Movie Review
‘Indiana Jones’ Returns Only to Disappoint Fans
Posted by Nathan Deen (nathan@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 22, 2008
It’s been 19 long, highly anticipated years since we saw Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. ride off into the sunset in The Last Crusade. Now, Harrison Ford finally returns to the big screen as everyone’s favorite louche in Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Does the dynamite, imaginative duo of creator George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg resuscitate what is arguably the most well known and beloved protagonist to ever grace the big screen? Sadly, no. This appears to be a case where all involved had a blast getting back together for a fourth film after what appeared to be a concluded trilogy, but forgot to make a good movie.
Don’t think of me as some kind of cynical looking for attention here. Take this review for what you will, but I promise it comes from the disappointed heart of someone who thinks Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the all-time great movies. And I’m not even trying to measure Crystal Skull with Raiders either. Even compared to The Temple of Doom, which I consider to be the weakest of the original three, the film doesn’t live up to the billing. I believe the cardinal rule for a critic is to just be honest and to backup your opinion with good arguments. That’s just what I intend to do here.
The first hour of Crystal Skull is Indiana Jones at its cinematic best, while the farcical second hour completely destroys everything the film had going for it. The setup is really fantastic, and in it we get to experience Spielberg’s love for the 1950’s. The movie begins with the most unexpected scene of two guys and their girlfriends cruising on the open desert road when they stumble upon a group of military vehicles and try to get the lead car to drag race with them.
Then we follow that convoy as they drive to a restricted base, which we soon learn is Area 51. Then we realize that the soldiers in the convoy aren’t American, but Soviets in disguise. They kill all the guards and break into a warehouse filled with our nation’s most closely kept secrets. You would think that Area 51 would be under more heavy guard, but no matter; it’s fun so far. Next, we see our old pal Indiana Jones (Ford) and his war buddy Mac (Ray Winstone) being dragged out of a trunk. The leader of the Soviets, Iriana Spalko (Cate Blanchett), tells Jones he’s been brought there to help them find one of thousands of boxes, the contents of which Jones apparently helped research.
After the Soviets find what they are looking for, cue Indy to make his spectacular escape. Back in New York, Indy is approached by Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), a greaser who is quick with a knife and good on a bike and in a lot of ways akin to Indiana himself. Mutt knows Indy’s former collegemate, Professor Oxley (John Hurt), very well and comes to Jones with information about Oxley’s latest research about a crystal skull and the lost city of El Dorado. Then the two head for South America to solve a mystery that’s out of this world, as they discover that the skull was definitely not made by human hands. Meanwhile, they realize that the Soviets also seem to be after the skull, and to obtain leverage on Indy, they kidnap his old flame, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen).
It’s no surprise that Lucas chose for his premise the legend of El Dorado, which just screams adventure. However, I cannot possibly comprehend what Lucas and co-writer Jeff Nathanson were thinking (or smoking) when they decided to send their story into total chaos by adding extra-terrestrials into the mix. By doing this, the writers have a lot of explaining to do and the film gets bogged down and talky with Indy trying to clarify details to the audience; members of which that aren’t paying close attention will find themselves lost and confused as to what is going on. I myself am not totally sure or confident about exactly what happened. So the question I’ll be asking myself for a long time to come is: Why not just simply stick to the concept of the lost city of gold?
It’s amazing when you think about how uneven the movie is. It’s a tale of two halves. I was satisfied with the first hour, and with the exception of Indy surviving the epicenter of a nuclear blast at a test site (not kidding), it felt like the Indy movies of old, fraught with well timed humor and action. There’s one scene, which I’m sure you’ve seen in the teaser trailer, where Indy tries to whip towards a car, misses, falls back into a cargo truck and says “Damn, I thought that was closer.” That’s great stuff, but then we have to watch in disbelief as the movie jettisons all reason and plausibility and collapses on itself with a ridiculous final thirty minutes.
Say what you will about the age factor making no difference for Harrison Ford, but I did not sense the same swagger and pizzazz he had twenty years ago. Maybe his performance was perfunctory, but something about him felt off. Shia LaBeouf makes for a worthy sidekick as Mutt, while Cate Blanchett is only a memorable villain because of her distinctive appearance. The Nazi’s made a much better opponent than the Soviets do here. Ray Winstone is lackluster as Mac, and we’re never sure about which side he is on. Finally, Karen Allen does make a most welcome return as Marion and she, more than Harrison himself, is the one who hasn’t missed a beat in 27 years.
