you even seen the movie yet? Cause if you haven't - I'm not sure why you would even be here other than you already have it out for this movie. I've seen you on other boards doing much of the same.
It's pretty good, some real good stuff.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:31:01 AM
The CGI didn't take away from it much until the end of Cate Blanchett.

I like that the artifact is still RELIGOUS, as it should be. Religious from the psuedo-Mayans and religious by modern New Age UFO type people.

Industrykiller
by Thorstrongstone
May 22nd, 2008
02:31:26 AM
Could you post AFTER you get the sand out of your vagina? You are a bitter old hag, too mean to have fun, too unimaginative to suspend belief. You better be careful, at this rate you will have a heart attack before Harry does.
10 years ago, this would have been perfect. Culturally.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:32:26 AM

by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
02:33:00 AM

by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
02:33:11 AM
INDY 5 and the HAMMER OF THOR?
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:34:21 AM
INDY 5 and THE EYE OF ODIN?
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:35:05 AM
Their OPINIONS are irrelevant, yes mako
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:35:14 AM
They will literally love anything. Do you trust a dogs opinion on food? Well, it's kinda like that. And no I haven't seen it and I haven't commented on the film here yet. Only peoples reactions thereof. And what other boards have you seen me on? I hope none that arent this site cause it's literally the only one I post on. And if your referring to Massawyrms review of What Happens in Vegas then go to hell. It's fucking insulting for someone to tell me that I can't gleam, just from personal experience, how a movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz in which they are forced to stay married would turn out. it was a bullshit argument fabricated by Massawyrm because he clearly had no means of defending his point.
NO ONE HAS SAID THIS YET!!!!!!:
by BauerJackBauer
May 22nd, 2008
02:36:06 AM
The opening of the film is from the original draft of Back to the Future. In the original draft of BTTF, Marty drives down to a nuclear testing site and hides in a refrigerator (the original time machine). It was awesome to finally see them film this, and to have it be in an Indiana Jones movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
INDY 5 and SOMETHING NORSE for a change?
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:36:20 AM
Mind blowing
by cathartist
May 22nd, 2008
02:36:25 AM
is the fact that i thought you were all fans of movies, films and cinema. There are a lot of people out there who will watch any mindless drivel put in front of them and pay 10 bucks a pop to park their brain at the door of the cineplex for two hours a week for just any old flick. BUT WE ARE FILM GEEKS!!! We should have higher standards than the cattle who herd themselves into theaters to see the next big explosion filled blockbuster or moronic comedies and never once question what they are seeing on the screen. I saw Indy tonight with a large group of friends and the consensus was a resounding SUCK! Truthfully people i am not expecting Oscar worthy material here, but WTF? I have been disappointed in Lucas for years but Spielberg and Ford both signing on for this low rent, hack CGI, preposterously plotted joke pains me as a fan. When you expect a movie to be bad, no problem. I willing sat through both Dragon Wars and Forbidden Kingdom in the theater and they both sucked royally, but i knew they were going to suck going in so i really didn't feel any buyers remorse. But when you have high expectations built upon a film makers history only to have it torn to shreds in front of your very eyes, you cannot help but feel betrayed. The sets were sad, the green screen work was laughable, the CGI looked like they contracted the work out the the local community college digital media dept. Some of the biggest action sequences were treated as minor inconveniences. (spoilers!) So apparently duck and cover doesn't work in a nuclear blast but hiding in a lead lined fridge and being tossed a mile thru the air and tumbling around like a top doesn't affect our hero? Five people in a U boat fall over a waterfall the size of Niagara only to all survive in shallow water and regroup with no injuries. Shia learns how to perfectly mimic Tarzan in a matter of seconds by watching Kampuchea monkeys swinging on vines and is able to perfectly navigate the jungle terrain to land on a moving jeep teetering on the edge of a cliff. I understand about suspension of disbelief but give me something to work with here people. Just because you are calling something fantasy or science fiction doesn't mean you have to dumb down every scene and you should still try and give some kind of semi explanation to your viewer. I could really go on and on but i lost all faith in this franchise and the people involved. Aliens? Ok I can live with that but try and explain it a little better than a one sentence inter dimensional archeology explanation from a miraculously cured John Hurt. There are good actors in this movie and the film really tried to have heart in some scenes, but it seriously lost its way and never recovered. I very rarely do this, but i implore you . . . Do not waste your time on the movie, you will only be disappointed.
Yeah, just saw it.
by greenstyle92
May 22nd, 2008
02:36:57 AM
Moriarty's review rings the truest. Still, Shogun master put out some mis-info. He said that the box with the Ark was opened and there were some nice lines. Nope. the box is smashed open, and the ark gets a half second cameo, but Indy never sees it.
BauerJackBauer, that's cool if you're right.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:37:52 AM
Take Thorstrongone for example Mako
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:38:20 AM
He seems incapable of seeing hte forest from the trees in this case. From his comments it seem that all he sees Indiana Jones as is a big dumb action fun. He would be wrong in his thinking, it's much more than that. i'm tellin ya man you can't trust these fuckers.
It's OK..
by JLo III
May 22nd, 2008
02:38:52 AM
He's what I think: It's like hearing your favorite band's brand new song but the melody is kind of weak. You want to hum a long to the chorus but it's not very exciting maybe only a few notes. Everything else is great, the drums sound amazing, guitar solos are rippping, harmonys are increadable, just doesn't have much of a melody.

I don't know if that makes much sense to anyone else. Dont get me wrong it was great to see the movie. It looked great. As a matter of fact I thought everything was pretty good except the story. It was just like a two note chorus in a pop song.

All that said I would recomend it if you're a fan for sure.

YackBacker, It is the ones that WANT to hate it
by mjayp99
May 22nd, 2008
02:38:58 AM
If you go in with an open mind and are disappointed, that is one thing. I remember coming out of some movies that I wanted so desperately to like, only to be disappointed. Spider-Man 3, X-men 3, heck going way back… Highlander 2, Ghostbusters 2. I remember being first in line for Batman And Robin, and I don’t really need to tell you how I felt afterward. I just don’t understand people going into a movie, especially one like this, with hate for it before they see it.
I liked it A LOT
by Mezzanine
May 22nd, 2008
02:39:51 AM
...more than I thought I was going to. It was a fun adventure romp. I might even have liked it more than TEMPLE OF DOOM.
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of Fail.
by AllPowerfulWizardOfOz
May 22nd, 2008
02:39:59 AM
Totally f'n sucked. It was exactly the movie I thought it would be. I am not sure what movie the critics saw who liked it because I wish I had seen that movie. Every cliche, the lines, the action, the chemistry (wasn't there) it all felt like a forced effort.

Sure there were moments were you say to yourself "that's Indiana Jones" but not enough of them. It's the worst out of the series and does not damage the other 3 quite the way the prequels damaged Star Wars. Still it's stinker. The 12am show was not sold out at all, plenty of seats. I'd say half full actually. The crowd barley reacted to the movie and when it ended a few applauded but most everyone else was quiet and the other 3 people I was with agreed it sucked ass.

Wish I had better news to report. Speed Racer was a better movie. Go see that instead of this ****.

Harry cried during that movie
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
02:41:02 AM
When i saw Shia le beef make friends with the monkeys and swing with them on the vines and get them to attack the Russians... I felt like crying too
Don't let Koepp write the next one
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
02:42:15 AM
The next one won't have all the baggage of A. Lucas's mildly rediculous MacGuffin, or B. the scripts, the endless scripts.

The franchise has now been relaunched. Hire a good writer, make a good Mutt/Indy film, and let's have fun with this every couple years.

But please, keep Koepp and his patchworking away. The good parts of the film were those grabbed from better scripts, and I hope Lucas realizes this.

WOW.
by robocake
May 22nd, 2008
02:42:55 AM
how does a movie with sub par action scenes, little to no character developement, NO PLOT, marion ravenwood randomly popping out of a tent as a prisoner, and many many more horrible points get such glowing reviews from everyone here at AICN? i love this site but, this movie was pure garbage. it didn't remind me of being 8 years old and seeing indy for the first time, it reminded me of seeing national treasure and but was somehow even worse. at least that shitty movie made a little bit of sense and had a plot as crappy as it was... and wtf? ingenious way of avoiding a nuclear blast? k. right. worse than new starwars. worse than the simpsons for the last 10 years. please, can anyone just leave good enough alone? my childhood is seriously dying...
Atrociously bad.
by Integra
May 22nd, 2008
02:43:35 AM
Best time at the theatre in a while
by sjsfilm
May 22nd, 2008
02:44:36 AM
I loved this movie. I can't believe all of the bad reviews I have read. the movie was so much fun to watch. i can't wait to see it again.
IndustryKiller = Irrelevant
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
02:44:42 AM
First off... you are irrelevant. Cause you don't associate yourself with human beings . Second of all... I seem to recall this forum asking what we thought about Indy 4 after watching it. So now we know you are irrelevant and illiterate. Hurts doesn't it? Knowing everyone here now knows you are an asshole who basically associates most of us with "dogs". Wow... you truly are one arrogant SOB. When is that triple bypass scheduled for you?
What this movie proves is...
by TheBigLebowsky
May 22nd, 2008
02:44:43 AM
that everything is subjective! I loved it! I found it had soul! I loved the way indiana reacts to seeing his one true love again! I loved the ending, I loved the way Indy's universe evolved during that 19 year-gap... And yet, some people felt that this movie is pure shit, and will disagree with everything I have felt. Whatever people fell, this IS an Indiana Jones movie, a real, authentic, Indiana Jones movie, made by the creators of the series, acted by the actors that created the roles, and if you don't like it, TOUGH LUCK! It is what it is, and it's not what you'd like it to be!...
cathartist, it's an INDY movie, similar to the previous.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:45:31 AM
What were you expecting?

High art? Like Aronofsky's THE FOUNTAIN.

Actually it resembles a B-Movie saturday serial version of THE FOUNTAIN. Similar themes told in very different styles.

With the same religious mumbo jumbo. Interesting escapist stuff. That's all INDIANA JONES ever was. And it's good stuff.

The reaction in my theatre.
by Bungion Boy
May 22nd, 2008
02:45:36 AM
I saw it at the Ziegfeld in New York with 1200 people. There was a grown after the line "Knowledge was the treasure." Even I rolled my eyes. But overall the response was very positive. Lots of laughs and applause. I know there were people in the theatre who must have hated it, but on the whole people seemed to enjoy themselves quite a bit.
The film has as much plausability as...
by SmokeFilledTavern
May 22nd, 2008
02:46:15 AM
Schumacher's BATMAN & ROBIN, and that film was still funnier.
"you figured that out when you were in your cell didnt you"
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
02:46:29 AM
Faaarken Bullshit
I went in with low expectations...and was underwhelmed.
by Mostholy
May 22nd, 2008
02:47:45 AM
I emerged from the late show an hour ago, and, though I'm loath to say it, now have that queasy post-PHANTOM MENACE mental disconnect. I want to think I saw something really grand, but find myself forced to admit that it just wasn't very good.

The main problem is the script -- It's totally sloppy. It's haphazard, drowning in exposition, includes too many scenes featuring Looney Tunes physics, and is overstuffed with sidekicks doing nothing more than standing around. (I liked Indy and Mutt in the graveyard early on, but by the last act we're looking at Team Indy Power Rangers or somesuch.)

So, what's good? Well, most of the performances are pretty solid. Harrison Ford seemed engaged again, Cate Blanchett is a riot, and Shia and Karen Allen acquit themselves well. But Ray Winstone, John Hurt, and Jim Broadbent in particular are given thankless parts: They're plot devices more than characters.

If you turn your brain off, you may like it more than I did, I suppose. But this film is slapstickier than LAST CRUSADE (snake scene, for ex.), and the flaunting of Looney Tunes physics grew really tiresome.

Also, Tarzan Shia and the three waterfalls were dumber and more unlikely than any scene in Speed Racer...which, I hate to say it, is a film I end up respecting more than this one. I didn't hate Indy IV, but it did feel subpar and mostly forgettable.
Dammit Mako, ya got me
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
02:48:41 AM
I'm illiterate? Really? What language have I been typing in? And how did I read your strange words? By the way the bypass is scheduled for right after Del Toros Hobbit comes out.
Speed Racer WAS much better...
by Dave Bowman
May 22nd, 2008
02:48:58 AM
About halfway through Indy I felt a sinking feeling that informed me it just wasn't working, and it got worse from there. Alien plot doesn't suit Indy, re-intro of Marion was a dud, no real sense of jeopardy or urgency ever, way too much comedy and absurdity. Some promising moments early on, and the skull discovery scene in the crypt seemed like real Indy, but after that very little happened that impressed me much. Sad. Worst Indy film by a good margin.
Any way...
by greenstyle92
May 22nd, 2008
02:49:16 AM
It's pretty darn good. My knee jerk reaction right now is to say it's the least of the indys, but that might just be the new-ness. Because right now, in my head, I see the series as "The Indy Trilogy," and then "the fourth." But, I have a feeling that in ten years, when I'm good and used it, and have accepted the Indy series as being a, shudder to use the term, "Quadrilogy" my opinion of the film will increase.

Harrison Ford is Indy. But it still took some getting used to. Because, on the heels of certain reviews, I suppose I expected him to be the same indy, unchanged, from the earlier films. But that's not the case. He is an aged indy, and it took a moment to adjust to that. He's a little slower and more soft spoken now, but he will win you over again. It took me up until the temple sequence half way through before I accepted him again, but hey.

Mutt is the best of the Indy side kicks. The film works best when it's just the two of them and it focuses on the developing relationship between them. A couple of canny but not-too-on-the-nose references to "Last Crusade" in turn around really sell it. Mac- I hate mac, there's no reason he should be in the movie. literally-delete his character from the film and the film is just the same. He's... not as annoying as Jar Jar, but he is as NEEDLESS as Jar Jar and nearly as distracting. Marion IS in the movie, despite some reports, it's just after a certain time she just doesn't have much to do. (I don't think it's that Indy's passive in the final part of the film, it's just the quest blocks out the great stuff between either him and Mutt or Him and Marion, maybe because Ox and Mac were tagging along. and that part of the film sort of feels more like National Treasure 2.

There are aliens, but a couple of lines try to down play this, and make them more mysterious. They aren't from space, but rather another realm. Still, though, the film wisely winks at it. As the space ship fires up, Indy delivers the line, I shit you not, "I have a bad feeling about this." It's almost like, just for a second, the beards tricked Harrison into reprising Han Solo as well!

In summation, it is a sort of mixed bag, but good out weighs the bad. cut a little "this one has no nostalgia behind it" slack, and you should like. and one day, we may even all love it.
Technically this wasnt an "Indiana Jones" film
by lloydmarlow
May 22nd, 2008
02:49:20 AM
Did anyone else notice that in the film Indy was never referred to as Indiana or Indy it was Henry, so kudos to Lucas who indeed does have the last laugh after all.
INDY IV
by GLENNTROPOLIS
May 22nd, 2008
02:49:58 AM
Other than Shia's Tarzan scene I thought it was a pretty good movie. I liked the way they handled the aging issue, just enough and not too much. Shia wasn't as annoying as I thought he'd be, the bad guys were super bad and Karen Allen was just magic.
Atrociously Bad. SPOILERS
by Integra
May 22nd, 2008
02:51:04 AM
Horrible clunky exposition that grinds the movie to a halt. The dialogue is not witty or clever like in previous films. The cornball stuff in this version is just slapstick. I felt like I was watching a theme park ride movie. The story felt like it just plucked various scenes from different scripts. What the hell happens to Marion for half the peru car chase? She literally disappears from master shots and magically pops up in the car later. Horrible. Fridge? Come on. Tarzan? I was embarassed to be sitting in the movie. Whats the point of a Marcus brody painting, picture on his desk, and statue? Ugh. Why is Indy all of a sudden in the good graces of the University and Government at the end? Think about it. All they would know is that he disappeared after a ransack chase across the university nearly killing several people. Admit it, this is embarassingly bad. I was ready to leave half way through. It may as well have been power rangers. Karen Allen was really bad. I cringed. The delivery was almost Anakin bad. You never once felt Indy was in any real danger. This felt like a cheap knock off. Save your money.
_SnakePlissken_...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
02:51:58 AM
He makes friends with the monkeys and has them attack the Russians? You're shitting us right? It's that bad?
Kurutteru Yatsu
by wadi77
May 22nd, 2008
02:52:40 AM
That's your opinion, I was just telling my own opinion.
Poetic I wish i was mate
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
02:55:37 AM
but alas I'm not..
Raiders had more mystery, Skull is more like Doom & Crusade.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
May 22nd, 2008
02:57:28 AM
Just sort of a along for the ride instead of a higher "mission."
A welcome return.
by Seven Seas
May 22nd, 2008
03:00:08 AM
The script reflects the second guessing that must have gone on to please the rabid fans. Don't listen Berg, just do your thing, or else we will get Venom in Indy 5. Fucking internet!
The film was a mess
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
03:00:44 AM
When are you stubborn fucks gonna admit it
_SnakePlissken_, sometimes it's hard...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
03:04:03 AM
to admit the dream is over, however unfortunate it may be. Lucas is a heartbreaking bitch some people can't get enough of.
Glimpses of Indy but...
by manosman
May 22nd, 2008
03:04:04 AM
Thought overall it was ok, had some vintage Indy moments, but wow you can really tell where lucas got his way with things, too much cgi, tarzan and the apes, alien ending. If these three things were worked out, and the script were better overall, the movie would have been much better, but oh well. The first half of the movie is a lot better than the latter. There were a few short glimpses of Indy from his glory days, and speilberg did fine directing, but I think Lucas had too much of a say and kind of ruined it.
the technique...
by Westonian
May 22nd, 2008
03:05:37 AM
I think if there is one thing that disappointed me most about this film it was the filmmaking technique. I don't know that the story wasn't necessarily good enough, but the way they went about making it just didn't feel right. I just watched the old trilogy over the last 3 days and the whole thing is pretty tight....cinematography, direction, choreography.....etc. They feel of the same mold. Spielberg used to storyboard everything but as he got more confident in his abilities he tossed that aside. So now in this Indy its the new Spielberg...the one who shows up on set with no plan and figures things out as he goes. Because of that nothing feels classic...or crisp...or as good as it should be. Its just...ehhh.. And Kaminskis cinematography is plain disappointing. I thought he was going to make an effort to match Slocome...even slightly, but I guess not. Lots of diffused, highlight-laced shiz that doesnt match the old trilogy at all. Most of the sets in this are lit so poorly its more obviously studio than the old films...and that was the 80's.
Seen it in France last night.
by TheManBehindTheMask
May 22nd, 2008
03:07:48 AM
Pure fun. Better than Crusade (but Crusade is my least fav). Ford is in great shape. Shia is good (I was worried about the "family tone" of the movie but I finaly had no problem). The best thing in this movie could also be what makes it "just another Indy" and not a major movie: I really feel this movie like a (good) mix between the first 3. So, in a way it's exactely what I wanted, but in the end it's really just another great sequel and not the best movie ever made on earth (as Raiders is to a lot of people!). And ok, the end is a little over the top but I had no problem with that. (Spoiler: I Only wished we didn't see so well the Alien.). With Ford's great shape and mood as we've seen him at Cannes fest (and he lost some weight after the shooty of Indy4), I feel the man ready to shot back to back Indy 5 and 6! go on!
Was it me or
by manosman
May 22nd, 2008
03:08:26 AM
did the film have a blurry glow to it, kind of pissed me off, it was too clean looking, i guess thats what we get when everything is cgi these days
sorry for my english
by TheManBehindTheMask
May 22nd, 2008
03:12:13 AM
I honestly don't know if I loved it or not
by darthvedder81
May 22nd, 2008
03:13:08 AM
It's the strangest feeling right now. I loved the 50's vibe and all the big action set pieces (movies just aren't made like this anymore). I kinda wished they would have just dropped ALL the attempts at sentiment and gone for a straight pulpy-Temple of Doom vibe (still my fav of the series). Shia was a good sidekick but Marion just seemed along for the ride. There were plenty of funny lines and the performances were all good--it just felt like something was missing. I'd give it 3/5 stars.
Remember how Die Hard 4 sucked?
by TheEnemy8
May 22nd, 2008
03:13:32 AM
Ya, this sucked in the same way: too much CGI, not enough character and story and Indy is now a super hero. After the third waterfall I gave up. Shia was cool and so was the sword fighting, the motorcycle chase and the first 15 minutes, but a nuke? fuck that my friends, fuck that. And you know people are grasping for straws when they keep talking about William's score. No one doubted that shit would be good but it should not be better than the movie. It's not better than Lost Ark or Temple of Doom. This movie entertained and has moments and greatness, but it's not shot like an Indy movie, does not look (physically look) like an Indy movie, and did not end as an Indy movie. They could have done better. I'm blame Lucas and his trigger happy CGI gun.
Mako
by zacdilone
May 22nd, 2008
03:15:53 AM
Where are the Christians bitching? Is it the ones who live in your head? I was with a group from my church tonight, and we liked it just fine. So STFU.
no the movie don't have the blurry glow ,
by TheManBehindTheMask
May 22nd, 2008
03:18:45 AM
the trailer had. At least I didn't feel it that way in the theater.
Wow...a negative, bitch-fest of a talkback
by zacdilone
May 22nd, 2008
03:18:54 AM
What a surprise.
It's not a bad movie. It's just that it's not an old movie.
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
03:21:54 AM
About 99% of new movies suck according to talkbackers and any new movie sequel 10 or 20 plus years after the original is trying to recapture the magic in those classic movies, like they're trying too hard. They're forcing it. It's obvious. This is just an example of the mindset for some moviegoers going into the new Indiana Jones movie. First of all. It's never ever ever ever gonna be as good as the originals. Second, most new movies suck these days, even ones by great directors. Everyones older and outta touch with the audience. Even if they won't admit it. It's a different business now. Now check all this shit at the door when you go see the movie and you'll be happier and more accepting of this brand spankin new movie of your beloved franchise. Featuring older directors and older actors. Giving us what we think we want. In other words. Get over it. Get over that movie you imagined in your head. Because it isn't happening!
Definately worth seeing.
by pr0g2west
May 22nd, 2008
03:22:07 AM
This movie is definately the Indy movie I was hoping to see. There are definate plot weaknesses as many people on this talkback have already described. But the film as a whole is epic, thrilling, and original. It was great fun just to sit and watch, and let myself be taken by this adventure. I could pick the movie apart and not enjoy it if I chose, but this isn't the type of movie your supposed to do that with. Indy 4 rocks, no question about it. Wether you love it or not, this will be the last time of our lives an new INDY film will be in our movie theaters. Go out and enjoy it for what it is, for what Spielberg, Lucas, and Williams created for us.
CGI tweak to RAIDERS. This is BLASPHEMY!!!!
by MelvintheMopBoy
May 22nd, 2008
03:22:24 AM
See for yourselves!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=iCnYx6-xxQw
that URL should be:
by MelvintheMopBoy
May 22nd, 2008
03:23:49 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =iCnYx6-xxQw
Indy 5 and 6?
by Kurutteru Yatsu
May 22nd, 2008
03:24:54 AM
Only if Spielberg kicks Lucas and Koepp to the curb and they keep in mind we're paying to see Indiana Jones, not Mutt the 3rd. And yeah, count me in on not being a fan of the diffused lighting going on. There were scenes where everyone had a damn halo around them, like someone went overboard with the Blur tool in Photoshop.
ummmm
by Mechasheeva
May 22nd, 2008
03:25:18 AM
movies that went through my head during this movie: All 3 Indiana Jones movies. Moments of awesome nostalgia and greatness. Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. All 3 Star Wars prequels. Moments of absolute awfulness, poor dialogue and CGI, and underdeveloped characters. The Mummy movies, for Ray Winstone and the cyclone clusterfuck at the end. We got half a great Indie movie, there in the middle between Nevada and the arrival at the temple. I'd really rather forget about the rest. Oh and the monkeys. Reeeeally wanna forget about the monkeys.
Fuck you, AICN
by MelvintheMopBoy
May 22nd, 2008
03:25:33 AM
A working URL: http://tinyurl.com/6l2z9x
Further on the song analogy
by heks
May 22nd, 2008
03:27:06 AM
I'd like to adapt the song analogy someone used above.

My favorite band is The Tragically Hip (if you're not Canadian it's likely you've never heard of them), but I rarely if ever like one of their new songs the first time I hear it. They are my FAVORITE band, I never like their new stuff the first time.

I think the same dynamic might be at work here for a lot of people. I think after each new Indy movie was released there was a bit of adjustment needed to accept it as a valid part of the canon.

For most, Raiders started the canon, and everything the came after got compared to it as to whether or not something felt like Indy. If it didn't really feel like Raiders, it didn't feel like Indy.

I saw ToD first. So when I saw Raiders, some of it didn't seem quite like Indy to me. I thought it was OK, but I didn't find it as enjoyable as ToD. But after I watched it several more times it began to form part of what defined Indy rather than being something that I compared to what I already thought of Indy, which had been drawn exclusively from ToD. I've now literally seen Raiders over 100 times and love it.

The same process kinda happened with Last Crusade. I liked it when I first saw it, but nowhere near as much as I like it now. I've now seen all of the movies more than 100 times each easily.

I expect to enjoy the new one more tomorrow when I see it again because I'll actually be seeing it in a good theater with actual sound and I'll actually hear the music. But even though I expect to think it's OK, or even like it, I expect that I won't like it half as much as I will 5 years from now when I've seen it a few dozen times and it has become part of what defines Indy for me rather than something that I'm just comparing to previous Indy canon.
DREADFUL.
by Kid Idioteque
May 22nd, 2008
03:39:24 AM
Seriously crappy. My dad and my brother casually enjoyed it. My expectations were low but were not even met. The performances are phoned-in, the look of the film is all wrong (I'm talking to you Kaminski), the story is an absolute fucking mess, and worst of all... it's boring. Crappy CGI, continuity errors, the list goes on and on. All of you at AICN must have been smoking loads of grass to write all those positive reviews. Maybe because you were so excited to be seeing it early. Packed house tonight and no one reacted during the whole film. There was some polite applause at the end. Where's the clever sense of humor? Where's the thrilling action? Nowhere in sight. Grrrrr. This is on par with National Treasure 2, and National Treasure 2 fucking sucked.
aliens fit in the INDYverse better than shiva.
by soup74
May 22nd, 2008
03:46:21 AM
if you want to believe in the fantasy world that was created in Raiders, and continued in Last Crusade, then the christian God is real. (the ark and the holy grail are both considered real, and obviously have power.) aliens can exist in a universe created by the the one and only christian god, but other gods (like shiva and kali) cant.

and im not christian, just pointing out that temple of doom doesnt fit the continuity as much as people think.

and i thought the movie was okay, not great, not bad.. I liked the alien subplot though.
Proof that it sucked = 4 sidekicks!
by Kid Idioteque
May 22nd, 2008
03:48:20 AM
Four fucking sidekicks. Not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4. You know your story is shit when you have to throw in that many extra characters just to give Indy people to explain everything to. This is the Phantom Menace of the 00's. No doubt in my mind. People will turn on this film in mere months.
This movie was a living
by Bagheera
May 22nd, 2008
03:52:13 AM
theme park ride. Don't spend it all in one place Spielberg.
Good but a bit too much.....
by ulsterman
May 22nd, 2008
03:53:21 AM
far fetched stuff in it. There is a point you reach with a movie that stretches your believability. ie the dingy landing in the water after falling off the cliff in Temple of Doom. Now I can stretch it as far as the Ark itself exisiting or the Holy Grail. But in Indy 4 they've taken things too far...a bit too silly. Now I can kinda go with the aliens thing but the f**king Tarzan swinging scene. TOO MUCH. The falling from the 3 waterfalls and just getting wet and staying in the boat. TOO MUCH. SHia's sword fight between two cars in the jungle with Cate Blanchett. TOO MUCH. Now these are just three things but they did affect my overall feel for the film. There was also way too much back screen stuff such as the Tarzan bit....the action sequence through the amazon etc etc I did love Harrison in it. Brilliant as ever but I wish they concentrated more on him in the second half of the movie instead of half all these secondary characters with him. I loved the other movies cus he only had one sidekick. In this he has a number with him. I thought Shia was great but please George, don't make another Indy film with him as the lead. Harrison carries these films and without him they'd suck. I wwould love one more film with Indy and Harrison but they'd really need to make it straight away.
I just dont know..I just dont frakking know...
by Dogmatic
May 22nd, 2008
03:53:29 AM
what I think right now. I saw the movie here in Brasil at a 7:30pm showing (one of the few movies I get to see first...since I am just visiting and used to seeing movies on US time) and I just dont know how I feel. I guess that can be good or bad. Bad b/c it was Indiana Jones and if you didnt come out knowing you loved it then you wont later...but good b/c maybe with repeat viewing the good parts will outshine the bad. Maybe it is just that the last time I saw an Indy movie on the big screen I was 10 and an Indy film could do no wrong...maybe it is for that reason Last Crusade was my favorite up until I was like 21 and could watch them all again and saw why most adults preferred Raiders..but heck I think I get the biggest kick and most fun out of Temple everytime though I can see it is not the best plot-wise of the group.

Maybe that is what happened to me with Kingdom (I guess that's how we abbrievate this one right?). I gotta say plot-wise it was lacking....and yeah I am on the side of the "I want my Indy looking only for religous artifacts" but other than the Maguffin it was lacking...something....BUT hell if I didnt enjoy myself a TON watching it! It gave me a kick! It was strange...during the movie I was hooping and hollering and oohing and aahing and laughing and ...well hooping when Indy was punching out Russkies, hollering when the exploded forest crusher came hurling parts at them, oohing when Indy was trapped at ground zero of a nuclear test site with 10 seconds and counting, aahing when he came up with a great last second solution to survive said nuclear blast (and it was believeable what happened, those old fridges were steel (one thing that doesnt disintegrate or melt in nuclear blast and sealed enough that it could take the bouncing about without hurting the one inside plus protecting from radiation....ahhhh lead they just dont make enough out of it these days), laughing at the wonderful part where only a snake can save Indy from the quicksand pit and Harrison's insanely terrified reaction.

The whole chase scene...both motorcycle and jungle....were better than Raiders....the fight with the near indestructible Russian colonel was not as good but a terrific homage to the mechanic fight from Raiders. Chemistry between Ford and Allen as though this film was made back to back with Raiders. Shia (who I have found a great actor in every movie he's in....Greatest Game Ever Played anyone? Dunno where this hate comes from) was great as Mutt...not overplayed at all and though I dont want him take over INdy movies...I welcome him as a son/sidekick anytime. Blanchett's villain was a little too cerebral for me....and the way she bought it felt kinda like....even if Indy didntdo anything and just let the Russians follow their plan they would have died anyway...taken out by the aliens. But then I realized that is exactly how Raiders was. Indy started on an adventure to find something..but ended up just wanting to rescue Marion...and he lost to the bad guys and the bad guys got what they wanted...and God killed them with the Ark. So that exact same thing happened here. Cant complain there...Indy even alluded to it..perhaps remembering back on the Ark incident when he says to Strenko " Be careful. You just might get what you want."

Very mixed bag for me....gotta definitely see it again now that I know and accept the plot a la Temple....and see if with repeat viewings the plot overshadows the good or like with Temple the laughs, fun, rollicking action, character moments (love the exchange between INdy and his boss about Marcus and his dad's passing) overshadow the plot's shortcomings..... Tomorrow I'll see hahaha

Bottom line though...whether Kingdom ends up 4th behind Temple or 3rd ahead of Temple for me ALL 4 of the Indy films (and hopefully 5) FAR OUTSHINE any other action/adventure films Hollywood has given us in the last 10 years or more....and yes...INDY is back. Moreover, Harrison Ford is back! God, PLEASE let him carry this inspiration to choose better roles that he can actually not phone it in anymore.

