|
Indiana Jones & the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
By Clayton
Davis
Did it really need a
long title like The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?
From Steven
Spielberg & producer George Lucas comes the fourth installment of the
Indiana Jones series, Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal
Skull. Harrison Ford reprises his role as the great and daring Dr.
Jones who gets called back into action after being brought into a web of
deceit and mystery surrounding crystal skulls.
Fortunately, the
action of Indiana is still there at age 60 and it is great to catch up
with him to see what has been going on in his life. In the past years
he’s lost his father (played by Sean Connery in the last film) and
Marcus Brody (played by Denholm Elliot), two pillars in his adventures.
Indy seems a little lonelier, a little less ambitious and even more
uneven in his characteristics.
The storyline from
David Koepp doesn’t give the audience enough credit. Unless they expect
us to be utter morons or just accept the things that are occurring, the
story doesn’t flow and the action sequences are even more ridiculous.
Framing from a 60-year old Indy whipping on to a light into a car or
the young Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf) becoming Tarzan and swinging from
vines onto a moving vehicle, the film is too sloppy to suffice.
There are many other
things that the film nags at me with, one being the tasteless love story
between Indy and his Raiders of the Lost Ark love, Marion
Ravenwood. We wanted them together two sequels ago and frankly I could
care less anymore. Nothing is ever explained of her disappearance and
if anything, it makes Jones seem like a real “butt-hole” if it was.
The villains are as
two-dimensional as they can get especially coming from the
multi-talented Cate Blanchett who plays her accent well but no life or
rage to her character as we have seen in past foes.
The technicalities
of the film from the lukewarm art direction or second rate visual
effects, (they looked better back in the 80’s) the film is no marvel or
spectacle. I’ll hold my breath for another stab at this franchise as I
think they bridge us to that idea at the finale. Indy is a little
disappointing but hold fast for some entertainment and action-thrills.
**/****
Email Us
|
