Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Entertainment  ›  Movies (Theatrical)  ›  *** Official Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Discussion Thread
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread

*** Official Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Discussion Thread

#31
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:32pm
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Location: BritCol. North of a Black Hole and West of The Centre of the...
  • Post Count: 4,104

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
Rob Cohen....you mean Sommers evil twin?

Doug

Your spurs.....

There are two kinds of spurs, my friend!
Those that come in by the door...
Those that come in by the window.

Export to Wiki
#32
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:34pm
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Post Count: 4,130

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

I guess it could've been worse. Brett Ratner, anyone?

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

Export to Wiki
#33
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:36pm
  • Joined: May 2001
  • Location: North Central Texas
  • Post Count: 12,055

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Allred
I think a lot of people *want* to like the movie and so their reviews reflect that.

That's the kind of attitude that makes the Star Wars prequel threads so acrimonious. If you don't like Indy IV, that's fine. I won't look for an ulterior motive from you for that, so please don't look for one from those of us who do like the movie.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent M
Funny thing is they're both directed by the same guy(Steven Sommers) who did the first Mummy which was actually a good flick. I guess he's the definition of "one hit wonder" and as far as I'm concerned he should have his director's license revoked after making those other two disasters.

Similar could be said about Gore Verbinski for the Pirates sequels, though those weren't quite bad enough to call for his license.
Export to Wiki
#34
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:40pm
  • Joined: November 2006
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • Post Count: 4,100

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent M
I guess it could've been worse. Brett Ratner, anyone?

Actually I really liked Brett Ratner's Red Dragon.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
Export to Wiki
#35
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:43pm
  • Joined: November 2006
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • Post Count: 4,100

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete-D
If Indy IV wasn't an Indy film but just a generic adventure film, it would be getting slammed a lot harder for dull action scenes and poor villains.

Again I beg to differ. I would like this film Indy or not. I just really had a great time watching it. Had a big grin on my face through the whole thing.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
Export to Wiki
#36
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:50pm
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Post Count: 1,619

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
My problem is they are doing G.I. Joe from when the action figures were shrunk down! I come from the 12 inch G.I. Joe era when he was still just a soldier and not some kind of super spy/action hero thingie.

Doug

Well I grew up with the super soldier Joes (the cooler ones, lol.) You must admit, if they went with the old school Joes, it's just be another war movie. With the 80s version, we got colorful characters with a rich and interesting (though admittedly comic book-ish) backstories.

Which do you think is an easier sell?

Help get \"The Resurrected\", John Carpenter\'s TV films (amongst others) released on DVD! Click on the following link to learn how.

http://members.tripod.com/~evilbaby/ROTLDpetitions.html

Export to Wiki
#37
Rating: 0
5/25/08 at 11:53pm
  • Joined: November 2006
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • Post Count: 4,100

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Allred
Well I grew up with the super soldier Joes (the cooler ones, lol.) You must admit, if they went with the old school Joes, it's just be another war movie. With the 80s version, we got colorful characters with a rich and interesting (though admittedly comic book-ish) backstories.

Which do you think is an easier sell?

Well this is quite true, unless they went with the late 70s G.J. Joe Adventure Team ideas. Don't know if you remember those. Actually that stuff was very Indiana Jones like.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
Export to Wiki
#38
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 12:06am
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Post Count: 1,326

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete-D
dull action scenes

Nope. Disagree there.

I just saw the film a second time and confirmed my original estimation that the set-pieces in this film feature top notch, Spielberg craftsmanship.

Unlike "Last Crusade".

Jungle chase set-piece is great and will hold up much better than the tank scene in "Crusade". It's visceral, adrenaline-pumping, and most of all, fun. Great editing, geography, etc.. Loved it even more on second viewing.

Love the motorcycle chase for it's old school thrills, but the jungle chase is my favorite.
Export to Wiki
#39
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 12:07am
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Post Count: 1,326

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

My biggest critique on second viewing was some of the Crystal Skull exposition seemed especially dull (especially during the cemetary tomb). That's the beginning of middle slowdown people have mentioned in some reviews. But I gotta be honest, I thought the same thing about the Grail stuff in "Last Crusade". (There's that film again ) . 20 years ago, I remember thinking, "this is just Raiders lite". But it's tolerable now all those many viewings later. Who knows maybe the same fate will occur with this flick's overlong exposition.

Anyone get a Hammer vibe in the cemetary? I guess it would make sense to pay homage.

So yeah, second viewing, same result...