Finally
by flynnie
May 22nd, 2008
03:54:07 AM
I was built to love Indiana Jones since before I was born. My dad would hum the theme to my moms pregnant belly. I have been hopeing for this movie since my dad showed Raiders to me when I was 5 (I am now 22). I have been actively waiting for this movie since talk started (or at least, when I became aware of the talk), about 8 years ago. I was terrified when filming actually started. I wanted the movie to be great, and if it wouldnt be great, or it wouldn't do the other films justice, I wanted things to be left well enough alone. And tonight, those fears were singularly obliterated. People are going to bash this film until the cows come home, and I don't care. I am not blind to the fact there are flaws (of which there are a handful) BUT it FELT like an Indy movie. I always wanted to know what it was like to sit in a theatre and watch an Indy movie for the first time with a bunch of fans. And now I know. It rocks, and I loved it.
too many things to complain about but...
by Rusty Shackleford
May 22nd, 2008
03:58:58 AM
fucking aliens? really?! What the hell was the point of Ray Winstone in the movie; the character just complicated a script that already had too many loose ends. Beside he felt like a character I had seen in any other IJ flick; sidekick/helper flawed by greed. Cate Blanchett in probably the first movie I didn't like her in. Awful villain. In an effort to keep with the brilliantly serial story style of Douglas Slocombe, Janusz Kaminski makes Indiana Jones look like fucking Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. The movie starts out by having as much Indiana Jones nostalgia as Spielberg can get shoved down the audience throats, then proceeds on what feels like one downhill race towards the end of the movie; kind of like Terminator 3. Oh yeah, except the scenes of dialog in IJATKOFCS drag worse than Speed Racer.
I hate this comparing crap!
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
04:00:18 AM
It's better than 3, but not as good as 2. I put 2 first but 1 second and the 4th one 3rd and blah blah blah CGI sucked blah blah phoned in blah blah blah shia sucks blah blah blah lucas sucks blah blah blah aliens can't be in an indy movie blah blah blah.
RE: telemarketer
by Kid Idioteque
May 22nd, 2008
04:01:29 AM
Sorry, I don't mean to come across as angry. I'm not upset about the movie, really. I was never a huge Indy fan. I'm more upset that fans have been jerked around for so long, that the hype was so insane, and that this is the final product they the loyal fans are rewarded with. Spielberg is pretty much dead to me, which makes me sad. War of the Worlds was horrendous, Munich was a step in the right direction, but then this... I can only hope this was mostly Lucas' doing (since he put up most of the money), but I'm sure both had a major role in the failure that is this film. But some will enjoy it, many will hate it, and none will love it. Harry's reaction to this movie is cause for concern. Seems like most of the weight he's lost is in his brain.
So much anger, why?
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
04:06:02 AM
Not liking a movie is one think, but some talkbackers seem to carry all this resentment. This baggage full of anger. Usually it's directed towards Lucas or any other big director. You act like they owe you something. It's like Clark in the Vacation movie. "We see his movie, we buy his toys! He owes us!" haha

by the way
May 22nd, 2008
04:06:09 AM
I've noticed there's some fellow geeks from the UK on this talkback...................soI 'dliketoaddthat'Spaced'isoverr rated.Cheers!
Profoundly mediocre. Just poor.
by SonOfTorah
May 22nd, 2008
04:06:10 AM
This was one film too many. Just amazingly mediocre from start to finish. And did anyone think that the cinematography wasn't even remotely up to scratch compared to Grand Master Douglas Slocombe!
Awful, awful mess.
by Fletch F. Fletch
May 22nd, 2008
04:06:51 AM
Throughout.
I wanted to love it...
by jjmcgaw
May 22nd, 2008
04:14:31 AM
but apart from a precious few minutes of magic, i left feeling quite disappointed...50's and Indy dont mix...and when did he become political? hopefully a second viewing will fix it a little bit
George Lucas is a childhood abuser....
by awesomebri
May 22nd, 2008
04:16:38 AM
Not perfect.But its an Indy movie,which is all I asked for.So I'
by xmanse
May 22nd, 2008
04:18:15 AM
Ah, the geeky smile of youth. Watched it with some guys aged about 19-22. They mostly hated it. I'm 29 and felt giddy as a school boy after his first kiss. One guy said, "But it was so ridiculous and far fetched! At least the others had a sense of realism." To which I replied, "What? Nazi's finding the Ark and getting their faces melted?" This guy also states Alien as his favourite sci-fi film, which, as we all know, was based on a true story. Idiot.
I wonder how the originals would have faired if TB existed then.
by kirttrik
May 22nd, 2008
04:23:09 AM
I mean, there's an elderly knight that speaks English and is from mid-eval France in the 3rd. The 2nd has Indians using a voodoo doll, come on people, figure it out, it's just a fun film, if you don't like ice cream go eat something else.
INDUSTRY, you flatter me.
by Thorstrongstone
May 22nd, 2008
04:23:21 AM
No, I see the problems with the movie -there are quite a few, but I see more problems in your trivial bursts of irrelevant anger. You seem to not be able to tune out for two hours, too focused on every asinine detail while forgetting that we are seeing updated versions of what we love. I think that there were tons of problems with this movie, but it is one worth seeing.

I know a bad movie when I see one -Dude, Where's My Car, Vantage Point, Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man, Batman Forever, etc -and this is not one of them. This movie is only unwatchable to nitpicking pussies like yourself.
A serious question
by Interficium
May 22nd, 2008
04:27:48 AM
Will this be the first movie to go over 200 mil soley because of people seeing it to see if it's as mediocre as everyone's saying it is?
Who's Indiana Jones?
by FILMFUNK
May 22nd, 2008
04:32:27 AM
I wish I didn't know the name going in and was blissfully unaware of what lies ahead but that luxury these days with sequels, prequels and re-makes is sadly gone so I'm praying if it doesn't exactly triumph in originality it more than makes up for with propper good ol' fashioned fun, action and adventure!

plus my kid is gonna have a blast!

Not enough "Indy" moments
by TooWhippy
May 22nd, 2008
04:41:50 AM
This was a bland version of the character I love. It also had George Lucas written all over it... I'm bummed.
I don't understand the story.
by TooWhippy
May 22nd, 2008
04:43:26 AM
Just saw it
by xevoid
May 22nd, 2008
04:43:44 AM
Spoilers!!!



Saw it at the midnight showing at the Castro theater in San Francisco...best theater in the country. Or at least the coolest.

Anyways, I was a bit underwhelmed. Maybe its because it was at midnight. I have yet to see a movie at midnight I liked a lot, maybe because I am tired at 2:30 when I walk out, and maybe I will like it more tomorrow. But my biggest problem with the movie is that the action scenes were rediculous. They were in no way realistic, either that or Stephen did not do a good enough job suspending my belief. I had no problem with the final scenes, and those were pretty cool. But the script was pretty bad. John Hurt was wasted. Imagine telling an actor that ALL OF YOUR LINES WILL MAKE NO SENSE TO ANYONE.

So muich of this movie was unbelievable. Why did Indy allow Ray Winstone to tag along through the latter half of the journey?

-spoilers!!!!! !!!!!!!-

He got Indy captured twice and double crossed him big time, and yet Indy was happy with him tagging along into the big Mayan temple. Bullshit. That was just a dumbass thing to have him do. Indy is not a moron.

Why did Indy have Oxley go get "help" while they were in the sand pit. Just who did Indy think he would go get? Who else was there to get but the fucking russians? So then why did Indy act surprised when they showed up?

The car chase was pretty silly. Its as though there was a cosmic requirement that the cars go at the same speed, just to have a fight atop the cars. No one ever used their brakes. Irina had the skull many times and yet still kept going int he cars. Why? Stop the fucking car! You have guns and tons of russians. There's no hurry! Am I missing something?

Three fucking waterfalls? Sorry, completely unbelievable. Maybe he can live through one but four people going over three bigass waterfalls with nary a scratch as if they went for a dip in the pool...puhleeze!

There were lots of cool things though...the whole scene at the beginniong with the nukes, the end scene...I dug all of that stuff. Coolest saucer I ever did see!

Anyways, I give it a 5 of 10. Maybe I will like it better on a second viewing.
Just got home from seeing it.
by Rev. Slappy
May 22nd, 2008
04:45:25 AM
Massively disappointed!!!!!
No, Interficium...
by Big Dumb Ape
May 22nd, 2008
04:45:28 AM
Certainly THE PHANTOM MENACE would hold that distinction over this -- and that certainly went way over 200 mil. Everyone already had their tickets in hand, and yet no one wanted to believe the mediocre lukewarm reviews that flooded out. Who could believe after waiting THAT LONG that Lucas would totally drop the ball?

Hmm...wait a minute...this could be a trend. Maybe George decided he wanted to protect his own record and now go 2-0 on letting franchise fans down after a gigantic wait. Man, I'm going tomorrow, but I figured I'd take a peek at the Talkback. And I am NOT feeling my enthusiasm working itself up now seeing SO MANY "meh" reviews and comments...

No time for sci-fi, Doctor Jones.
by Kurutteru Yatsu
May 22nd, 2008
04:53:02 AM
Do I buy into the Ark melting Nazi faces more than an alien melting Cate Blanchett's brain? Do I accept Hindu gods and the Holy Grail before I accept a UFO? The answer is, when it comes to Indiana Jones? Yes. Yes I do.
I agree with 6/10
by i_am_PETER_VENKMAN
May 22nd, 2008
04:53:14 AM
My main complaint is that they reduced Marion to an invalid. Half the movie, she just stares into space with the fucking smile of a person unaware. The entire movie is shot on a stage. What happened to the locations of the past? The entire movie is CG. What a disappointment. I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy it.
A *million* PHANTOM MENACEs over this
by la_sith
May 22nd, 2008
04:53:33 AM
It was bad. REAL bad. I'm sorry, but I'll take Phantom Menace ANY FUCKING DAY over this. I had high hopes yet low expectations...but I couldn't imagine so pitiful and stupid. It will be a while before I recover from this excrement.
Parts are greater than the whole
by Jabroni
May 22nd, 2008
04:53:57 AM
Like other reviews I have read, I too agree that at the core, this feels like an Indiana Jones film, from the opening segment to the, pacing, editing and music all still hold the core of the series close to it's heart. The stunts are great, seeing Indy get out of those pesky situations is still fun and are delivered in the same way we love, the kind that makes you cheer for our hero every time. I for one enjoy seeing Spielberg get back to doing something fun again, but with the quality that made him the director I still love all these years later (War of the Worlds is a personal low point for me) While the story is for the most part great, there are some problems with the execution of the film. Although I do think George Lucas should not be allowed to pen another script ever. Come up with the ideas George, but for god sakes don't write them down. His ideas are officially out of touch with what fans want. Tarzan, and UFO's does not belong in this movie. Shia LeBeouf, gets a lot of criticism, especially on this board. His angle is to be the sarcastic man-child that thinks he knows everything. Is there a teenager that doesn't like seeing a kid make an adult look stupid? Shia fit his role perfectly. My issue with him falls on Lucas and writer David Koepp for scripting an action scene that is so off the map silly that that it's just plain awful, but that alone will not sour my thoughts on the film. The other issue I had was with the ending. It was so overblown and effects laden that I begin to question it being an Indy film, Lucas and his ILM buddies just don't understand how to tone down the effects. I also think that for hard-core die hard fans of the trilogy, the ending is going to put them over the edge (in a bad way). It was a little too much for my taste, but again I do not live and die for the series. So it was what it was, because the journey to get there is classic Indy, the Indy that I know and love and grew up with. Harrison Ford is still awesome, he's the same charismatic cinema legend that we all wanted to be growing up. You can tell he loved doing the character again. Ray Winstone does a fine job as Indy's pal, and it's great to see Cate Blanchett in a movie that will actually make some money and maybe introduce her to the biggest audience of her career (thinking that the Elizabeth crowd and the Indy crowd are two different types of moviegoers). The scenes that are amazing were the opening scene to set the tone, the motorcycle chase through the school, the scene at the graveyard and the final set before the aliens take over. That set with the columns and the Mayan Temples is great. There was a lot more that felt like Indiana Jones. than there was stuff for me to get pissed at. Much of the humor in the story is well timed and done perfectly, some not so much. Karen Allen is a nice touch, but in certain close-ups you can tell there was work done (i.e Plastic Surgery) but what the heck, it's been almost 30 years. Spielberg pays a nice homage to the history of the saga, characters are mentioned (or shown). All in all I was very pleased with the movie, I am not going to let a few things ruin the entire film for me because that simply is not the case. If this is indeed the last Indiana Jones movie I will ever see, then I for one am happy with the product.
saw it at the arclight which was great because no line.
by TooWhippy
May 22nd, 2008
04:54:48 AM
I stopped about a dozen times during the movie and asked "what the hell" Not a good sign.
Indiana Jones and THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE
by the_shogun_gunslinger
May 22nd, 2008
04:55:51 AM
I just got back from a midnight showing... and let me say this... I have NEVER seen a lazier, sloppy, worthless, BORING film in all my life! I use the word "film" loosely, because nearly EVERYTHING down to simple props and a fucking TORCH FLAME was GODDAMN CGI!!!!! There is not one single good thing to say about this fucking EPIC FUCKING FAIL of "film"... "For the fans" my fucking ass Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lucas. From the bottom of my heart, FUCK YOU!!!! FUCK YOU BOTH IN THE FUCKING MOUTH!!!! I expect this from from Lucas... but Spielberg... what the FUCK HAPPENED?!?! Three... THREE SHOTS OF CG FUCKING PRAIRIE DOGS?! REALLY? The worst clunky falls dead on the floor the minute its spoken dialogue I've ever heard in my life... and that includes student films, sir.... CG in place of practical effects and locations in an Indiana Jones movie is fucking DISGUSTING! Never... not ONCE did I ever believe anyone was in danger. ILM has officially given up on trying to make ANYTHING look real and instead has chosen just to make things shiny looking... even the fucking people!!! And that vine scene... that FUCKING VINE SCENE... I hope that scene alone should kill the careers of EVERYONE involved in it, right down to the guy that projected it onto the screen I saw it on tonight... Be ashamed Spielberg and Lucas... you have made the worst film of all time. Once more, Fuck You both. I could write for hours about every frame and why it was a waste and why I hated it. Fuck this movie... As far as I'm concerned, Indiana Jones still ends with The Last Crusade... just like Die Hard went out with a vengeance and Terminator stopped at Judgment Day... The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull never happened., and I'll insist on that FACT till the day I die.
0 out of 10
by TequilaMocking
May 22nd, 2008
04:57:20 AM
Jesus Christ.
It was entertaining, but not great.
by Pops Freshemeyer
May 22nd, 2008
05:00:24 AM
Went in with low expectations and was glad the movie was better than I had thought it would be. Too bad it wasn't as good as it should have been. Thought it was better than Last Crusade, but I think just about everything not involving Ben Stiller or Will Ferrel is better than Last Crusade...

I don't know, it's kind of funny that I felt positive about the movie, even though the alien bullshit is totally lame. Maybe I'm just giving it extra points thanks to no Sean Connery. Don't know that I've really seen Shia in anything, but he wasn't bad. Liked the character enough, even if the twist with him being Indy's son was more predictable than a Hulk Hogan legdrop.

I don't know, I guess it's the third coolest thing I've seen this week, behind Iron Man and that five minute clip of Rambo. Think I might've liked it better if it was more about Indy doing things, and less about Indy talking about doing things...and if I didn't have Mummy flashbacks, and didn't have to watch Shia as Tarzan...

and what happened to ON LOCATION IN....
by la_sith
May 22nd, 2008
05:01:31 AM
what was these HORRIBLE STAGES?! Would it break these assholes' bank to go someplace other than fucking Hawaii to shoot a movie? That graveyard scene was Uwe Boll. Jesus Christ. Fucking cheap ASSHOLES. I wasn't even mad over Lucas for Star Wars. But this one REALLY fucking pisses me off.
IT SUCKED.
by soccerfan33
May 22nd, 2008
05:01:40 AM
I'm heartbroken. The blame falls on all three players, George, Steven and Harrison--an anyone else who approved this script (Paramount, etc). One of them should have recongized how stupid it was. Sad.
At least Stallone finished RAMBO and ROCKY right.
by la_sith
May 22nd, 2008
05:02:24 AM
Jesus.
Oh yeah, you know what would've been a better ending?
by Pops Freshemeyer
May 22nd, 2008
05:05:05 AM
If the alien artifact garbage all turned out to be bullshit. Would've been badass if they had undergone all this action to get to the ruins and find out that the crystal skulls are fakes. You know, kind of like how they are in real life...
Damn You Michael Bay
by MCMLXXVI
May 22nd, 2008
05:14:33 AM
Damn You Michael Bay
FUCKING AWFUL!! AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL!!!! Gahhh!!!
by Bass Bastardson
May 22nd, 2008
05:15:15 AM
Oh my God. Indy 4 is so bad, I don't even want to spend the energy to explain it. What a total, utter and complete disappointment. The first hour or so is pretty good but when it reaches a certain point (Mutt Williams and the monkeys) it all comes crashing down and never recovers. I really can't believe how bad it is. I am not a Lucas-hating interweb loudmouth either - I'll defend the Star Wars prequels all day long - even TPM. That's right, I am saying that The Phantom Menace is a better film than The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - ten times better. This film is total crap. I'm going to have to see KOTCS again several more times because of my job, so I hope I am just in a grumpy mood and will like it better on later viewings, but I really doubt it. The more I think about it the worse it gets.
Why this sucked
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
05:15:33 AM
1. Bad and jumbled storyline; crappy resolutions 2. Boooooooooring MacGuffin 3. Way over the top action that I was embarrassed to be watching in an Indy Jones film 4. Too much CGI/blue-screen 5. Lazy soundscore by John Williams 6. Slapstick just thrown in to be slapsticky for no reason 7. Licensed music I had the lowest of expectations and I wasn't impressed. I booed at the end of the film, most people in the theater seemed to like it though. My friend just kept calling the movie a joke. Several times I said out loud during the jungle sequences so people around me could hear, "ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME?!?!?" This movie was pretty much a waste of time with SOME cool moments (but not many).
LUCAS SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED INSTEAD.
by la_sith
May 22nd, 2008
05:16:58 AM
I should've listened to when Lucas said "People will hate this movie." No fucking shit.
Ford can still kick ass
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
05:17:18 AM
I had no complaints about Ford's physical ability. I still think the dude looks good and is obviously in great shape.
PHANTOM MENACE over this
by la_sith
May 22nd, 2008
05:19:13 AM
I can't say it enough.
Even so, I want to see it again
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
05:21:07 AM
This is totally weird - I hated the movie but I want to go back and see it again. I don't know why...maybe to give it another chance? To maybe shake off this feeling of "maybe I'm wrong"? Maybe it's a feeling that "this can't be happening, they can't have screwed Indy 4 up!" and I have to prove to myself that they did? Anyone else got a weird yearning to see this a second time who hated it?
Actually, I think I have it
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
05:23:20 AM
Maybe it's because I hated the movie so much I want to go back and re-affirm my hatred. See if there's anything I missed the first time around that I could hate more or something. Find more things to hate about the movie...or like? I wanted to like this movie so much and was so disappointed. I think I want to find things to hate and love about it.
Industrykiller...
by Pawprint
May 22nd, 2008
05:25:32 AM
"The General Public"? You talk as if the "General Public" is some mindless monolithic entity that you are above and entirely seperate from; how fucking arrogant? How are you seperate from these people? Do you not pay to see films?

Believe it or not, the majority of people don't come to the internet and immerse themselves in - and research - all aspects of a film from development to release; they still get their info from TV Spots, Press, and pre-film trailers in cinemas; people don't have your elitist "I'm in the Business Sixth Sense" mind powers of pre-judgement or snobbish attitude. Lots of people out there still decide on whether or not to watch a film based on opinion of trailers and word of mouth; to suggest people are like dogs who will 'eat anything' put before them shows immense arrogance.

Most people will see this film based on their OWN opinion of the first 3 films without being told what to think by jaded snobs such as yourself.

Oh, and remember if you really DO "work in the industry" (operating a projector or serving popcorn in a cinema don't count), then "The General Public" pay your wages.

Goddamn...I too had tears running down my face.
by Jobacca
May 22nd, 2008
05:30:43 AM
Not tears of joy,Harry. Not by a long shot. After Phantom Menace,I didnt think a film could break my heart this bad. Just a bad,bad movie and it felt like pissing on a legend. Goddamn I'm a sad little fanboy. Theres not a minute of this I enjoyed and I went in with zero expectations. "Let it go Indiana"
John WIlliams
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
05:33:28 AM
Apparently John Williams scored more or less the entire film when the running length was 140 minutes long. The current run time is 120 minutes. Maybe the reason the music was so subpar was because someone didn't use the new stuff he wrote?
Counterpoint
by harrykeogh
May 22nd, 2008
05:38:49 AM
Saw it tonight at a midnight show in reno, Im one of those people who can say they saw every indy film in the theater as first runs, only have a few minor complaints, the pacing is off at times, the villain is weak, but other then that it felt like an indy film, even weak plotted it still was fun to watch, good action sequences at times, and i enjoyed watching harrison ford try again. On a side note, there should be another film, but not a passing of the torch, just one more where possibly indy either dies at the end or retires, either way, and i loved the closure to the marian story line. Goodnight.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay Indy's back.
by DJB
May 22nd, 2008
05:39:03 AM
I didn't see it yet, but i just wanted to chime in. And for the record: AVP wasn't all bad. I did like the queen running through that whale skeleton at the end. Yah....
From someone who hasn't seen it yet.
by benito
May 22nd, 2008
05:40:17 AM
Guys, So I haven't seen the movie yet. But reading all your posts about how it's turned out... I just want to tell you how sorry I am. Every single one of you deserves better. You walked into the theatre because you were promised Indiana Jones, and what you got was something else entirely. As a film fanatic, and a huge Indy fan myself, I'm so, so sorry. People will tell you to not have the standards you have. They'll tell you it's just a movie. ...Ignore them. This stuff is important. Genre film-making is going down the tubes, and the day it takes Indiana Jones and Spielberg down with it is a tragedy for world culture. It breaks my heart to read your disillusioned posts. But I want to say this: I PROMISE you, things will get better. There's a new generation of filmmakers in the sidelines. We were raised by the films of the late seventies and eighties, and now we're about to get to work. We have early Spielberg and Lucas to teach us what to do right, and current Spielberg and Lucas to warn us where we might go wrong. I know I'll get mocked for saying this stuff, but for those of you who need to hear it, I'm making a promise. Your interests are represented in Hollywood. The Spielbergs and Lucases and Camerons and Zemeckises of the next gen are on your side. It's gonna be hard... the studios have come to expect CGI and Michael Bay editing, but we're gonna fight them to make great pop art like our heroes used to. Genre film-making will be reclaimed by those who still know how to care for it. And that's what everyone of us deserves... because after a while, film stops giving to you... and starts taking things away. And not a one of us should accept that.
dunno if anyone else has said this
by kwingjr
May 22nd, 2008
05:45:32 AM
but it took 10 plus years or whatever such nonsense for that script! my God! what they must've turned down?
George Lucas crapped on my childhood
by thereandback21
May 22nd, 2008
05:47:20 AM
That movie was painfully over the top, with Lucas' trademark inability to control himself with ILM... the stunts were gag worthy and there were too many odd parts that had no business in the Indiana Jones universe. Poorly handled in so many aspects but not without some (few) redeeming factors.
Shockingly unimaginative
by HagCeli
May 22nd, 2008
05:52:57 AM
What bugs me most is how shockingly unimaginative it is. The Indy trilogy has always been about good ideas; about the great little touches that makes you admire the filmmakers for their creativity. Remember how Indy used the flagpole to joust the Nazi during the motorcycle chase in "Crusade"? Remember the "strangled by the vent" scene or the bridge showdown in "Doom"? Or how the Nazi in "Raiders" entered that tent with a nunchuck… and it turned out to be a coat-hanger? Well - NOTHING in "Crystal Skull" comes even close. I mean, seriously: They had 19 years to plan a sequel, and Tarzan Mutt and 3 waterfalls was the best they could come up with? Why did the characters have to run through the jungle all the time; wasn't the "travel" aspect one of the fun things about Indy? Instead of some snow scenes or underwater archeology, the movie merely ruminates locations from earlier installments. They tried nothing new. Sad. Also, I was really disturbed by how shamelessly the movie cited the original films, or other films of the genre. Mac, the traitor, is basically Elsa from "Crusade"; Marion as the kidnapped family member is Henry Sr.; Oxley is the kid that escaped from the "Temple" and his letter is the grail diary. The collection of archeological treasures in the temple was lifted right from "National Treasure"; Mac stuffing his pockets with riches and getting punished for it is from "The Mummy", the whole alien angle (which DID turn out to be a stupid idea) stems from "The X-Files". The motorcycle chase is from "Crusade" (just less original), the jungle chase is very similar to the jeep chase in "Raiders". Oh, and that's about it: There are no "inventive" chases here like the horse vs. tank, boat or plane chases in "Crusade" or the unforgettable mine chase in "Doom". Apart from that… the movie wasn't funny, witty or sexy in any way. No memorable lines like "the sword is mightier than the pen" or "you should read the books instead of burning them" or "it's the mileage". Cate Blanchett is kind of kinky in her Russian domina mode, but be honest, you'd rather bonk the gorgeous blonde from "Crusade" instead. And what's with all those leaps in logic? I wonder why no one in this talkback has mentioned them yet: Why in the world are there crazed, masked kids guarding the graveyard, jumping around like freaks?! Why do the Indians in the temple climb OUT OF THE WALLS? Do they live there like cockroaches? And taking into consideration that the room where the alien skeletons are stored is REALLY well guarded and REALLY hard to reach… how the hell DID THE CRYSTAL SKULL GET OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE? It is sad how pieced-together the script felt. You can really feel how Koepp was forced by Lucas to incorporate all those favorite scenes from previous drafts (just because he had PAID for them, the greedy s.o.b.), without them ever having the chance to work together as a whole. The nuclear explosion bit? Not a bad scene per se, but totally out of place; has nothing to do with the actual story, it was outright confusing and threw the audience out of the movie. The confession scene in the quicksand? One of the very few good scenes in the film – smart, endearing and funny – but it didn't feel like it belonged here, it was clearly lifted from a different screenplay. I've been a life-long fan, but this movie is a mess, really, and put the final nail into the franchise's coffin. Not just that, I think it gives Hollywood blockbusters a bad name as a whole. Their golden age is definetely over, and "Crystal Skull" is the proof that even the greatest genre filmmakers cannot be trusted anymore. Had the film come out ten years earlier – before all the Mummies and Tomb Raiders and National Treasures changed our viewing habits – it might have worked a little better. But in 2008, all I can say is: TOO LATE.
Forgettable, yeah, an Indy movie. I know...
by Martino E. Hernandez
May 22nd, 2008
06:01:45 AM
Reading the above reviews reminded me what I saw this evening, because I complained for about ten minutes, and then the film's sequences evaporated from memory. I really wanted to like this, I needed to see this, I have to say that if it weren't for Raiders, I wouldn't have been a filmmaker. This was just...bad. Real bad, embarrassingly bad, especially from two filmakers, and seasoned actors that I know for a fact, KNOW BETTER. No one can be this delusional (Lucas/Speilberg). It seemed Harrison was trying to do his best with the awful mess the script was, and Shia just seemed happy to be a part of the franchise. Karen Allen acted as if she was on a vacation from her life outside the movie buisness enjoying herself on a t.v show making a guest appearence. The action sequences had no impact, and something no Indy movie action sequence should not have is BALLS! The CGI was fine until the jungle chase, and then it went overboard to Looney Tunes territory. I won't even get into the dialogue, and the script, I'll be here all morning. I gave it to the middle of the movie, i tried, i really tried, and it just kept falling apart, embarrassingly. This is exactly what the movie played like. An old couple going to see a sunday matinee with their grandchildren, to see something fun, and that's it ! This is a souless, Mc Donalds product that is called Indiana Jones, that Lucas is trying to run as a business, and not a film that we want to see our beloved characters over, and over again in. It makes me sick, and sad, because this film is a shining example of what is ruining cinema, and how the independent, and creative mind turns to greed. This film is going to tank, and George's hopes to continue this franchise will go up in flames in front of him, and that's exactly what he deserves. I really can't believe it was this bad.
Wow that shit was dumb as hell.
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
06:11:53 AM
*MASSIVE SPOILERS EVERYWHERE!!* Okay, did it bother anybody that there were two parallel roads in the jungle? It just seemed like so many scenes relied on convenience and happenings. The film lacked some focus, moving from one scene to the next, without giving much attention to any of them. However, this was not my biggest problem with the film. That script was awful. At first I wondered why Indy sounded so unnatural. At first i thought Ford had lost his edge, but then the lame dialogue kept dropping. The film's biggest fault, easily. In the end when they finally reach the alien temple and are observing the pictographs on the walls, I couldn't believe how much exposition they put in. Hey guys, a picture is worth a thousand words, and it's right fucking behind you. We get the story before they even explain it but they just keep on going. Ford and Shia are the two best characters in the film, and their father son bond is worked on really well. However, all of the other characters seem to appear as plot devices. Most of Indy's other allies seem unnecessary and frivolous. They never really do anything special or memorable. Indy's friend from the opening just keeps switching the sides the whole time, without it ever having any consequence, as Indy gets caught, then escapes, over and over again. This is definitely the most ridiculous film of the series. Indy surviving a FUCKING ATOMIC BOMB by hiding in a refrigerator was funny, but totally unbelievable. Even if the blast couldn't burn him I'm sure he would have broken his neck from the fall and all the tumbling. But that wasn't the worst part. There was once a boy lost in a sea of vines. He didn't knew what to do...until he met a monkey. A monkey with a secret to tell. How to swing on vines. That part was so fucking dumb I was totally pulled out of the film. And then when the monkeys went all ewok on those commies and started consciously attacking them to help Shia, it wasn't really helping. The final act of the film also suffers a lot from what I like to call "theme park syndrome" where it seemingly glides from one "amazing" set piece to the next. There is no real sense of danger or consequence, and they just happen to scoot by and survive everything. Like when everybody just climbed back onto the boat after every waterfall, totally unfazed, but slightly soggy. The action lacks the tremendous focus on gegraphy and choreography of the older films. In the old movies, you really get a sense of what is happening and Indy's humanity and ability to conquer certain obstacles work to great effect. In this one, it's more chaotic, with the camera whizzing all over, and CG characters running rampant. There are slight elements of the old fights, little details thrown in that help some, but they lack the meticulous planning of the old action. Still, the action does prove to captivate and excite, if only to a certain degree. Still, Indy was Indy. His scenes where he and Marion meet again and where he tells her about the other girls' problem, it was extremely sweet, and the chemistry was still there. It may sound like I just hated it for all its ridiculous elements, but all the Indy films lack a certain amount of realism. In this case, the liberal use of CGI (I never once felt like it was real actors in a tangible action scene) only elevated my suspension of disbelief, and also detracted from any feeling of danger. While I basically complained this whole time, I am being extremely nitpicky, and it's not a bad film by any means. It entertains tremendously and the two male leads are excellent in their respective roles. A suitable end to a legendary series. I give it a 7 out of 10. Subtract one if you have no patience for ridiculous cinema (i.e. you didn't get Speed Racer), and add 1 if you are a die hard Indy fan.
Don't get me wrong
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
06:14:30 AM
It was fun as hell, and a great time at the movies, but prepared to just go with the flow and leave your brain at the door...maybe I hsould have just posted this instead of that crazy review
How the fuck did this get made?
by DarthCorleone
May 22nd, 2008
06:16:31 AM
I am COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY MYSTIFIED that so many fans of the first three films are giving this thing not only passes but RAVES. Holy crap, it has a few moments, but this movie almost completely loses sight of everything that made the first three great. This is right up there with Alien 3 as one of the most traumatizing viewing experiences of my life. It made me sick to my stomach like Spielberg's other extreme brick, The Lost World. I simply don't get it at all.
the scene in the cafe
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
06:17:53 AM
with just Mutt and Indy and the two KGB agents was the best scene in the whole movie.
It just dawned on me
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
06:25:16 AM
I don't remember a single piece of music from the movie!!! I was so pumped waiting in line for the midnight showing to hear a fabulous John Williams score, but I can't recall any of with the exception of when he puts on his hat and we see Indy for the first time. I wanted to love this so badly, I really wanted another great Indy film, but this is more of a Transformers (thanks a bunch ILM for your shit ton of work done on this movie) with Indiana Jones thrown in.
It's rated 8.8 at imdb. Really.
by HagCeli
May 22nd, 2008
06:27:30 AM
Good lord, the world HAS GONE CRAZY!!!
I stand by my assessment
by ScottinDC
May 22nd, 2008
06:30:05 AM
People may enjoy this on a 'nostalgic level'; but this film simply doesn't get it gone - it feels like a lazy effort that came off half-baked. Sure, some of it is fun...but it doesn't even live up to Last Crusade - and that was my least favorite of the original 3 (until now...this movie feels more like National Treasure or The Mummy in terms of crappy CGI and lazy quality - it's beneath the Indy franchise).
Ok, but weakest in the series!
by Tarven
May 22nd, 2008
06:34:19 AM
I saw it on Tues. night at a preview screening, and I have to say the movie is just ok. The tips of the hat to the fans are cool, and you can tell Harrison is really having a good time, but the story is just weak. I thought it was really good until they get to the treasure chamber at the bottom of the temple. The ending is weak/rushed and just not satisfying.
Made me want to cry
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
06:38:48 AM
I waited 20 years for THIS? The part where SHia was swinging through the trees with the CGI monkeys REALLY REALLY pissed me off. The atomic bomb scene REALLY REALLY pissed me off. This did NOT feel like Indy. Whoever said that must be 15 years old. Seriously. I have seen all of the movies in the theater during their first run and this DID NOT feel like an Indy picture. It was so terrible. It felt like THE MUMMY.
Better than Iron Man^^
by SpencerTrilby
May 22nd, 2008
06:41:36 AM
but it doesn't make it stellar anyways. Good adventure movie with a heart, and some really fun moments.

I for one loved the shot of the flying saucer, and the Area 51 bit. But the second act dragged so much that it really annoyed me. Ray Winstone and John Hurt are totally useless in that flick, either too shallow or just annoying and unfunny.

Harrison was great. Karen Allen was great. Shia was ok. So was Cate B. The Beard's direction was ok. BUT the script was an unfocused mess and took way too many unnecessary twists and turns. Felt like a loose George Lucas cut, not Spielby's usual tight editing. But overall it was ok, not on par with Raiders, Temple or even Crusade... but a fun ride nonetheless. And the ending was moving. Bring on a fifth one with Indy Jr, pops Indy in a supporting part and a tighter script.

SPEED RACER Was Fuckin' Great!
by LaserPants
May 22nd, 2008
06:44:09 AM
Too bad nobody saw it. Can't wait till it hits dvd/blu ray and everybody realizes that they missed one of the most insane, psychedelic, pop-art explosions ever put to film. I'm glad to say I saw it twice in IMAX. Oh yeah, and theres an Indy movie, 20 years later, and you were disappointed? Say it ain't so. The 80s are over. Get used to it.
Don't see Indy 4, it's awful.
by Batchy101
May 22nd, 2008
06:45:39 AM
Raiders is my favorite film and I as much as I wanted to like this film, it's just awful. If you really like the character of Indiana Jones, don't see this movie. I felt sick leaving the theater. One of the worse movie going experiences I've ever had. I'm still in shock on how bad it was. Even the action scenes were unimaginative and not fitting for a Indy Movie. This film ruins the character of Indiana Jones and the franchise.
"better than Iron Man"?
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
06:54:13 AM
Dude, give me a hit of what you're smoking. "Speed Racer was great"? Again, let me hit that shit. Iron Man single-handedly raised the bar for both comic book adaptations and modern blockbusters. As for Speed Racer, that was awful and redundant and just plain bad. It was like an ADD patient's bad LSD trip.
just saw it. its terrible
by slappy jones
May 22nd, 2008
06:56:33 AM
ford is great though. Made me realise how much I had missed him on screen but the film is terrible. very depressed. Great first hour and then it turns into a cartoon.
Meeeeeeehehehehehehehe... heee
by MariusXe
May 22nd, 2008
06:58:18 AM
I dunno. It was great seeing Indy back in action, BUT as a movie it was very unsatisfying for me. The ending wasn't all that, and I think Indy didn't do all that much this time around. Specially near the end of the movie. And... back to the Shia hate... I really don't hate Shia. I liked every single one of his parts in all his movies so far, EXCEPT in this one. Sorry, but I don't buy the tough guy thing from Shia.
Spielberg raped my childhood
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
06:58:54 AM
Someone had to say it.
Spider-man 4?
by MariusXe
May 22nd, 2008
07:00:50 AM
That was what I was thining when Shia was slinging through the rain forest. Maybe a subtle wink in Avi Arads direction, hmm? I could picture Shia as a Spider-man.
A Joy
by SOHOMEMADEITHURTS
May 22nd, 2008
07:01:42 AM
I just came out of the Cinema with glee painted all over my face! Thank you Steven and George.... going to the movies as it should be!!!
Wow...
by Scrolly
May 22nd, 2008
07:06:15 AM
You guys sure are bitter.
gods children
by SOHOMEMADEITHURTS
May 22nd, 2008
07:06:58 AM
Love to post from MAKO.... gods children... how i laughed!!!
will everybody just please
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
07:08:18 AM
go see Speed Racer first?
It's the CGI
by Ray Gamma
May 22nd, 2008
07:09:26 AM
When will Hollywood wake up and realise that it is CGI that is ruining cinema? Audiences WILL NOT suspend disbelief for it if they are even remotely aware that it is there. Even if it LOOKS photorealistic, if the action is physically impossible, the human brain sees it as totally fake, and then stops caring.

