Indiana Jones and the Waste of Money

[DavidM]

<snip>

[fuddam]

this indy is never really in peril. He's able to stand and watch multiple maelstroms without a care in the world, despite radioactivity and 16-tonne blocks of stone whizzing around

in the graveyard, he's the one with all the answers, able to dispatch all comers easily - compare that to the opening scene of Raiders - completely outclassed by Raiders.

not happy with it. Even those crushing wheels of rock in the end - they DAWDLED past them. No urgency at all.

[pollaxe]

There's probably something wrong with me so I'll whisper this bit...

I've never really liked the Indy films.

There. I said it. I had been thinking of going to see this one too see if I've been fooling myself all these years but, well, now I may not...

[Jay]

I love the old Indy films. I love it in The Last Crusade when the tank goes over the edge and they all think he is dead. They all look ever the edge with a sad look on their face, not noticing that Indie is standing next to them also looking down.

The latest film had nothing like this at all, maybe one of the worst films I have ever seen!

[staffsMike]

Well I finally went to see it..

Mixed feelings. On some levels I did like it, I liked the characters and their relationships (trying not to spoil anything).

Indy was still Indy to me which was nice.

The plot... wooly to say the least. I suspected the plot even before I got into the cinema given spielbergs recent offerings. This made it predictable and a bit boring.
Watching it, it didn't feel that slow paced but looking back on it I'm finding it hard to remember and there were no stand out scenes.

It did lack the suspense and certain levels of realism you come to expect from the other films.

One thing I deffinatly agree with is.. worst bad guys ever!! Come on.. hire some decent Britsh actors and give us some real bad guys!! They were about as scary as puss in boots.

[GSte]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh.

Wish I would have read this thread before I went to see it today. We left after 13 minutes. Utter tripe. Only the second time in my life that I have walked out of the cinema. Easily the worst film I have seen in years. Lucas and Spielberg must have gone senile to make this complete drivel. Without spoiling anything, I can say that CGI gophers belong in an Indiana Jones film about as much as Peter Stringfellow belongs in a thong ( did I actually type that? *shudder*). Or as much as Jahjah Binks belongs in Star Wars. Save your minds people, and don't watch this. Or at least not the first 13 minutes!

[Whiternoise]

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!




I was rather mixed about it.

I agree with bits of this, the unbelievability was a bit much in some cases, the fridge scene and the ending mainly. The plot for this film wasn't so much a bad plot - you can guess most Indy plots to be perfectly honest so i don't know why you're surprised at this one, Nick. It was more that it was too classic "Spielberg" with lots of special effects and SPOILER aliens. I would much have preferred a plot that involved the staple of all Indy films - some religious artefact, etc. I had my doubts when the stuff about paranormal and psychics were introduced, but i thought, "hey, they're looking for El Dorado - nothing bad about that, is there?" "perhaps an Aztec curse will kill the commies off". But the ending was, for lack of a better word, poor. And INCREDIBLY reminiscent of The Mummy Returns - to the extent of the bad guy trying to take all the loot, the swirling debris as the temple collapsed, etc. And the bit that REALLY did my nut was the following:

They go down the waterfalls to the temple. Right. Surviving in a typically unbelievable manner, so far so good.

Then, they go through the waterfall, attack, blah blah blah, ok fine.

And then they appear in a HUGE basin which for some absurd reason they couldn't have found from the air or from simply LOOKING OUT OVER IT. Whether the Martians have some mind control thing going on. (HHGTTG fans will fondly think of the Someone Elses Problem Field).

However, i thought the soundtrack was still good and there were plenty of good staple Indy scenes in the film. The references to the Ark were well done and overall the SFX were superb - if out of place (that's ILM for you). The humour was good - the references to Grease in the bar fight were great and the tarzan scene removed, the monkey's hairdo matching Shia's was a classic!

Overall i felt it was worth my money going to see, but the ending spoilt it for me completely. It was completely out of touch with the rest of the films and it was a bit saddening.

[staffsMike]

Originally Posted by GSte

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh.

Wish I would have read this thread before I went to see it today. We left after 13 minutes. Utter tripe. Only the second time in my life that I have walked out of the cinema. Easily the worst film I have seen in years. Lucas and Spielberg must have gone senile to make this complete drivel. Without spoiling anything, I can say that CGI gophers belong in an Indiana Jones film about as much as Peter Stringfellow belongs in a thong ( did I actually type that? *shudder*). Or as much as Jahjah Binks belongs in Star Wars. Save your minds people, and don't watch this. Or at least not the first 13 minutes!

Well you didn't miss much sure.. but you still should have watched it through, that way you can mock it properly

Originally Posted by Whiternoise

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!