Raiders
-
-
-
-
-
Doom
-
Crystal Skull
-
-
-
Last Crusade
Export to Wiki
#40
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 12:30am
  • Joined: November 2006
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • Post Count: 4,100

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeRS
My biggest critique on second viewing was some of the Crystal Skull exposition seemed especially dull (especially during the cemetary tomb). That's the beginning of middle slowdown people have mentioned in some reviews. But I gotta be honest, I thought the same thing about the Grail stuff in "Last Crusade". (There's that film again ) . 20 years ago, I remember thinking, "this is just Raiders lite". But it's tolerable now all those many viewings later. Who knows maybe the same fate will occur with this flick's overlong exposition.

Anyone get a Hammer vibe in the cemetary? I guess it would make sense to pay homage.

So yeah, second viewing, same result...

Raiders
-
-
-
-
-
Doom
-
Crystal Skull
-
-
-
Last Crusade

I didn't at the time but now that you mention it, yes very Hammer! Good call.

As for me I rate them:

#1 Raiders
#2 Crystal Scull
#3 Crusade
#4 Doom

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
Export to Wiki
#41
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 12:46am
  • Joined: March 1999
  • Location: On duty and takin' out the fullscreen trash.
  • Post Count: 10,454

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeRS
Anyone get a Hammer vibe in the cemetary?

I gave off a vibe? Sorry, didn't mean to but I had a big lunch and I...ohhhhh.



I also resent the notion that I liked Harrison and the film simply because I wanted to and for merely nostaligic purposes. As others have said this was an older Indy, in fact I found that to be quite poignant because we recall the man he used to be and we also know that he has seen and done it all.

Indiana is like an old leather wallet, it may be 25 years old and may be beat up and weathered but it can still hold my money quite well.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
Export to Wiki
#42
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 1:05am
  • Joined: May 2001
  • Location: North Central Texas
  • Post Count: 12,055

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

I don't know enough Hammer to have gotten that vibe, but it was creepy the way those guys and the ones at the final temple moved. When the first one was shown down in the pit, I really thought it was some kind of ghoul.

There was earlier discussion that the killing of the guardians should have been shown. Even with the frank violence in the previous movies, I was still a little surprised when Indy blew the dart into the guy's throat.
Export to Wiki
#43
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 1:25am
  • Joined: March 1999
  • Location: On duty and takin' out the fullscreen trash.
  • Post Count: 10,454

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_S_H
Even with the frank violence in the previous movies, I was still a little surprised when Indy blew the dart into the guy's throat.

To me this was vintage comical Indy offing someone in an extremely silly and Marx Bros kind of way. I mean when he casually pulled out his gun and shot that swordsman in Raiders it was no more or less brutal and frank than the Road Runner repeadadly "killing" the coyote in the Looney Toones cartoons.
When Jack Bauer was in 2nd grade he killed a terrorist for show and tell.
Export to Wiki
#44
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 1:44am
  • Joined: December 2000
  • Post Count: 1,752

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radioman970
Loved it. Thank you Spielberg and Lucas for bringing good old Indy back after all these years. It's like old seriels once again.

Didn't have any problem with the CGI. The process is still maturing but I'm amazed at what is coming out of Hollywood right now with effects. The military base scene was the only one that brought back the awkwardness of something like Sky Captain, which took several viewings for me to get used to. The rest of Indy was wonderful.

Really folks, I don't mean to judge anyone on their opinions, but this is just good old fun. You just have to sit back and not worry about everything so much. Who cares about monkeys in the movie? Who cares about computer graphics being used? Who cares about this and that? It's Indiana Jones, an older version of him played that way, some favorite characters coming back, nice exciting scenes done quite well with todays movie making technology.

Aw heck, perhaps second viewing you'll all love it. I was lucky on this first one I guess. The audience I saw it with loved it.

Take care.
still maturing? the cgi looked HURRENDOUS in this film...
Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers, Lo, there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning, Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla,where the brave may live...
Export to Wiki
#45
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 5:48am
  • Joined: November 1999
  • Post Count: 1,206

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
I have to disagree with you Pete. This is really now one of my favorite films, and surely my second favorite Indy film.

Doug
Doug, I think you've stared into the skull for too long.

I kid, I kid.
Export to Wiki
#46
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 6:07am
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
  • Post Count: 6,858

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

I've seen no conversation on making sense of the Aliens and the movie's end. Should I give up on this, or is there a logic to it? Though I denjoyed the movie, the ending leaves me wholly perplexed: I can't fathom its internal coherency as I do with Raiders and Crusade.

