Yep, Im goin there. First off, this was supposed to be the movie to kick off the summer blockbuster season for me, as I had NO intention to see Iron Man. Well, I had some time with my brother and he wanted to see it. So, I went to see Iron Man and Im glad I did. It was great. Not like Oscar worthy great (although the effects may be) but just a good, fun film and Robert Downey Jr was fantastic as Tony Stark. It just worked. So go see it! That is the film that kicked off the summer for me then, and I went to go see Indy on thursday when it opened. So, Spoiler alert; Here goes the review.........
Umm, Overall, Its Ok. Bottom line. There are some moments that are absoulutly gold; Just pure Indy magic Incarnate. The Ark Cameo; When Karen Allen as Marion comes back in, they atomatically start up and Its like old times. Also, when he has to pull out of quicksand with a snake, that was really fun. I also didnt even mind the Sci-Fi theme, even tho I missed the mythical, Godly angle. I just dont think "aliens" and "archeology" in the same sentence,but hey, its all good and good to go along for the ride. But there are Things that are truly terrible. The obvious; Shia Lebouf swinging with chimps on vines was just so stupid and laughable that you had to wonder if they all did PCP to live out the "old days" and ignored that day of shooting. And the sheer amount of CGI; especially shot with old stock it really looks fake. Shot in digital, I do understand that its tailor made for CGI but shot on old grain it looks really, REALLY bad. The lighting was all weird; It had that illuminesant glow through the whole movie; ala the end of last crusade when he met the mythical knight. I thought that blooming was supposed to be for things like that; Not an entire film. Very few shots in the movie had crispness to it and it was just weird to see it overused like that. Im thinkin it was used so much to cover up the cgi and make it blend in better. Shia I could take or leave; No where near the chemistry (though I understand why) that Indy had with his dad, although there was a great moment at the end when he grabs the hat and Indy snatches it. I just thought for the most part he was just put in at the last minute. It could of definatly been fleshed out better. Cate Blanchett; Not really the formidable Foe I wished for. I miss the Nazis to be truthful. And they were always the ultimate Villan. The russians are good, but I dont like how they were fleshed out as villians either. The standard traitor is in there, but he flips like crazy and really his death at the end was tacked on. I would of loved to see him get the boot from a trap of some sort.
I did love seeing Indy back in action tho. He is REALLY old in this film; even the delivery of his lines and how long it takes him to deliver anger and stuff; Its like he has to rev up for everything. It was all so slow. Such is life when you get older tho,huh? Things slow down. He was fine and it got really good when Marion came back in the picture. I gotta say too; I miss Marcus and Indy's father. I understand killing them off; I just wish they couldve got sean connery back for a cameo or something instead of killing him off. Obviously, with Marcus, the actor died so that made sense. It just seems like so much time has passed since (and it has). Its deppresing in some regards cause it just makes you realize youve aged so much and your not a kid. Overall, there were alot of moments I couldve lived with out. I thought alot of the "feeling" of the previous 3 were gone from this one; I cant put my finger on it but with all those people not on this film (the old cinematographer, lighter etc.) it really makes a diffrence. Alot like Lucas comin back to starwars; it didnt have the feel 20 years later. But what can one excpect? I love Indy; I will overlook the shortcomings and I will get this on DVD. Oh, and if the rumors from reports I read of Indy 5 havin Shia Lebouf star and Harrison has a small cameo are true, I am personally denouncing Lucas.