I agree with bits of this, the unbelievability was a bit much in some cases, the fridge scene and the ending mainly. The plot for this film wasn't so much a bad plot - you can guess most Indy plots to be perfectly honest so i don't know why you're surprised at this one, Nick. It was more that it was too classic "Spielberg" with lots of special effects and SPOILER aliens.

The SPOILER aliens part was the bit I was talking about. He really doesn't seem to be able to leave them alone recently.

The tarzan scene got the biggest laugh where I saw it.. I hope they were laughing at how pathetic it was. (as I was), else I worry about some peoples sense of humour. Was anyone else singing George of the jungle in their head?

[ShenBlade]

It was not as good as the previous films as it just did not have the old Indiana Jones feel of comedy, or even a good action packed beginning like the previous three.

I do not know if its just me, but maybe good ol' Steven Spielberg should just retire before his current slate of films alienate people from his brilliant films in the past

[Lee @ SCAN]

Originally Posted by j.o.s.h.1408

M. Night Shyamalan wanted to write this? damm he should of!

Sorry, I don't agree. His first films were good, but his recent attempts into the market have been average at best. Even the new one - The Happening, where there are 2 different trailers available to watch looks a bit bland and boring.

Can you imagine Indy with the pace of the film such as the signs? I'd be nodding off and snoring due to bordom within 40 minutes.

I felt a little pang after watching this. Yes it was an average film I suppose, but it's a pale older relation when compared to the earlier films as everyone has said.

Anyway, here's hoping that this film was just one to setup Indy into his retirement home leaving Shia to take over the whip as the next generation and releasing an off-spin with action and suspense galore.

[Ferral]

Just been to see it with the kids and we all loved it. Granted it didn't have the same feeling as the origionals but it was still Indy in the end. I agree with some of the plot bits that have been mentioned already, but it is supposed to be an action / adventure film. I also thought that the Soviets wern't as menacing as the Nazis in the previous films.

They have set it up nicely the way they mentioned the ***SPOILER*** deaths near the beginning, so Indy becomes senior and we have a new Jones Jr. I think we will see Harrison Ford again as the main character just to pass over the mantle.

[IBM]

I watched Temple of Doom last night with my wife and son (both of whom had never witnessed the wonder that is Dr. Jones) and was thinking the whole way through that Crystal Skull had a whole lot to live up to compared with ToD. As my wife pointed out (while my son was hiding behind his knees at yet another moment of peril) 'he's never out of danger, is he?'.....quite the thrill rollercoaster....

Going to watch Raiders tonight....

[staffsMike]

I saw it again

In my defense though it was that or Prom Night and personally I think I made the right choice

[menthel]

I am with Ferral on this one, I enjoyed it and it was an Indy film. Not the best indy film by a long way but enjoyable all of the same. I think the problem is that we have seen all of this so many times now, from the Mummy films (which are cracking) to Tomb Raider as a computer game. It therefore makes the Indy concept look a bit tired and old (rather like the character and actor) but it is still an enjoyable action 'romp'.

And any arguments about the silliness of the plot just don't hold up- films 1 and 3 contained the ark of the covenant and the holy grail repectively!

[staffsMike]

True, I stand by what I said in the first post it was still Indy and I did like the other characters in it.

The soviets were still lame though.

Spoliers:
And while I agree all of the Indy's plots were a little far fetched they were covering tales of this worlds history and religion etc.. not little green inter-dimensional alien types lol I'd perhaps been happier if they didnt have a flying saucer to boot haha

[Ferral]

Originally Posted by menthel

And any arguments about the silliness of the plot just don't hold up- films 1 and 3 contained the ark of the covenant and the holy grail repectively!

My sentiments exactly, with Azec and Incan culture there is always that Mystique (also the pyramids for that matter).

Did anyone really hate Stargate for the Alien thing and the Pyramids, no it was an awesome film. I think people are just wanting to trash this new Jones adventure because it is a big name movie. Thing is Indiana Jones is old school now and it was stated that it was being made for the fans. Same goes for the latest Rambo flick and also Rocky Balboa.

My 7yr old son loved it and it has introduced him to Indiana Jones moreso. He distinctly pointed out my DVD boxset of the origional 3 movies and we have been watching them again loving them as much as we always have done.

Bizarre thing is though, I put on National Treasure 1 or 2 on and he flatly refuses to watch them, he wants Indy. There is just some sort of draw there that he connects with, Indy films are fun with some great laugh out loud moments. This is the way you should see Crystal Skull, see it for what it is meant to be. Forget the hype and enjoy a great movie.