In the long-lost golden days of cinema (i.e. pre-computer graphics), there was always a palpable sense of threat to the heroes, which is now utterly gone, because people know they are watching CGI. You might as well just make an Indiana Jones feature cartoon.

Heavy use of CGI was probably the largest part of what was wrong with the Star Wars Prequels too (Yoda, Gungans etc etc), and audiences just simply stopped caring.

Must... not... read talkback...
by DocPazuzu
May 22nd, 2008
07:09:58 AM
...only seven hours left until Jones time.... uuurrrgghh.... so... difficult... must.... see it... now...
8.8 on IMDB...thats a drop of 1 full star...
by lb
May 22nd, 2008
07:10:01 AM
...it actually shows people may not be enojing it as much as I hoped
Is it really that bad?
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
07:11:51 AM
I mean it has an 80% tomatometer and most of the reviews have been positive, except for this talk back. Is it any sillier than the dining scene in Temple of Doom or when Short Round is beating up people five times his size after he saves Indy. All the films have their silly moments.
WOW. Set designs were absolutely brilliant...
by couP
May 22nd, 2008
07:12:44 AM
Just saw it now in Sydney, and had an absolute ball. Damn those aliens looked cool.
What reviews are positive?
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
07:12:52 AM
Other than this site?
Man...
by Laserhead
May 22nd, 2008
07:13:50 AM
say what you want, but no way was that a good movie. Just dressing Harrison Ford up with a fedora and whip doesn't mean it's a good movie. And it wasn't. Monkies. Contrivance after contrivance. UFO. A shoe-horned wedding. And at no point was there ever a sense of danger or excitement; it was like a day at an amusement park for the characters involved; there was never a sense of threat or... ah, fuck it. That was stupid. NOT a 'horrible' movie, just pretty lame as a whole. Somebody hit Lucas over the head with something heavy.
Go See This Movie
by D-Man
May 22nd, 2008
07:14:02 AM
If you want positive reviews...
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
07:14:15 AM
go to Rottentomatoes. They have a ton of them. In fact eight out of every ten are positive.
Seriously.......Go See This Movie
by D-Man
May 22nd, 2008
07:18:19 AM
We had a big crowd for the midnight show and the movie rocked. I've seen all four films in the theater and it definitely took me back to my younger days. My nephew hadn't seen one complete film yet and he had a great time! Going back Thursday night for some more! Peace!
NYTimes review
by Laserhead
May 22nd, 2008
07:18:32 AM
--seems pretty correct to me: " The original Indiana Jones venture was inspired by Mr. Lucas and Mr. Spielberg’s love for 1930s serials, but you’d be hard pressed to find much inspiration in their latest collaboration. There’s plenty of perspiration, of course, what with the wall-to-wall chases — many tricked out with obvious computer-generated effects — that careen one into another like colliding big rigs. As expected, the high leaps and long jumps look impressive, even if it’s something of a bummer when one of the best directors working today (Mr. Spielberg) doesn’t seem to be working as hard as the stunt crew. Initially, I thought he was bored with the material (he wouldn’t be alone), but now I think he’s just grown out of this kind of sticky kids’ stuff. Creative ennui certainly might explain why he spends so much time riffing both on his own greatest hits — Indy and company have an encounter of a close, insipid kind — and on other movies. Some of these allusions amuse (a sea of red ants parting à la “The Ten Commandments”) while others are just painful (Mr. LaBeouf done up to resemble Marlon Brando in “The Wild One”). "
Peter Travers says it's as bad as Temple of Doom.
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
07:18:38 AM
Of course, I liked Temple of Doom (even if it's the lesser of the bunch) so perhaps I'll enjoy this one as well.
Indy 4 is good fun
by TheManBehindTheMask
May 22nd, 2008
07:19:42 AM
Ok, it's not Raiders. But it's way much better than Crusade. Ask yourself, do you prefer CG prairie dogs or plastic Giraffe and wooden rino? Come on it's a good things to point the flaws, but all those one Neurone haters starts to make me laugh.
scotsman
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
07:19:54 AM
too bad. Because thinking a movie LOOKS like crap and actually seeing the entire thing are two completely different things.
I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by geodesigns
May 22nd, 2008
07:20:18 AM
Thanks Indy IV cast & crew-- great story, great Indy adventure!!!!
I hoped for the best and prepared for the worst...
by monolithik
May 22nd, 2008
07:31:44 AM
...And I should have prepared more. From the moment this movie opened with a cartoon gopher... I knew we were in trouble. I had read reviews that went both ways, so I was trying to keep a level head about it... having grown up a fan of IJ, but also, having grown up - period - and knowing not to get too hyped about it to where it could never deliver. That said... this movie was horrible -- and trust me, I'm not looking for a reason to hate one of my favorite film franchises, thank you. Sadly... this movie still gives me more than enough reasons to start doing just that. I mean, seriously. Wow. I'm really baffled by the positive reviews... specifically since most of them are prefaced with "As long as you suspend reality completely, ignore the plot(s) and leave before the final act, you'll love it!" I just don't understand why there isn't a massive, unified outpouring of outrage right now... and there definitely should be... at least, in a sane world there would be! The beards should know that it takes more than furry cgi animals, funny accents and Shia Labeouf to make a movie... not to mention an Indiana Jones movie. Yes, there were fantastical elements to the other movies in the series, but there was a line that they didn't cross. One fantastic device/artifact/centerpiece per movie, and everything else is pretty much grounded. That line was OBLITERATED here. Let's see, was it riding a fridge through the heart of an A-bomb -- that was somehow detonated even though the closest military base had just been hijacked by Russians... or was it Jungle Mutt and his Russian-hating cgi monkey troop catching up with two speeding vehicles a mile away by swinging through the trees? Maybe it was the two tons of sidekick Indy was hauling around the whole time, all of them stealing any screen-time that could have been given to Indy so he could salvage this piece of trash(I mean, it IS his name in the title still, right?)... or the directionless, hack wedding at the end? Hell, the hive aliens were probably the most sane part of the whole frickin' film! Even so, wouldn't you think there would be some alien contingency plan, seeing how vaguely all-powerful their heads are in comparison to their embarrassingly tiny, brittle necks? These aliens clearly did not take into account the cunning five-finger discount technique that is, apparently, a human-only trait. Clever us! Actually, I should add that I'm glad the aliens just... left, without doing, well, anything(or at least, anything they wouldn't have done to the Russians if Indy and crew had never shown up anyway!). If they HAD stayed around, it probably would have been to explain to Indie his midi-chlorian count. Jesus, this film gave me a headache. Sorry. I tried to be fair and understanding... but this movie just makes my blood boil. And... I have to go now, for blood pressure reasons. Heh.
Iron Man did not raise the bar for superhero movies
by Chishu_Ryu
May 22nd, 2008
07:31:54 AM
That bar was set a long time ago. Iron Man was Swingers in metal tights. Iron Man proved that if you just cast an awesome actor in the role and let him direct himself and don't fuck up the CGI (although CGI for mechanical things is much easier than CGI for organic things like Hulk), than you can just slapdash a script together because hardly ANYONE will notice.

Speed Racer is the only big summer 2008 movie released so far that could even qualify as a masterpiece right now. Indy 4 just gives me bad vibes. I'll be seeing it tonight, and let you know if it really does suck or doesn't.

Nice try, Lao Che!!
by Abominable Snowcone
May 22nd, 2008
07:32:43 AM
Guess I don't have to worry about inadvertently dropping spoilers in this TB, so here goes...

I saw Indy at a midnight show in the Cleveland area. And I can tell you that it was a lot of fun and that I enjoyed it. But I can also say that it's quite possibly my least favorite in the series, or that it ties for last place. The earlier reviews that bemoaned how much the first half seems like an old Indy movie, but then falls apart for the second act, were pretty much dead on. The opening exploits at "Hangar 51" (I thought it was supposed to be Hangar 18 or Area 51) and the "noo-cue-lar" test site are the stuff of Indy legend. Spielberg reintroduces our hero by dropping him right into the middle of the action--he's already been kidnapped by Ruskies who want Jones' help finding an artifact with secret powers. Within ten minutes or so, Jones is cracking his whip and punching bad guys, and literally racing both a timer and an oral countdown to avert certain death. I felt my heart quicken watching him race across the warehouse rafters, dodging bullets, and swinging through control room windows. Just great fun. Even the prairie dogs didn't bother me. And you get a glimpse of a familiar macguffin from the first Indy movie.

But then the movie seems to commit the same mortal sin Spidey 3 was guilty of. Spielberg starts giving us too many characters, and one too many ponderous sit-downs so they can discuss conquistadors and lost cities. I was okay with this, I love a good yarn--but these segments aren't gonna hold up on repeated viewings. Some of it is inventive, like when Indy and Mutt start up a classic 50s brawl in a diner between greasers and "soches." The ensuing motorcycle chase through the Marshall College campus was terrific.

But as Indy and new tagalong Mutt venture to Peru to search for Oxley, conquistador graves, and crystal skulls, things start to unravel--and not in a good way. I could go along with the "hypnosis" scene where Spalka forces Indy to glimpse at the skull so it can "speak" to him. We've seen stuff like this before in the other movies, like when Mola Ram made him drink the "blood of Kali." But Oxley's shenanigans got to be too much for me. And I was hoping for some booby traps in those grave-caves. We get scorpions, but they're benign. Some "living dead" indian protectors are introduced, but not much is made of them save for a cool reverse-blowdart moment from Indy.

The jungle truck chase was a LOT of fun, but Mutt's Tarzan impersonation drew loud guffaws from my theater audience. One guy behind me loudly moaned "Oh no" seeing Shia and the monkeys inexplicably swing their way to Indy's rescue. I was able to suspend my disbelief thus far, but that's when my "vine" snapped, so to speak, and I plummetted. Same for the Mutt-straddles-jeeps-for-sword fight sequence. It's funny at first, but goes on a bit too long. Kinda like when Short Round was stretched between two mine cars. The waterfall stuff was fun, some verbal interplay between Indy and lost love Marion was good, and very charming.

But the last act did so much to ruin everything else that came before. Here, we're presented with Akatar, a Teothichlan-esque (sp?) temple that transforms like a Michael Bay robot after Indy and Co. return the missing skull. The alien skeletons seem to reanimate, or at least one of 'em does, and a bit of extraterrestrial, or at least inter-dimensional, mayhem ensues. I guess the real problem is, you're not quite sure what the fuck is going on. Oxley suggests that the aliens have opened a portal to another dimension, but have done so as some kind of "gift" in thanks for returning the skull. Indy clearly doesn't care, and doesn't trust what's going on. He isn't given anything to say to express his trepidation; he simply motions for Mutt and Marion to get the hell out of there, and they do, as Mr. Alien Guy zaps Spalka full of knowledge, which seems to burn her up from the inside out. Again, you're not really sure.

That whole finale just seemed so otherwordly to me, even after a movie series that featured 700 year old knights, stones that glow when you bring 'em together, and an ark that zaps bad guys. I mean, here you have a temple that transforms an entire valley into some kind of giant, uh...mothership-meets-giant clock...and the thing ascends into the heavens, and not a single bit of debris strikes our heroes in the maelstrom. Indy simply takes it all in from the corner of the screen, having little else to do. SPOILER Mac dies, but you never really seem him die. And I found the double / triple agent thing annoying--Mac was an unlikeable guy the second they yanked him out of the truck. That's why it was fun to see Indy punch him two or three times during the jeep chase. Asshole had it coming.

The key to the earlier movies is, what happens at the end depends a lot on how Indy either interprets, or believes, in what is transpiring. Here, it doesn't seem to matter. It all could have happened with Oxley alone, or anyone else, meaning, indy didn't NEED to be there for much of it. Which is only driven home by the fact that he IS there, yet is given precious little to do. No darts spitting from the walls, no rolling boulders. You get some more "living dead" Indians with bolos, who chase Indy and the gang from one temple to another. These indians literally appear from the nooks and crannies of the temple walls, like Aliens. No explanation of how they cocooned themselves in there, or how long they'd been there, or what. No matter, cuz the bad guys show up and mow 'em down with machine guns, so you can chalk up a couple dozen more fatalities in that category headed "Number of Enthic / Non-White / Inconsequential Native People Deaths."

I liked the wedding at the end. Very cute and touching. Although I did feel like Marion's reintroduction was abrupt, and that she and indy reconnected a little too quickly. I mean, it's been twenty years since they were together, yet Indy takes up calling her "hon" again right away and treating her like, well, like Mrs. Indiana Jones. Marion is less a character here than a plot device used to tie Indy to Mutt. She is hardly the fiesty hellcat she was in the first movie. But I'm glad they brought her back.

I'm rambling now, but I think I said what I needed to. This was a fun, FUN movie, but not great cinema like Raiders, which I know is a near-impossible bar to surpass. Out of five stars, I give it 2.5. Or like, 60-65% out of 100. Because for the aforementioned reasons, Indy 4 really is the Spidey 3 of the saga. The Attack of the Clones of the Indy world. And that's not good!

Actually, it's not
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
07:32:52 AM
but I went anyway because I was intrigued by the very unorthodox style, and I had a great time at the movies.
Didnt like it
by hiperaktiv
May 22nd, 2008
07:33:04 AM
This movie misses any kind of magic contained in the original trilogy, I dont know if i can put my finger on the one sole reason but it's a combination of the film lacking a good storyline, the action being boring and lacklustre, the over use of cgi, or the terrible supporting characters. The MacGuffin in this movie is terrible. Im sorry but the whole Aliens thing doesnt wash with me. And the Mutt character was just terrible, not even likable or well developed. What i did like about it? Harrison was great, he made do with what he had. Williams was great as always. Just so disappointed, this was a movie i was so excited for and it was such a letdown.
that was addressing you scotsman
by kungfuhustler84
May 22nd, 2008
07:35:08 AM
I'm just saying, I was wary of it too and I was pleasantly surprised after seeing it. So far, it's the best film of the summer IMO
Liked it...
by wildphantom07
May 22nd, 2008
07:41:14 AM
I walked out expecting to see plenty of hate on here We're all of course entitled to our own opinions. I'm not sure how good I thought it was, but I know this much - it was VERY ENJOYABLE. I'm going back tonight to see what happens when you know what's coming. It's very easy to be critical of something that's not the way you imagined it. It definitely wasn't remotely bad.
nbakid2000, if you were in the theatre I watched this in,
by Coughlins Laws
May 22nd, 2008
07:46:11 AM
I would have told you to shut the f@%k up. Becuase you didn't like a movie doesn't give you the right to ruin it for everyone else. I would have gotten an usher to tell you to shut up. If you didn't, I would have demanded my money back and then waited for you outside. I love how you think it's your job to tell everyone how shitty the movie you're watching is.
And I should mention...
by Abominable Snowcone
May 22nd, 2008
07:46:39 AM
some of the technical aspects of the movie, the "look" of it. It does not "look" like an Indy movie. You don't get that gritty lens, constant dust-kicking that the other films had. Granted, most of the action is in a jungle, not a desert, but so much of it is so obviously computer-rendered that you simply don't "feel" like you're there, or that the characters are there. I mean, the quicksand scene was clearly just some stage-set up, which is fine IF you don't make it look like a stage set. And the finale is ALL CGI, like Jurassic Park meets Indpendence Day meets Twister, with aliens and whirling windstorms and rivers gushing in to make a lake where ancient temples once stood. It's odd when you start hoping someone gets injured or shot, anything, to suggest they're still human, and in peril. I didn't get that impression here. Even the ant sequence (which, to be fair, was the most credible CGI in the movie I thought) doesn't seem to jeopardize our heroes, because the Crystal Skull keeps them away from Indy like shark repellant. He's immune to the danger, and it's never really explained WHY the skull's powers work like that in some situations, but not others. Or why some objects are "magnetized" but not others. Or why a lead-lined refrigerator can protect our hero from instant vaporization from an atomic blast at near ground zero. Sure, it'll blocksome radiation, but you're still gonna blow up. Plus, Indy's fridge seemed to be the only one that survives out of a neighborhood of at least a dozen homes that surely had their own little fridges. Where were they? Oh yeah--vaporized.
Oh Well....
by Fortunesfool
May 22nd, 2008
07:49:08 AM
A lot of fun Indiana Jones stuff in here and when Ford, Spielberg and Joh n Williams are letting loose you can help but grin from ear to ear.

However, Koepp's Screenplay is flat and lifeless, heavy on turgid exposition, light on common sense. The CGI sticks out like a sore thumb and it's not good cgi. The Tarzan/monkey bit (Fuck Off Lucas, seriously). The Fridge bit (Even fantasy has to have some reality to work)and a meh ending.

Fun, but uninspired.

I'm not seeing this until i read the Neill Cumpston review..
by charlie dontsurf
May 22nd, 2008
07:52:29 AM
Where are you Neill????
O num shi by, O num shi by
by Faust_8
May 22nd, 2008
07:54:07 AM
Calimar !!! Calimar !!!
I have yet to see it...
by DeeboShanks
May 22nd, 2008
08:08:05 AM
...but there's no way in hell it could be worse than Blues Brothers 2000. That is all.
Crusade is better than Doom
by darf13
May 22nd, 2008
08:08:41 AM
If I hear short round scream "indy" or "Dr Jones" one more time I will punch a baby. And Kate Capshaw sucks.
TOO SOON
by chrth
May 22nd, 2008
08:10:09 AM
for another Indy talkback. Haven't seen it yet, if I do see it in the theaters, it won't be until the week after next. So I don't want to hear any spoilers from y'all, mmmkay?
Biggest Let Down In My Life!
by TemplesOfSyrinx
May 22nd, 2008
08:18:23 AM
By far the worst in the series. It's almost as if Spielberg and Lucas just forgot the 1st 3 movies and decided to go down a completely different road. Harrison Ford was struggling throughout the entire movie to get in character and never quite succeeded. Biggest disappointment in my life for a movie. I just can't believe Spielberg could screw something up this bad....oh wait....George Lucas is there too. Now it makes sense.
BLOODY TOKYO CINEMAS!!!
by mystic_dreamer
May 22nd, 2008
08:20:31 AM
I have to wait another month to see it. Iron Man hasn't even arrived yet! I'm trying not to have my Indy moment tainted by all the blood-letting here, but I have to read....and I REALLY don't want to.
Lucas loves tracking devices....
by ilikekiddiepwn
May 22nd, 2008
08:21:08 AM
It's the government MAAAAAANNNN!!!
Actually
by Fortunesfool
May 22nd, 2008
08:21:26 AM
The Mummy meets National Treasure thing is pretty spot on. It feels like an attempt to make an Indiana Jones-esque movie without really appreciating what made the orginals so good.
oh...
by Fortunesfool
May 22nd, 2008
08:23:21 AM
...and WTF with the Caddyshack Gopher!!!
Peed Racer Can't Be Better Than This Movie!!!
by Media Messiah
May 22nd, 2008
08:24:15 AM
Peed Racer!!!

Man that kid came up with the cutest term. I can't wait to be a father!!!

Anyway, from the sheer point of the look and professionalism, the new Indy has to be better than the Wachowskis horrible interpretation of Speed Racer!!! Enough with terrible phony looking CGI!!!

By the way...all of the Raiders films have suck except for the original, Raiders Of The Lost Ark!!! I haven't seen the new one so I can't judge it, but Temple of Doom was a Temple of Trash!!!
“It drops three times” was just... silly
by slone13
May 22nd, 2008
08:24:16 AM

Sillier than an inflatable raft/parachute? Sillier than a motorboat slowly getting chopped up by the propeller blades of a tanker? Sillier than a mine cart track jump? Sillier than shooting the tail of your own plane with a machine gun?

Not even close.

Oh, and the movie was a blast. 2 hours of awesome old school Indy-licious fun. Fuck all you dumb schmucks that don't agree. Good day.

I think Slone is on to something.
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
08:33:02 AM
People don't realize how silly the Indy movies are. I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing. Granted, Raiders took itself a little more seriously, but only by degrees, and if you're looking for another Raiders you might as well shoot yourself because nothing is going to beat that film.

As I mentioned earlier, I don't think anything can be more silly than Short Round kicking guys five times his size and Willie coming across all of those animals at once in the Indian jungle and then mistaking a snake for an elephant. It's pulp storytelling. It has a license to be silly.

Spielberg, Lucas and Ford do it again.
by Rollo Tomassi
May 22nd, 2008
08:34:26 AM
When were about seven years old, we saw a film that changed our lives forever. It took two shy, agaraphobic little boys who were afraid of just about everything, including leaving the house, and transported them on an exciting trip around the globe, bringing them into the heart of an adventure that was beyond imagination, and because of it, movies, and their power to take us places and make us experience great wonders, would forever become an obssession. That film, of course, was Raiders of The Lost Ark. Our entusiasm was such that we saw Raiders well over then times at the old Villa Theatre, which became sacred ground to us. That enthusiasm continued through Temple of Doom and especially Last Crusade, which almost surpassed the original. And it even extended to watching every single episode of "The Young Idiana Jones Chronicles" (now available on DVD, and if you haven't had a chance to check these out, you are missing something). As such, our level of anticipation for The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was through the roof. We have been living for this movie. We were setting ourselves up for a crushing disappointment. The thing, is we weren't disappointed. At all. It didn't reinvent the adventure film like Raiders did (how could it? Every adventure movie from the last 27 years is riding on the coattails of Raiders). The plot is not as fleshed out as Last Crusade (we'll even admit the story is a little weak in spots). But the warmth and humor very much echoes the third film (Last Crusade is the entry we would most compare this to in tone). And we haven't found ourselves so excited by a series of action set-pieces since Jurassic Park. The story begins in Nevada in 1957, with the requisite dissolve of the Paramount logo into something else--in a wry bit of humor, Lucas and Spielberg literally turn a mountain into a molehill. A group of Russian Communists are breaking in to a top secret military base, and they have brought along two kidnapped men who have been there before and can help them find what they seek. The first is George "Mac" McHale (Ray Winstone, who may not look as good as he did in "Beowulf," but can still command the screen). The second is a grizzled, cantakerous old man in a brown fedora. We also meet Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), one of Stalin's own. Irina is a very stereotypical Russain baddie, but with a twist--she believes herself to possess Extra Sensory Perception, and is obessessed with the notion of physchic warfare. After an unforgettable opening action sequence that is worth the price of admission in and of itself, Indy returns to his other job, teaching at Marshall College. There, he is approached by his friend and colleague Charles Stanforth (Academy Award Winner Jim Broadbent), who essentially has taken the role of the late great Denholm Elliot, who's character, Marcus Brody, is honored with a portrait and a statue. Stantforth informs Indy that the government has their eye on him, and that he is being put on an indefinite leave from the college - in short, he's being blacklisted. But Indy has other troubles. He is soon approached by a young man named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), who informs Indy that a mutual friend, Dr. Harold Oxley, has been kidnapped, along with Mutt's mother, who told her son that Professor Henry Jones, Jr. was the man to go to for help. Indy doesn't know this kid, but nevertheless agrees to help him out. We're not saying anything beyond that, plot wise. Just sit back and prepare for a thrill ride that will make you feel like a kid again. The venerable old star, whom we have made something of a running gag out of referring to as "the late Harrison Ford" on this site, proves defininitely that it's better late than never. He doesn't miss a beat, and never for a second will you feel that he is too old for this. Indy wears the years and the mileage as comfortably as his beloved hat, and Ford appears to be having so much fun that it is postively infectious. In addition, Blanchett, who has been itching to work with Spielberg for years (having had to drop out of Minority Report to do The Lord of The Rings) throws herself into her role with great relish, clearly having the time of her life as one of Indy's toughest adversaries. As for Indy's young tagalong, LaBeof keeps up in Indy's footsteps nicely, deftly handling the action and the deeper character moments. This kid showed us way back when he did Holes that he has great promise, and he more than lives up to it here. But make no mistake, this movie belongs to Ford, and more importantly, to Lucas and especially to Spielberg, who is at the top of his game in a glorious return to his "old school" blockbuster style. Janusz Kaminski, who has shot every one of Spielberg's films since Schindler's List, is faced with the daunting task of filling in for Douglas Slocombe, the great British Cinematographer who shot the previous three Indy films, but he does it so seemlessly that if the old man were still working today he couldn't have pulled it off better himself. And of course, the great duo that has made every Indy film, and most all of Spielberg's films, so perfectly polished, Editor Michael Kahn and composer John Williams, are in perfect form. Every time we heard the "Raiders March" or other recognizable themes, we felt like we had died and gone to heaven. The screenplay, by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds) is smart and funny, moving at a brisk pace, and includes some nice references to previous entires in the series without ever getting bogged down in them. In particular, we were overjoyed at a very deliberate nod to the very first Episode of "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," which felt like a reward that George Lucas had included for those of us who followed the series. To sum up, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystall Skull is a MOVIE movie. It's everything we love about the medium. It's an adventure for the ages, and one journey we will take again and again. p.s. It's even better on a second viewing. Can;t wait to see it twice more today.
terrible movie..m
by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG
May 22nd, 2008
08:37:40 AM
More like National Treasure IV
by dalemurphy
May 22nd, 2008
08:42:43 AM
I love this website. I've never been compelled to loggin and post until today, though I've been on this site for 8 years or so. I saw Indy 4 last night at Alamo Drafthouse. It was playing at midnight on 5 different screens. Midway through the movie, myself, my friends, and another 1000+ moviegoers were deflated, angry, and probably all contemplating walking out of the theatre. I saw Raiders when I was 7 and have loved all the Indy movies- even the one with Kate Capshaw screaming for 2 hours. Based on Harry and company, this movie was supposedly on par with Last Crusade and Temple of Doom. What a joke! I don't know what Harry's agenda is for endorsing this piece of crap but apparently he and the rest of them aren't concerned with integrity- because there is no way a movie buff watches that shit and honestly has anything good to say about it!
terrible movie... so let down. read this review..
by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG
May 22nd, 2008
08:43:36 AM
I am a life long indy fan and I was so let down. Everything was just off (fans will know what I mean). Maybe I was expecting too much... The acting was bad the action was bad... The only thing I was really impressed with is shia. He was awesome in this and saves the movie... Indy and marion both suck in this...tottally un needed. This could have been the new indy with shia. Any way... I give this 1.5 out of 4
Sigh.
by cdubbs727
May 22nd, 2008
08:48:14 AM
I knew fanboys would nitpick it (again, Spielberg DOES open the film by making a mountain out of a molehill--something I see going on in this TB over and over). Is it silly? Yes. Corny? Sure. Does it have flaws? Yup. But what Indy film--besides "Raiders"--has no flaws? Temple of Doom has the shrillest, most annoying love interest and is way too dark--also, does anything get sillier than dropping via raft from a plane down a mountain into a river? But it's Indy, it works. Likewise, "Last Crusade" tramples on the beloved character of Marcus Brody by making him an idiot. It turns nearly slapstick at times. But the action's fun, there's a genuine emotional core with Indy and his dad. It's Indy, it works. Now we have KOTCS. It's flaws are more on the structural side--we have a Macguffin that is really vague and complicated and the script slows down for too much needless exposition. Script problems like that plague nearly every summer blockbuster. But what works are essentially the things that people are looking for in an Indy movie. Indy's back. He's got the smirk and the smartass attitude. There's a genuine joy to the action and it's great seeing him back with Marion. The action scenes are ludicrious but they're balanced with enough humor and sight gags to make them enjoyable and fit comfortably in the canon (action scenes in Indy movies have always been balanced with humor). The movie has a better tonal balance than "Doom" or "Last Crusade". And it gives us what we want--Indy fighting bad guys, saving the world and falling in love with the woman we know he should be with. Is it a great movie? No. But it's fun. And it is a good Indiana Jones movie, which is all I wanted.
"Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men."
by Uncapie
May 22nd, 2008
08:48:24 AM
About ten years ago, I read a script that with this title that had several elements that were in this film. Rumor had it that Frank Darabont had written it, but there was no cover page. After hearing about the refrigerator bit from "Back to the Future" and some other references, it seems that King George likes to pay "homage" a lot.
Oh the humanity
by Hawaiian Organ Donor
May 22nd, 2008
08:49:00 AM
Did someone above disparage Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man? I haven't watched it in over 10 years but I remember loving that low budget cheesefest.

"Before my daddy left this shitty world." That's classic stuff.

The UFO stuff worries me. For those who have seen it, should I slam back some brews before the movie?

monolithick
by Laserhead
May 22nd, 2008
08:49:11 AM
I gotta say, I think you're right on all points. I didn't enjoy it, and as more time passes, I'm actually starting to loathe it. Yeah, it's funny that all the positive reviews preface their essays by saying things like "If you can still find it in you to be a child once again (i.e., to suspend logic, aesthetics, and value judgments)..." Indiana Jones was always supposed to be ADULT entertainment. It was never made for 7 year olds. And this, the more I think about it, would insult the modern 7 year olds... Bleh.
the acting was awful!
by dalemurphy
May 22nd, 2008
08:49:23 AM
I'm convinced that George Lucas actually directed this fiasco. Every line that Ford delivered was followed by a wink and then a bow. And, Karen Allen was brutal! That dialogue between her, Indy, and Mutt when they all met each other was some of the most half-hearted, contrived crap I've ever seen on screen.
Boy where to begin....
by Major Hockshtetter
May 22nd, 2008
08:52:40 AM
Saw it at midnight, slept on it. Felt like a fever dream. There's a whole lot that worked and there's a whole lot that doesn't but that's neither here nor there. All of these IJ enterprises are just glorified "B" movies anyway so you come off as foolish by complaining that this one is "too cartoonish." (Though, of course, RAIDERS is probably one of the most perfect movies ever assembled, a since unmatched meshing of ART and ENTERTAINMENT). The film looked great, captured the essence of the serials (including the glaring lapses of logic... see any number of the old Republic serials for same), and everyone involved handled themselves nicely. For me, it was fun to see Spielberg cut loose with some pulpy nonsense for a change... he really does do this stuff well. Best of all was hearing those Ben Burtt-created explosive fist SMASH sound effects coming off of Indy's skull. For those of you suffering from "childhood rape" by the hands of Lucas, I don't know what to say. This film will not cure what ails ya'.
CHUD hit the nail on the fucking head
by hiperaktiv
May 22nd, 2008
08:54:23 AM
All 4 of their reviews were spot on. This movie blows. Such a disappointment.
Shia is the next George of the Jungle!!!!!
by loc420
May 22nd, 2008
08:56:16 AM
Man, Did anybody felt like the movie moved slow scene through scene like old Indy? I thought it was allright but mainly because there's a new Indiana Jones movie out and yes, nostalgia can be a bitch... but unfortunately, I think there was too much CGI with the sword fight and then the Tarzan scene...just threw me off
let me explain more in depth
by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG
May 22nd, 2008
08:57:44 AM
it did not look like an indy movie first off. it was too crisp, and fake looking. the original were authentic looking... everything had weight and looked used... this a problem with some new movies. Also i do not like how they traded in indy's cockiness and brashness for a more fatherly type role with shia... i wanted to see a bad ass indy movie... and he was not bad ass... plus the movies villain was dumb. i amean come on... she was a non entity in the film. the acting was really forced also... except for shia...he carried this movie...i never thought i would say that. he is a really good actor.
a view from britain..
by notspock2
May 22nd, 2008
08:58:43 AM
Saw this last night, leicester square with a full on, up for it crowd. It started really well, and the INDY/mushroom cloud shot was awe inspiring, that one image should have set the direction and the tone, it would have made for an amazing poster, unfortunately as the movie goes on, it just gets more and more convoluted, the pacing fails, there are some very weird edits, lots of indiana jones being kept alive for no particular reason when he's already proven himself a threat, tooooo many sidekicks, no sense that they were really AT any of the locations and an ending which just seemed rushed. It proved that an Indiana Jones movie set in the 50's dealing with 50's themes could work, and then it proceeded to show us how NOT to do it. At the end, the audience was kind of muted, my goodwill, and childlike sense of wonder was drained, and i found myself cursing George Lucas for the 3rd time in 10 years. (i quite like revenge of the sith)
In one word? Disappointing.
by SpyGuy
May 22nd, 2008
08:59:43 AM
If this film had been made ten years earlier, then it might have worked, but ultimately the plot is "Indiana Jones is now his dad and he meets aliens."

Oh, and what the hell was up with that tacked-on wedding scene at the end? Marion keeps Indy from knowing about his son for twenty years and after a few goofy grins at one another, it's suddenly time to get hitched after 58 years of being a bachelor? I'd be pretty fucking pissed if I missed out on the first two decades of my son's life just because Marion couldn't be bothered to call or send a letter.

