Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Welcome back Indy...now please go away again.

Meako from Sheffield [Highly rated reviewer] , 21/05/2008

The fourth installment in the Indiana Jones series was never going to be able to stand up to expectations or anticipation. After all the original trilogy are much loved treasures, where even the weakest film (Temple of Doom) is immensely rewatchable and exciting. Since this fourth entry was announced there has been plenty of rants and issues bandied around online, from the ditching of Frank Darabont's perfect (according to Spielberg and Ford) script when Lucas decided he didn't like it, to the casting of Shia La Bouf in the role of Mutt, to the chosen title for the film. Everybody has been waiting for the film to arrive, sharpening their knives ready to carve it up and spit out the remains.

The good news is that it isn't as bad as it could have been. The bad news is that it fails to match even Temple Of Doom in tone, feel, excitment, or story. This Indiana Jones film is simply just another summertime event movie, lacking in the magic that made the first three so memorable. Simply put, this is not really an Indiana Jones film.

The problems are many. The story is lacking any bite, being more an excuse to string together a spectacular array of action sequences in the hope of offering cheap thrills. The cast are alright, but nothing to write home about. Cate Blanchett struggles with an accent that slips through all of Eastern Europe, then through Western Europe for good measure. The continuity editor seemed to have taken a vacation at many points through the film, with shirts changing colour, jeeps growing their windscreens back, and people changing positions constantly during chase scenes. Add to all this some lazy directing by Spielberg, who seems to be off his game, and an overuse of CGI throughout. The early part of the film loves to put nodding references to the earlier films, but they begin to feel forced and stale pretty quick.

With regards to the direction, Spielberg just doesn't seem to be bothered with the film. Perhaps after Lucas put the block on the first script and cobbled his own story together, Spielberg simply chose to just accept Lucas' ideas and go with it in fear of never making the film. This may explain why he is in Jurrassic Park 2 mode here, delivering a reasonable thrill-ride, but one which lacks that sparkle.

Rest assured that the film is a far cry better than the sub-Indy throne stealers of recent years, such as National Treasure or The Mummy, but it doesn't come anywhere close to matching the fun and thrills, and indeed heart, of the other three films. Perhaps this is more indictive of the state of the film industry these days, where a film must deliver action sequences every 10 minutes in fear of losing the audience (Raiders, for example, is decidedly sparse on action, focussing a lot more on the adventure).

Whatever the reasons for the film's uninspired result, it is nice to see Indy back again. Now, hopefully, he will go away again and we can let him rest.

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The man is back ! largely spoiler free review

Russell22 [Highly rated reviewer] , 29/01/2008

Well i've just seen Indy 4 and was compelled to write a review. First off i must say that the early negative press on this film was largely wrong. This is a worthy companion to the original trilogy but thats not to say everything is perfect,there are a few probs but the pluses outweigh the minus.

Lets get the bad out of the way then. The opening sequence at area 51 seemed out of place,the dialogue here and the way harrison spoke seemed out of place with an indy film,this was the 1st sequence shot for the movie so it may have been a case of getting into the chracter again but it just didnt fit. Karen Allen,so brilliant in Raiders is largely wasted but does have 1 or 2 excellent verbal exchanges with indy and for a moment it was like being back in 1981..it made it more sad that she doesnt get much to do in this. Some of the movie felt like it was shot on the cheap..the original trilogy was filmed in lots of diferent locations round the world and apart from the amazon sequence which was shot in hawaii, everything else was on a soundsatge which you could kinda tell.

The good stuff

The motorbike chase with mutt,vintage indy...the jungle chase,glimpsed in the trailer,amazing..everything was spot on here to the editing,action and john williams great score. Matches anything in the previous films. The ants sequence was also excellent. Harrison ford has dispelled any dispersions he's too old for all this..ok he looks older but the film is set 20 yrs after the original trilogy..he gets beaten up in this film and looks great doing the action stuff. Shia lebouef was aslo excellent as Mutt..this kid has a big future in movies ahaead of him. The ending will have fans split but all i'll say is that it fits perfectly into the 1950's b movie era..make of that what you will.!!