As far as action goes, every Indiana Jones movie has one memorable chase sequence, and Crystal Skull is no exception. This one is set in the jungles of the Amazon, and I think it should be compared with the truck chase in Raiders; at least until Shia LaBeouf suddenly becomes Tarzan. On a technical level, this is the far superior film, but with today’s technology, that is to be expected. The cinematography by Spielberg’s longtime partner Janusz Kaminiski (he also worked on the amazing recent masterpiece, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) is breathtakingly lavish and there are some wide shots of waterfalls that are spectacular. Still, none of this really matters without a good story at the movie’s center.
Thus, there is little question as to what the most disappointing film of 2008 is so far. 19 years of writing and rewriting scripts, and all for nothing. The supposed reason it has taken so long is because Lucas was never satisfied with any of the proposed scripts. Well, I can’t imagine anyone of them being any weaker or sillier or more incongruous than the one at hand. In my mind, that shot of Indiana riding off into the sunset will always be the final shot of this series.
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22 Comments
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
it was dumbass Gearge Lucas’ idea to have the aliens… so it’s his fault. not the writers.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Lucas is one of the writers. He has story credit, and he’s an EP. David Koepp is the only writer given screenplay credit, and he also wrote War of the Worlds and Secret Window so don’t be so quick to let him off the hook.
If there is a hook to be let off of, that is.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I think the aliens could have been a good idea - keeping with the 1950’s theme, but I don’t think it was well executed. Maybe rather than have the aliens as coming back to life it could have opened up some sort of proper treasure.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
BIG HUGE
SPOILERS
AHEAD
Well Nathen, first off, the car race in the beginning was symbolic of the coldwar between the US and the USSR, we just didn’t get that right away because we think those are Marines. But then it also explains why the lead vehicle would race in the first place, (right off the bat the film is allready into symbology).
BTW,That base was refered to as Hanger 51 in the film, not Area 51.
Area 51, is an “Underground base” that uses an Airbase as a cover and also wasn’t built til 1951. As we see the film takes place in 1947.
I agree the Russians were nothing compared to the Nazi’s they seemed souless and stupid. A better choice would have been (the original men in black the OSS).
The film was complex I guess if you have kids and there trying to keep up.
There was a brillaint scene where Speilberg practically SCREAMS out a warning of the NWO! I thought it was amazing how he used bright light to emphisize his point. (SEE THE LIGHT PEOPLE). That scene is where the Russian leader forces Indy to stare into the Skull , (You have to pay attention to the dialog).
The Alien angle was appropriate because the Skull was an Alien artifact.
How was that a surprise the Skull is right there on the Poster?
The past films have used Supernatural forces, how is that more real than alien life? (Since both catagories are considered conspiracy or voodoo). ;-)
Also, if you do the research on alien origins. There’s alot of stories about Aliens at one time that came to this planet to mine Gold they used slave labor to do it.
The story here in Indy 4 is pretty simple, at one time in the past the Mayans found a way to stop the aliens and freeze them in their ship, in a sorta suspendid dimensional animation. The Skull was taken from the location and acts as a Key.
When man is exposed to the Skull it takes over the person and compels him to return the artifact to the Lost City of Gold. (Sometimes resulting in madness).
The ending is simply this, the Skull leads our heros to the Lost City of Gold, witch is a false city only to get men to want to seek it out for the gold, the Skull only wants to be reunited with its lost host (Key). Once returned we realise that the aliens are evil and by returning the Skull they have released the evil aliens from their prison. (It was very similar to the first film if anything).
Again Indys left with nothing at the end except a good tale and well you know…..
I thought that you were right about Harrison being just a little off and the Shia monkey scene was a little over the top but the film was visually stunning and wasn’t boring.
This film has more chase scene time than all past films combined. And let’s face it Cate Blanchett was Smoking Hot!
I had a good time.
I hope that clears some things up Nathen.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
790–
That’s 1957, not 47. Shia’s pompadour and the opening shot being set to Elvis Presley should’ve cleared that up.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Tiny mistake, though. The rest of your point is well thought out and I pretty much agree.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Well I don’t know what version you saw but in the version I saw right at the scene where the russians pull up to the guard shack it clearly says
NEVADA 1947
Anyone else see a 1957????
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
< --censored--> YOU WITH SOMETHING HARD AND SAND-PAPERY GEORGE LUCAS…….. THATS WHAT I
WENT THROUGH WATCHING YOUR TERRIBLE RE-MAKE OF A GREAT TRILOGY. ROT IN HELL
YOU FAT PEICE OF < --censored-->
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Unfortunately, I did learn that there is a myth involving the aliens after I wrote the review. You’re right, I should’ve done some research before jumping into the review. But still, even with that in mind, the whole concept feels out of place like it belongs in a different Spielberg film. I still don’t like the storyline very much.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Yeah no prob Nate. When the film was over I could tell a lot of people didn’t get it and wernt bubbling with wedding bliss. I hate to say it but I think this films prob gonna bomb…..