Lucas sucks and he knows it
by alienindisguise
May 22nd, 2008
09:01:57 AM
All the interviews he's done, his arrogance about it all makes me wanna take a baseball bat to his head. But he doesn't care, he never has cuz he knows all the sheep will buy his shit no matter what. Just because of Indy's age doesn't mean he shoulda been made into a pussy..WEAK!!!
Did Tobe Hooper
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
09:03:53 AM
direct this?
I'm avoiding this Talkback like the plague.
by Mr. Nice Gaius
May 22nd, 2008
09:04:32 AM
But just looking at your post headlines...this does not appear to bode well.

I'm hurtin' here fellas. I'm really hurtin'.

A mangled third act in a Speilberg film
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
09:06:52 AM
Well it's been happening in preaty much every one of his films since the mid-'80s. They either go on forever, or you get just some stupid random crap (like T-Rex saving the day at the end of JP).
DAMN I AM SO PISSED AT THIS MOVIE
by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG
May 22nd, 2008
09:08:14 AM
its like being 65 and out of shape and trying to play NBA level basketball again
I'm going to see this tomorrow
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
09:08:36 AM
Hopefully it's better than The Road to Shanghai!
Get over yourselves!
by Woggerman2
May 22nd, 2008
09:10:43 AM
What happened to going to a movie and enjoying the movie for what it is. Did it stand up to the previous movies? In my opinion, no. Was it an enjoyable experience? Hell, yes! Oh, and everyone complaining about the UFO stuff just quit it. Every Indiana Jones movie had an element of fantasy. The Ark of the Covenent, The holy grail, and don't get me started on the Temple of Doom rituals as well as the magic stones. Movies are supposed to take you to another place and I, for one, am glad I was taken there by this movie. Instead of ripping Spielberg and Lucas, we should be thanking them.
Angry pathetic nerds
by CuervoJones
May 22nd, 2008
09:10:50 AM
Indiana Jones is still the same, as your virginity.
Less Outrageous than Raiders
by Scuzzy
May 22nd, 2008
09:14:30 AM
The film has some pacing problems. Though I was pleasantly surprised at the chemistry between Shia and Ford, WAY too much exposition. As has been said Karen Allen way underused. Overall, it ranks easily with the other two. I think the camparisons to Last Crusade are fair...the action set pieces, while great, didn't have that grand frenetic feel as the other films, but the jungle chase was pure awesomeness. Ultimately, the thing that really kicks my ass is that people are talking about how outrageous the concept is. Though it seems out of place with INDY, what's more likely? That aliens have visited Earth or that there is some imaginary Deity endowing a box with his power to kill when opened, that voodoo dolls work, that there's a magic cup that will let you live forever when you drink from it, and that there are magic rocks? Given all those propositions, I would say that Crystal Skull is the LEAST outrageous proposition of all the films. RAIDERS will always be one of the best films of all time...it can't be topped. EBERT'S review really had a good take on it, basically, if you eat 4 pounds of sausage, which pound was the best? The first pound will always be the most satisfying. As fanboys, I don't think it would have been possible to see this film unjaded. Had this been a standalone flick rather than the fourth in a series with instant expectations, we would be seeing it differently. As a film fan, it's almost impossible to go into a film like this unbiased and be able to enjoy it for what it is. It sits in my esteem with the other three and does honor to the series.
Most people who bash this...
by Sithdan
May 22nd, 2008
09:15:54 AM
just want attention. Having seen the Indy 4 film last night, I can honestly say it wasn't a masterpiece by any means, but neither was it "terrible," "awful," or "crappy" as some have asserted. It had plenty of nostalgic Indy-like action, thrills and chills and decent acting by the star character. That said, I think it's probably my least favorite of the Indy series. Parts of it felt too shiny and sterilized for my taste. It lacked the dark grittiness of its predecessors. I also think me being older has a lot to do with it. In the eyes of an imaginative child, Indiana Jones can seem larger than life. Now that I'm an old fart, it played out just like another film in the Mummy franchise. Overall, I give it 3.5/5 stars. It's a fun thrill ride of a movie, but it lacks the magic of the originals.
Read this folks...
by Major Hockshtetter
May 22nd, 2008
09:15:57 AM
http://www.superheroflix.com/n ews/15/28415.php While it doesn't totally excuse Lucas and company for some of their shoddy creative choices, it does explain quite a bit. As someone who has viewed many "cold-war, red-scare" classics from that era of filmmaking, I totally see what this Crystal Skull enterprise was going for...
It's like a copy of a copy
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
09:16:04 AM
You know how National Treasure and The Mummy were like cheap knock-offs of Indy? Well this flick feels more akin to those movies than the Indiana Jones films, comlete with scenes stolen straight out of both movies.

Whip on Periscope. Nope, he left it behind.
by HANSOLOS_CARBONITEFROZENPENIS
May 22nd, 2008
09:16:09 AM
You know what the fuck is with that scene... They show an officer in the sub who is Harrison ford dressed up in nazi sub garb, then they show him on top of the sub. And for some reason i always thought he actually went in the sub and beat that guy up, but i think that was from one of the video games
indy
by Tenenbaum
May 22nd, 2008
09:19:57 AM
all the fanboys bitch about how Lucas raped their CHILDHOODS but then accuse "Crystal Skull" of being too NOSTALGIC. what gives?
According to the old Marvel Raiders Comic
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
09:21:01 AM
Indy whipped the periscope, and held on the whole way to that sub base. There's actual movie stills of this scene floating around on-line. Also, that old guy in Cairo (from the bad dates scene) told him of a warning inscibed on the amulet that those who look at the ark once it is opened will be destroyed (which is why Indy knew not to look at it later).
How does this movie stack up against
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
09:26:29 AM
Pod People
Major Hockshtetter
by notspock2
May 22nd, 2008
09:26:44 AM
did read that, thanks for the link, i think the problem here is in the execution. I really think it could have worked brilliantly, (and for a while, i think it does) it seems the desire to make indiana jones four at all has outweighed the need to make indiana jones four consistently good.
I'm so pissed about this movie
by Rat Fink
May 22nd, 2008
09:31:07 AM
I want this to be good but I know I'm not gonna like. I love Star Wars but Lucas really knows how to fuck some shit up! Spielberg should've told Georgy boy to piss off and done this on his own.
Coughlins Laws....get over yourself
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
09:32:48 AM
Dude, when we were watching the film, throughout the entire filming there were people laughing annoyingly at unfunny parts VERY LOUDLY, a guy next to me who kept talking making exclamations throughout it ("oh no!" "HAHAHA" "yes!" "OOOOOOOOOOO" "OH NO HE DIDN'T!....HE DID!") and some woman right down from me shrieking her head off with laughter. So me saying during a loud action sequence 2 or 3 times "Are you fucking shitting me?" didn't annoy anyone, at least to the point I'm sure everyone else did. The theater was full of annoying people. Get over yourself.
CHANGE OF GENRE killed it
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
09:33:44 AM
Lucas (aka Mr. Out-of-touch) has repeatedly emphasized that while the first 3 took place in the 30's and 40's and therefore were modeled on the serials of that time, this one is in the 50's and so it is modeled after the films of that time - the UFO's, commie scare, etc...

The problem is INDIANA JONES is NOT a character from those films - he is a Saturday Morning Serial character! That's like taking Flash Gordon and putting him in a western.

THAT is why it didn't "feel" like an Indiana Jones movie... it wasn't.
The worst part of it all...
by Logan_1973
May 22nd, 2008
09:35:02 AM
We NEVER SAW INDY FIRE HIS GUN! Bring back the gunfight in Marion's bar! WTF!
BringingSexyBack are you fucking serious?
by messi
May 22nd, 2008
09:35:08 AM
goddamn it get a mind of your own.
Indiana Jones and the Reasonably Enjoyable Gibberish
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
09:37:33 AM
Just saw it. Not great, but not bad. The film lived up to my hope that it be on a par with The Last Crusade, and I think it did that. There are a few too many goofy 'wink wink' moments, the story doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and there's a slightly artificial feel to the film (lots of sets and green screens); but otherwise I enjoyed it.

One note: Whoever thought Shia swinging through the trees with a troop of monkeys was a good idea needs a solid punch in the balls. Talking to a person like that will not do the trick. Only a solid punch in the balls will suffice.

In short, if you're an Indy fan and you have a forgiving nature, you'll get a kick out of the film. Angry nerds, line up here, because this one will give you plenty to nitpick and whatnot.

Well it's AICN. of course there is negativity
by messi
May 22nd, 2008
09:37:58 AM
pretty amazing though. people never cease to amaze me in how boring they must be. am i the most positive film geek there is?
GRADE: B (Better than TEMPLE OF DOOM)
by JDanielP
May 22nd, 2008
09:38:31 AM
So far, "IRON MAN" is the summer flick to beat. Good luck, Dark Knight/BATMAN.
50's Pulp For the Win
by WaitingforAvengers
May 22nd, 2008
09:41:34 AM
It didn't fit with the other movies, but as a 50's pulp film it rocked! This is more for fans of stuff like Doc Savage and Flash Gordon. I thought the genre switch was fun. All of the movies have pretty diffrent tones. Raiders- Gritty saturday morning serial Temple- Horror movie Last Crusade- Buddy comedy flick Crystal Skull- Sci-fi pulp. Sci-fi pulp is my favorite genre out of that list, so I really dug it.
"I was so excited!" and I hated it?
by Razorback
May 22nd, 2008
09:41:37 AM
I don't get reviews by people where they admit to being excited and thrilled and how they whooped and hollered and... then give a negative review. YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL CRITIC! You are not then supposed to sit back and dissect the movie for all of its lacking artistic elements. Too many people are taking film history in college and convincing themselves they are Roger Fuckin' Ebert.
How anyone can not like this movie....
by memento108
May 22nd, 2008
09:43:17 AM
I'll give you Spalko is weak. I'll give you the aliens are a tad out of place in Indy's world. But for God's sake....it was a FUN movie. For me, easily up there with the rest...Mutt is awesome, Harrison was great, giant ants were great, jungle chase was great. It was an Indy film...stop whining about the aliens.
I disagree about the change of genre
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
09:43:18 AM
Overly precious fans will be pissed off that there are no Nazis and whatnot, but I liked seeing Indy in a slightly different setting. The story takes place in the fifties, the Nazis were pretty much out of business, and so Spielberg and Co went with a theme more fitting to the era. Do people really just want to see the exact same thing again? I admit I would have preferred a few less cliches, but that's a different argument.
"ALIENS R FOR SCIENCE FUCKING FICTION."
by CuervoJones
May 22nd, 2008
09:46:23 AM
You should read some Lovecraft.
Agreed Notspock2
by Major Hockshtetter
May 22nd, 2008
09:46:27 AM
Kinda' recalls the Goldblum line from Jurassic Park, and I'm paraphrasing here... Lucas and company merely asked COULD we do this, not SHOULD we do this...
scotsman - Raiders was 1937 - Kingdom was 1957
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
09:48:30 AM
Mutt is 19-20.
Franklin T Marmoset
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
09:50:18 AM
It wasn't the change in VILLAIN (nazi vs commie), it was the complete change in the TYPE of movie it was, as Lucas himself has confessed.
Major Hockshtetter...
by ZoeFan
May 22nd, 2008
09:52:10 AM
I read the article. The film still doesn't work for me.I think the main problem is you can base your film on movies from the 50s, however your audience is in 2008 and are a MUCH smarter and demanding breed.
Was it a change in type, though?
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
09:56:08 AM
There's Indy following clues and looking for relics, he's digging around in tombs, he's getting in fights with soldiers, he's squabbling with his sidekick.

I don't get it. Other than the superficial change from a supernatural maguffin to an alien/interdimensional one, what's the big difference?

Speaking of Sci-Fi Indy
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
09:56:46 AM
Why not have him meet Han Solo and Chewbacca?
ZoeFan...
by Major Hockshtetter
May 22nd, 2008
09:59:28 AM
Yeah I hear ya', can't argue with that, and I'm in no way defending Lucasberg Inc. for their opus (though I think I liked it more than most here). Perhaps, as in a William Castle flick or MATINEE, they should have rigged the theater seats with buzzers to zap our asses during the giant ant sequence.
Was it just me or...
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
10:01:14 AM
did it seem like Indy just sort of halfassedly fell into the adventures in this one? It seems like he did very little work in this one to locate the temples and burial grounds and whatnot. No one (well, mostly no one) had been to these sites in hundreds of thousands of years and here Indy just stumbled into them one right after another with only a minimal amount of work. Also, I loved how the waterfall completely destroyed the steel boat but all of the people were okay. What bullshit.
Thanks
by _Lizarkeo
May 22nd, 2008
10:02:13 AM
Thanks again, George, Steven, Harrison and John. Mission accomplished. Stayed until the end of the credits. Loved the refrigerator scene. Cheers.
scotsman75, you are a noisy asshole
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:02:18 AM
Calm down and stop over-reacting, buddy. You are giving us internet geeks a bad name.

Also, go and clean up your room.

Also the sets looked fake as fuck
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
10:02:25 AM
Scotsman75
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:05:05 AM
SO YOU PAID TO SEE THE FILM LAST NIGHT EH???
I've recently rewatched the behind the scenes
by skimn
May 22nd, 2008
10:05:41 AM
docs on the original three, and a resounding point made in regards to Raiders is the script by Lawrence Kasden. Spielberg, Lucas, Kennedy, everyone stated how important Kasden's touch in the original was.

NOW, after reading a bunch of positive and negative reviews, the common complaint is the script. What a mess it is, and it seems to be random scenes patched together. Granted I'll be watching this this weekend ( adding to the record opening I'm sure ), I'll just expect major goodness from Spielberg & Co. not major greatness.

Well scotsman75...
by mrfan
May 22nd, 2008
10:05:50 AM
Maybe you should try it. Let us know how it turns out.
Scotsman75
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
10:06:05 AM
No insult intended as I agree with what you're saying, but WHY DO YOU WRITE EVERYTHING IN ALL CAPS?
George Lucas is proof Crazy People shouldn't be Rich
by FuryofthefilmFan
May 22nd, 2008
10:06:17 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =hahTj7K4S3E my review
Licensed Music
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
10:07:19 AM
Did anyone else think the licensed music (Hound Dog, etc.) was totally out of place and took you from the world of Indiana Jones? That and the opening of the movie was nothing like an Indy film either.
How much did I Hate it? Where the fuck do I begin...
by HitchCock'n'Balz
May 22nd, 2008
10:07:55 AM
Saw the Midnight screening here in the ATL....enjoyed the first 15 minutes or so ...then the retardation began...I can forgive a 65 year old man crushing the cab and windshield of a moving army truck and not breaking his hip, or being hurt in any long term sort of way (suspension of disbelief) and frankly, I can let slide the one liner the passenger and driver give him time to say....but I lost all hope when he found himself inside a fridge in a Nuke test range....Was this really directed by Steven Spielberg? Really? Out of all the re-writes, and years of waiting for the right script this is the one they decided on? George Lucas really has lost his fucking mind...that or he enjoys fucking with people's love for things. I think once you have the ability to buy your own country because of the revenue of your creativity, your creativity takes a back burner to keeping the cash cow alive...but back to the "film"....It was sad..if anyone here thinks that either Shia or Karen Allen saved this film...you are wrong...there was no way to save this movie...they collected paychecks just like every other asshat in it...GEORGE LUCAS WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER DIME OUT OF MY POCKET.
Plan on seeing this this afternoon.
by mrfan
May 22nd, 2008
10:08:48 AM
I know many of you are anxiously awaiting my review. Be patient my followers. It will presented early this evening.
I fuck up all the time, mate
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:09:12 AM
Just ask my ex-wife.

What a strange insult, scotsman75. "FRANKLIN FUCK UP U LITTLE BITCH" It doesn't even make any sense. Your anger has made you moronic. Or more moronic, maybe. All that rage is not good for your heart. At the very least, you're going to hurt your little fingers bashing away at the keyboard like that.

Great adventure movie.
by itto0gami
May 22nd, 2008
10:09:34 AM
While not my personal favorite of the four, I may come to like it more than Last Crusade over time.
Opening Credits
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
10:09:35 AM
Those threw me off too. Right from the start it didn't stick to the formula.
Scotsman
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:10:24 AM
The rest of my message read, (but got cut)

You said last week that you had seen a copy of this at home and were complaining about the FUCKING UFO, and how shit the movie was.

But you went to see it last night and paid for it?

You were talking pish weren't you?

You obviously had an agenda before you saw the fucking film

OH

And if you cant learn to write without caps lock off, this is probably why you dont know that there is not 27 years between 1936 and 1957, stupid cunt.

I am ashamed you are Scottish

I have not see it yet (Saturday, and I may also hate it, I dont know, but you clearly wnated to hate this from the spoilers, you are a lying fuck nut.

p.s. Yer maws goat baws and yer da's a poof

The groundhog at the beginning seemed out of place
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
10:10:30 AM
Tell ya what scotsman75
by mrfan
May 22nd, 2008
10:12:35 AM
Instead of trying to survive in a fridge in an atomic explosion (yes, I know it would tough to find such an explosion) how about just climbing into a fridge. See how long you can stay in there and survive.
I am proud of you, SKULL1138
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:14:22 AM
You have clearly embraced the AICN way, even making use of the word cunt. I'm a little bit choked up over here.
A 'Decent' Film...
by Pappachubby
May 22nd, 2008
10:16:06 AM
3rd place if I we're to rank all 4 films now. Definitely, starts out with the spirit of Indiana Jones films. But, there are some issues. To be honest, I love all the Indy films but I had some concerns about this 4th go around. It was better than I'd expected. For sure worth seeing for Indy fans. Hardcore fans (like me perhaps) can nit pick away on the details. My biggest problem is the idea of Mutt turning into the next Indiana Jones. Though, he was more than tolerable in this film. Another major gripe was Marion. She's supposed to be this tough cookie and here in Skull, she comes off with few lines and kind of light weight. Not her fault, it was nice to see here though. Eh, all in all a decent film. Had some nice familiar Indy touches -just not the ULTIMATE Indy film that some have been dreaming about perhaps. The aliens thing was ok. Didn't need the big saucer ship ending -just flashes of light and everything tumbling down would have been fine for me. Also, the wedding at the end?! Didn't really neeed that either... Doh, I'm nit picking now! A decent film -see it! A solid 'B' for sure.
You want to see it again
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:16:24 AM
What is wrong with you, go away and die you moronic fucking mongo of a man.

Get those caps to fuck as well, you total Ned

You are probably drinking you afternoon half bottle of bucky while you sit at your PC in a council estate and shout at yer Maw for no mkaing your dinner at the normal time.

Oxygen thief

FTM
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:17:54 AM
Thanks man, you are a good coach Uou saw an unfinished version, seem to remmeber you refuting that claim from others last week, so in essence you were still lying out your arse eh?
I will buy you a fridge, scotsman75
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:17:55 AM
A nice one. One of those fancy SMEG bastards, with a juice dispenser and whatnot.

Please do us all a favour and get in it.

Shite posting
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:20:45 AM
after coach was for the Scottish drunk, sorry FTM.

Badly spelt, but I was angry, he gets the point, he is a lyer, end of...

FTM
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:24:08 AM
Have you seen it yet?
Same as Mummy Returns,,,
by Supermans
May 22nd, 2008
10:25:03 AM
I am one of the biggest indiana Jones fans and watched it at midnight last night with a packed crowd of fans as well. I have to say, there was no suspense at all, no plot twists, the alien at the end was incredibly stupid and made no sense of what it actually did at the end. Too many scenes where so far fetched unbelievable that it made Bruce Willis jumping onto and off of a harrier seem like child's play..Raiders was believable as well as Temple (yes including the jump from the airplane) The three drop waterfall was incredibly stupid and not done well..THe ending was cheesy.. The whole movie could have and should have been done a whole lot better... I cringe thinking about the car chase scene where Shia is being hit on the crotch.. I knew from the very beggining when we started seeing animated animals smiling and laughing at the start after an atomic bomb at Indy getting out of a fridge that this was going to be stupid at best. Now I compare this to the Mummy Returns because of the ending.. All special effects glitter with a pyramid being destroyed and plot that was not worthy of being in the same list as the first three.. As for Harrison being too old, he looked great to me and still could have done the first three movie's as is and give the same performance. If a fifth one is made with Shia Lebouf as the lead and Ford taking a back seat, it is going to be as stupid as the new Knight rider TV show....
oh
by Fortunesfool
May 22nd, 2008
10:28:24 AM
and if this is the screenplay Lucas has waited so long for! How fucking bad were the others?
Saw it this afternoon, SKULL1138
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:29:47 AM
It's okay. If you're forgiving and an Indy fan, the film is pretty enjoyable. That said, it has flaws up the wazoo, so nitpicker types can have a field day with it.

People comparing it to the prequels, however, are over-reacting wildy. It is far better than any of those.

scotsman STFU you haggis eating cunt
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
10:30:01 AM
At least Phantom Menace felt like a Starwars flick
by _SnakePlissken_
May 22nd, 2008
10:31:40 AM
Like i said before i got no problem with the alien shit, but the movie is a fucking mess and the ending hurts my head
Awesome
by DarthVibbert
May 22nd, 2008
10:31:54 AM
Another great addition to the Indiana Jones series. Some nice age jokes about Indy thrown in. It feels like we never left Indy all those years ago. Shia turns in yet another amazing performance as Mutt Williams, and Karen Allen is back as Marion. I very much liked the story line that involved aliens, I thought it was handled quite while and was very believable. My favorite scene in the whole film was probably the over the top Jeep Sword fight, simply stated it was awesome. I will definitely be seeing this film a few more times in theaters! Great Job to Harrison, Spielberg, and Lucas.
Scotsman
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:35:24 AM
I am no geek, but you are just a nonsensical idiot for the things you are posting, honestly, I dont even watch that many movies anymore, only the big ones usually at cinema, or catch them on the Movie Channels
Bless you, DarthVibbert
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:36:23 AM
Real talkbackers don't use Darth as a prefix anymore. You should have gone with a Kurt Russell or Bruce Campbell reference. You'll never get consistent work as a plant with a Darth name, buddy...
Fuck prairie dogs
by Cpt. Arnoldo
May 22nd, 2008
10:37:05 AM
the opening shot a CG prairie dog? Really?! The move had its moments of really fun action and comedy but fuck am I having a hard time saying I enjoyed it. Why the Tarzan scene? Why aliens? There should never have been a shot of Indiana Jones standing next to a UFO as it rises. Easily the worst of the three, but I mean its still worth seeing for the action and I coulda help but get chills everythme the theme roared as Indy kicked some ass.
Pawprint, give it a rest.
by IndustryKiller!
May 22nd, 2008
10:37:24 AM
I explain clearly that I don;t expect people to place the same level of importance on film as you or I, but the fact remains that the general moviegoing publics taste is not terribly rich nor is it terrible discerning. The box office numbers prove this. Just like I wouldn't expect anyone to take my advice on raising children, I'm not going to take most peoples on cinema. that doesn't make me better, just that my interests are stronger in that category than the average moviegoer. Call it arrogance all you want, but it's also a fact and all the yelling and screaming in the world on your part doesn't change that. I dare you to refute it.
you know whats terrifying? mummy 3 in hindsight looks like more
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
10:40:42 AM
FTM
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:41:12 AM
Thta sounds good enough for me, even the originals were an aquired taste and I loved all 3, they just work for me, even when others think they are a bit stupid.

So I will probably like it ok

I didnt think the prequels were all that bad, just bits were crap and direction was awful, but I forgove it because its GL's own thing, its the same story he had in mind when he wrote the originals, but if he had got soemone else to write the dilaogue and direct I reckon they would have been classics, as it stands I still enjoy Sith quite a lot, I can forgive TPM in places and I fucking hate Clones, other than when Obi Wan is on screen.

Oh and Plissken, please no Haggis jokes, I am also Scottish, I am allowed to slag him off, but Scots rarely ever eat haggis, its exactly ike England but with more country side in places, same TV, same shops, same everything and Englans is very much like the States.

Thanks

I thought it was a gopher
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:41:12 AM
People have mentioned prairie dogs and groundhogs, but I had assumed the beastie was a gopher, much like Bill Murray's little buddy in Caddyshack.

I am no expert, though, and I did not stay through the credits to see if there was a listing for gopher/prairie dog/groundhog animator and/or wrangler.

The best part was when the guards
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
10:41:27 AM
got fried by the rocket sled. That was your PG-13 shot. I liked the movie. The only part I had a problem with was they took the double-crosser with them into the temple, Indy should of sent him down the river. Other than that it was all good. I went with 2 other fans and we 3 all liked it but hey , we are old folks too lol.
INDY 4 - MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND
by gasolineproductions
May 22nd, 2008
10:41:41 AM
Don't read this if you haven't seen it (or easily offended). I won't give any spoilers but I will state my honest opinion. I'm a fan of Spielberg and early Lucas but Indy 4 is a let down. I had absolutely NO expectations and went into the theatre open-minded and ready to be entertained. The story was weak, dialogue was a joke, the characters were pretty flat, and even some of the effects were bad. I'll give ILM credit for their crystal head moment near the end but c'mon...could those monkeys and groundhogs be any faker? Did their interns work that day? I'm so happy that Karen Allen was back...I never liked the other love interests in the other two films but why did they make Marion act like she was always high? Shia was on cue. As he did in Tranformers, he saves this film. Maybe he was the only one trying because as much as I like Harrison Ford, he made a lot of weak acting choices. But Shia's deliveries were great. I wish him luck in the future because he's definitely a talented young actor. I could go on but enough's enough...all-in-all the entire film felt half-ass. No one was on top of their game. Shia is the only draw to the film unless you love Indy so much that you can't be unbiased. Don't get me wrong, it has it's moments but when asked if I would seen it again I quickly said no. I'm not even sure I'd buy the DVD. I feel cheated as a moviegoer because this lacked in quality. As I said, I had no expectations going in but I feel let down by the team of filmmakers. They have so much more potential than this. I can't forgive the poorness of this film just because of their previous work. But this is just one man's opinion. Make up your own mind and view it as an unbiased moviegoer. Does this film really meet the quality of good filmmaking or is it just an attempt to make an action film that everyone will see based on its predecessors?
To those bitching about those bitching about aliens and UFOs...
by SpyGuy
May 22nd, 2008
10:43:26 AM
The Lost Ark of the Covenant, the Stones of Shankara and the Holy Grail all involved supernatural elements using ancient religious artifacts.

Aliens and UFOs, while paranormal, are based in science-fiction, not supernatural mysticism, and thematically should have been out of bounds for an Indiana Jones story. Otherwise, why not have films like THE EXORCIST VS. PREDATOR or THE OMEN VS. ALIEN?

Damn. I wanted Indiana to actually go to Indiana
by EriamJH
May 22nd, 2008
10:45:41 AM
Stealing a 1950s Indy 500 auto and swiping the Borg Warner trophy. "It IS the mileage!"
Scotsman
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:45:49 AM
You are in fact sir...Lower than the scab on the end of a rats dick.

What more can I say, I just dont get you at all, and my posts keep cutting off half way through for no reason, so you ahve luckily missed out on half the abuse I have sent your way

Where are you anyway, I think I did offer to meet up with you in Scotland somewhere to discuss this in an Indy Jones fashion, my fist your teeth.

Fanny

Those were Prairie dogs, Gopher is smaller.
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
10:46:26 AM
Groundhog is bigger than both. Caddyshack's Gopher was big because a hand had to fit in its ass.
Oh, and anyone saying Temple is the best...
by EriamJH
May 22nd, 2008
10:47:41 AM
...hope you enjoyed your Power Rangers and He_Man and Full House and Saved by the Bell, as you identified with a Goonie and it dates your "wittle ages" -- GUFFAW!!!
Don't get me started on the prequels
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:48:34 AM
Awful, awful films, and mostly because of the writing, I reckon. Lord knows why Lucas took so much of it on by himself - every young screenwriter in Hollywood would have done it for free and thrown in a blow job for good measure.

But don't worry, this new Indy adventure isn't that bad. It's implausible and messy in places (kind of like the Pirates films) but still worth a watch. Ford is back on form, Shia does pretty well, and it was nice to see Karen Allen back. It could definitely have been better, but it could have been soooooooo much worse.

I am going home now
by SKULL1138
May 22nd, 2008
10:49:55 AM
Ta ta
indiana jones and the over done CGI
by myxjohnxg
May 22nd, 2008
10:51:38 AM
this is my first time ever posting, and I never ever planned to post on this site cause I feel like there's never really a need to. Who on here is really gonna give a crap about what I have to say anyway. But having seen the film last night, I can't stop thinking about it and just want to vent. I agree with Yackbacker so much about the over use of CGI and The Mummy and National Treasure references...I said that to my brother when the movie ended and he totally agreed. All I really wanted was a good Indy movie and they gave me 2/3's of a good Indy movie and 1/3 of a good Mummy movie. I'll be honest, I enjoyed the first Mummy, but to me that and National Treasure were B Rated, CGIed Indy flicks that couldn't come close to comparing with the real Dr. Jones. Turns out thats exactly what this felt like, a fake Indiana Jones movie, that was entertaining, that had me in moments of complete joy, but all the CGI took me right out of the movie. One last thing, was one of the TBers mentioned Christians not liking this movie, that made me laugh. Cause I am a Christian, and everyone I went to see it with yesterday are Christians too, but my problem with the movie has nothing to do with the alien story line, it's the way it was handled, the Special Effects extravaganza it turned into, and the lameness of the ending...it didn't have to go that far. However, I know exactly what you're saying, I know so many Christian who loved the first and third Indy movies but hated the second cause it was "weird" and didn't deal with a Christian theme. Oh well. After all this though, I'm still excited to see it again this weekend, cause I think I'll enjoy it more the second time around...knowing what to expect and just getting to enjoy Indy for the iconic character he is and try to block the rest out.
Indiana Jones ages like fine wine!
by mish87
May 22nd, 2008
10:51:45 AM
My heart is breaking......
by lb
May 22nd, 2008
10:51:49 AM
...everywhere I read all I can see is negative news about the movie.
Thanks, Mace Tofu
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
10:52:36 AM
The mystery of the gopher-like animal is solved!
This just in: Dreyfuss is Cheany
by fiester
May 22nd, 2008
10:55:30 AM
In the Stone flick. Heh. Hilarious.
you know whats terrifying? mummy 3 looks like more fun
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
10:55:30 AM
the ufo was cool looking. the movie was shite.

too those who say "you don't know how to enjoy a movie"

iron man.

fun.

now get fucked.

Didn't hate it, but that's not good enough
by Lampers
May 22nd, 2008
10:57:23 AM
I don't expect the Beards to care what I think, but here goes anyway. The problem, for me, is all the damn sets. The only time the film seemed to be set in reality is during the Marshall College scenes...outdoors stuff. You can't fake sunlight, which is why Douglas Slocombe didn't try to. If the scene takes place outdoors, FILM IT OUTDOORS! Studio lighting always looks just like that, and not once was I convinced that anything I was looking at wasn't either a green screen or a constructed set. In Raiders, despite the pulp story and situations, the films looks and feels REAL. So you suspend disbelief and you convince yourself that your hero is in real danger. Crystal Skull just felt like Indy was constantly playing an elaborate (though poorly plotted) computer game. Other issues: John Hurt, why? What a waste of a great actor. "Henry Jones Junior", really? Do me a favour? I don't who is responsible for all that (I assume Koepp?) but WTF? Love Jim Broadbent, should've been more of him. Shia, didn't hate hime but again that is faint praise. He's no Jar Jar but he's just unneccessary, a character (literally) from another film. Beards 1 & 2, I DON'T want a spin off franchise with Mutt, and I imagine neither do many talkbackers here. He just seemed to exist to take time away from Indy, and I paid to f*cking see Indy! Karen Allen's lovely but did they have to, I can say spoilers here can't I?, did they have to do that at the end? Harry's right, she has got a great smile, but he's also wrong, not EVERY Indy fan wanted to see him settle down with Marion. I wanted him (IF he HAD to settle down, which I don't think he did), to go with Willie. Kate Capshaw has ALWAYS been the loveliest Indy lady, and I'll fight for her honour any day of the week! Here's a biggie, where is Sallah??? I guess because this is the leasy globe-trotting Indy movie (seriously, did he have to spend the entire time in the Americas?) it didn't make much sense to have an Egyptian digger turn up, but a phone call or anything would have worked. Christ, there were enough perfunctory characters stealing screen time, why not shoehorn in one we at least care about? I did love some of it. The nuclear bomb, the Marcus references, the Paramount logo, rocket sled, grave-robbing, "don't call it a snake!, even the UFO. Loads of good stuff. Unfortunately just not enough of it. And far too much CGI, seriously Steven, don't tell us there's as little as possible CGI and then, I mean, Tarzan? Shia's 6 foot legs, the 3 drops (nice riddle, if you're a retard!). Harrison has definitely still got it and I'm convinced he could do a fifth. But more care and attention please. Give Tom Stppard another crack at the dialogue. Bring Douglas Slocombe out of retirement. Give Ben Burtt more to do. Retire John Williams, I'm sorry I love him but he's had it now, terrible score. Bring back John Rhys-Davies. Go somewhere other than your own backyard and film OUTSIDE and put some real SUNSHINE in it. 6 out of 10, which is more than I'd give any Star Wars prequel but with just a little care and attention could have been SO much better.
(vomiting in a toilet somehwere)
by jeah
May 22nd, 2008
10:58:26 AM
This is Cpt Wiggin for whatever it’s worth. Two words for Indy 4: Unspeakably horrific. First sign I knew we were in trouble was the prairie dog Kangaroo Jack nonsense. So all the sudden we digress from a solid action adventure series and into a kiddie campy Disney movie for ages 12 and below? And I like how the Russians kill maybe four guards at the beginning and all the sudden take control Area 51 like its nothing. Then a less than impressive totally beyond over the top action sequence commences leaving Indy in the middle of a nuclear bombing test site. But fear not! Once the bomb hits he gets conveniently blasted miles to safety in a frikin refrigerator! Oh but I keep forgetting! That’s “fun!” Fun for the whole frikin family! Joy! The love interest which between Indy and Marion (you would think would be emphasized on) was so anorexic-ally thin I wanted to throw up. I have sooooo much more to rant about but I’m gonna stop right there before I really blow my lid. I mean c’mon guys. Swashbuckling sword fighting on a military jeep chase through a jungle full of man eating ants and giddy comical chimpanzees? Alien artifacts? Psychic villains? In an INDY movie? Are you guys kidding me? This was worse than Die Hard 4. Same issue with previous actors attempting to play their trademark roles without success. Only worse on a greater magnitude of scale. Anyone who says this is a dream for fans...I fear for your soul. Peace/East G’s
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
by 0101
May 22nd, 2008
10:59:27 AM
Why not a flying saucer in Indy? It's the 50's now
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
11:01:32 AM
Not the 30's! Makes sense with all those flying saucers and atomic age movies from the 50's
I like how everyone wants to blame Lucas
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
11:04:51 AM
Did anyone see The Lost World? Remember the gymnastics daughter kicking the Raptor, or how everything looked like it was shot on a Universal soundstage?
Those ants were real, scotsman75
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
11:04:54 AM
They were all specially trained by the same guy who trained the squirrels for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Every single one of them! That's why it took so long to get this new Indy film off the ground. They had to wait for him to finish training the damn ants!

