Re: *** Official Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Discussion Thread
Edwin, I heard the audio going funky at times. I thought it was just me but I didn't want to mention it with my Mum who was visiting with me. Sucks Paramount has gone to this low.
I agree with the sentiments the films needs to be seen again to fully appreciate it. I mean I did really enjoy KotCS but it was a nostalgia kick AND not getting a full nights rest.
Saw it on Tuesday with the thing in my brain saying, He's fought in World War II, experienced even more shit between LC and this film, it's the late 1950's with the big Red Scare going on, the Atomic Age, more paranoia in the country and other factors. AND the fact the "1930's-set" Trilogy was more based upon the 1930's serials of the time. Comparing to KotCS having elements of the 30's (timeframe)/80's (production) series, I looked at it as the film jumping almost two decades and more being based upon the 50's sci-fi low budget adventure.
I'm glad every film in the series is different. My gripes? Lemme tell you. The previous three films got longer in running time with each succesive one. So KotCS should've been the longest one in length, to go with that statement. Where the hell was Short Round? I was expecting a cameo or mention of Wan Li at least while Indy was talking with the Jim Broadbent character. In The Lost Journal, there's a telegram thing from him that he's tracked down The Peacock's Eye (that diamond Lao Che "gives" to Indy in exchange for the Ashes of Nurhachi) on an island in the Hawaiian Island Chain. Seeing as Shorty looked up to Indy and followed in his footsteps in becoming an archaeologist. Why is it throughout all four films the settings are more in warmer climates? I wanted to see Indy in colder climates i.e. Nepal in RotLA. Y'know, to break "formula" of the previous films.
Something about me being a bit tired and not feeling fully rested the day I saw it I think screwed with my inherent full judgment of the film. So for right now, the series in terms of order of preference are:
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Nearly tops Raiders for the pure chemistry between Harrison and Sean. First one I saw in cinemas when I was 10 back in 1989 so I think I'm biased. I did see Raiders on a friends Betamax player though. Asked him if there were anymore Adventures of Indy on film. Then we watched Temple of Doom.)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (My biggest complaint is the film should've taken place in 1934 instead of 1935. That way it'd give the series an in two year chronological gap between them. I do of course highly enjoy ToD but it also has to do with it feeling like a natural successor to GUNGA DIN.)
Oh, I felt Mutt was a fairly cool character and didn't come off as annoying. Might be his phobia are scorpions compared to Indiana,
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)his father
, fear of snakes? Should've had Indy mention to Jim Broadbents character, in 1945 and 1946 respectively, of going after the Spear of Destiny with his Father and the Iron Phoenix-related thing. Being as Indiana, in The Iron Phoenix comic and also The Infernal Machine videro game, his adversaries were Russians. Meaning I would've liked a little nod towards the other media in a throwaway during a conversation.
I think I'm also biased towards the first three since they feel like an old glove that's comfortable. I did grin ear-to-ear at times for the Indiana Jones stuff but it felt weird seeing him on the silver screen again. I did see a Midnight showing of RotLA, ToD and LC awhile ago. Even did an Indiana Jones marathon the two days leading up to me going seeing KotCS.
So right now, I'll give it a 4/5 with a more accurate score when I go see it again. Oh, trust me when I'll buy the DVD I'll do marathons with the series.
Now I've had a few days to reflect on it, damn I had a great time and literally can't wait to see it again. I felt like I was 10 again seeing Indy on the big screen for the first time. And of course the prints for those midnight showing had bits of scenes which aren't on the 2003 OAR set I own.
Here's hoping the three get together for an Indy V. Hopefully this time a prequel to KotCS AND more colder climates dammit!
Anyone else get the feeling this ought've been the fifth Indiana Jones film? I mean if Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis were also made into a high quality film, KotCS would've had a slightly tighter script and of course the longest running time in the series.
For the running time thing I mentioned. Here it goes for each one in the series:
Raiders of the Lost Ark - 115
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 118
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - 126
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - 124
So in fact, since the next film in the series has longer running times, KotCS should've clocked in at 130 minutes. Of course to keep in the series theme the next film has a longer running time compared to the previous. IF FoA were made into a film back in 1992, it would've been delegated into the 130m approximate mark. Then KotCS would've been more along the lines of nearing 135m. So FoA could've been 130m and KotCS 134m. Since each succesive film in the series compared to the previous is only longer by a few minutes. Bit overgeeky but oh well. So in those terms, KotCS should've been slightly longer in running time comparing to Last Crusade and not the other way around where in fact KotCS is actually shorter by two minutes.
So in fact it does ring true when I said it should've been slightly longer in running time compared to The Last Crusade.
Indiana Jones 5? Colder climates, prequel with it being a few years before KotCS, probably a mystical Buddhist or Asiatic artifact, Russkies again, Sophia Hapgood (maybe?), Babylonian mebbe? (Infernal Machine with Marduk) and a more cold weather gear Indiana. And film outside of the US again! Well, this could be more suitable for a possible Animated Adventures of Indiana Jones series.
The only other adventure we've had with Indiana in the 1950's were the bookends for The Mystery of the Blues. And you honestly wanna know? Indy and other characters mentioning all that different stuff for World War II has me Jonesing, pun VERY intended, to see in media form those missions and stuff. I've always wondered what Indiana Jones did in WWII. Of course there are a few comics and such from the 1990's but I'd love to see Dark Horse tackle a story with Indiana Jones in an adventure in WWII as per mentioned in the film. Hell, I'd love the new 3D Indy game LucasArts is working on to go in that direction.
Oh! And my second viewing will be on this upcoming Monday.
I'll get a full nights rest too!
EDIT: Last but not least. If I were to be given the choice for either watching Star Wars or Indiana Jones, I pick Indy every single time. Yes, my preference leans far more toward Indiana Jones in comparison to Star Wars. Too bad there's just a glut of SW recently and it makes me have zero interest to watch that Clone Wars movie in cinemas. I'd rather rent it on Netflix. Yes, I'm much more of a fan of Indiana Jones compared to Lucasfilms other series. But it's a close preference where at the end of the day, I still go for Indiana Jones in terms of my collecting.
and party hardied!