I still say its 1947, and a friend of mine is going to see it tomarrow, he’s going to doublecheck that for me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 pm
790, Harrison Ford was interviewed by Conan O’Brian last night and he did say the movie was set in 1957, 20 years after the 3rd installment.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Anyone thats seen the film remember the date?
Anyway my point was that the base wasn’t Area 51. It was Hanger 51. A Speilberg nod to the infamous base.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Sorry 790, but you’re really nitpicking. The aliens don’t make sense in an Indiana Jones movie. To argue that they belong because of the skull isn’t valid; The skull is a byproduct of the alien storyline. Plus, the “supernatural” events of the past were all based in the realm of the occult and religious, and drew very heavily from the series’ origins in the adventure serials of the mid-1900s.
Also, the plot itself isn’t too convoluted. However, the argument made here is that the way the plot is given to the audience makes it rediculously hard to follow throughout.
Listen, I tried to defend this movie too, but once it ended I just couldn’t do it anymore. The major points still stand.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 pm
The fact that people had to go look up the alien-pyramid-culture mythos afterward is indicative of the main problem. Indy should have been telling us that throughout (all the while scoffing at it as hooey). Instead, we get a situation where everyone in the theater understood it was an alien skull, and Indy didn’t make the connection.
Anytime I understand what’s going on better than Indy, that’s not a good sign.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
what is the difference between a arc, the holy grail, and aliens, they all are made up and fake, i liked the movie, i thought i fit perfectly with the other series and had much of the same feel as the others, the only thing i didnt really like were the obvious cgi gophers, and the mutt swinging with the monkeys was a little childish, but over all it fit pretty well, indiana jones is all about those crazy made up artifacts from the past, aliens fit right into that.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:22 am
Well Indy got a clue after the mindmeld with the Skull, and the NWO speech.
The antz were very twisted.
Thats gotta hurt.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
Indy 4 was more disappointing and even much worse than any of the Star Wars prequels!!!!!!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 am
Think of it like this, what if this film came out in place of “Temple of Doom?”.
Back then with these effects and ET theme It would have been fucking HUGE!!
Why now does it suck? And fans calling Lucas (¤$$#o€)?
The guy changed movies forever and he’s a living ledgend and because you don’t agree with the plot of Indy 4 and hate Jar Jar Binks, he’s fucking satan?
What the Fuck people????
Get a grip on reality blank and anybody, the guys doing the best he can shit ya think he wants to fail??? ;-)
Their trying to make a family fun adventure….and you just bitch and whine, “eeh there’s aliens that’s gay!”…
F*#king pathetic!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
790 i was for the movie dipshit
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Sorry about that chief.
I had a few tooo many last night.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
hey dudes thought id post a quick comment- I agree with what most people say.
First off I was entertained i enjoyed it . BUT…..
What didnt work was a god damn CGI gopher and TWICE ! ,Why the hell didnt they just use a real one, as the only purpose i can see is its an opening leading shotl
The problem is they characterised the gopher as well-this is not a PIXAR movie!
If a real gopher was used it would have been absolutely fine and a good openeing shot before the car smashes thru the gophers mound hill-but of course if you are thinking it would be dangerous to the animal blah blah -it wasnt in the shot anyway just the mound This reaks George Lucas influence im just not convinced Spielberg would put random cgi characters in his movies and in random parts. Since the star wars prequels what else can one think?
Next up , the sword fighting while doing the splits across two jeeps. !nuff said
Again multiple CGI monkeys, why?? oh why oh why-they do not enhance the scene-utterly pointless and again if this was removed it would have improved it some what. The tarzan thing too was just plain silly
-maybe swinging once or twice is fine but crossing large jungle areas to chase down a speeding jeep over multiple vines-its just too silly In a tarzan movie yes, he grew up in the jungle but a punk kid from the city??
The CGI other than listed above was excellent its just CGI monkeys and gophers have no part in an indianna jones film.Out of context.
And cate blanchett is way too attractive to be regarded as a villain reminds me of T3
I cant help but be intrigued by frank darabont’s script-although i did read that alot of his ideas were used.
Hell why noy just keep the stories set in the nazi era and find a new actor to play doctor jones cos some one new is gonna play hiim anyways eventually.
Despite these freak incidents in the movie i did enjoy it alot. But like so many posts here feel that this film is marred by some freak inclusions.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Freaking monkies!
The coolest part of this entire movie was when the Russian bitch was on the front of the boat-car and swung the machine gun around to nearly blow the shit out of Marion!
This is the kind of “smart-action” that the old Indys were all about! They needed more of this and less of the George of the Jungle bullshit and gophers and nuclear surfing in refridgerators.