The monkeys were CGI, though. Unfunny CGI.

I saw on the news
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
11:05:45 AM
how a Scotish Brother and Sister want to get married. Oh my!
Yes, the ants were real.
by mrfan
May 22nd, 2008
11:06:56 AM
Just like the crabs between your legs.
Last night at the Alamo in Austin Texas
by JLo III
May 22nd, 2008
11:08:28 AM
I would like to thank everyone at the Alamo Draft House for just being a great crowd. For ONCE I had no problem in the theater, no talking, no texting, no cell phones, no one translating the movie to spanish. It was so refreshing to have that movie experiance

As for the movie, I think the bottom line is the script was bad, end of story. everything else, except for a few stupid gags were great, and I blame those little problems on the script. I don't even have a problem with the aliens, it's just how they used the aliens. I could go for just about anything in an Indiana Jones movie if it were done right.

A side note: Rob Lowe is dreamy
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
11:08:44 AM
Fellow English Indy viewers may also have seen the new Orange ad/skit starring Rob Lowe. Even though I am a straight man, I have to say that is one handsome fella.
How dare the movie makers bring something new to Indy
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
11:09:44 AM
I didn't know there were rules to follow in Indy movies. Some of you morons really thought it was gonna be exactly like the three original Indy movies huh? Those are connected and have a biblic theme. This new Indy movie starts a new bridge. Featuring Scifi elements, which have always been associated with ancient civilizations. For example, some think aliens built the pyramids. That sorta thing. That's what Lucas and Spielberg were going for in this film. I mean come on it's 19 years later. It wouldn't be the same.
My crabs may be real, mrfan...
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
11:09:50 AM
But my legs are CGI!
Suspension of Disbelief
by Massage...Bored
May 22nd, 2008
11:10:31 AM
Was it really that believable when Indy was dragged behind that truck in Raiders and when he got up his clothes weren't ripped to tattered shreds and he wasn't bleeding profusely from the several open wounds that would have come from such a stunt? Let's not forget that he caught up to this speeding caravan via horseback. Was it really that believable when Indy, Shortround, and Willie jumped from the plane in the inflatable raft and the thing didn't tip over in the air from the obvious weight distribution? Or the mine cart chase scene, c'mon! Was it believable when the origin of every one of Indy's signature traits happened in one rather epic afternoon or that there was a 700 year old man guarding a wooden cup in a cave in the desert? Or that Indy's dad just happens to be Scottish and just happens to be Sean Connery? No, it's not believable and this series is steeped in suspension of disbelief. Indy is supposed to be this alpha-hero that would live on from adventure to adventure, like James Bond (which is one of the basis for the character). He's like Superman with a PhD, nigh indestructible. We find out now that as a teenager he fought alongside Poncho Villa, he was a WWI hero, he was a brash adventurer and rogue, he kicked serious Nazi ass every time/all the time, he was a double agent for the CIA during the beginning of the Cold War.....all really believable stuff but for that to be under one man's fedora? Women want him, men want to be him and all of that. He's a throwback character that was already a throwback character when he was conceived in the 70's. A lot of us were children when we first saw the original three films and I think many of us are being seriously hypocritical in what we find at fault with this film that we find so endearing with the first three. Have you people even gone back and re-watched the films again in anticipation? There's a complaint about Indy falling into everything in this film. Well, let's think back to the first three films. The FBI comes to him in Raiders with a load of info about what the Nazi's are up to and where they are, essentially giving Indy everything he needs to get going. Not much work was needed to figure out everything because it was essentially done for him he just needed the legs and the brains (which Indy has in spades) to decipher a few riddles left behind. He didn't do much work there. In Temple the village elder gives him all the info he needs to get going and it's a matter of stumbling onto the opening of the cavern in a bedroom. Again, he really didn't do much and it just escalated from there. In Crusade, his dad did pretty much all of the work way ahead of time and Indy just needed to follow his exceptional diary to find the Grail, something that daddy was in the process of doing himself. Also, young Indy straight up steals a prize that was found by men (albeit shady men) that probably worked really hard to get it. Not much work at all. In fact, the only real treasure we ever see him going for that he worked for was the golden idol at the beginning of Raiders. I'm sure he has found several priceless artifacts on his own but when it comes to the big dance(s) Indy has always been the guy that finishes the puzzle while his friends have done nearly all of the groundwork for him. There are the only treasures the general populace witnesses him go after, not all of the people that see Indy films think much deeper than what is on screen. So to the novice Indy fan he comes off as kind of a shitty archaeologist when you think about it.
Since Robert Downey Jr. played an older
by Samuel Fulmer
May 22nd, 2008
11:10:39 AM
Shia Lebeouf in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, does that mean Downey will play Mutt in Indy 5?
The Snake, the ants, the monkeys and the prairie dogs
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
11:11:53 AM
did not bother me at all. The CGI was fine. Here is what a real prairie dog looks like- http://tinyurl.com/666but -. I'm pretty sure this is what they looked like in the movie I saw last night. I'll give you that the CGI ant goo looked overdone. Marine World is near ILM and they have a prairie dog city so Lucas could of filmed real PDs and matted them into the footage. The first RAIDERS movie had goofs like the cobra reflected in glass or the rod holding the rolling ball. How the fuck does sticking your hand in a beam of light make a trap spring? Did you bitch back then or just enjoy the BS. I enjoyed the BS last night warts and all. It's INDY.
Accept it as a new chapter in Indy's adventures & move on!
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
11:12:40 AM
You fuckin nerds!
Dammit, sorry
by Massage...Bored
May 22nd, 2008
11:12:48 AM
Sorry about not putting in paragraph breaks, people. I hope it doesn't deter anyone from reading that.
Any man here would fuck Rob Lowe!
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
11:14:53 AM
You know it, scotsman75. That is nothing to be ashamed of. He's dreamy, I tell you.
I reviewed it for another site
by vadakinX
May 22nd, 2008
11:15:56 AM
I won't post the review...I'll just say that I gave it an 8 out of 10...why? Because it's a damn fun movie. Yes there are a couple of silly things, but Indy movies have always been adventure stories with humour, action, suspense, mystery, romance and a few thrills along the way, and that goes right back to Raiders. Indy IV is no different...it's a fun movie.
super lesbian robots
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
11:16:30 AM
super lesbian robots
super lesbian robots
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
11:16:32 AM
super lesbian robots
Were the special effects ever that good in Indy?
by Orionsangels
May 22nd, 2008
11:16:43 AM
Watch the jeep go over the cliff in Raiders. It's a matt painting of a cliffside and a jeep with black lines around it. It looks cartoony. When the nazi commander and his tank fall over the cliff in Crusade. Fake! Gimmie a break you CGI whiners! I mean sorry the movie makers didn't revert back to 1980's technology for this Indy movie.
super lesbian robots
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
11:16:54 AM
super lesbian robots
super lesbian robots
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
11:16:57 AM
super lesbian robots
super lesbian robots
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
11:17:20 AM
super lesbian robots
super lesbian robots
by ironic_name
May 22nd, 2008
11:17:24 AM
super lesbian robots
A movie for the fans
by maverick2484
May 22nd, 2008
11:18:57 AM
Saw the midnight show last night, and I walked out of the theatre with a big ol' grin on my face. I'm a pretty big Indy fan, so was another person I went with, and the 3rd member of the group hadn't seen the other Indy films at all. We all enjoyed it. It wasn't until we saw Indy at Area 51 that the enormity of this film's task occurred to me. It had to respect the nostalgia of fans without wallowing in nostalgia. It had to give us a plausible Indiana Jones at age 60. It had to present a familiar Indiana Jones universe that isn't set in the 1930s. However, after Indy gets questioned by the CIA guys at the testing facility, I had the thought that was my personal key to enjoying the film: the realization that Indiana Jones didn't stop having adventures just because we stopped seeing movies about him. It makes perfect sense that he served in WWII and won of ton of medals; he's Indiana Jones! The tributes to Brody and Henry Jones Sr. were touching and well done. The trademark Indy humour is here, particularly the snake/quicksand scene, and although it seemed a bit light on the action, the amazon car chase is a set piece worthy of the films predecessors. As for Shia, one guy in the theatre yelled "lame" when his lineage was revealed, and I had a similar thought myself. Fortunately Shia won me over with his very natural charisma and relationship with Ford. In Last Crusade, Indy's father was along for the ride; 20 years later, it makes perfect sense that his wife and son would be along for the ride. I agree that the ending bit with the aliens was a bit strange, but I don't mind the fact that there was no real "prize" at the end of the quest. One of the themes of the movie is that knowledge is a prize unto itself. I sincerely hope, as I suspect most fans will, that this is the last Indy adventure. Any future adventures would have to include Mutt and Marion, at which point it would become the Family Jones series. A wedding is the quintessential happy ending. As fans, we've seen Indy reach a conclusion as a character. He's gone from charming rogue to family man, which, frankly, is a transition that many of us make in life, and to see it happen to Indy enriches the character enormously. If you're a fan, don't nitpick this film and just enjoy seeing Indy back on a big screen, older, wearier, but still plucky, defiant, and able to beat anyone. Many fans who critcize this film are basically criticizing it for not being in the '80s, but if you're willing to appreciate a story about an Indy who's at a different place in his life than he was when we last saw him, then this is the cinematic treat you've been waiting for.
It BELONGS in a museum
by SoupDragon
May 22nd, 2008
11:19:05 AM
Very flat and uninvolving all round. The mid section was slow beyond belief and the film just never picked up enough after that. They didn't give the supporting characters anything to work with, especailly Mutt (way to set up the next franchise). But how much could we really expect from David Koepp (T Rex steers itself to shore) and Jeff Nathanson? (the seamless internal logic of Rush Hour 3). One redeeming moment: the image of Indy staring at the A Bomb blast.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
by 0101
May 22nd, 2008
11:20:07 AM
THIS MOVIE SUCKED SHIT! OK, LET'S JUST TAKE FRANK DARABONT'S GOOD SCRIPT AND BUTCHER IT TO PIECES. THAT'S WHAT GEORGE LUCAS DID HERE AND BOTH HE AND STEVEN SPIELBERG SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! THIS MOVIE FELL APART FASTER THAN A HOUSE OF CARDS. BETWEEN SHIA SWINGING THROUGH THE FOREST LIKE TARZAN AND HARRISON FORD ACTING LIKE A TIRED OLD MAN, THIS MOVIE DEFINITELY DID NOT DELIVER. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT STUPID ASS WATERFALL SCENE ALL ABOUT? COME ON PEOPLE, CAN'T YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER THAN A HALF-ASS UNBELIEVABLY BAD TRIPLE WATERFALL SCENE? YOU GUYS ALREADY DID THAT IN TEMPLE OF DOOM! SHIT GUYS, GET ON THE BALL!!! WHAT ABOUT USING THE SAME OVERSTERTCHED ALIENS AGAIN FROM A.I., AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. BOTTOM LINE... BAD DIALOGUE, POOR STORY, AND FORCED ACTING FROM THE MAIN CAST. (AND WHY BRING KAREN ALLEN BACK IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO GIVE HER A FEW LINES AND A WATERED DOWN PLOT?) WHAT HORSE SHIT THIS WAS! I WANT MY MONEY BACK FROM THESE SNAKE OIL SALESMEN! SHAME ON BOTH OF YOU FOR RELEASING THIS ABORTION OF A MOVIE. NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING AS GOOD AS THE FIRST THREE. REST IN PEACE INDY! PLEASE PEOPLE, SEND A MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT QUALITY ONCE AGAIN FROM HOLLYWOOD, AND WAIT FOR CABLE TO SEE THIS ONE. INSTEAD, GO SEE IRONMAN AGAIN.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
by 0101
May 22nd, 2008
11:20:21 AM
THIS MOVIE SUCKED SHIT! OK, LET'S JUST TAKE FRANK DARABONT'S GOOD SCRIPT AND BUTCHER IT TO PIECES. THAT'S WHAT GEORGE LUCAS DID HERE AND BOTH HE AND STEVEN SPIELBERG SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! THIS MOVIE FELL APART FASTER THAN A HOUSE OF CARDS. BETWEEN SHIA SWINGING THROUGH THE FOREST LIKE TARZAN AND HARRISON FORD ACTING LIKE A TIRED OLD MAN, THIS MOVIE DEFINITELY DID NOT DELIVER. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT STUPID ASS WATERFALL SCENE ALL ABOUT? COME ON PEOPLE, CAN'T YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER THAN A HALF-ASS UNBELIEVABLY BAD TRIPLE WATERFALL SCENE? YOU GUYS ALREADY DID THAT IN TEMPLE OF DOOM! SHIT GUYS, GET ON THE BALL!!! WHAT ABOUT USING THE SAME OVERSTERTCHED ALIENS AGAIN FROM A.I., AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. BOTTOM LINE... BAD DIALOGUE, POOR STORY, AND FORCED ACTING FROM THE MAIN CAST. (AND WHY BRING KAREN ALLEN BACK IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO GIVE HER A FEW LINES AND A WATERED DOWN PLOT?) WHAT HORSE SHIT THIS WAS! I WANT MY MONEY BACK FROM THESE SNAKE OIL SALESMEN! SHAME ON BOTH OF YOU FOR RELEASING THIS ABORTION OF A MOVIE. NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING AS GOOD AS THE FIRST THREE. REST IN PEACE INDY! PLEASE PEOPLE, SEND A MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT QUALITY ONCE AGAIN FROM HOLLYWOOD, AND WAIT FOR CABLE TO SEE THIS ONE. INSTEAD, GO SEE IRONMAN AGAIN.
Call me Frank, scotsman75
by Franklin T Marmoset
May 22nd, 2008
11:22:21 AM
I'm starting to like you.

Is there any chance you look like Rob Lowe?

I liked it... it is what it is...
by sfgeek
May 22nd, 2008
11:25:14 AM
Overall... stellar ride... fun and enjoyable. I could nitpick, complain and have a shitty attitude towards it, but I chose the high road (or what I think to be the high road) and just took it for what it was. Fun. I remember watching Crusade in the theatre when it came out in 89' and I truly felt the same excitement last night, 19 years later. It is nice to have the same feelings towards an iconic figure when you're 11 and 30. Pretty cool. Worst thing about it: Shia swinging from the vines. Best thing: the whole alien story line and seeing the alien at the end zap Cate to smithereens. I love how Steve does aliens. I wish it would hey talked, but hey, I'll take what I can get. I also loved all the chase scenes... just cool, fun loving Indiana adventuring. Like I said, 11 or 30, the same reaction, that is a good sign. So overall... 8 and 1/2 out of 10. Could use some script polishing and less cheesiness, but damn, it was fun.
Don't get the Iron Man love
by BusDriverStu
May 22nd, 2008
11:26:17 AM
Honestly, I enjoyed Iron Man, but I was just as entertained if not more, by Indy 4. There isn't one action scene in Iron Man that holds a candle to some of the pieces in Indy. At least I can tell what's going on when Spielberg directs action. And BOTH films had pretty flimsy plots.
Good point, Orionsangels
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
11:26:26 AM
There are some incredibly bad and dated FX shots in the first three films. CGI may not be perfect but for some of the larger shots, it gets the job done much, much better.
Fuck you very much, Mr Spielberg.
by Laserbrain
May 22nd, 2008
11:26:41 AM
Man, I don't even have the energy to list all the flaws but, suffice it to say, I found the first half hour or so to be actually fairly entertaining but everything after Marshall College was pretty much a shambles. ______ Too many characters jostling for screen time with Indy. Too much droning esoteric exposition. A lack of clarity in regard to the Skull's power. (Couldn't Splako have used it to amplify her mind control abilities? Actually demonstrate what the Commies would do had they the power of the Temple at their disposal?) Worst of all, an overall lack of tension and suspense. In the other films Jones makes a point to AVOID deadly perils like the whirring propeller, rock crusher or encroaching cliff edge. A massive waterfall ought to prove just as dangerous but no attempt is made to wring tension out of characters trying to avoid almost certain death under a thousand tonnes of crashing water. There's not even a moment of uncertainty in the aftermath that any of the heroes survived the plunge - nope, they just pull themselves up like they've been dunked in a kiddie pool. The Alien aspect of the plot could have worked if any screenwriter worth a damn were allowed to massage the idea into something even halfway coherent. _________ Sure, there were minor pleasures here and there - cute character moments, occasionally good action beats - but way too many missed opportunities for this film to be considered anything other than a genuine blight on the series.______ I expect this lackadaisical bullshit from Lucas but I've always thought better of Spielberg. Sadly, not anymore. Most powerful director in Hollywood couldn't find ONE decent writer to pull this mess together? What a shoddy, embarrassing spectacle. And I thought I'd only be saying good bye to one hero tonight.
Indy IV rocks
by vadakinX
May 22nd, 2008
11:27:48 AM
A lot of you will hate the last 20 minutes. That will divide people more than anything. But for me, it was fun...more fun than Iron man, which I really enjoyed. They are supposed to be fun movie serial adventures...and that's exactly what they are and what Indy IV is.

It's also nice not to have to deal with constant quick cuts and shaky cam in action scenes.

The more I think about it, the more I like it.
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
11:33:02 AM
They could have done a by-the-numbers Indy flick but the Beards went to a different place with an older Indy and his patchwork family. There is still plenty of Indy moments present but they certainly set this up to be his last outing, as evidenced by his promotion to Assistant Dean at the end of the film. The guy's finally getting married and settling down and I can imagine him at his desk with the Fedora and Bullwhip hanging in the background. It was a solid end to a truly great franchise. I look forward to seeing it again.
Try to keep a level head, haters
by Abominable Snowcone
May 22nd, 2008
11:38:32 AM
No, I didn't think it was GREAT cinema. It doesn't hold a candle to Raiders. The story is choppy and farfetched. But it IS a lot of fun, and brings Indy full circle in terms of family and career. Yes, I had problems with it (see my review above) similar to the ones already expressed here so many times. But this was a FUN popcorn flick, and I don't think people should be so ready to piss all over it, because for me the faults (even if there is a grocery list of 'em) weren't enough to ruin the joyride. People SHOULD go see this at the theater. You'll be sorry if you don't, because all the good things about it won't seem as fun on your TV. I'm going again tonight with my daughter.

Last time I checked, it had a fresh rating of 80 on RT. While I wouldn't give it quite that high a rating, I am not among those who flat-out say it SUCKED, because that's not true either. Yackbacker summed up a lot of thoughts in his earlier post.

Raiders it is not
by badbart43
May 22nd, 2008
11:40:01 AM
Anyone who goes into this movie expecting to see Raiders is a complete and total idiot!! Raiders is one of the best movies ever made. Period. No sequel can ever top it. Period.
I want more
by vadakinX
May 22nd, 2008
11:40:25 AM
I want another trilogy...seriously...and not a Mutt trilogy...he can be in them, in fact Shia was good in Indy IV, but I want more Indy movies.

It got me thinking actually...about Han Solo....I'd love to see Ford do a movie about Han...NOT a sequel trilogy with Luke and the gang, just a once off, with Han, Lando and Chewie, going off to help an old friend or something.

Maybe have a cameo from Carrie Fisher at the start. But have the focus of the movie be on an older Han...an older Han Solo spin off. And Chewie still alive dammit.

Indy IV has convinced me that it could work Granted it would never happen, and if it did, Lucas would have to step back and let someone else write and direct...but it could be awesome

To all the dilweeds...
by jfp2007
May 22nd, 2008
11:41:09 AM
There are aliens and flying saucers in the movie because it's set in the goddamn 1950s. You know....the decade when all of those cheeseball scifi films came out. Spielberg intentionally included them because of this you dilweeds!!! And, the non-practical special effects in the original 3 movies were horrible. Absolute crap. Go and watch them again. Lots of obvious matte paintings, cutouts, and poorly composited blue screen garbage (the Nazi falling off the cliff in a tank is a classic example).
Farfetched...
by jfp2007
May 22nd, 2008
11:43:01 AM
This is farfetched, yet Raiders wasn't? They're all farfetched and they're supposed to be. That's the entire fucking goddamn point. And, someone said this is a great end to a great franchise. It ain't over yet. Indy 5 is on the way.
My review from a big fan
by mastes360
May 22nd, 2008
11:45:28 AM
It was a good, sometimes very good but not great film. I'll start with the positives. Harrison Ford is Indy, when he's in his Indy gear he looks almost as good as in Last Crusade! (he looks a little old in his professor gear though). He is also in a quite brutal fist fight with a big old Russian and its amazing the way he can still fight like he does, its a realy good (but short) fight scene. The look of the film also has that same picture quality as the other films, even some of the cgi has a grainy look to it and it does help it fit in with the other films. Shia.......i have to admit is pretty good in this, he has some good action scenes and fight scenes (probably more than Indy ) and his banter with Ford is good and fun. He acts tough but also vulnerable at times but he backs up his tough image quite a few times in the film, all in all i though he was a welcome addition to the film. I have seen a lot of reviewers say that its a shame about the amount of shooting on sets but i liked the fact that they actually built proper temples and ruins rather than have all green screen crap and it made the film a lot more atmospheric. As for the action, well there is quite a lot in this, the opening warehouse scene is probably the best of the film and has Indy performing some good stunts (d**n the way he climbs those crates at his age!) all while the Indy theme is playing. The Shia/Ford bike chase is quite exciting as it has a lot of close, swooping shots and it did get the adrenaline pumping a bit, it was also quite funny in places. The jungle chase is good in parts but it lasts probably a little too long. And the ant attack is very well done imo, the ants look suprisingly real and in the middle of the ant scene is that big fight between Indy and the Russian which like i said is very brutal but is arguably the best fightin the series (for how its shot and looks) but is a bit short. And now the negatives. Apart from some of the dialogue between Mutt and Indy, most of it is quite bad, the arguments between Indy and Marion (scenes that a lot of reviewers said were good) were so forced it was actually cringe worthy at times, Indy also acts a little bit goofy in these scenes and the way Indy acts when he first sees Marion is laughably bad imo. There isn't as many one liners in the script as well and some of the dialogue just seemed like 'painting by numbers' if you know what i mean. The film has some great effects (the mushroom cloud, the ufo, waterfalls etc) but the jungle chase looks realy bad in places, the sword fight between Shia and Blanchett looks god awful and honestly takes you out of the scene (i'm pretty sure though that it will look a lot better on the small screen). The ending in the main temple didn't realy make sense, you never know why whats happening is happening and if you don't agree with the Sci-Fi element of this film, you probably won't enjoy it as much as the others because there are a lot of alien related scenes through the whole movie (it doesn't realy bother me though) and i was under the impression that it was mostly all at the end. Indy as great as he is in some scenes, takes a back seat in a lot of the big action, he jumps on a jeap and kicks some Russain arse (jungle scene) but then just drives the jeap for the rest of the scene while Mutt does most of the action, that also happens in some of the other action scenes as well. The atomic bomb/fridge scene is bad!, the fridge gets thrown about a mile in the air then crashes down and bounces vilantly many times, Indy just crawls out and shakes his head in front of the prarie dogs (obviously Lucas inspired!), most of the whole scene is great but that ending caused a few laughs in the cinema. The Mutt swinging through the trees with hundreds of monkeys wasn't actually that bad, he's stuck up a tree with vines all around him, hell i would try and swing through if i was him!, the problem with the scene is how fake it looks and i just don't see what the point of the monkeys were (apart from attacking Blanchett and her goons). Like i said about some of the dialogue, a lot of the action and scenes just feel very forced and a bit sterile, the fun is still there and some of the action is thrilling but for every good scene, there is a bad scene or another Lucas moment. I don't hate Lucas like some but a lot of the dumb scenes don't realy belong in a Indiana Jones film. The music is also average, there is not many of those sweeping, epic sounding pieces of music like the other films and i honestly only remember the Indy theme TWICE in the whole movie (warehouse and part of the jungle chase) and its a shame as Indy being Indy while the theme is blaring out always got my blood racing!. And the last problem i had (off the top of my head) was one that i have not seen mentioned in any of the reviews or by anyone who has seen the film suprisingly and thats the fact that NEVER once in the film does Indy use or even HAVE a gun , i know he only used it at the start of DOOM but thats because Willie dropped it out of the car, its used a few times in Raiders and Crusade but he doesn't even have the gun holder on him in this, it just didn't feel right without Indy at least using it a couple of times (even if he only used it once in a scene similar to Raiders with the swordsman) and it dissapointed me. So overall i liked the film better than Crusade (i'm one of those fans who prefer Doom to Crusade) and it certainly is worthy of the series and its def a fun filled ride that hits a lot of the 'spots' that is required for a Indy/summer film. 7.5 out of 10 I rate the films in order as 1. Raiders. 2. Doom. 3. Crystal Skull. 4. Crusade. EDIT: I forgot to mention that apart from the big Russian who gets killed by the ants, i don't remember ANYONE actually getting killed in this film, certainly not by Indy, i could be wrong as its been a few hours since i have seen it but the film certainly isn't like the others in the death counts!.
lol
by mastes360
May 22nd, 2008
11:47:08 AM
Sorry for the whole paragraph look of my review but i 'cut and pasted' my review from another site i posted it on but it hasn't come out the same on here!.
Earlier I wrote a mildly positive review.
by greenstyle92
May 22nd, 2008
11:47:29 AM
But you know, looking at the talk backs, it's hard. I see all the complaints, and I find myself saying, "Yeah, that's true. that's very true. God how true." The only thing I can say is that the fridge scene didn't bother me and the Shia monkeys didn't bother me as much as it did most of you. But yeah, it really is kinda slow and boring and really talky. I like that some one said the Alien was an asshole who mind raped cate...
Just got back from seeing it... and it IS that bad.
by V'Shael
May 22nd, 2008
11:48:03 AM
Fuck them anyway, they got my couple of bucks. But DAMN, this website is a WAY too forgiving.

Maybe when 2008 comes to a close, and they have some distance, some of the better reviewers here will admit that this movie did NOT deliver.

How can anyone not be entertained by this movie?
by messi
May 22nd, 2008
11:48:13 AM
I don't get how no one could just enjoy it, enjoy a movie like they were when they were kids. I hate film geeks. It's as fun as the other movies. You guys forget why you watched movies as a kid in the first place? To pass time, enjoy something. Fucking hell.
I'm the biggest Indy fan of all. And my disappointment was HUGE
by starwarrior
May 22nd, 2008
11:50:54 AM
I've seen al three originals at least 50 times each. What I saw was NOT Indiana Jones. It felt like a lesser director took over the franchise (a la Die Hard 4, Terminator 3, etc...). Since Schindler's List, Spielbertg has been incapable of coming even close to his fun blockbusters from the 70's to the early 90's (up t Jurassic Park). He's now better with (and obviously much more interested in) darker stuff and his blockbusters are better dark (Minority Report).

Leave the fun stuff to his successors Peter Jackson, Gore Verbinski and Michael Bay...
RE: tank fall over the cliff in Crusade. Fake!
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
11:52:14 AM
Each cut on the way down the tank looks different. Crusade was a low point for ILM in my book. I remember ripping on that one at the time. I've worked on stuff and now know that sometimes you get stuck with FXs that go out because its show-time. Sure we could wait another year while ILM renders more detail into the monkey fur and some guy writes a program so the shadows from the leaves pass over the monkeys fur in a more photo-realistic way. All of the CGI animal footage is only a few minutes in a 2 hour movie, not enough to ruin the movie. Even Shia swinging from the vines didn't do it because they held back and didn't use the TARZAN yell . They used it in STAR WARS so I was surprised they didn't go there this time during the swinging ( I wonder if there was a fight to add the yell? ) The Crystal skull could of been controlling the monkeys and Mutt as it was controlling the ants in the movie so again that scene was not that crazy.
INDIANA JONES and the TALKBACK OF DOOM
by JDanielP
May 22nd, 2008
11:54:55 AM
I'd say that most people would be in agreement that...this flick needed a touch more of a "RAIDERS" tone. To capture (on screen) a more desperate tone/motivation for these characters, pushing them along and causing a ripple effect in the action (with lives feeling "more convincingly" at stake), making every scene feel more driven and a little more real, would have done wonders (overall). I'm (also) surprised that Spielberg and Lucas allowed an Indiana Jones story that would "demand" the extensive use of CGI and blue/green screen, because (I'm in agreement that) this series should have continued the practical techniques of the previous Indiana Jones movies, though the story (itself) also demanded CGI. (To me, that convincing look is part of capturing that Indian Jones vibe.) It really is all too easy to sit here and judge this, in hindsight. But for future (digital) filmmakers, this must be a healthy thing to do (assuming you don't get swept up in all the hate). And sure, it would (seem to) be all too easy to re-write this same story (yes, with aliens) into something you would much rather see. Sure, it would be fun to see Mutt as a reflection of young Indy (in a different time). Sure, it would be fun to witness Mutt trying to fight and getting his ass kicked while Indiana is trying to better Mutt's technique (or un-technique). And who wouldn't wanna see Marion eyeball a frying pan and recreate that magic DING, as she cracks some unlucky soul over the head (maybe even Indy)? My point is, yes, this could have been a GREAT movie. It could have been bursting with laughs and exciting action, perhaps (near impossibly) eclipsing the best of what the series has offered. What we got, instead, was simply a chance to relax, revisit, and remember characters we have such fond memories of,...while being introduced to a new character, potentially continuing the series in a new direction. In any case, if you keep your expectations low, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised...just enough.
Why was the Basic Instinct theme song in there?
by neal2zod
May 22nd, 2008
11:55:25 AM
Anyone else notice how similar the music was to Basic Instinct? And yes, when i'm spending my time in the theatre thinking about the score, you know it's a boring movie. Phantom Menace-level exposition. Terrible dialogue, flatly delivered ("I never should have doubted you, my old friend") An impenetrable plot. Action scenes that are just too stupid (Think Die Another Day-level stupid). So sad to see a freaking Indiana Jones movie rip off plot points from Alien vs. Predator (the aliens taught the mayans farming?), Broken Arrow (let me tie my shoe so the guy behind me can shoot you) and The XFiles movie (ancient ruins house spaceship that lifts off). Just terrible. If you would have told me 10 years ago that Rocky 6 or Rambo 4 would be better than Indy 4 or Die Hard 4, i'd have shat in your face. But goddamn if it isn't true.
Pacing was better than Raiders
by messi
May 22nd, 2008
11:57:55 AM
take that film geek.
If it wasn't called "Iniana Jones" you defenders would HATE it!
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
11:57:58 AM


If you took the exact same script, same effects, same direction, same EVERYTHING, but it was not an "Indiana Jones" film, but rather a new or different franchise, no one would be nearly as forgiving or accepting of it.


Ok, I'll post my review
by vadakinX
May 22nd, 2008
11:57:59 AM
I walked out of the cinema barely an hour ago, and walked up three hills to get home. All the while I was thinking of how I'm going to review this. A lot of the reviews I've seen have started with the reviewer stating which is their favourite of the previous three films. Most tend to say Raiders and then it's a toss up between Temple and Crusade for second place, depending on the reviewers preference for lighter or darker films.

I'm not going to do that. Instead I will say that the previous three Indy films are old school adventure movies. They have humour, suspense, drama, romance, action, mystery, a few scares and overall, are just fun movies. Kind of like Star Wars actually. And Indy 4 is no different. I have to say though, I both love and hate temple of Doom...that movie gave me nightmares as a kid. But it's freaky awesome.

But enough about the previous films, you want to know how bad Shia sucked and what scenes Lucas ruined, right?

Well there are two downright silly scenes in the movie, one involving an explosion and the other involving monkeys. Trust me, you'll know them when you see them. But you can't blame Lucas for that, sorry. He came up with the idea for the film, but it was Koepp who wrote the script and Spielberg who directed. But don't blame anyone, just watch, have a laugh and move on to the next scene.

As for Shia...sorry to disappoint you, but he was good in this movie. My problem with Shia is that he always tends to play the hyperactive teenager who is constantly making jokes and acting jittery. He is the live action Jar Jar.

But in this film, he is great...and I mean that. The guy can act, he's funny without being over the top and he's a great addition to the "mythology" along with Short Round, Marion and of course, Henry Sr.

Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood has some great lines with Ford and she still has that smile that would make you fall in love with her while knowing if you cross her, she'll punch you in the face. My only problem was that there wasn't more of Marion at her spunky best.

The rest of the cast fill their roles well, Blanchett is a little weird but that's ok. This is a film set during the Cold War, at the height of paranoia...her character fits well into that idea. Winstone's character was wasted a little, I felt more could be done with him, and Hurt does a good job with his role even if he is out of it for most of the movie.

and then there's Ford....Harrison "you can type this s*** but you can't say it" Ford. He's older, and Indy is older and when you watch the movie, you know he's had a life in the last 20 years. He's had ups and downs, he's fought in wars, he's loved and lost and loved again. We might not have seen Indy for a while, but he's been around. And frankly, when you see Ford for the first time, he is Indiana Jones. Perhaps it would have been good to go into a little more depth with Indy's advancing years, but this isn't Rocky Balboa. It's not a swan song. It's not Indy saying goodbye. It's Indy doing what he's always done. Getting into trouble and getting out of it again.

He probably doesn't get hurt as much as he used to, which is a shame...even if he is an old man But a crack of the whip is all you need to be transported back...the an can still do it when he cares enough.