What I've got is that 5000 years ago there were benevolent, archeologist Aliens that came to South America, taught the the natives how to farm, build crazy-big temples and ground carvings, and -- in their spare time -- collect artifacts from around the world. Which they kept in their South American summer home.

The 13 alien associate professors all died sitting in the control seats of the saucer / temple / boobytrap. There they remain for thousands of years.

Conquistador dude steals one of their skulls -- made of crystal, interestingly enough, with weird latent psychic and magnetic-like powers. The dude dies someplace else and is buried with the skull.

1957, Indiana Jones adventure ensues.

Crystal Skull is returned to its place on its owner's vertebrae, where it now powers up the whole saucer, reincarnates one alien from the skeletons of the 13, opens a wormhole, launches the saucer, kills any remaining inhabitants in the area, and flies home with their treasure trove.

So:

Why did the 13 skeletons transform into a new alien this time, when before they hadn't?

What was the wormhole for? They traveled by saucer, not Stargate.

Why did the benevolent aliens create a launch system guaranteed to kill all the locals?

Why was the alien so pissed off at Irina?

Wouldn't the alien be happy at finally being restored, so it can travel home, yet it seemed terribly annoyed at being woken from its crystalline nap. Just grumpy after an overlong snooze?

I simply can't get my head around this ending. Any help?
Export to Wiki
#47
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 6:14am
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Post Count: 7,639

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
I'm starting to wonder if people have a problem with this just because its an Indy film. I wonder what people would say about this movie if it hadn't been an Indy film at all?
Honestly? I think it'd be at 40% at RT, and we'd be on page 3 of this discussion, not page 76. I won't say nostalgia is clouding any minds, but it certainly is smoothing some normally unforgiveable cinematic sins out.

I disagree with MikeRS (though I've only seen it once, and won't see it again on the big screen). The setpiece in the jungle is missing one huge element that each of the biggies in previous films had...something Spielberg is notoriously good for usually. A thematic point.

Raiders: Get the Ark from the Nazis.
Temple: Save the children and get out.
Crusade: Save his father.
Skull: Get away.

As per usual, the first three were proactive. This one was reactive, and I barely remember anything Indy does except for fighting the Russian. I do remember what Mutt does.

I did enjoy the college town chase. Thought it was better than the boat chase from Crusade.

And I loved doomtown. Spielberg was his usual brilliant self there. Though that had little point as well (narratively), it was important to tone, and it had a lot of energy.

Were I to rank these:
Raiders
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Temple
Crusade
-
-
-
Skull
Hey buddy...did you just see a real bright light?
Export to Wiki
#48
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 7:04am
  • Joined: December 1998
  • Location: Formally Boca Raton, FL now Media, Pa
  • Post Count: 1,978

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Allred
I think a lot of people *want* to like the movie and so their reviews reflect that. To be frank, I think "The Phantom Menace" was afr more entertaining than Indy IV. Yes really.
I can't believe people now like TPM over this.

That Pod race was a bore. Like we didn't know who would win.
Export to Wiki
#49
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 7:18am
  • Joined: November 2004
  • Post Count: 1,094

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by todd stone
still maturing? the cgi looked HURRENDOUS in this film...

I didn't notice any cgi in the film. Guess it didn't register as "horrendous" for me.

Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it meant to roast in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you.

Export to Wiki
#50
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 8:19am
  • Joined: January 2005
  • Location: SoCal
  • Post Count: 690

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Well i saw it yesterday and for me it was just abit to campy and over the top. Fun but for sure the 4th best of the 4. Still glad i saw it.

Get In My Belly.

Export to Wiki
#51
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 8:36am
  • Joined: April 1999
  • Post Count: 3,650

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

I agree with many of the negative comments, but I still thought it was good. It's not that memorable, and I would've preferred that they didn't make it.

~T
Export to Wiki
#52
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 8:57am
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Post Count: 4,130

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm
I can't believe people now like TPM over this.


Believe it.

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

Export to Wiki
#53
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 8:59am
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Post Count: 4,130

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett_M
I didn't notice any cgi in the film. Guess it didn't register as "horrendous" for me.


You didn't notice how Shia's legs extended like Plastic Man when he was straddling the two Jeeps during the swordfight?

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

Export to Wiki
#54
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 9:09am
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Post Count: 414

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm
I can't believe people now like TPM over this.

That Pod race was a bore. Like we didn't know who would win.