Do i want another indy after this?..you bet i do but feel a full indy 5 is unlikely,given fords age and the fact spielberg has at leat 3 pictures he wants to do making him unavaibale to direct it for about 4 yrs. George lucas has said he has an idea for a 5th with shia lebouef becoming the lead character and indy in the kinda sean connery role from last crusade. Umm could work but we want indy not other people do we.

ANYWAY INDY IS BACK..THE REVIEWS HAVE BEEN MIXED BUT TEMPEL OF DOOM AND LAST CRUSADE WER PANNED BY SOME CRITICS..PEOPLE FORGET THAT. IF YOU ENJOYED THE PREVIOUS 3 THEN YOU'LL MOST LIKELY ENJOY THIS

8/10

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HAVE THE ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE KEEPING UP WITH THE JONE'S

MAVERICK from Knottingley [Highly rated reviewer] , 22/05/2008

It's been 19 long years since Indy's last outing, and now Ford at the age of 65 is reprising his most famouse role, but can Ford still stand his ground as the action hero?

The answer is YES!

The year is 1957 and the U.S is at the height of the communist witch hunts, so in place of the Nazi bashing in the first and third movies, Indy gives the communist a quick history lesson. The cast is great and credit should go to La Boufe as the greaser Mutt, he is going to be a massive star and could maybe fill Indy's boots and carry on the series to the next generation. The action is brilliant, with many stand out sequence. It's also brilliant to hear Indys signature tune play, as it still sends the goose bumps down the spine. But the film does have some faults, The plot is a littled muddled, and the pace does flag in the final third of the film, leading to a slight anti-climax. John Hurts character talking in riddles is very annoying, and Karren Allen reprising her role from the first film as Marion is under written giving her very little to do. Also Ray Winston character although good value, is slightly confusing due to him swapping sides every five minutes, and the communists as the bad guys never show the menace of the Nazi's. But this is Indiana Jones, and having such a iconic character grace our screens for what could be the last time, and show other so called blockbuster action adventure's the true meaning of the word escapism, is a wounderful sight. This film whips the Likes of Pirates of the Carrabean, the Mummy series, Tomb Raider's and the more rescent Nation Treasures in to touch, and makes them look unoriginal and very boreing.

This is superb old school stuff that will thrill the young and old.

Superb!

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5 stars for Harrison Ford's face

Katherine from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/05/2008

I loved this film, as did my boyfriend. However i can see why some of the other people we went to see it with weren't so pleased.

It is a bit schmaltzy and Shia Lebouef fluctuates from amusing to annoying. My argument to them was that with Harrison Ford being over 65 this film was never going to thrill me in the same way as Raiders, and without Sean Connery it wasn't going to be as funny as Last Crusade. (You can see George Lucas has had a hand in the script... like in the newer Star Wars films)

What this film is though, is a good addition to a brilliant series of films. It's good to watch and enjoyable throughout. Harrison Ford's face is just so brilliant, he must surely have the best ever 'oh boy' look of all time.

Don't expect this to be the new Raiders of the Lost Ark, but do watch this film... although if you didn't like the originals then don't watch it (and see a specialist because you really should like them)

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Why why why cgi????

A customer from Wolverhampton , 26/06/2008

I remember this being in production and speilberg, lucas and ford talking about old style movie-making- i.e. believable stunts, no cgi, etc as we had in raiders, doom, crusade and so on. What do we get instead? cgi and bags of it - was speilberg involved in this movie at all? Cgi gophers? cgi monkeys? cgi ants? cgi aliens? - this is like a cheap rip off of the mummy 2- hate to say this but actually preferred the mummy 2 to this - really really disappointing.

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Typical Indie

A customer from Walton-on-Thames , 22/11/2008

If you like the other films you'll like this one. Not the most amazing script you'll ever see, but the thrills and spills are there for all to see.

Probably a shame that the comeback has more to do with moneyspinning sequels than anything else. You do get the feeling Dr Jones could do with a junior to take over now.

Nevertheless very watcheable and enjoyable for Indie fans.

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