In fact, it would never happen, but I'd love to see him as an older Han Solo...not a Star Wars sequel trilogy, just a once off movie about Han.

Indy 4 is a throwback to the B movies of the 50s and you certainly feel that more towards the end. There are certain things that had me geeking out as a fan of certain subject covered in the film. Which reminds me...there's a lot of archeology talk in this one. Moreso than even Last Crusade. It's not a bad thing, but it might annoy the Church Of Bay...the ones who don't follow plots as they find them boring and take up valuable time that could be used for needless action.

The movie is also a throwback to the 80's, and specifically, Spielberg's early career. There's a Close Encounters feel to some of it, a Jaws feel in some parts, Duel in others and of course, an Indy movie feel to it. It's nice to see actions shots that are more than half a second long and don't involve close up shaky cam.

Spielberg shows you the action, he lets you soak it in and thank God for that, because there is some great action in this film. The likes of Bay and Greengrass need to watch this film...this is how you shoot action. Not with camera tricks, shaky cam and quick cuts ever half second...you just set the camera up and shoot. It's simple, it works and it's great.

The climax of the film will go over the heads of those who weren't paying attention and the subject matter may divide fans...but it's no less plausible than the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant (look out for that by the way). But I love that kind of stuff...so there :P

As I said at the beginning, Indy movies are fun adventure stories. People have said that Crystal Skull is similar in tone to Last Crusade...it certainly has a lot of humour, but there are elements of Temple of Doom and Raiders there as well.

It looks like an Indy movie...it acts like an Indy movie...it feels like an Indy movie...and dammit it is an Indy movie. And a damn good one

It's not perfect. there are two outrageous scenes and a lot of people won't like the last 20 minutes, although I did. There were a couple of loose ends left over, probably scenes that were cut for pace. I also think it's a movie you will have to see twice. There are things you will miss the first time around.

As a sidenote, it's nice to have some references and continuity with the Young Indy series...you may not register them, but they are there.

Now I suppose I have to give this movie a score...this is going to be a problem. I gave Iron Man an 8 out of 10....on second viewing I think it's a 7...and to be honest, I liked Indy IV more.

You'll notice that I haven't talked about the plot throughout the review...that's because I don't need to. And you don't need to know what it is. all you need to know is that it's Indiana Jones...now go have fun. Oh and the score from Williams is great as always.

In fact, I want another Indy movie...I want another trilogy in fact. More Indiana Jones adventures.

8/10

Not perfect...but it's a great FUN movie.

One line is worth the price of admission alone....
by togmeister
May 22nd, 2008
11:59:45 AM
......Harrison Ford saying 'I have a baaad feeling about this' one last time.
Neal2Zod : Rocky 6 and Rambo 4...
by V'Shael
May 22nd, 2008
12:00:03 PM
were written with real heart and intent. They both had something to say.

Indy 4 was a total money grab.

Take 2: If it wasn't called INDIANA JONES you defenders would ha
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
12:00:50 PM
When will this archaic site add an "edit post" option? AICN is still stuck in the 90's.


If you took the exact same script, same effects, same direction, same EVERYTHING, but it was not an "Indiana Jones" film, but rather a new or different franchise, no one would be nearly as forgiving or accepting of it.


How much hate and bile this TB has!
by Gilkuliehe
May 22nd, 2008
12:01:35 PM
What the hell, people?!
This actually isn't a criticism
by darthvedder81
May 22nd, 2008
12:01:43 PM
Did anyone detect an old-school Lucasarts game vibe in this? KOTCS felt kind of like one of those adventure games to me (which is a compliment since they are/were some of the most creative and interesting games I've ever played). I mean that duel between Mutt and Spalko was straight out of "Monkey Island" (not too mention all the monkeys!).
Does it feel like Indy?
by Soccerking84
May 22nd, 2008
12:04:25 PM
My question going into the film would be if it felt like I was watching an Indiana Jones film or not. If that answer was a yes, then I would say the movie was right up there with the rest of them. And with the opening sequence to the ancient ruins in Peru, the movie felt very much like an Indiana Jones film. I felt the same way I did in 1989 watching "The Last Crusade". To me, and since Hollywood has gotten nostalgic on us, these kickstarted franchises from the 70's and 80's really need to have the feel of what made them so successful. "Rocky Balboa" and "Rambo" both felt like you were actually watching the previous installments."Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" succeeded as well. It's foolish to expect it to be as good as "Raiders", just like it was foolish to expect Star Wars I and II to be as good as IV,V,VI. Episode III finally recaptured that feeling you had when watching Star Wars and it stands as one of the best. Am I in favor of a 5th Indy? Probably not. Just the fact that this movie captured the feeling Indiana Jones brings with the nonstop suspense and action was good enough for me. By the way, if there is a 5th, myself, and millions of others will undoubtedly go see it. Franchises with that drawing power do not make "bad" movies.
V'Shael - Rambo 4 had NOTHING to say
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
12:06:07 PM
believe Stallone's spin all you want, but that thread-bare plot was nothing but an excuse to string together as many of the bloodiest, goriest kills as they could fit into the movie. Over-the-top to a LAUGHABLE point. It was fun bloody action, but don't go acting like it was deep and poignant. It most certainly was not.
One of the worst films I've ever seen...
by sweven1978
May 22nd, 2008
12:08:15 PM
Hey guys, just wanted to vent a little here. I'm a HUGE fan of ALL the originals; I like them all almost equally and I went intolast night's late-night screening with me expectations pretty low per some of the bad reviews I had read. It was so bad Spielberg should be ashamed of himself. Did he even direct this??? I'm still in shock a little bit...from Indy walking around amongst manequins, to the clunky, forced dialogue, this was not an indiana jones movie --- plain and simple. The *ONLY* time I smiled was during some parts of the chase through the school --- specifically, when jones was climbing in and out of the backseat of that other vehicle, back in the cycle -- that part was probably the only real worthy moment for me. Other than that...this movie seemed like Spielberg directed it at gunpoint by lucas. I thought the star wars prequels were better than this -- and I HATED those. Sorry this sounds so negative, but I just can't believe the movie I saw last night. In a few months, I think most of us will agree, if it even takes that long. Do you really want to go see that again over and over like you did withthe originals? Bleh.
David Koepp, you should be ashamed.
by TooWhippy
May 22nd, 2008
12:10:23 PM
What lazy storytelling. Your only defense is that George made you write that. I know that a dozen writers had a crack at the script but It was your name I saw on the opening credits.
IndustryKiller - A dare's a dare...
by Pawprint
May 22nd, 2008
12:11:04 PM
I consider you arrogant because you are guilty of seeing 'the public' as a monolithic entity. People want to go to the cinema to be entertained, on the whole - there are plenty of quality 'popcorn films' out there that don't require the viewer to search for hidden meaning or subtext. Hardly ANY film stands up to seriously determined nitpicking, and most 'popcorn films' require a level of suspension of disbelief.

Look at all the poorly-rated films that have raked in disproportionate amounts at the box-office; are you seriously telling us to believe that this is because 'the public' has no taste? Or is it more likely that people went to see something on the strength of a trailer and thought, "That looks good - I'll go and see that with my girlfriend", or someone else told them it was really good and they should see it? How about kids persuading their parents to take them to see ultimately shit films? How about the casual moviegoer who just decides to catch a film on a whim? To suggest that people are one monolithic brainwashed mass who will just go any watch any old shite IS arrogance.

Let me put it like this; if I order something from a menu on a whim, based solely on a picture of the dish and I don't like the meal, does this mean I lack 'taste'? The restaurant still gets my money - does this make me worthy of scorn? Because I took a gamble and tried something new, or didn't research the Restaurant thouroughly for six months prior to going?

Argument refuted.

RE:NEVER once in the film does Indy use or even HAVE a gun
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
12:16:36 PM
mastes360, He had a gun in the warehouse but he was doubled crossed before he could use it to kill Cate. He shot a RPG at a truck so that is like a BIG gun. He shot a dart and killed a native.
Test of time: 1 Month (if that)
by sweven1978
May 22nd, 2008
12:17:05 PM
The fact is that this is a truly terrible film and I GUARANTEE that it will not withstand the test of time. I give it a month --- if that. I thought National Treasure was FAR better than this piece of crap on film. I'm sorry I'm writing this...but I cannot BELIEVE that I actually thought about walking out of an indiana jones movie. I've only actually walked out of one movie in my life.
sweven1978, in a few months, people will like it even more
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
12:19:11 PM
Once you get past the initial shock that they aren't trying to make a carbon copy of Raiders and accept that the film is telling a different kind of story in a different period of Indy's long and exciting life, the movie really begins to grow on you. If all you want is Raiders 2008, just watch the original. This was an older Indy in an entirely different era and I think most of it worked pretty well.
if you thought this was good u r an ass clown
by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG
May 22nd, 2008
12:19:46 PM
this was a tottally half assed movie...on all fronts. the quicksand snake scene? ughhh horrible. most everything was wrong... except for a ^few^ parts.
I honestly can't believe the hate.
by Gilkuliehe
May 22nd, 2008
12:22:36 PM
"The worst movie I've ever seen"?? Seriously? Bay better than Spielberg doing this? "Unspeakably horrific"? Sweet fuckin' Christ I feel like Charlton Heston in the Planet of the Apes. It's a MAAAD HOUSE! A MAAAAD HOUSE!
LastCleric
by sweven1978
May 22nd, 2008
12:23:53 PM
TheLastCleric, I'm not a RAIDER's purest at all. All I wanted was something inline with the originals. This was just plain horrible.
This is why fanboys/this site are growing to be so easily ignore
by Arteska
May 22nd, 2008
12:24:22 PM
I'm completely convinced that this site has helped us "fans" get some of the kind of movies we want to see made and even made how we want them to be. That said, every time I come here and see this type of premeditated wailing I just shake my head and get depressed over the fact that what little input users have had conjured here is that much more easily discounted by Hollywood every day. I feel sorry for Harry and the crew over the state of the typical talkback anymore. There might have been a time when the talkbacks were the life of the site but they are its biggest detriment now. As for IndyIV - if you accept that they took the pulp roots that formed the approach to the character and his setting and bring that sensibility to the same kind of material made/evocative of 19 years later it's very easy to enjoy this movie. People bagging on this movie so harshly and for the reasons they do miss its intent for existing in the first place to a staggering degree. You dummies need to stop breaking down trailers like the Zapruder film and going into movies with your knife drawn - waiting to be betrayed. Most people that haven't been obsessed with deconstructing this movie before they saw it will enjoy it just fine and if you can accept the outlandish things in the previous entries but not this one then you are just bitter because you can be. Have a happy summer.
If you can't spell out words you're a fucking idiot.
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
12:24:28 PM
Just a thought.
I miss the Nazis!
by TooWhippy
May 22nd, 2008
12:25:02 PM
The Russians are just not that strong of a villan.
I Give up on Harry and this site's "reviews"
by maroon
May 22nd, 2008
12:26:30 PM
Now that I have seen the latest Spielberg, Lucas, Ford concoction, I dread the following words. Why? Well, because I really only have one thing to say about this film and I'm simply not confident I can stretch that one thing out into a substantive review. But I'll try. To call this movie a piece of shit would imply that it had purpose, structure, and substance. It doesn't. It aspires to be a piece of shit. In fact, despite its aspirations, it is still miles from seeing where it would have to get to be close to becoming a piece of shit. The story is completely incomprehensible. The special effects are laughably bad. To say that Harrison Ford "mails in" his performance would be a profound understatement. If in fact you put Harrison Ford's performance in a box and dropped it for delivery by the US Postal Service, their scanning devices would separate it from the rest of the packages, take it to the parking lot, call the local bomb squad and instruct their remote control bomb detonating robot to blow up the package. That it took twenty years to make a new Indiana Jones movie, and this is the one they came up with, causes me to suspect that Spielberg and Lucas have been killed and replaced by aliens. This movie had all the heart, nuance, and charm of a colonoscopy. Yes, of course you are glad that someone is there to provide that service, but given the opportunity to go your entire life without having to go through one would be just fine and dandy. I saw this movie with half a bottle of wine in me and I still thought it was a godawful shitty mess. There are getting hit in the nuts jokes (a telling sign of a comedy in trouble), there are three prairie dog jokes in the first ten minutes (I thought I was watching fucking Caddyshack), Indiana Jones survives a nuclear blast without a scratch by getting in a refrigerator that tumbles violently for hundreds of yards from the shockwave's explosion. The house that the refrigerator was in, in fact the entire town that the refrigerator was in, is completely annihilated. But not Indiana and his fridge. After he opens the fridge he looks up to view the mushroom cloud of the nuclear bomb (which of course looks like CG shit), then is miraculously saved by the US government who give him a shower and save him from radiation poisoning. A fucking SHOWER! This also happens in the first ten minutes of the film. There is the magical skull that scares ants, why John Hurt’s character even thought to use the skull to scare the ants makes no sense but who cares right? We also have Shia discovering his inate ability to swing across a jungle on a vine and to do so with such skill and dexterity as to enter the driving compartment of a jeep going . . .what 50mph? Oh, did I mention Marion’s ability to drive a car off a cliff, onto a tree that has just enough tensile strength to lower the car softly on to the water and yet snap back to knock people of a ledge hundreds of feet above? WTF? That Harry or any other "writer" on this site gives this movie any praise should shame them to their dying day. I understand they have to kiss ass to get access, but sometimes, you have to say, "the fucking emperor has no clothes." Pedigree matters. Spielberg and Lucas are too talented, have too many resources, and too much time to put crap like this on screen. That they have staffers and production partners who don't take them in a back room and smack them in the face and say, "You are better than this crap you are throwing on screen" is simply tragic. Steven, George, all those people who laugh at all your jokes and say yes to all of your ideas are terrible to have in the room. Fire them. Hire some people who can confidently disagree with you once in a while. You will make better movies for it. If this were the Mummy 3, directed by Sommers I would still think it was awful, but it would fit in that realm. That this movie is now part of the Indiana Jones world mars the series. This movie is awful. Anyone who loves movies should have the balls to say it sucks a level of ass previously untouched by the likes of this crew of filmmakers. This is about as much an Indian Jones movie as the Bridges of Madison County would be if you put a bullwhip and fedora on Eastwood's head and had him introduce himself as Indiana. This movie is a joke. That it is yet another well below par blockbuster that this site takes under its wing and justifies and defends disappoints me to no end. Where the hell do we go for people with the guts to say movies, even those made by industry titans . . . suck?
LastCleric
by sweven1978
May 22nd, 2008
12:27:43 PM
You give me one example of how ANY scenes from the originals matched the horrible scenes from this movie: The Brady Bunch-like corny family reunion; Shia swigning from vines for 2 nminutes like tarzan with an army of cgi monkeys following him (WHY?) then attacking russians; an over-the-top cheeseball WEDDING SEQUENCE? And what's with that kiss? They looked like they were leaning in to pech each other like brother and sister. That's just a few right off the top of my head...yuck.
Horrible? Not so much.
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
12:30:59 PM
Hyperbole bores me and calling this "One of the worst films you've ever seen" doesn't exactly strike me as a balanced opinion. It's impossible to completely allign this film with the previous movies because of the era and the character's age. It's a different kind of Indy (and technically, they've all been different in some ways) but the quality is there. If you didn't like the film that's your choice but claiming we are all going to change our collective minds in a few months is ridiculous. I'm a pretty smart guy and I can make up my own mind, thank you very much. Sorry the film didn't work for you.
Franklin,
by mrfan
May 22nd, 2008
12:31:21 PM
the crabs comment was directed toward scotchtapeman75 or whatever his name is.
Sort of a let down
by tylermo
May 22nd, 2008
12:31:32 PM
Caught the midnight show, and I was a little under-whelmed. I saw all of the originals in the theater, and loved them. Particularly, ROTLA. All of that said, something didn't smell quite right with the new film. Ford didn't feel quite right in the role any more. Not sure if it's slightly aged voice, Spielberg's directing, the script, or what. Don't get me wrong, he was more often better than not. Shia was a pleasant surprise, and not as annoying as most predicted. Save for the monkey vines, and Brando moments. Winstone and Hurt...not much to do. ANd, Allen? Well, it was a blessing and a curse having her back. The blessing was bringing those two characters back together, but the curse was the insurmountable task of trying to recapture the old chemistry. She was passable, but underused. Biggest problem for me, is that the film was (and due to Ford's age) had to be taken out of the 30's. Even the 40's before the end of WWII would have been good. Mind you, I've got nothing against 50's schlock sci-fi, but it's too out of place in a Jones film. The Russians, including Blanchet, were alright. But, I miss those religious/historical artifacts. There was just two much down time in the middle (to talk about the skulls,etc.) ANd, a flying saucer just doesn't do it for me in an Indy film. The movie felt 1950's, but needed to be an earlier, more appropriate time period. If only they could have done a fourth film during the early to mid-90's. That might have worked. IF it needed to be filmed at all. That said, I still enjoyed some of the film. Ford felt mostly right. Liked the motorcycle chase, the diner fight, and a few other scenes. On a final note, I see people are trashing Lucas once again. I suppose we do have him to blame for the story, but as for low-key performances(including Ford)we have either the script and/or, the actors, or the Berg to blame. Lucas was on the set for maybe 3 or 4 days, and didn't direct these actors. It's just like people who wanted to trash Jake Lloyd's performance in TPM, and totally overlooked that Natalie Portman pretty much sucked, as well. Oh well. Not here to bash George, Harrison, or Spielberg. I'll be seeing the movie again, even though it's initially a 6 out of 10 for me. I hoped it would be maybe 3rd out of the 4 movies, but it's not. Just as I hoped Revenge of the Sith would be maybe as good as my least favorite original, ROTJ. Somethings were better, but in the end the actors still weren't full of energy, even compared to Jedi. So, as it stands. 1. Raiders 2. Temple 3. Crusade 4. KOTCS
AICN = Has-been Website owned by an bloated Ginger.
by Jeditemple
May 22nd, 2008
12:32:32 PM
Nobody cares what Harry or this website has to say. This movie opens on a FOUR DAY WEEKEND folks. It's going to freakin' kill at the box office.
Shia knocked me out!
by DANNYGLOVERS-DICKBLOODS
May 22nd, 2008
12:34:57 PM
OMG! He was so great! Handsome, funny, and just an incredible actor! I wish he could be in every movie!
H * O * R * R * I * B * L * E
by darebear
May 22nd, 2008
12:35:23 PM
Spielberg and Lucas think they are geniuses, and that any random writer is just as good as the next. Until Spielberg and Lucas acknowledge that Lawrence Kasdan's contribution was the reason why Raiders was so awesome, neither of them will ever make a good movie again.
Another Indy moment worth treasuring...
by togmeister
May 22nd, 2008
12:35:53 PM
'Eventually they're going to take these shackles off, and when they do the first thing i'm gonna do is break your nose'. BAM! I have issues with some of the story beats in the film and the pacing, but i enjoyed it immensely overall. I loved the subtle references to the previous movies (such as the Grail theme playing over the photo of Connery), and it's nice (and a little unexpected) that they made a reference to the Sean Patrick Flannery TV series. The only thing that would have made it complete is for Sallah to have been present at the service at the end. I'm sitting there waiting for that close-up of John Rhys-Davies in the church, and it never came. Too bad.
Ah, the internet
by critch
May 22nd, 2008
12:36:55 PM
400 million guaranteed. Anything you guys hate is guaranteed to be a hit.
sweven1978 RE: monkeys following him (WHY?) then attacking russi
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
12:37:03 PM
MAGIC SKULL called them. It wanted INDY to take it home. The movie is about a magic skull. Read the title again.
Indy 4
by fassbinder79
May 22nd, 2008
12:38:21 PM
Just got back from an 11am showing of Indy in New York. Decent crowd for an early showing. Bottom line - worth seeing for the new Fincher trailer that plays before it. Otherwise in the words of Baby Herman "It stinks like yesterday's diapers." The Indy has CGI monkeys and goofy CGI hedgehog/gophers a plenty. Character scenes that aren't very well executed. A terrible performance by Cate Blanchett. One of the worst adventure premises in film history (i shit you not). The end was everything I feared it would be. The only positive thing about this film - dare i say it - is Shia Labeuf who for most of the film out indy's indy. Spielberg really let me down with this one. The writing is awful but what is most shocking is how flawed the direction is throughout. And the way they use Marcus' memory in this film was downright offensive with that ridiculous statue scene that should make any true fan of the original films want to throw up. And I'm saddened to say it but Ford for the first half of the movie just didn't seem like his old self at all. The way he delivered his one liners just didn't ring true to form. I hated this film and this will be the last Spielberg film I pay to see in theater. I predicted the film would be bad...I just didn't think it would be this bad. I'm angry and sad right now honestly.
maroon you are right on....
by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG
May 22nd, 2008
12:38:38 PM
HOW ABOUT THAT BENJAMIN BUTTON!?
by hoggydog
May 22nd, 2008
12:39:03 PM
That trailer was amazing, and filld me with more joy and gave me more goosebumps than any part of Indy 4 did. As for Indy, a good adventure movie, but a bad indiana jones movie.
Hoggydog
by fassbinder79
May 22nd, 2008
12:41:05 PM
You are so right on about Benjamin Button. Looks amazing. That made seeing Indy in the theater worth it. The only satisfying part of the experience for me.
0101
by skimn
May 22nd, 2008
12:42:10 PM
So, tell us how you really feel..
let down
by joergn
May 22nd, 2008
12:42:56 PM
Seen the movie yesterday and was pretty much pissed of. As a big Indy-Fan that flic have done nothing for me. I blame the terrible script for that, cause most of the time I didn´t give a damn about the happenings and the characters on screen, everything felt forced and tacked together. There was no natural flow like in the other movies. The action sequences ranged from quite good (motorcycle chase) to rididulous (chase in the jungle) and some things went just too much over the top (like Indy´s way out of an nuclear explosion). The CGI didn´t fit into the general vibe and old-school feel of the series. And some parts of the movie were pretty boring (felt like history-lesson with Indy talking and talking). The audience in the theatre felt pretty much like me, dissapointed. No applause, no cheers, nada. Just a whole lot of people rushin out of the room, eye rollin, head shaking and complaining.
sweven1978
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
12:43:12 PM
Examples: Indy and his father tied up and having a what?/what? exchange; The raft/airplane scene from TOD. The tunnel scene in Crusade where the fighter pilot looks over at the Jones' before exploding; The mine cart jumping the tracks in TOD; the musical opening in TOD; the jousting in Crusade; Sallah nabbing some camels to pay his brother-in-law back; Short Round beating the crap out of Thugee guards. I could go on but the point is that the Indy films have always contained radically implausible sequences; hell, that's part of the fun.
darebear
by fassbinder79
May 22nd, 2008
12:43:25 PM
I really missed Kasdan watching this. I think I may have to put on Silverado today just to wash away the stink that was Indy 4.
Re: laughing at inappropriate moments.
by greenstyle92
May 22nd, 2008
12:43:31 PM
One of the better quieter moments in the film is Indy contemplating "life taking things aways" and looking at pictures on his desk brody and his father. Well, some asshole in my theater thought it was hilarious to see a picture of Sean Connery as he father. the scene started and he goes "Ha! Sean Connery!" and a bunch of loud annoying laughter comes from his part of the theater, obviously him and his friends. a minute later, they show the connery picture one more time and even MORE laughter ensues? And I'm thinking "What the fuck? Didn't you see Crusade? Connery was his father you know, they are being correct to the continuity, which is what so many geeks revere. What the hell?"
Kicked ass!
by fozzy360
May 22nd, 2008
12:43:59 PM
It was a damn fun movie.
It's fun and entertaining, that's all...
by cdubbs727
May 22nd, 2008
12:44:19 PM
So that must be bad? Maybe the fact of the matter is that we've been spoiled by big, epic movies that actually are built as franchises. We see Spiderman 2-3 because there are threads to be tied up. LOTR is one continuous story. When Iron Man 2 comes out we'll be expecting new developments. And that's awesome, I dig that. But the thing is, Indy has always functioned where each story is simply an added thrill ride. TOD didn't really give us anything new about Indy; it simply gave us another thrilling adventure. Last Crusade may have brought up his daddy issues, but it did it within a confined story. We never watched Raiders or TOD and thought "hmm, I'd like to see Indy's dad" and I doubt any of us were looking at a 4th film saying "there are a lot of dangling threads to be tied up, so we need a fourth film." No, we simply wanted another adventure that made us laugh, smile and hang on tight. Indy was always built as a franchise that delivered nothing more than superbly-delivered popcorn entertainment and I actually think it would have been a huge misstep if they HAD tried to do anything more than bring Marion back. Yes, KOTCS has its flaws. And unlike the other two movies (Raiders, we'd all agree, is pretty much flawless), its flaws are structural in the script stage. So yes, they're more noticeable. But the film doesn't give us something dismal and dark with a whiny, shrill heroine like TOD. And the balance between humor and slapstick is much better than Last Crusade. All I wanted from this was a fun Indy movie. And I got that. The smirk, the smartass comments, the banter between Indy and the villains. I wanted a gross out scene involving icky creatures, ludicrous fight sequences (is the Doomstown bit any more ludicrous than the raft escape in TOD?) and the cornerstone for any Indy flick, wit. Yes, the Tarzan bit is bound to look a bit cheesy. But it works because it doesn't jive with the tone of the action sequence. It would have been crossing the line had Mutt actually let out a Tarzan yell, but since Indy's whip swinging antics have always been a throwback to Tarzan, I think we can accept it. Some won't like this movie and I understand that. Heck, I'm in the rare minority of people who doesn't care for any of the Star Wars movies outside of EMPIRE and who has never been able to make it through a Star Trek film. The one movie I AM surprised about all the love being shown, however, is THE FOOT FIST WAY which screened for us right after Indy. I just thought that, while a tad funny, it was a pretty unpleasant movie about an unlikable guy.
Sallah in the church?
by tylermo
May 22nd, 2008
12:46:32 PM
I liked Sallah as much as the next fan, but they sort of ruined him in Last Crusade(just like Marcus). I for one, am glad he wasn't there. He'd have been sitting on the last pew, with a dozen camels. No thanks.
A question.
by MrSandwich
May 22nd, 2008
12:46:50 PM
When we refer to the serial movies that Spielberg/Lucas are nodding to with Raiders & the sequels -- what movies are we talking about? I'd love to watch some of these, to see some of the original inspiration for the Indy world.
Shifty Eye Dog Two...
by greenstyle92
May 22nd, 2008
12:48:12 PM
Actually, this could have very easily been a National Treasure Movie. (They just would have had to show horn some connection to American history in there, like Nic Cage's great Great Grandfather finding a crystal skull at the last stand of the Alamo, and a character named Davey Crocket Fairways or something,) and it wouldn't have been that different. I also would just say, "meh, just another shitty National Treasure movie" and been on my way. Indy has to have a higher standard.
All the haters have screen names I've never seen before
by slone13
May 22nd, 2008
12:49:27 PM

What'd you chumps all sign up this morning? Or maybe you're all just Merryman Lyon?

Stupid fucks. Clearly the Sex in the City movie is more your speed.

Good day.

fassbinder79, Marcus Brody isn't a real person
by TheLastCleric
May 22nd, 2008
12:49:37 PM
Your outrage at the treatment of his "memory" is pretty silly considering the character is fictional. You don't even know the actor's real name so who's legacy are you actually defending here? Seriously, get some fresh air and some perspective; it's just a movie.
People laughing about Connery
by tylermo
May 22nd, 2008
12:51:41 PM
Probably some (showing my elderly 37 years)some dumbass kids who only knew Sean Connery as that Jeopardy contestant from SNL.
Too much Lucas, not enough Spielberg
by kevred
May 22nd, 2008
12:53:25 PM
That's my short take. Lots of great, warm, funny character moments buried in an avalanche of ridiculous, oversized, prequel-y, over-the-op special effects and gimmicks. The last 20 minutes could have been The Mummy or the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Which was frustrating, because the personal, small moments worked and were genuinely funny and touching in places. But they were never allowed to breathe in the mad rush to get to the next scene.

They made a credible Indy film, which is a pretty big achievement in some ways, but it felt to me like less than the sum of its parts.

God, those big special effects were stupid. I'm so tired of Lucas' big waterfalls (we saw enough of those in the prequels) and the annoying, soft-focus-y green-screen halos around everyone.

My feeling at the end: now that we have this great cast assembled, let's take them on a plausible adventure without the mountain of CGI junk!

OK, but a letdown
by ls420
May 22nd, 2008
12:53:32 PM
too silly for me, just didnt seem like a indy flick.
Indy 4 Was Great!!!
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
12:54:53 PM
The magic was there if you chose to see and hear it. If you didn't see it... you might wanna take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself "When did I rape my own childhood?"
slone13, maybe its Uwe Boll
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
12:55:13 PM
his movie is going up against INDY so I could see him coming here to cause trouble, he was on Fox's REDEYE show promoting POSTAL lol
Didn't Suck
by James Beers
May 22nd, 2008
12:55:17 PM
Burdened by an overwhelming amount of expository dialogue, KOTCS still has the requisite killer set pieces, John Williams score, and of course, Harrison Ford. It may not be the sequel we were hoping for, but I have not seen Ford as into a role since Air Force One 11 years ago. From the first reveal of him wearing that classic snarl until the last fadeout, he carries the film. And boy, does it need carrying in some places. Still, the chemistry between Ford & Karen Allen is wonderful, I liked Shia alright--no matter what any idiots say, the kid is a superior actor, but I agree with many others that Ray Winstone is wasted. To a certain extent, I felt that John Hurt and Jim Broadbent were throwaways as as well. I am however grateful that the rumour going around that Indy dies at the end was bullshit. Still, it would have been nice if they had shot the Frank Darabont script, but then again, Lucas is an idiot.
Greenstyle - i agree completely
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
12:56:45 PM
if you look at some of my earlier posts (in this behemoth of a talkback), you'll see I mentioned also that this felt more like the Indy rip-offs Natl Treasure and The Mummy than an actual Indy film. Indy films SHOULD be held to a higher standard.
saw it...
by Spacekicker2001
May 22nd, 2008
12:58:27 PM
it was poo. Too much CGI, crazy crazy, way more than mind bending fantasy elements EVEN for a Indiana Jones movie. "Tarzan" scene was intolerable
the Good and the bad
by manicart1
May 22nd, 2008
12:58:35 PM
The Good: 1) Harrison Ford. He slips back into Indy like he's never been away and plays his age. This isn't like Roger Moore or Sean Connery trying to play characters who are supposed to be years younger. Harrison does owlish and badass seamlessly. 2) uhhh, I can't be bothered. I liked it. I enjoyed it a lot and I'll probably watch it again. But is it as good as the other three? I don't know. I don't think so-- I can tell a lot of people are going to bitch about the science fiction elements but I think it's a bold direction for the Indy saga to take, especially since we've already had holy relics done to death in the other films. CGI monkeys bad. CGI gophers bad. Agent Spalko goood. Marion Ravenwood pointless, but nice. Slapstick either well done or awkward, just like in the first three. Shia? I like Shia, but I'm just not sure if I buy him in this film. He comes across as a bit of a limp lipped SE Hinton cast off, but then with his character I kind of get the feeling that it's the point that he's trying too hard to be something he's not. That being the case, then he's fine. He's got great chemistry with Indy snr, even if we could all see the 'big reveal' that he's Henry Jones Jnr Junior from--oooohhhh-- at least two years away. Tarzan sequence ill advised, and douses an otherwise thrilling segment of the film. Moment when Indy realises he's stumbled onto a nuclear test site good. Shot of Indy stood beneath towering mushroom cloud awesome. Alan Dale cameo nice touch. Structurally the film didn't feel as tight as 1 2 and three, I don't know why. Still, all good fun, and even if it didn't turn out to be the great lost film of my childhood then it was a very good attempt. I give it 3 out of five. Fuck those monkeys though. When will Lucas ever learn?
Guys, I NEED YOUR HELP
by Rocklover79
May 22nd, 2008
01:01:46 PM
My father has purchased tickets for me, himself, and my younger sister to see this on Saturday. He is a MASSIVE Indy fan, and he's been talking for months about how happy he is that he can take his two daughters to see this, just like his late dad took him and his brothers to see the first three. This is REALLY important to him, and he's very excited for this movie, but after reading all of the awful things about it online, I'm very worried that this thing is going to break my dad's heart, and I don't want that to happen to him. He hasn't read any reviews of this thing. Do I tell him to expect the worst, or should I just let him experience this thing spoiler-free? I'm genuinely torn up about what to do here. If I can prevent a tragedy, SHOULD I?
90% of this film's problems
by kolchak
May 22nd, 2008
01:01:59 PM
can be traced right back to George. Other than pacing, there was a whole bunch of goofy shit that just didn't seem necessary. That aside, this film hits way more than it misses. It's good. I just wish that Steve would have taken the reigns a little bit more...
MrSandwich, they taking cues from the old Republic serials.
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
01:02:55 PM
The best of these Serials is Captain Marvel. Yes, that Captain Marvel, the old superhero that's now a part of the DC Universe. It's campy and fun with lots of action. It has crooks, a desert locale at one point, and an ancient artifact so I have to assume it's one of Spielberg's and Lucas's inspiration.
I'll raise my glass...
by therealhenryjonesjrjr
May 22nd, 2008
01:03:00 PM
to say "here's to hoping this movie bombs so there is never an Indy 5." CGI prairie dogs? Gimme a break.
WORST INDY EVER
by soccerfan33
May 22nd, 2008
01:04:34 PM
This movie sucked and that is a FACT, no matter how many people try to defend it. And I even lowered my expectations hoping for something safe but fun, like Transformers. I am the most dissapointed Indy fan in the universe.
Indiana Jones and the Waste of Two Hour of My Life
by maddog9616
May 22nd, 2008
01:04:38 PM
Holy jesus was that one of the most poorly done sequels or returns to a movie i have ever seen... Its almost on par with Phantom Menace it is that freaking bad... The CGI is like pre T2 which is sad considering they had like a decade to get better... And some of the scenes were neither funny or realistic... The fight with "MUTT" and a woman in gray who i could care less about becasue of no character development was appaling... It looked almost like someone drew them weeks before they put it on screen... Then the ohh lets hit "MUTT" in the balls with branches and sticks wow what amazement... That joke is what i expect from americas funniest home videos... Then when "MUTT" is swinging from vine to vine with monkeys, poor CGI monkeys, is so far from realistic.... Should i go on... Yes i will because this movie really pissed me off... The scene directly after it was just as brutal... Karen Allen drives a car off a cliff only to be caught by a tree... The tree supports the weight of the car and drops them ohhhh so gently in the water then snaps back to life and kills bad guys... From the very first scene of the movie i was worried... The whole groundhog, CGI again was poorly done... And then when did Indiana Jones ever become a Sci-Fi adventure film... The old ones were about history and exploring... Not about freaking aliens and alternate worlds and CGI... Thanks again for pissing on my childhood Lucas and Speilberg... You 2 will not be getting any more money from me... Go watch Iron Man and see how you develop characters and have a plot and a storyline... Thanks again for a waste of my 7 dollars and 2 hours of my time... Half a star out of 5 is my rating... I hated it...
Liked it
by screamster101
May 22nd, 2008
01:10:39 PM
I can't believe some of you did not like this movie. Big mistake. You followed the hype. I liked it alot and can't wait for another. It was a fun movie.
ROCKLOVER79
by Gilkuliehe
May 22nd, 2008
01:11:18 PM
Don't say ANYTHING to your dad. Let him have a clean experience. I hope he has the same experience my crowd and I had yesterday and not the people here. I enjoyed the movie, a lot. And I trust your dad will enjoy it as well. That's my advice. Probably just say "Dad, if you log onto AICN prepare to be surprised at the incredible amount of hate these poor suckers have inside them, and pity them for being incapable of enjoying life". I wish somebody would've told me that, I'd be less depressed now, thank you.
Movie Geeks Are A Rare Breed...
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:12:00 PM
I think the Discovery Channel should do a documentary on Movie Geeks: "Watch as the alpha males pick up sticks and beat each over the head with hate and loathing. Nevermind any mating or territorial rituals they may lack... these cynical creatures live in their own world outside of the general species known as the human being. They stand alone on their pride rock, head held high, spending countless hours a day bitching about moaning about nothing. Unable to enjoy the many wonders life offers, these Geeks often blame others for their shortcomings".

by nefarius1
May 22nd, 2008
01:12:35 PM
Let's see character development. Hmmm, other than Belloq most Indy villians were 2D. What character development did Toht, Mola Ram or Donovan have? Realism, falling out of a plane in a rubber raft, plane going through a tunnel, guy getting heart ripped out. Ummm, don't see that happening everyday. As for the sci-fi angle. It's more a throwback to the post atomic sci-fi era of the 50's. Maybe someone needs to find the ark of the covenant to see if it really melts faces off.
Rocklover...
by greenstyle92
May 22nd, 2008
01:12:56 PM
The best thing you can do is go with your dad and NOT MENTION any of the negativity surrounding the film that you've read. Watch with him and gauge his reaction. If he ends up not liking it, go for it. If he likes it... pretend you liked it too. Remember, it's about being with your loved ones, not your opinions about the film. (I've learned this the hard way through many similar situations.)
Bringing Back the "Nostalgia Crutches"...
by Captain Mal
May 22nd, 2008
01:13:37 PM
...from Moriarty's talkback, I think some of you need some fucking perspective on this series.