Not to get into a prequel debate, but I don't feel that's a valid criticism since it could be applied to just about any movie.

Could you say the Death Star battle is a bore just because we all knew Luke would destroy it in the end?

Or what about any action set piece in any Indiana Jones movie. Like we didn't know Indy would survive.

Die Hard movies, boring because we all knew John McClane's gonna save the day and so on.
Export to Wiki
#55
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 9:24am
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Location: BritCol. North of a Black Hole and West of The Centre of the...
  • Post Count: 4,104

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Why did the 13 skeletons transform into a new alien this time, when before they hadn't?

What was the wormhole for? They traveled by saucer, not Stargate.

Why did the benevolent aliens create a launch system guaranteed to kill all the locals?

Why was the alien so pissed off at Irina?

Wouldn't the alien be happy at finally being restored, so it can travel home, yet it seemed terribly annoyed at being woken from its crystalline nap. Just grumpy after an overlong snooze?

I simply can't get my head around this ending. Any help?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. In fact, you should be proud to be confused over the ending. You are probably in august company with your confusion, because GL and SS, themselves, are probably still trying to figure out the answers to those questions.

Your spurs.....

There are two kinds of spurs, my friend!
Those that come in by the door...
Those that come in by the window.

Export to Wiki
#56
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 10:07am
  • Joined: March 2001
  • Location: Rochester, NY
  • Post Count: 6,858

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S
I wouldn't worry too much about it. In fact, you should be proud to be confused over the ending. You are probably in august company with your confusion, because GL and SS, themselves, are probably still trying to figure out the answers to those questions.
Yes, that's what I was afraid of.

The comment a few posts back about this being a reactive, and not proactive, adventure is a good insight. I felt that but hadn't gotten it to words.

Nonethemore, I enjoyed the movie and had a good time. I found it worked -- it did what it meant to and was exciting.
Export to Wiki
#57
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 10:48am
  • Joined: January 2004
  • Post Count: 2,357

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brent M
You didn't notice how Shia's legs extended like Plastic Man when he was straddling the two Jeeps during the swordfight?

No more than Short Round's arms extending in the mine car chase.
Export to Wiki
#58
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 10:50am
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Post Count: 1,619

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm
I can't believe people now like TPM over this.

That Pod race was a bore. Like we didn't know who would win.

There isn't a *single* scene in "Crystal Skull" that contains the kind of excitement and fire that the 2 vs 1 lightsaber duel at the end of "TPM" had. Not even close. I say now what I said back then, "TPM" was NOT a great movie but it was saved by that fight. I simply cannot say the same for Indy IV, nothing could save that film from being absolutely mediocre.

My rankings:

Raiders
Doom
Crusade
TPM (lol)

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Crystall Skull

Help get \"The Resurrected\", John Carpenter\'s TV films (amongst others) released on DVD! Click on the following link to learn how.

http://members.tripod.com/~evilbaby/ROTLDpetitions.html

Export to Wiki
#59
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 10:53am
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Post Count: 4,130

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidPla
No more than Short Round's arms extending in the mine car chase.

We're not discussing Temple of Doom, though. At least I'm not. The fact remains that ILM has done the most seamless CGI work in the history of Hollywood, but parts of the desert chase sequence looked like they were done by a film student on 10 year old equipment. I can't figure out how Lucas and Spielberg could think it looked acceptable.

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

Export to Wiki
#60
Rating: 0
5/26/08 at 10:56am
  • Joined: July 2006
  • Post Count: 2,902

Re: Interesting new Indiana Jones 4 news

Quote:
Originally Posted by todd stone
still maturing? the cgi looked HURRENDOUS in this film...
No it wasn't. Horrendous cgi? Watch a very old Hercules episode. The cgi looked fine. Maybe you were just looking for flaws a little too closely? Really, give me something specific that has legs... I felt this film was as much fun as TPM. But the CGI was much better here.

(addressing other posts here) The story? This isn't some biopic. It's a summer action movie. You buys your ticket, you overpays for yo popcorns, ya plant yourself for 2 hours and enjoy. What the hell is the problem?

Real Name: Arthur Belling of "St. Looney Up-The-Cream-Bun-and-Jam"

BEAR: 1992?-2007.
GOLDIE: 1997-2008.
DUSTY:  stray puppy died of PARVO 1/18/2010.  My heart is broken again. INFO ON PARVO (dog owners click)

Export to Wiki
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread
Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Entertainment  ›  Movies (Theatrical)  ›  *** Official Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Discussion Thread