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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1323
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 12:25 pm: | 
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Like the Beatles’ melancholy refrain in the song “When I’m 64,” Harrison Ford was probably wondering whether his fans would welcome back an “older” and “losing my hair” Indiana Jones after a 19-year hiatus. For that’s exactly how old the veteran actor was when Steven Spielberg started filming the fourth installment in the fabled adventure series.
The good news is that Harrison has aged gracefully and is up to the challenge of his physically-demanding role. However, the overall production is slightly lacking somewhat in terms of generating a certain intangible we’ll call movie magic. Maybe the problem lies in the fact that the film will automatically be measured against the three earlier installments, and that it pales in comparison to those vintage screen classics.
Most folks associate the storied franchise with carefully-choreographed, death-defying stunts you can’t get out of your mind long after you’ve left the theater. Although this endeavor does feature several escape and chase scenes, none in this critic’s opinion would be considered unforgettable.
Gone is that palpable sense of urgency which kept you glued to the edge of your seat, a failing perhaps due to an increased dependency of the special effects on computer-generated imagery. So, instead of seeing our hero actually running headlong in front of a careening boulder, riding under a truck, or swaying on a ripped rope bridge over a swarm of hungry crocodiles like before, he spends a lot more time making believe in front of a blue screen. At least he’s still sporting his trademark whip and fedora.
The story is set in 1957 at the height of the Cold War, unfolding in the Nevada desert where we learn that Indy has been kidnapped by Russian spies led by the steely Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), an Eastern European villainess cut from the familiar mold of Austin Powers’ Frau Farbissina and From Russia with Love’s Rosa Klebb. Tied up in the trunk of a car, Jones is driven to Area 51, a top secret U.S. Air Force base about to be commandeered by the Commies.
Area 51 served as the site of numerous nuclear bomb tests, but even today many UFO conspiracy theorists believe that the location contains the corpse of an alien removed from a spaceship rumored to have crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. This is what is of interest to the KGB which wants Dr. Jones to lead them to the Martian’s mummified remains. For legend has it that it might contain the mysterious Crystal Skull, an ancient artifact said to be capable of unlocking limitless powers, provided it is taken to El Dorado, a lost city made of solid gold.
Of course, ingenious Indy escapes from his captors in spectacular fashion (including surviving an atomic blast inside of a refrigerator) and the race is on to find the priceless icon. Along the way, he teams up with Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), a Harley-riding, rebel without a cause, as well as with Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), an old flame he hasn’t seen for several episodes, since he was looking for the Lost Ark.
The ensuing expedition to the jungles of Peru is less edgy and dangerous than it is comfy and nostalgic, partially because the transparent plot is telegraphs its punches and is outfitted with a complement of the franchise’s usual suspects, from the maniacal henchman (Igor Jijikine) to the back-stabbing, effete double-agent (Ray Winstone) to the obsessed field researcher (John Hurt) to the weak-willed, bureaucratic academic (Jim Broadbent) who plays it by the book.
Just thank your lucky stars that Harrison Ford has the charisma to reinvent one of the most-beloved characters in screen history. Indiana Jones, AARP edition: too spry for a rocking chair, but too ossified for much more excitement than a close encounter with E.T.
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence and frightening images.
Running time: 124 minutes
Studio: Paramount Pictures |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1324
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 12:36 pm: |
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I found this movie remarkably boring. I'm not even sure if I would recommend waiting for the DVD -- at least not to an adult or someone who is old enough to remember the first installment.
The movie was just too silly to be taken seriously. This is why there was no suspense built up.
Shia LaBeouf was miscast.
Actually it seemed more like a mad cap comedy with Harrison escaping from one crazy predicament to the next in the most impossible ways.
The movie relied too much on special effects and I guess to a certain extent the nostalgia associated with the earlier installments.
I'd give this joint one star. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6899
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 12:50 pm: |
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I ain't seen it and ain't going to
One time was enough. They should have let it rest--but the dollar signs was in their eyes. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6900
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 12:51 pm: |
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Question--in the Age of Obama aren't such Superhonky fantasies (Indiana Jones, Rocky, Tarzan, James Bond) obsolete? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 10053
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 01:26 pm: |
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Chris,
What are you going to replace them with? Superkneegrow fantasies? |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1327
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 01:42 pm: |
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Chris I did, reluctantly, see the latest installement of Rocky and I throught is was a very good movie.