I was 7 or 8 when "Raiders" was released, but my parents didn't take me to see it. Guess they weren't interested, or whatever. Despite being a big "Star Wars" nerd, I totally missed out on the Indy experience. Never saw any of the sequels, and only had a vague idea of what the series was about.

I grew up into a cinemaphile, but the Indy series continued to elude me until a few years. At the age of 31, I rented all three movies and watched them back to back. At the end of each one, I shrugged my shoulders and thought, "Okay, well, that was cute, I guess."

I understand that I missed the cultural moment, but those of you who are complaining about the new movie being ridiculous, poorly written, soulless, and cartoony seriously need to take a step back and re-examine those original flicks. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was so cartoonish and silly that I half-expected Elmer Fudd to come tip-toeing onscreen and say, "Shhh... I'm hunting awcheowogical awtifacts."

Just off the top of my head, the basket-chase scene with Marion being carried off and Indy chasing her--it's like something from a Popeye cartoon. Or how about Indy outrunning a two-million-ton boulder? (And can anyone answer why he didn't just take a step backwards when he first saw the boulder coming down and let it roll *in front* of him?)

I could go on and on with this stuff, but you guys see what I'm getting at. I understand that the silliness is part of the charm, but the characters are extremely thin, the plot points are impossibly coincidental, the romance is cheesy, and the "action" is practically slapstick in its execution. In short, without the nostalgia to fall back on, these movies are pretty goofy.

All that is to say, it's just idiotic to expect some sort of spiritual, ecstatic experience from the new flick. These were throwaway films to begin with; they just happened to strike at the right time, and became iconic through no particularly outstanding merits of their own.

I hope the new film does well. I likely won't see it until it hits DVD, but I love Harrison Ford, and it would be nice if Spielberg were encouraged to do more fun movies. But get a grip, people. Enjoy it for what it is.

Wow Arteska
by MetiphisLabs
May 22nd, 2008
01:13:48 PM
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Rocklover
by manicart1
May 22nd, 2008
01:14:42 PM
If your Dad is that big of an Indy fan, as I am, then he will get at least some fun out of it. Or maybe he won't-- maybe he'll be silent all the way home in the car. When you nervously ask how he thought the film was, perhaps he'll sigh whistfully and say it was fine. Perhaps he'll just make a non-commital grunt. Later that evening, maybe he'll kiss you all goodnight without saying a word, turning out the light with a bittersweet smile. Minutes later the sound of a single gunshot shall reverberate around the house coming from the direction of your garage...
Rocklover79, your dad will love it.
by Mace Tofu
May 22nd, 2008
01:15:10 PM
It's a old guy movie. Don't worry I saw it and the stuff most people are bitchin about is only a few shots or moments in a 2 hour movie. The dreaded prairie dog scene? Indy falls in the desert near a prairie dog and it looks at him then runs into its hole in the dirt. Thats it. They do it twice. 4 seconds total. If that kills the movie for you then stay home.
TheLastCleric
by fassbinder79
May 22nd, 2008
01:15:40 PM
The actor is Denholm Elliot (who starred in many of my favorite films including Razor's Edge and Trading Places) you cock! He died tragically of aid and he is one of my favorite characters from the Indiana Jones trilogy. Fuck you, asshole.
Wow, has ever a film divided us so much?
by Abominable Snowcone
May 22nd, 2008
01:15:52 PM
Even the SW prequels didn't seem to rile up so many emotions!

Rocklover, don't tell your father anything. Let him walk into the movie cold. It's not YOUR fault that a film is what it is--or isn't. There's enough of a "family theme" in the movie to make your dad happy to be seeing it with his daughters. In a way, the movie could be called "Indiana Jones and His Instant Family," and you'll see why. The little bit of charm that this movie does have comes from that aspect of it. All the sci-fi shit is gonna continue to divide fans. You'll either love or hate that element of it. The rest, especially the beginning act, is "true" Indiana Jones.

Don't tell dad anything! While the film is not the "Great Cinema" that was "Raiders," this new-era atomic age Indy IS A FUN RIDE, and internet haters shouldn't cause you or anyone else to fret without seeing it yourself first. Because it IS WORTHY of your paying to seeit at the show. Enjoy it for what it is!

I agree. Don't color your dad's experience.
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
01:18:30 PM
If you go onto Ain't it Cool and expect positive comments you're going to be disappointed. A lot of people want to dislike movies around here. That's not to say that a few of them don't have legitimate arguments, but you can tell who doesn't know shit about movies by noting who blames everything on CGI. If this was twenty years ago they would be ripping on the matte paintings. If this was forty years ago they would be making fun of the rear projectors. The vast majority of reviews by the professionals have been positive. I tend to trust them more than some kid with a computer.
Now that I've slept on it ...
by twojawas
May 22nd, 2008
01:18:49 PM
I will say that this film was poor at best. The first 20 minutes had moments where I thought they've done it - kind of like the first 20 minutes of Revenge of the Sith - but the wheels came off shortly after. I know Lucas will say that critics have always panned his films, but what he forgets is that the public rarely did. This film did not have a good story. I never cared who had the skull and, to be honest, I couldn't really understand why the skull even mattered at all. At no time did I feel that Indy was trying to save the world or even anyone it nor did I get the sense that Indy was doing the right thing for the sake of archaeology. He was just doing it for the sake of the film which meant that the audience had no vested emotion while watching it. Did anyone else notice how the film, unintentionally or not, seemed to be an homage to all sorts of other Lucas and/or Speilberg films? Back to the Future II (hover skateboard chase), ESB (Han strapped in torture chair), Close Encounters, Temple of Doom (soldiers falling off ladders into river below), and the list goes on ... I seriously wonder if those two sit back and laugh at how stupid the movie going public is for paying to see their films. I was hopeful after Munich that Speilberg could do this film properly, but I was wrong. I won't be getting this on DVD. :(
My point exactly...
by Captain Mal
May 22nd, 2008
01:19:14 PM
"A good adventure movie, but a bad Indiana Jones movie." Think about what a ridiculous statement that is. Since the Indy movies never set out to be anything more than good adventure movies, why are you expecting more?

by LarryTheCableGuy
May 22nd, 2008
01:19:19 PM
Rocklover
by Jonah Echo
May 22nd, 2008
01:19:45 PM
Honestly, I don't think your dad has anything to worry about. Having just watched the other three, I honestly am a bit baffled at the responses here. I think, unlike Menace which felt like a foreign entity and not a Star Wars movie, the backlash here is mostly overhyped expectation and not reflective of a bad movie. I loved it, and thought it was the most fun of any movie this summer. I know, we are only mostly through May, but Iron Man and Caspian were quite good. Overall, I think it's the second best of the series, and that's after some consideration of it's merits next to the others. It's like others have said, There is Raiders and then there are the other 3. I like TOD the least, and yet several people love that one. So, it's mostly subjective, but I think with time, this will be considered a good addition to the collection and what's more it will be seen as a terrific success in the fact that it follows up 19 years after the last segment with the same lead actor and director and gets so much right. It had exactly the tone of an Indy movie and the 50s sci-fi elements to me, were a perfect addition to the end. Loved Blanchette and even got a kick out of the aforementioned Tarzan scene. I'm pretty sure I won't be in the minority. They were going for big and goofy, but don't be fooled, there is more skill under this then some have let on. Nothing half hearted about it.
Rocklover... it's okay
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:19:54 PM
Don't be alarmed by "some" of the hate mail going on here. If there was ever a place not to come to read non-objective negative reviews of a film - this is the place. The movie was FUN. And your dad will like it if he loves any sense of adventure that he felt watching the first three movies. Indy is back. And that feeling of watching him battle bad guys and deal with the impossible is back as well. Good times await those who just wanna have a good time, and are not looking for the "second coming of Christ".
I wonder why the score at RT
by Abominable Snowcone
May 22nd, 2008
01:21:21 PM
is so high, and that the movie is getting fairly decent praise everywhere but here. I'm not saying it is worthy of us having a circle jerk on it. I'm justing saying that I've never seen such disparity of opinion between AiCN TBers and other critics.

No Matter. I'm seeing it again tonight with the kid, AND I'M LOOKING forward to doing so. I'm immune to the hate! NICE TRY, LAO CHE!!

Spielberg + Lucas + Ford Are All To Blame
by genrefanboy
May 22nd, 2008
01:21:22 PM
Just seen it in London. 1st impressions are not great still in shock. Seeing it again 3 more times as I have the tickets already. Hope it gets better.... Problems I had were: 1: Music is mixed by Ben Burtt to be very low so Williams music is not to the forefront like it was in other Indy movies so I could hardly hear it. 2: Dialogue was again mixed too low so I could not hear many parts of it. Its either the cinema I saw it in (Odeon Leicester Square which has a crappy sound system. THX certified speakers and components but not THX certified cinema due to the balcony obstructing the sound waves so it does not reproduce the sound the way it is intended to be heard). 3: Just been reading the new Complete Making of Indiana Jones book which contains some very detailed quotes on the history of Indy4's development hell. If you read it you will see Ford, Spielberg, Lucas equally really do not have a clue in hell about what makes an Indy movie. Consider the following: Lucas says the title was Spielbergs idea. Spielberg lost interest in making another Indy movie after ID4 (because of the flying saucer elements) but Lucas said no Indy movie without Aliens in it and gave up on it to do the SW movies instead. Ford was more keen than anyone else to make it happen. Lucas only main ideas were the Crystal Skulls & it being an Alien. Spielberg was the driving force behind all the mis-casting (basically to me everyone except Ford, Shia, Blanchett & Allen sucked bigtime and were horribly miscast plus did not even deliver anyway). There is a whole lot more detail on this so get the book as it contains good stuff on the other 3 movies as well. 4: Indy4 just felt wrong in places. The opening 20 mins or so were pretty good but then it just kinda lost its way a little. 5: CGI to me looked flawless cannot complain about it at all eveything looked pretty acceptable so do not understand where people are coming from with complaints about that as compared to the basic story structure and poor acting from almost everyone this is the least of the movies problems. 6: Flat direction in many places the movie just felt tired. Its pretty obvious Spielberg, Lucas & Ford have far too much money and just phoned in a lot of this movie and when they put it all together had to hype it up to at least get paid and reclaim the budget. History will probably not be kind to this movie and TBH Spielberg & Ford will get a backlash over this as they should have known better and told Lucas to keep his ideas but as they could not come up with anything better they went with this movie anyway to satisfy fan demand and sadly failed.
Point proven
by rogueleader66
May 22nd, 2008
01:22:46 PM
I have seen posts by a few haters on here, (I will not mention names because i don't want people to feel like they are being singled out or picked on) and it just proves what I have said all along about these so-called "know it alls". There have been some posts by people who have NOT EVEN SEEN the movie and are still saying how it sucks, or how they are going to go see it just so they can see that they were right. Wow what total and complete arrogance, I guarantee that some of these rocket scientists will see this movie, love it, and never ever admit it, because all they want to do is come back here and tell the world how right they were. Of course they will say stuff like, "If I like it I would say so" Yea right, assholes like that cannot stand to be proven wrong or hate looking like fools so they will maintain their opinion if they like the movie or not. Like I have said before, stop judging a movie until you see it, then your opinion will be valid. Now I have seen plenty of movies i didnt think would be good, some were good, some were great, some sucked ass. But I waited until I saw it to really say how it was. It's one thing to have high or low expectations for a movie, but to say it is going to suck, period, before you even see it is short sighted and just dumb. I know I sound like a broken record, but these arrogant "hate for the sake of hating" assholes really annoy me. Peace.
Would have enjoyed it if it wasn't Indiana Jones.
by Pseudolife
May 22nd, 2008
01:23:51 PM
I'm a huge fan of aliens, ancient astronauts and all of that jazz... hell I am a subscriber to coast to coast am!! But in my book, Indiana Jones is an action flick with comedy relief... not the other way around. The Last Crusade was THE best Indy movie IMO. If you're one of the weirdos who loves temple of doom and all of its zany, wacky, retardedness... well then you'll probably like this movie. If you thought the last Crusade was the best movie... you'll HATE this movie. Its just too silly. The last crusade had grit and realism... this has NONE of that. George Lucas was "conducting" the whole thing with his jerk-off hand. I mean, Indy didn't shoot ANYONE! WTF?! WHY IN GODS NAME DOES GEORGE HAVE TO TURN EVERYTHING GOOD INTO SHIT??
I walked out all confused
by kolchak
May 22nd, 2008
01:24:26 PM
but over night it really started to grow on me.
Complaining about "lack of character development" in an Indy mov
by darthvedder81
May 22nd, 2008
01:24:26 PM
Is like complaining about a lack of nutritional content in your ice cream sundae.
Amazing...
by spectrebeeyatch
May 22nd, 2008
01:24:46 PM
You haters are lying to yourselves and you know it. I smiled throughout the film even the silly moments. Good stuff I'm seeing it again this weekend.
i liked it
by LarryTheCableGuy
May 22nd, 2008
01:24:50 PM
it was a fun indy movie, reminded me more of one of the indy comics but good stuff.
All I gotta say is...
by ShogunMaster
May 22nd, 2008
01:25:43 PM
I told you so.

I got pretty slammed for my review when I first posted it, but it seems that it represents the consensus here. Praise and apologies to me ;-)

Didn't Temple of Doom
by Sithdan
May 22nd, 2008
01:26:49 PM
...spawn these kinds of debates when it was first released? I remember my friends and I debating the good, bad and the ugly about Temple of Doom and how that film compared to Raiders. Some of us hated it, where others loved the crap out of it. I can see Crystal Skull going in with Temple of Doom as the red-headed stepchildren of the Indiana Jones franchise (unless you count the television show).
Shogun Master
by Jonah Echo
May 22nd, 2008
01:26:55 PM
Go over to Ebert's blog and watch the most famous of film critics call you an idiot. I love it.
This talkback makes me less anxious to see Indy 4
by Quake II
May 22nd, 2008
01:26:59 PM
I was going tonight because I just couldn't wait for a new Indy adventure, but after reading about CGI monkeys (WHY?!) and UFO's and sloppy endings and Gilligan's Island jungle sets I may wait for the crowds to die down and go next week. Bargain show on monday maybe.
Captain Mal - Re: the boulder
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
01:27:54 PM
if he'd stepped back and let it roll in front of him, he would have been trapped inside as it blocked the exit.

as for your subsequent post, we were expecting more because the Indiana Jones films are the BEST adventure movies of all time - even the weakest of the series is superior to any other adventure flicks. Of COURSE any new entry in the series will be held to a higher standard. That's like having a new Star Wars movie come out, and saying "it was an ok sci-fi movie, but a bad Star Wars movie".... oh wait, that already happened... 3 times.

(p.s. awesome screenname)
Haven't seen it yet...
by Toonol
May 22nd, 2008
01:28:33 PM
But this talkback gives me hope.

It's full of hate and vitriol, but the haters also seem to be significantly challenged by grammar, spelling, courtesy, and overall apparent intelligence (I'll give 'scotsman75' and '0101' as examples). Therefore, I think I still have a shot at liking it.

ShogunMaster
by Mako
May 22nd, 2008
01:28:54 PM
First off... you review was pretty bad. So don't quit your day job. Second of all... you should be fired from your day job considering the NY Times posted you are a theater exec and are pumping out negativity towards a movie that would pull in $$ for your company. Or are you just bitter that Paramount and the boys are gonna take a bigger perecentage from you guys that you want? Indy 4 will have one of the biggest openings in history this weekend... and most of the money will not go to you guys LOL
Arteska
by nefarius1
May 22nd, 2008
01:29:03 PM
Nice post, very eloquent. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Quake II
by Jonah Echo
May 22nd, 2008
01:29:56 PM
You very well might hate it, but the complaints here are greatly exaggerated. At least in my mind. If you liked the others, I think you will like this. If you hate any of the others for certain reasons, you might dislike this one. For me, they have all been fun rides, even TOD which has moments where I want to push the mute button the remote. But the Thugee cult, the mine carts and the mercenary indy save it all for me.
How could anyone want to see this again?
by fassbinder79
May 22nd, 2008
01:30:50 PM
Guys this flick is only two steps above the National Treasure (two of the worst films I have ever seen in my life). Films have gotten very expensive. I come to this site to get a sense of what is worth dropping twelve bucks on in the theater. And I really resent it when people call people with negative comments about films "haters", "losers", "liars" or "not true fans." I can't speak for anyone else but I posted my honest feelings on here about this film as a warning. And I am telling you this movie is deeply flawed. Just a warning.
It's okay.....
by BlackMist29
May 22nd, 2008
01:31:14 PM
To dislike this film. It just wasn't very good. The CGI creatures were unneccesary. Karen Allen would have been better as a cameo. The premise felt far fetched, isn't it odd how in Raiders and Crusade the artifacts never really felt far-fetched? The crystal skull feels very silly. The movie looks like it was shot on a sound stage. One thing nobody noticed though is how he is almost never refered to as Indy. I thought he thought of himself as Indiana Jones, not Henry Jones Jr. That said Harrison Ford was excellent, The opening sequence up to the nuke explosion was great. Even Shia did a pretty good job. I also thought that the scene with the hat was Spielberg's way of saying there is only one Indy, and Shia aint him.
I think you can pretty much cut and paste the current arguments.
by rbatty024
May 22nd, 2008
01:31:24 PM
onto the first two Indy sequels. Temple of Doom had some silly shit in it. Giant vampire bats, come on. They don't even exist. Willie mistaking a snake for an elephant's trunk. The dinner scene. There' some really campy stuff in there. Not that, that's a bad thing. I enjoy the campy elements of Indiana Jones as much as the serious stuff so long as it's well done, and so far it's been well done with a little wink to the audience.
Neither Loved nor Hated it
by dancinggopher01
May 22nd, 2008
01:32:48 PM
For an Indiana Jones movie, it was garbage. For a "summer" blockbuster action/adventure type movie, it was ok. I agree with most of you on here when I say, "A fucking refridgerator?!?" Also, the monkey scene made me roll my eyes. Aliens? I expected some supernatural BS, but aliens? Not in Indy.
LaserPants..Still on here pushing Speed Racer?
by Quake II
May 22nd, 2008
01:32:56 PM
Ha ha. The Wachowskis should put you on the payroll. I saw Speed twice and I agree that it was really good (better the second time) but I'm afraid it's over. The masses just didn't get it. Poor marketing, bad release date (wait till school is out if you're pushing a movie at the kiddie crowds!) and lousy pure CGI commercials killed Speed before he got out of the gate. Speed will at the bargain theaters within a month. I can't wait for the Blu Ray which will be unbelievable looking.
Not everyone who dislikes this...
by Jonah Echo
May 22nd, 2008
01:34:43 PM
is a hater, but there are some obvious ones on here. It's film, and not everyone is going to like everything, even if they liked similar things before. It's ok. Im fine with that. In fact there are some who clearly were pre-hating it. At the same time, those of us who love it aren't tasteless, drooling retards. That's the biggest problem here. Everything has to be extremes, and the "public" needs to be on the side of every argument.
its only a movie
by brockguffman
May 22nd, 2008
01:34:57 PM
i remember seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark when it came out in the theater, same with the sequels and just returned from the most recent...i didnt walk in expecting Raiders , because i never think i will ever see a film that left me with such awe as Raiders did when i first saw it ...i always choose to see the Indy films as I saw the first one, totally open to the world created and the style of the piece...you can rip holes in it or just sit back and enjoy the ride...we will never get an Indy film like Raiders ....EVER...but KOTCS was enjoyable and thats all i was looking for ... sit back and enjoy the ride ....Its an INDIANA JONES movie and i am thankful that one more exists for what these movies are....silly popcorn summer flicks... i laughed off the silliness (the SHIAzan vine swinging) just like i did with the raft sequence from DOOM ...its only a movie ...its meant to be fun , they (Lucas/Spielberg) know some of its goofy ...but in the world of Indy ...its all plausible...and light years ahead of the films that attempt to grasp the style (Mummy,National Treasure)...ripping it apart in ritual dissection is like saying that a rollercoaster's fourth loop didn't have enough speed...i recommend it ...plan to see it again on Monday just for the jungle chase alone (worth the admission)....matinee it ...3 out of 5..
So this looks to be 90% its...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
01:35:56 PM
fucking awful, 5% its nostalgic, 2% it sucked but it was fun, 2% I love GL and wish to have his bastard Mutt child, and 1% that actually liked it. Yeah, we're not seeing another one of these.
Tomb Raider Lovers
by screamster101
May 22nd, 2008
01:37:33 PM
I think there are waaaaaaay too many Tomb Raider lovers around here. It is a fun movie... Enough said.
Worst movie Spielberg has EVER directed
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
01:37:52 PM
EVER. Worse than 1941 and War of the Worlds combined.
Yeah, it was pretty good...
by Darth Scourge
May 22nd, 2008
01:38:53 PM
I grew up with the Indy movies along with Star Wars, and having seen the picture twice today, I can say that Crystal Skull is about as good as Last Crusade, which itself is the weakest of the original Indy trilogy. The tone of the movie is very akin to Last Crusade, as is the pacing. That same light-hearted, playful feel is very evident in Crystal Skull. The whole film unfolds at a very leisurely pace. Long gone is the breakneck rollercoaster pace of Raiders or Temple of Doom, but to be honest, the movie doesn't suffer overmuch for it. But hey, whatever the case, it's good! Indy's back!
My honest opinion...
by therealhenryjonesjrjr
May 22nd, 2008
01:41:38 PM
I've posted twice on here already about the film, but this will be my last one to avoid public beating, after a little reflection. That said, my response, taking into accound lot of the others on here as well, falls as follows: Yes, this movie had its moments. The motorcycle chase, the warehouse scene, etc, that felt like Indy, and honestly, I enjoyed every moment of those sequences as much as say, the Mine Car chase in Temple of Doom. But with that said, they were early MOMENTS, hints at what this movie could have been, or perhaps NEVER really could have been, and frankly the rest of the film couldn't be saved by even the most enthralling Indy feats. The same can be said about the Phantom Menace, T4, etc, films with moments, like lightsaber battles, that reminded us of the originals but failed at being anymore than a nostalgic vehicle. But I also believe labeling the film in this way is far too generous. I wanted to love this movie, I loved the first three like family members, but where it lost me wasn't the ridiculous gophers (though that helped) or the monkeys, but the reinvention of characters I loved. Indy wasn't Indy, not an aged Indy, not an Indy at all. Marion wasn't Marion (remember Nepal bartender, kick-your-ass Marion) and the caricatures we got instead, with a romantic comedy sub-plot, really make it impossible for me to link these at all with the previous three. YES, I understand it was made with 50's B-movies in mind, yes I've taken that into account, but regardless of all the hows, whats, and supposed tos, and all the people that state we're just on here being annoying loud mouths ripping apart anything that doesn't conform to our "perfect" standards, this movie failed on every level: as an Indy film, as a Speilberg film, and as a movie in general. I will be bitter about it, but for me, it will only serve as a reminder of how much I loved the first three. And just as a sidenote to all the people on here ripping people who haven't posted much, or attacking those of us who hated the film/films/anything...this is a place for opinions, for, as someone above said, those of us who love movies and who love everything AICN deals with, to voice them, and frankly, if you've got a problem with it, spare us the high and mighty talk and just give supply your honest opinion. Mine was that this movie was terrible and I will not recommend it nor see it again nor buy the dvd. I'm sorry to say it, as a real Indy fan, but that's it.
At the screening I was at...
by cdubbs727
May 22nd, 2008
01:42:17 PM
One critic got up after and was talking to me and said "this is basically just a rip-off of National Treasure." After punching her in the ovaries, I then explained that "National Treasure"--along with "The Mummy" films--are the ripoffs of Indy. What I hate hearing is when people say "Indy is back but the script sucks. Still I had fun." Seriously? Fun is the only reason this movie exists! It's not life-changing. It's not made for Academy Awards and it's not meant to be plausible. It's meant to be a theme park ride, a popcorn flick and a nostalgic ode to the reason we went to the movies as kids. I hate when people call nostalgia a crutch for this movie...the series was created out of nostalgia. Why does this work and National Treasure and the Mummy don't? Because those films know the words to the song, they know the look and setting for adventures, but Spielberg knows the music. He speaks cinematic language so well that he makes it a purely visceral experience where you don't just have to check your brains at the door, you WANT to turn your brain off. This is a movie that should require no further thought or discussion other than "wow that was fun" and "let's do that again." And that's the reaction it provoked from me. I could care less that it had aliens. I could care less that it had some lame CGI--after all, the cheesiness of the effects in the other films is part of the appeal. I can even care less that the script has issues because everything I enjoyed about it is something that made me smile like a giddy kid.
whoops
by therealhenryjonesjrjr
May 22nd, 2008
01:42:38 PM
that should say T3 (sorry!!)
cdubbs727
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
01:44:12 PM
So we are wrong to even expect the movie to be anything of quality? We should just say fuck it this is going to be shit and love it?
Mako
by ShogunMaster
May 22nd, 2008
01:44:15 PM
You're right about my review. I wrote it after a long day (I was up at 6am, watched movie at 10am, out all day, out drinking at night, then wrote it at about 10pm), if I'd know it was going to get that much attention I would have proofed it first. And I'm not a theatre exec; just needed an alias. I'd keep up the cover, but it hardly matters now, does it?

My points still stand. It was the Indy movie you were dreading. It should have been a billion times better than that.

maroon
by fassbinder79
May 22nd, 2008
01:44:49 PM
Loved your comments. Totally on the mark.
Enjoyed it.
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
01:45:14 PM
Yeah it had some terribly misjudged moments, but nothing a director's cut wouldn't solve. It was great to have Indy back.
Man I really wanted to like his movie...
by Pseudolife
May 22nd, 2008
01:47:57 PM
But it was pretty much impossible after the natives broke through their intricately designed hiding places. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE!!

WHY WAS THE KID SWINGING THROUGH THE JUNGLE?

Uhhhh Indiana Jones is Immortal... or did we forget the last movie ever happened?

I totally agree that the movie was simply a "get the gang back together movie." There were WAY too many salutes to the other movies.

What was the point of the crazy guy?? He was HORRIBLE! Seemed like a Homage to Herman Toothrot if you ask me. BTW Shia would be a great Guybrush Threepwood... but a TERRIBLE INDY REPLACEMENT!!

John Hurt was completely wasted here
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
01:49:09 PM
Why even get a talented actor to just keep mumbling bullshit?
Indy Immortal?
by cdubbs727
May 22nd, 2008
01:51:29 PM
Sigh. Watch "Last Crusade" again, pseudolife. Immortality would only have applied had Indy stayed inside the seal in the temple. As for why the kid was swinging through the jungle--because it's Indy. Indy's a throwback to adventure movies of the olden days, including Tarzan. Let's not forget, like I said earlier, Indy swinging by his whip is an homage to those films as well. This is just a little less subtle.
After some thought...
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
01:55:04 PM
Hell, I still liked the film. I think I'm going to see it again this weekend. It's Indiana Jones, guys. There's been silly stuff in ALL the films. That's part of what makes it so charming.

The problem here is that the anticlimactic climax leaves a bad taste in people's mouths, and they remember the film being worse than it was. Go see it again, and you'll be expecting the ending, and you'll appreciate the rest of it MUCH more, I promise you.

My 2 cents...
by Bruce Leroy
May 22nd, 2008
01:56:00 PM
Nope, i'm not going to tell you overlong stories of how Indy and Star Wars affected my youth. This is the here and now. And i absolutely loved the new Indy. It was old school adventure made with today's tools and yet it was still the same old Indy. I love it...flaws and all. Don't hate just to hate. If you didn't enjoy this movie there is always "The Mummy part 3" coming to a theatre near you.
Cruel_Kingdom
by cdubbs727
May 22nd, 2008
01:57:54 PM
Quality is in the eye of the beholder. I've admitted the script had issues. But I think Spielberg still had the action goods, Ford and the rest of the cast were great and the movie's quality depends on it being fun. For me, it was. For others, it wasn't. One thing I don't get here is why we have to sway others to our side. I liked the movie. Others didn't. So what? I would much rather everyone agree on something like "The Visitor" or "Young @ Heart" that needs all the attention it can get than to agree on something that's pretty much a surefire success and, by definition, is designed simply to make us forget about anything else for two hours. It's a fun movie. It's not a masterpiece. But, in my opinion, it fits perfectly alongside TOD and Last Crusade--if it had come first and we were watching one of those right now, we'd be complaining about that. I liked the movie and have stated my reasons. If you didn't, I'm sorry to hear you wasted $10. As a critic, I got in for free so there wasn't anything wasted. there are always differences of opinion to big movies because they are such subjective experiences. FYI, I think the only Star Wars movie I can get through is "Empire." I think A New Hope is dreadfully dull and cheesy and the others just don't interest me. I understand why others like it (which is actually based on nostalgia, just like Indy). I just don't. And I'll move on to movies that are important works of art and not just diversions.
Indy and Spielberg should retire
by Underdogthe3rd
May 22nd, 2008
01:58:16 PM
1 - John Hurt character... man, what was that? 2 - "Jonesy"... 3 - Generic indians 4 - Tarzan/Shia 5 - The giant ants was a copy of the giant bugs from The Mummy
Benjamin button
by nickcrowley7
May 22nd, 2008
02:03:17 PM
Saw Indy IV, liked it, had some issues, but I got to see a great preview for the curious case of benjamin button.
Not Indy
by BlackMist29
May 22nd, 2008
02:05:14 PM
Was anyone else bothered by the fact that hardly anyone refered to him as Indy. It bugged the hell out of me. BTW the beauty of the first three Indy films is that the corny jokes and over the top action never took you out of the reality of the movie, after the opening sequence in KOTCS most of the corny jokes and action did take me out of the reality of the film.
Good news
by RandySavage
May 22nd, 2008
02:05:53 PM
I originally (last night) gave KOTCS a pretty harsh review, but after a day's reflection, I believe there are a lot of good bits (superb quality of production design being one) and, like many have said, the good outweighs the bad...

All in all, I am at peace with this film joining the Indy canon.

