Truthfully, I do not understand why is this film getting so much negative critique?? First of all, lets get something straightened out before I make an attempt to dissect the film. What we have to remember is that neither Lucas or Spielberg never had the vision of reinventing the hero nor give the trilogy a rebirth. The film was made (according to the director and the producer) merely as a fourth installment to already well-established trilogy.
Yes, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a fourth installment, not a remake, re-invention or rebirth of the saga or the characters. Unfortunately this is what most people don’t seem or want to understand. I would also like to point out the fact that we’ve all grown up (it has been 19 years since the last Indy installment) and perhaps what most of us expected was the film to fascinate us just as the previous ones did back when we were kids? The truth is that if you’re expecting a rebirth of the franchise (like the new Batman films, or the latest 007 films), then you will be disappointed. I will guarantee that. However, if you watch the fourth Indy installment as if it was just another Indy movie…you will enjoy it. At least I did.
Yes, there are some scenes that are (way) over the top, but that’s what Indy films are all about. Indy films have always been about action, adventure, mystique, and fun. All this considered I must say that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull delivers on all four of the previously mentioned fronts. Besides, the latest installment delivers numerous elements and references from the previous Indy films. I mean, even the punching sounds are the same old-fashioned “thumps”.
Harrison (at 66) is as good as he was when he was clinging onto the Mercedes three-point-star logo on a Nazi truck (Raiders of the Lost Ark) or confronting the Fuhrer himself (The Last Crusade). Truth is, Harrison Ford is in great shape and gives a performance just as good as in the previous films.
I think that some of the shortcomings of the film was that the Soviets were a bit too ordinary and far less evil from the Nazis (primary villains in the previous Indy films), but at least their accents were flawless. Another one would be Ray Winstone's supporting character "Mac". I think the latter was just poorly written for this script.
Conclusively, Indy films never have been and (God forbid) never will be realistic and serious. Indy films are supposed to be fun and entertaining and this one is no different.
* * * * (four out of five). Recommended for anyone who enjoys Indy films, without over analyzing Hollywood’s entertainment industry.
V.
Enjoyed Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Viira recommends: all the previous Indiana Jones films.
Poster courtesy of http://www.impawards.com/
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