I don't think the Superhonky or the Superkneegrow fantasies are obsolete or will be obsolete in our life times.
What is obsolete are poorly done movies. The last installment of Indiana Jones was just poorly done. Or as the white boys in high school used to say; "It Sucked".
Speaking Superkneegrow fantasies I see Will Smith has a new flick coming out in July.
Am I the only one who is tired of seeing the same actors in every big budget movie? The movie's trailer looks interesting, but I'm really not excited of seeing another Will Smith Flick.
I'm stilling waiting for the Luke Cage motion Picture be made. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6905
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 01:53 pm: |
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Chris,
What are you going to replace them with? Superkneegrow fantasies?
(Couldn't hurt--though it would be hard to top them Rudy Ray Moore movies of the 70's) |
Carey
Veteran Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 746
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 02:24 pm: |
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Luke Cage...don't tell me you know someting about Iron Fist & Power Man? Man, that brings back memories---Corner drug store, a cherry coke, a bag of potatoe chips, SAD SACK & POWER MAN! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 10057
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 03:31 pm: |
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Chris,
Yeah. Rudy Ray Moore took the superkneegrow genre about as far as it can (and, please God, SHOULD) ever go. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6916
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 03:41 pm: |
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Yeah. Rudy Ray Moore took the superkneegrow genre about as far as it can (and, please God, SHOULD) ever go.
(Ahh, DOLEMITE!) |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6920
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 04:19 pm: |
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Luke Cage...don't tell me you know someting about Iron Fist & Power Man? Man, that brings back memories---Corner drug store, a cherry coke, a bag of potatoe chips, SAD SACK & POWER MAN!
(ABM knows every comic book every written or drawed backwards and forewards.
I am only expert on all published between 1960-and 1969... |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3194
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 04:23 pm: |
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"The movie relied too much on special effects and I guess to a certain extent the nostalgia associated with the earlier installments."
Bro Troy, I agree. I saw the movie and the special effects were nice but they over did it. It was too excessive, especially at the end. It was ridiculous and even insulting. But I only go to such movies to be entertained. Nothing more..... |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6921
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 04:39 pm: |
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Check out Gritz n Gravy magazine
http://www.gritzandgravymag.com/ |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3197
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 04:48 pm: |
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"I am only expert on all published between 1960-and 1969."
You weren't even born. Stop faking the funk Chris. Silver Age Marvels are classics. Stick with what ya know....Hip hop funnies and rap cartoons.
 |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12308
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 05:19 pm: |
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I'm surprised that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg didn't see the error of their ways. Have they lost their touch? At least Harrison Ford said he expected this movie to be criticized. Another sequel seems inevitable with the block buster box office receipts this movie generated. Maybe the next one will return to the old formula of being plausible as well as entertaining. |
Carey
Veteran Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 749
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 07:39 pm: |
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NFTS, Nice comic.
I did get a little ahead of myself. There's no way I could have been sitting at a counter and reading Power Man, Sad Sack...yes but Power Man didn't come out until the 70's and of course my days of stealing ...I mean reading comics were over let alone sitting in a drug store (do they even sell comics and serve soda in a drug stores anymore).
I went back into my son's old comics and sure enough, Power Man. The old mind just stacks mess where it's wants.
Now Chris might now a little something about D.C. comics...Marvel too. |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3201
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2008 - 09:31 pm: |
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Yeah, I love the Marvel Silver Age comics. I'm a fanatic for the art work of Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby. Can't get enough of either. The ComiCon is held in San Diego every year. When Jack Kirby was alive, he attended. You couldn't get close to the man. He had such a fanatical cult following it was like attempting to walk up and shake hands with Bush. Forget it....
 |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 6928
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 02:45 pm: |
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You weren't even born. Stop faking the funk Chris. Silver Age Marvels are classics. Stick with what ya know....Hip hop funnies and rap cartoons.
( I saw that when it first came out. A neighbor, Robert L. Campbell, now an art teacher, brought it by my house. I looked at it and said, "the Fantastic FOUT?" (That "r" looks like a "t")
I used to have that one. One time with a cover, another without.
When Jack Kirby was alive, he attended. You couldn't get close to the man. He had such a fanatical cult following it was like attempting to walk up and shake hands with Bush. Forget it....
(Oh Lord My God! Another Fanboy!) |
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