Indiana LaBeef and his Elastic Testicles of Monkey Love
by Kingoftheprawnmen
May 22nd, 2008
02:06:09 PM
LeBeef doing Tarzan with cartoon Monkeys………………comed y Gofers…………Indy has a mental love moment with a crystal head………LeBeef bouncing his nuts on CGI plants………………..bad looking sound stages…….plastic snakes……………Marion on some kind of drug induced happy mouthed suicide rush………..a half arsed fight in a ring of ants…………plastic aliens………………which are from another dimension and are here to collect nice shiny things………and to round it off a great big flying saucer! I have no doubt all from the crazy chins of Mr. Lucas. Well thanks, but no thanks. THIS IS NOT INDY. It’s just pure madness.
BlackMist29
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
02:13:30 PM
I noticed it too, but i think it's a nod to Indy's acceptance of his father and *SPOILER* his subsequent passing.
Temple of doom is my
by Lloyd Bonafide the Korean War Veteran
May 22nd, 2008
02:14:33 PM
favorite action movie ever.
How could true fans not like this?
by Ferf Muckmeyer
May 22nd, 2008
02:17:34 PM
Indy 4 was fucking great. Better than Temple and on par with Last Crusade. And for those who thought the whole alien/spaceship stuff was hokey, remember melting faces at the sight of the open ark, or reviving Jones Sr. with the holy grail? C'mon people! If you think into this too much you will never like these films. Shia was spot on and Ford never lost a beat. It was great to see Marion return also. This did not disappoint. If you want to be a disappointed fan, go back to fucking Phantom Menace and you'll live disappointment. This was no Lucas sequel/prequel flop. It was a great Indiana Jones film, period.
The reason sites like this work
by nbakid2000
May 22nd, 2008
02:18:22 PM
Yeah, everyone always blows off the bad reviews at sites like these as "fanboyish" and untrustworthy. No, they're not. The people who hang out at these sites tell the truth. We know shit when we see it and we're not afraid to say it. The only reason people are defending this so hard is because it's Indiana Jones. Kind of like how "Across the Universe" made so much money...if it was about any other music group other than the Beatles, it would've bombed. But since, "Ohhhh, it's about the BEATLES!! BEST BAND EVER!!!!" people all jumped on the bandwagon.
Great open, boring middle, incomprehensible end
by Lance Rocke
May 22nd, 2008
02:18:29 PM
I thought Ford was pretty good, but my god, the script was lousy. I'd love to read Darabont's version.
Matrix Out
by tygrus2000
May 22nd, 2008
02:19:11 PM
Too many film goers think an action movie has to be like the Matrix or Tombraider its lame. Looney Tunes action is in just about every movies these days. Ever see a John Woo film? If you didn't suspend belief for a bit these films would last about 1 minute as the lead character would be killed off right away. Its fiction my dears with real world elements pulled in to give it a connection to the audience. You want real real world then go rent Saving Private Ryan or something. Haters are just disgruntled fan boys locked in their mom's basement jerking off to archie and veronic comics.
This fucking movie has more apologists...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
02:20:03 PM
than the Star wars prequels. I never thought I'd see a movie with more excuses thrown at than that garbage but it's finally happened. And this time Spielberg gets a piece of the action.
IT WASN"T ALIENS....THEY WERE INTERDIMENSIONAL BEINGS!
by HitchCock'n'Balz
May 22nd, 2008
02:20:41 PM
They even copped out on the Alien angle...I bet this thing brings in 500 million this week, just shows how fuckin stupid they think the general public is...and how eager the general populace is to prove them right. I want to punch them all in the nutbeards......
How can I read Darabont's version of the script?
by TooWhippy
May 22nd, 2008
02:22:07 PM
is it on line?
tygrus2000 did you just compare...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
02:22:08 PM
IJ to a fucking POS John Woo movie and mean it? Jesus tap dancing Christ, just stop.
Fuck your "true fan", "inner-child", bullshit apologist stances
by Laserhead
May 22nd, 2008
02:23:26 PM
Having fully digested it, I've gone from not really enjoying it to despising it. That was shit. I'm not a film geek or a 'hater', I'm just a young adult who remembers the previous three movies very fondly, and the character of Indy especially. I didn't want it to be anything but a fun, intelligent adventure movie. It stunk.
Overheard at Lucasfilm Ranch...
by TylerDurden3395
May 22nd, 2008
02:23:48 PM
George: Hey Steve, it's time to make another Indy movie. Steve: Remind me George, why did we wait 19 years to make another Indy movie? George: Well, the Lego market is finally ripe for the picking, and I'm slowly running out of properties to sell to them. If this doesn't go over well, it's Howard the Duck Legos and nobody wants that. Steve: Well what are we going to make Indy 4 about? George: Psychic Russkies, Crystal Skulls and Aliens. Steve: Gee George don't you think we've done aliens to death, I mean I did Close Encounters, ET, AI, War of the Worlds and you did 6 Star Wars movies, don't you think people will balk at us using aliens AGAIN? George: Jesus, Steve, what do you want from me, all I can do is 50's nostalgia and aliens. Besides, I got to sell some Legos somehow. Steve: Point taken, so fine we'll go with aliens. What about those crystal skulls? Isn't it a bad idea to use crystal skulls in a sequel? George: Dammit, Steve it worked in House 2: The Second Story didn't it? Steve: Right you are sir. What about the villain? George: Well we can get somebody who won an Oscar if you really want, but I'd rather have Natasha from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Steve: No problem Beardy, we'll get Cate Blanchett and have her ACT like Natasha from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. George: Good thinking Steve, remind me to give you 5% of all the Lego sales. Steve: Thanks George. Oh by the way, I've been DYING to do some of the stupidest action scenes since I made that little black girl Gymkata that raptor in the Lost World, what do you think I should do? George: How about have Shia being taught by monkeys to swing on a vine like Tarzan? Steve: George, you're a genuis can I suck your cock some more? George: Sure Steve. (Silence) George: Okay Steve thanks I needed that, but next time you do that make sure you wear the Leia bikini. Steve: Yes, Your Flannelness. Now about the effects. George: Uh-huh. Steve: I know your ILM company has billions of dollars at it's disposal... George: It's tied up in Lego money, but I got some guys that do those Sci-Fi Channel orginals on the fire ant scene, so it's all good. Steve: But George... George: Sorry Steve, you're on your own. I got to take this meeting with the Mr. Potato Head people about making a Shia Tater Tot toy...
DAMNIT, Pseudolife! (and anyone who thinks Indy is immortal):
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
02:23:55 PM
How many times do we have to point this out to people? Did you even WATCH last crusade? The minute you cross the seal, the power is lost. that's why when 2 of the 3 knight brothers left (at 150+ years old) they soon died.
Indy IV on par with Last Crusade (at least)
by cybermage
May 22nd, 2008
02:26:13 PM
I really had a great time. Just finished watching Doom (haven't seen it in years---it really aged well, btw). Anyways, KOTSC was pure joy, good old-fashioned fun. All you naysayers, get a life.
I really liked it
by Megamonki
May 22nd, 2008
02:27:32 PM
The difference between KOTCS and "Serenity"
by RandySavage
May 22nd, 2008
02:28:44 PM
I'm flip-flopping. I don't want to have to work to justify this film as being good just because it's part of a mythos that I love.

When I walked out of "Serenity" (similar type of adventure film), knowing nothing about Whedon or Firefly, I was buzzing. That is because the film I had just experienced was exciting, funny, well-directed and -written with a great hero and a great villain. I had similar experiences with "IJ & the Last Crusade," granted through kids lenses.

My point is, you know in your gut whether a film really works for you and it doesn't help to try to intellectualize it and talk yourself into appreciating it, if it didn't give you that gut feeling right off the bat. I'm not sure KOTCS has those kind of chops.

Tylerdurden....Thanks for the GymKata reference!!
by HitchCock'n'Balz
May 22nd, 2008
02:29:07 PM
I have slowly been trying to squeeze up some excitement for a remake of that..check out my Christian Bale TB from yesterday...I was pimping it there
How come Connery's bullet wound didn't reaturn once he left the
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
02:31:13 PM
Just a thought ?
How come Connery's bullet wound didn't return once he left the t
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
02:31:21 PM
Just a thought ?
How come Connery's bullet wound didn't return once he left the t
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
02:31:24 PM
Just a thought ?
Dead on Shifty...
by HitchCock'n'Balz
May 22nd, 2008
02:31:40 PM
that was the whole catch -22 of the cup giving everlasting life...recited by the knight...what the fuck is wrong with some people?
Why--
by Laserhead
May 22nd, 2008
02:33:08 PM
--do people who claim to like it and post presumably have a life, while "naysayers" don't? Just because retarded plots, bad CGI, prairie dogs, and old men in hats with whips convince you you've experienced something special, good for you; you're fucking mentally deficient.
I loved the alien origin...BUT
by ChristosK
May 22nd, 2008
02:33:14 PM
...I loved the concept for the alien origin and all that, but the only thing that made the entire movie come off as just whacky and cheesy is how over the top the CG was. If this same movie was made 10 years ago, it would've been amazing! Back then, they wouldn't have felt the need to actually depict a living breathing alien at the end who escapes in a fucking massive UFO. If it weren't for their unlimited budget on the film, it would've been sooo much more believable. Think about it, if they made the Last Crusade nowadays, they probably would've have Jesus resurrected in front of Indy only because today they have the budget to go all out; and thats why this movie ultimately failed. If they didn't have shitty CG from the first shot of the movie (the unconvincing prairie dog thing, whatever it was) And as much as I liked watching the bomb testing scene....ten years ago, they would not have even thought about that possibility, they only put it in there today because they had the money to have an excuse for a nuke testing scene. Not to mention, ten years ago, it would've still been enjoyable to watch Indy in action, but I wasn't convinced he wouldn't have had a heart attack during anyone of the action scenes. Overall, they had too much money to back up their inappropriate CG. Leave out the actual aliens, it should've just been the cave-wall paintings and the crystal monuments.
Memories-Of-Murder...
by poeticwarriorIII
May 22nd, 2008
02:35:07 PM
Oh yeah, I forgot about bayformers. This is shaping up to blow that out of the water though and that's a crying shame. Denial! It's not just a river in Egypt!
cause he was behind the seal..
by HitchCock'n'Balz
May 22nd, 2008
02:35:39 PM
he was healed and immortal, until he left the freakin temple/seal- floor/area/earthquake zone...then he died of natural causes, like the knight's 2 brothers??????
TylerDurden
by YakMalla
May 22nd, 2008
02:36:37 PM
For reasons that should be obvious, I also heart your Gymkata reference.
Darabont's script here...
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
02:37:03 PM
Actually, it's Jeb Stuart's script that you guys are talking about, 'Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men From Mars.' It's similar to Skull in many ways, but is quite different, too. It's a good read.

http://tinyurl.com/6ntoyl

Darabont's script had Indy's brother in it. I remember the last time a major franchise introduced a character's brother in a sequel. It was Star Trek V and I wanted to die. To my knowledge, Darabont's script has never leaked, but I wouldn't read it if it did.

Sadly....this movie sucks AND blows !
by Bloodthirsty Wolf
May 22nd, 2008
02:37:44 PM
I'll make this short, sweet & to the point. To be honest....I don't know where to start. But here goes- Probably the main disappointment for me, is that the movie doesn't convey the "cliffhanger" feeling that we are expecting from this series. In the previous 3 movies, action scenes were improbable yet plausible. In this one...those sequences are laughably impossible. From Indy escaping the atomic bomb blast....to our hero's going over 3 waterfalls in an armored carrier, completely unscathed. There is absolutely no suspense or tension in this movie. And the characters never convey any sense of urgency or desperation, despite their respective conflicts. Some scenes are completely ridiculous (mutt swinging from vines, thanks to his "monkey" teachers & catching up to speeding vehicles.) Not a single character (even Indy) seems relevant in this slapped together mess. Even the music seems underused & uninspired. The "alien" climax for the movie is a predictable computer generated mess The movie's screenplay, doesn't even attempt to answer any questions raised by it's crystal skull "mumbo jumbo". The "family" aspect didn't work for me either. It all seemed forced & belonged on the jerry Springer show. The movies family and then reunion just seemed to neuter Indy & make him seem very ordinary, and not the adventurous Icon we have come to love. Watching this movie...reminded me of seeing the Phantom Menace. A horrible flick, except for the cool lightsabre duel at the end. And this movie can't claim any such saving grace.
ChristosK
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
02:37:49 PM
Totally agree. I didn't need to see an actual alien at the climax and in fact i was dreading as soon as the UFO element became apparent.
barnaby jones - the bullet wound
by ShiftyEyedDog2
May 22nd, 2008
02:38:07 PM
its not like it reopens wounds or undoes any good that it did. it just makes you no longer immortal from the time you leave. so if he had been shot again outside, he would have died. but his previous wound had been healed and he was starting off good as new.
No humor, no soul.
by Shermdawg
May 22nd, 2008
02:38:45 PM
Worst of the films by far.
Worst. Episode. Ever.
by Embeedeuce
May 22nd, 2008
02:39:18 PM
Given a choice, instead of seeing Indy 4 again, I'd rather take another look at Harry's surgery photos.
I've Scanned these reviews. Summary:
by YakMalla
May 22nd, 2008
02:39:44 PM
"I saw 'Raiders' when I was 8. It changed my life. I just got back from 'Crystal Skull'. It didn't make me feel like I was 8. It didn't change my life. Therefore, it SUCKED!"
The script and CGI were the downfall...
by Kirbymanly
May 22nd, 2008
02:39:58 PM
1) The script was a hack job-- the "Mac" and "Ox" characters are completely pointless. At least Willie, Short Round, Sala, Brody, etc. all contributed something to the advancment of the story. Indy's sidekicks this time could fall off a cliff at any point in the film and no one would care. The dialogue is extremely clunky. Marion was wasted. Uhhhgg... I can't even go on-- it's just making me mad that for some fucking reason people think David Koep is a solid writer. I'd like to see him and Goldsmith put out to pasture. They ruin every film they're involved with.
why is this movie getting such favorable reviews?
by ReginaldBarclaysInsecurities
May 22nd, 2008
02:40:09 PM
In Harry's review, he mentions a GREAT line by Jim Broadbent, early on to Indy at the university, 'i guess we're at the point where life stops giving us things are starts taking them away' - i dont think that served as a theme for the movie, i think that was ironic and sad, cause at the end, we realize that i was referring to lucas and spielberg having life and age take away their ability to make films. like in the warehouse when indy is swinging on the rope, he undershoots, and falls into the truck behind him. it was funny and awesome, the noise he made, some 'oops,' a great scene, ruined WITHIN itself, by indy taking the time out of the fight to give some line about 'oh, i thought that was closer, derpaderpderp' - OBVIOUSLY. not a single person in the theater thought that he MEANT to screw that up and fly into the wrong jeep. completely unnecessary line. and an unnecessary movie. why make a part 4 if it isnt better than any of the previous 3? die hard 4 was better than die hard 2, its ok that they made it. this movie was NOT better than temple, why did they make it?
Exposition Jones...
by Embeedeuce
May 22nd, 2008
02:40:58 PM
And the Sound Stages of Doom.
double post
by Megamonki
May 22nd, 2008
02:41:04 PM
let me continue what I liked is that it felt exactly like an indiana jones movie but i had my gripes 1.too much CG- Some of the CG shots were incredible and iconic like Indy standing in front of the Nuke explosion and the saucer but the overuse in areas like the jungle chase and the ending really took away from it 2-rushed character development-especially between Indy and marion in the finale and 3 The last scene-the last 3 ended with an iconic scene that always gave the audience closure while leaving it open for the next but in this one its more like their saying "their might be another but if not..this will do" I hope they do another and give it a proper send off. Otherwise it was great entertainment-Ford was incredible and stepped into the role like he never left(which makes me hope it restarts his career) the action was classic and fun and the characters really carried the movie Id give a solid A
Are you people CRAZY ? THAT WAS PAINFUL!
by marcusisburning
May 22nd, 2008
02:41:14 PM
I have literally grown up on Indiana jones, and in 2 hours it was turned into a mockery of itself! I felt raped and sodomized by George Lucas and Steven Speilberg. I had to go home and watch the last crusade just to lie to myself that this mess ever happened. And besides being horribly written, directed, lit, acted, and horrible computer animation on things as simple as a fridge, THERE WAS NO FUCKING INDY IN IT. Since when did people change so dramatically when they aged. Especially a character who doesn't know how to grow up and commit like indy, where was the passion in the only thing he loved the chase of history and the will to do what's right? He just submitted to everything. I should have known when Shaun Connery wasn't it it that it was gonna be bad. But I couldn't have predicted a train wreck like this. All you people who liked it should be ashamed. You should be ashamed to be drones of the media who like crap. You people make it so that George Lucas will eventually destroy everything he ever made that was good. Who needs 27 versions of star wars and indiana jones. Next on his list is Willow! ! ! The man is mad with power and you are just feeding the crazy fire. Fricking aliens! What the fricking hell? I am ashamed to have paid to go see it. And I want my money back. I paid to have my child hood ruined.
typos abound
by ReginaldBarclaysInsecurities
May 22nd, 2008
02:42:43 PM
oh well, you get what i was saying
John Williams Is the Man
by Bensmitty234
May 22nd, 2008
02:42:58 PM
I have to admit, leaving this movie, I was a little disappointed. I got the impression it was a little rushed script-wise. And I though the special effects were a little more than cheesy. That being said, I enjoyed myself and I look forward to seeing it again. Usually I form my final opinion by the second time anyways. But seriously how awesome was the music? Did anyone else get a little giddy once the Father-Son theme showed up at the end from Last Crusade? It's just little touches like that that made this movie more magical than National Treasure or the Mummy.
expectations
by maverick2484
May 22nd, 2008
02:43:13 PM
I'm amazed by the number of comments I've read from folks who talk about being "a true Indy fan" and then go on to talk about how this is the worst film imaginable. I've already posted a positive review on this talkback, but I'm open to intelligent criticism, provided that it's fair. I'm a bit miffed by some of these supposed "true Indy fans" who dislike Indy IV for such crucial reasons as CGI monkeys and gophers; these creatures take up a total of maaaayybe 1 min of screen time. Seriously, saying that these bits ruined the movie for you is as non-sensical as saying that Raiders was ruined when the monkey gave a 'hail Hitler' sign, or that Temple was ruined when Willie was served eyeball soup, or that Crusade was ruined when Connery took down a Nazi plane by shooing pigeons with his umbrella. Guys, for your own sake, take off the rose tinted glasses and admit that the entire Indy series is LOADED with fun-but-stupid moments. Some of these "true Indy fans" are acting like the first three films were models of perfection, and that's simply not true. Each film has great moments, and good moments and downright lousy moments, but the good vastly outweighs the bad, and I would argue that the same is true of Indy IV. Indy films have NEVER been models of character development, and as for certain things looking too fake, I'd be curious to know how a "real" Mayan/alien temple looks, exactly. Today's a great day for Indy fans, if only you're willing to look at the goodness that's right in front of you. Many of you guys aren't merely comparing the new film to the existing trilogy; you're comparing it to your idealized 8 year old memories of the trilogy, and it can never compare, because something that's idealized was never real to begin with.
Here we go, i wondered how long it would be before RAPE was ment
by barnaby jones
May 22nd, 2008
02:44:16 PM
Sigh.
Loved it... anyone who disliked it is insane
by Razorback
May 22nd, 2008
02:44:34 PM
You expect too much. Fuck off and die.
Here is How I Think It Went Down
by deigh
May 22nd, 2008
02:45:00 PM
A FEW YEARS AGO: Let's picture a scene, shall we? We are somewhere, deep in the Dreamworks movie lot. As we pass numerous office buildings, we zoom into one, and up to a closed metal door, with no window. Behind the door is some crazy (yet, strangely subdued chatter), something has got the people in this room extremely excited. We pass through the door, only to find a board room. A half dozen people are jammed around a conference table, gesticulating wildly. But we notice that the voices are a little subdued, hushed even. It is as if this meeting is top secret. We can barely make out snippets of conversation: "Yes, I cannot believe that Harrison is going to do it!" "We have got to make this one count! The fans have waited too long." "I have got some good ideas." "Yeah, but we have to get the feel right. Ya know, the dialogue, the action scenes." "Yeah, yeah, and for heaven's sake, no CGI. Let's roll this old school." "Let's get the original team, especially the writers. What's Larry up to these days?" Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. The entire room goes quiet. The knock sounds again. A desperate, whiny voice (a Kermit the Frog voice) comes from behind the baracade. "You Guys! You Guys! C'mon, you guys! I know that you're in there . . ." From inside the room, several people make a low shhhhh sound. A man with a small, neat beard raises his voice to just above a whisper, "If we are really quiet, maybe he'll think we've gone away." From outside the room, we hear, "C'mon, guys. Lemme in. This isn't fair." The bearded man sighs, and begins to stand. There is a chorus of whispered no's, and dont's. But he just sadly shakes his head. As he walks toward the door, one last voice comes to him from the table, "Stevie, at least make him do the Truffle Shuffle." Steven Spielberg waves them off, and opens the door. Behind it, George Lucas stands there, dancing like a kid needing to pee. "Hey, Stevie," he dances back and forth, "Wh-wh-what ya doin'?" Steven sighs, "Oh, uh, hiya George. Not much. What's up with you?" "You guys havin' a meeting?" George asks, trying to peer around Steven, and into the room. "Meeting? Naw, just a little brainstorming session. Ya know, thinking about future projects like Tin Tin, Schindler's List 2, (cough cough) ahem Indy 4." "I knew it!" Lucas yells, pumping his fist into the air. There is a collective groan from the room behind Steven. "Ya gotta let me in, Steven. It's in my contract. I created Indy." Steven lets out the mother of sighs and then opens the door. George walks into the room. He looks around, grins, and says, "How do you guys feel about aliens?"
If you don't want a letdown, go see SPEED RACER...
by Chishu_Ryu
May 22nd, 2008
02:47:36 PM
...you might even have the whole theater to yourself!
Razorback
by deigh
May 22nd, 2008
02:49:27 PM
Oh, you mean like cohesive story, watchable action, practical effects, Harrison actually sounding like Indiana Jones, Marion being Marion instead of Mutt being Marion, and Marion not being on Lithium smiling like an idiot child for her three lines of dialogue? Damn. I think I expected too much.
Thoughts after last night . . .
by deigh
May 22nd, 2008
02:50:23 PM
I took my six year old son to his first midnight movie experience, last night, and I will cherish that memory forever . . . no matter what other franchise they decide to destroy. I can not begin to tell you the anticipation that I had for the new Indiana movie. I can catagorically say that I looked forward to this movie far more than any of the "new" Star Wars movies. Indy has always been my favorite of Harrison Ford's characters. Even when ridiculously silly events are happening on screen, Ford helps me suspend disbelief, and breathes a sense of credibility just with a subtle twitch of facial muscle, and the steely glint in his eyes. Add that to the fact that the Indy series has always relied on practical effects and matte paintings, rather than the computer generated abominations that pranced around the Star Wars prequels, and you have one happy fanboy that can escape the reality of middle America for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, Lucas has tarnished all of the old Spielberg magic by insisting on a subpar script, way too much CGI, and a Jar Jar Binks stupidity that permeates the entire second half of the movie. How do I know that it is Lucas? Because of the countless interviews that I read from him, where he stated that all of the silly crap that I hated about this film, he was responsible for. The worst thing about this movie is that after almost twenty years of waiting for Indy, Marion, and their offspring, we didn't get Indy, and their child was more Marion than Marion was. I don't know who gave Marion Ravenwood the Lithium, but she walks around in a daze, with a silly grin on her face, the entire movie. There is no hint of the witty banner, the sly seduction, and the overall Rosie-the-Riveter grit from the first film. Instead, there is a vacuous old maid, who laughs at Indy's crazy antics, and gives enduring smiles. Seriously, what the . . . ? And Indy? When did he become a giant wuss? I mean, there are moments that he really feels like Indiana Jones. There are moments when he delivers lines that made me want to cheer. There were a couple of times when I thought that this really was a throwback to my childhood. But those times were few and far between. I don't know what they were thinking, but when 90% of Indy's dialogue is exposition, the audience tends to lose interest really darn quick, especially if the overall story is just ludicrously silly. Actually, one of the best things about this movie was Shia. I remember liking him when I saw him in Holes, and although the orignial purity and innocence that made him so appealing was not evident in this film, he still continues to grow as an actor. I was not a big Transformers fan, but I liked him in that movie, and I liked him in Indy 4. It is just too bad they made him do that one really stupid thing with the monkeys and the vines . . . On the plus side, one of the genuine "chill" moments that gave me fanboy goose pimples was his, and that came at the end of the movie. . . Lastly, and most importantly. I HATE CGI! There, I said it. CGI freakin' sucks. Ok, it is one thing to use it to make a dinosaur walk or a killer ant attack, but come on, George and Steven! Why?! WHY!? The entire second half of the movie had everything that I hated about the prequels. The other Indy movies were so great, and largely because of their incredible production, sets, and practical effects. Why did they have to make an entire jungle chase be CGI? They couldn't have tried to find someway of recreating the Raiders truck chase? No, they had to rely on green screens and crappy Lucasfilm effects. It is amazing that a team that absolutely revolutionized movie storytelling, and created modern special effects, have sold their souls to the "easy way out" (or the dark side for you star wars fans) of CG effects. Nothing looks real anymore. I will not go to any more Lucas movies. I am burned out and ticked off. Thanks for raping my heroes George. You did it with Star Wars, and now you did it with Indy. The one good thing to come out of this experience was that I got to take my six year old. He will always remember that he and daddy went to that midnight show together. I wouldn't change that for all the world. I just wish that the movie had been worth the wait.
Memories
by RandySavage
May 22nd, 2008
02:50:37 PM
I can't decide. The Catch-22 of this film (like Revenge of the Sith) is that while it suffers major problems with respect to plotting, script, and characterization, there are also many moments that are great Indy canon. And anything Indy canon is gold in my eyes.

Kasdan, Hyuck and Boam all knew and helped define and strengthen Indy's character. Keopp didn't have the skill to stay completely true to this character. In fact, Keopp completely breaks character more than a few times (eg, during the FBI interrogation; when he almost wet himself at seeing Marion for the first time; or defining the difference between quicksand and a mudhole as he sunk). Indy would go back and forth from telling-off the Russians to aiding & abetting them. There was also much left unexplained and confused: why the cemetery guardians were there; Ox's happiness towards Indy marrying his wife; the murderous and God-complex-wearing trans-dimensional archaeologist aliens; how Indy got back in the good graces of Marshall College, etc., etc.

The screenplay was extremely bloated, inconsistent and uninspired.

I'm wishing they had rebooted the franchise with Nathan Fillion and stayed in the 1920s or 30's serials.

maverick2484
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
02:52:07 PM
In order to be a "true Indy fan" we have to love whatever we're given, no matter how shitty it is? This is reminiscent of the "true Star Wars fans" who swore up and down those shit prequels were equal to the "real" Star Wars movies. It doesn't make you any less of a fan to actually be able to form one's own opinions. Your reasoning is the same kind of reasoning I always hear about "true Americans" never question American policy. That's bullshit in both cases.
maverick2484
by Spacekicker2001
May 22nd, 2008
02:52:31 PM
There is a large difference between getting a CGI monkey to do something and getting a real monkey to do something, which is believability, which THIS movie seems to lack in any fashion. In the other three they stretched reality alot, but within the confines of the universe you believe Yeah, you could do that. The practical effects, ACTUAL locations, help lead you down to the usual leap to fantasy that happens at the end of each of the movies. This one starts with a leap of fantasy (refrigerator as the way to survive a ATOMIC BOMB) to more and more leaps of fantasy, should I mention the I can swing on vines thing again, or how about the fact that MAC somehow couldn't lift himself off the ground at the end for some unknown reason (it wasn't the vortex yet, he wasn't pinned, was he too fat?). Maybe it was the overtness of the "alien" gag. Oh look pictures of an alien on the wall, look there is a map on the dusty floor, at least I think that's a map, it's not near as cool as the staff of Ra, but eh. How about the nonsensical moments with John Hurt, or the monkey man that had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MOVIE. The dumb plot device of sinking sand only to be there in order to have the reveal of who Mutt is. dumb and lazy. How'd indy get his whip back? how did Mac have a bag of homing devices that just HAPPEN to be with him? Why are the prisoners in the LAST car? Where did the truck of soldiers disappear to, only to reappear after the fight scenes are over? Why did they run from a truck with an old man, old woman and a young kid when they had A ARMY OF SOLDIERS??? lazy
Oh I forgot one major problem!
by marcusisburning
May 22nd, 2008
02:55:34 PM
I've seen Indiana Jones and the Crystal scull before. They were the first 3 indian jones movies. like the cliff and the water or maybe the trucks crashing into each other, these and more were all from the other movies. But I gotta say the lowest copy point for me was borrowing from star wars. The sword fight on top the trucks was way to similar to the speeder scene in star wars with luke and the storm trooper. Or was is from episode 2 where obiwan fights against a Sith in a similar circumstance with light sabers. I have to believe that George lucas has alzheimers. Because any movie he produces and has a major hand in has the same crap. So he puts it in one movie. Then makes another and puts the same idea in again. Peopel have to stop this crazy power crazed man.
maverick2484
by YakMalla
May 22nd, 2008
02:55:51 PM
Exactly. That's what I tried to say in my earlier post. If you go in to see "Crystal Skull" expecting to feel like you felt when you saw "Raiders" for the first time, you are 100% certain to be disappointed. You can't experience something for the first time more than once.
Hmmm...
by Mr. Nice Gaius
May 22nd, 2008
02:55:57 PM
Scanning through the headlines, I noticed we got a lot of n00bs on the board. I can't remember the last time I saw this many new Talkbackers come out of the woodwork.

And po'warriorII is now po'warriorIII?

LOLZERS!!!

More George/Steve...
by TylerDurden3395
May 22nd, 2008
02:56:46 PM
Steve: George, I wanted to talk to you about the look of the film. George: Sure Steve. Steve: I was thinking maybe a lot of deep reds like Temple of Doom or earthy tones like Last Cru... George: No, we're not doing any of that Steve. Every frame of this movie must be over-lit like a Sealy Posture Pedic commercial. Steve: I see... George: You know those infomercials where Chuck Norris and Christy Brinkley are on the rowing machine? Steve: Yeah I love those. George: I want the entire movie to look like that. Steve: Sure, George. Now how about the action, I've been telling the press how we're making a return to realistic stuntwork like Old Time Hollywood and... (George falls out of his Huttese throne laughing) Steve: What's wrong George. George: Jesus Steve haven't you learned anything from Attack of the Clones? It's all going to be CGI. Steve: Good call. Now when we get Karen back I'm thinking... George: I'm paying her per word of dialogue so make sure she says less than fifty words in the whole movie, not including "He's your son." Steve: Okay. I can see it now, it'll be just like Luke finding out Vader was his father. George: No actually it'll seem more like Happy Days Meets Tales from the Gold Monkey, but you are right Steve that whole father/son thing is the only plot thing I've ever had up my sleeve. Unless of course there's racing involved. There IS racing involved, right? Steve: Right at the very beginning. But's it's totally pointless. A bunch of kids drive a jalopy and race the Russkies. It serves no purpose whatsoever. I'm thinking of axing it. George: Don't make me take away your Lego money Steve. Steve: Sorry. George: Well, gotta go now Steve, but let me leave you with this little nugget of advice... CGI groundhogs... HUH...HUH, am I a genius or what? TTFN...
YakMalla
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
02:58:14 PM
Not true. I felt that same way THREE TIMES with three different Indy movies. It's not that this film didn't evoke a certain feeling within me, it's that it was intrinisically different from the other three Indy films. Even the opening credits sequence didn't feel like an Indy film.
Gaius, what's your opinion?
by GregoryHarbin
May 22nd, 2008
02:59:06 PM
Seriously, I'm hurting for the review of someone I actually respect.
Brunomac
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
02:59:25 PM
Nice analogy. You made me laugh, which is more than I can say for Indy 4.
Hating this movie will NOT get you laid.
by YakMalla
May 22nd, 2008
03:01:25 PM
Liking something doesn't make you a wussy virgin, and hating something doesn't make you a stud. Grow a pair and admit you had fun even if it wasn't better than "Raiders".
deigh, you're bit about the clubhouse...
by RandySavage
May 22nd, 2008
03:01:43 PM
with George and Stephen is hysterical.
YakMalla
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
03:02:59 PM
Loving this movie won't get you laid either. You are living proof of that.
Sigh...the rape comments are so lame
by cdubbs727
May 22nd, 2008
03:04:08 PM
Dude, if you walked out of a movie feeling that your childhood was ruined and that you were "raped and sodomized" by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, you have a sad and pathetic life. If your childhood is summed up by a movie and that not enjoying a movie is akin to being sexually assaulted, then you have absolutely no concept of reality. Seriously, we rag on Harry for crying tears of joy over this...but I want to rag on anyone who actually becomes enraged over brought to tears because a movie doesn't work. If you go see a movie and you like it, awesome. If not, you simple realize that it was only two hours of your life and you go back home and get on with your life. Also, the comment about how Indy wouldn't change that much in 20 years? That's just idiotic. Our priorities and passions change through life. Yes, at a younger age Indy was probably passionate about archeology more than anything. But time and mortality mellow you. Now he's passionate about teaching and he looks at the setbacks in life and the one that got away. That's one I think I really like about this movie is that they deal with Indy's age realistically and not as an age joke.
What made me feel raped by Lucas and Spielberg
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
03:06:07 PM
was my torn asshole and the blood in my pants at the end of the night. Ouch!
this talk back raped my
by g-ride9000
May 22nd, 2008
03:06:23 PM
adulthood....but i liked it.
When they were raping me
by Cruel_Kingdom
May 22nd, 2008
03:07:02 PM
Lucas kept trying to cram his cock down my throat. Lucky for me it was a CGI cock.
Prequels Redux
by YakMalla
May 22nd, 2008
03:07:03 PM
Man, this reminds me of the prequel wars. Everybody bitching about how bad those films were, especially on the fourth or fifth viewing.
Indiana Jones and the Apologists of CGI UFOs and Monkeys
by SpyGuy
May 22nd, 2008
03:07:27 PM
"What? You dare criticize the Mighty Spieluca$ and point out how flawed the movie is? This is intolerable!"
This goes for all those Maverics out there
by marcusisburning
May 22nd, 2008
03:07:59 PM
Forgive me for having taste in movies and flaunting it, I forgot that there are people out there not as fortunate as me who have none. When I go see a movie. it is for an experience. I want to be emotionally involved in the story and characters. I forgot some people only go to look at the pretty colors.
Black Jack Bauer
by BauerJackBauer
May 22nd, 2008
03:08:04 PM
Your pain gives me STRENGTH.
GregoryHarbin
by Mr. Nice Gaius
May 22nd, 2008
03:08:32 PM
Thanks. Unfortunately (Fortunately?), I have not yet seen INDY 4. I'm a huge Indy fan...and a diehard disciple of RAIDERS. However, reading