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Of The Crystal Skull Year of Release: 2008 Date Of Review: May 2008 27 years since the original “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” set the silver screen ablaze with its breathtaking action and adventure, the man with the fedora hat is back…. this time in the 1950s. Yes, Harrison Ford returns as Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr and coming with him for the ride is tough guy Ray "Beowulf" Winstone. This new film is a pensioner's mini-rollercoaster slide down the amazon that could be dubbed "Old Indiana Jones VS. The Traitor Known as Beowulf". All jokes aside, its interesting to see these two old-timers ham it up in an action extravaganza that looks set to be one this year's biggest box office earners. The opening of this new Indy film sees the old mountainous Paramount symbol fade and make way for a molehill and then suddenly a gopher appears, it has more in tune with the opening of say, “Caddyshack” but it’s a neat little eye-catcher that is sure to raise a chuckle. Understandably, this fourth film in the much-loved series has received a lot of hype and it’s only natural that these high expectations aren’t quite met. What lets this new film down is the preposterous plot; if you can somehow dismiss this aspect of it from your sub-conscious, then you are sure to get more out of the film. That’s right, the plotline is that stupefying that it’s barely worth a mention. No longer is Indy on the search for religious artifacts but rather on the hunt for some sort of mumbo jumbo called the crystal skull. What was Spielberg thinking? If that’s not enough, the introduction to our favorite adventurer is nothing but a botch-up. Yes, we see a shadow, a hat, we get a riff of music, all before we see the man, which is good build-up, but when he does eventually appear, he is being dragged from the boot of a car. We feel cheated. The idea of this sort of film is to see how he got captured, not just see how he escapes. We have lost the thrill of the capture, so it’s a real letdown. The film’s tedious plot heavy middle-section, together with Indy’s hypnotic crystal skull interrogation and the snake-rope quicksand rescue are just some of the film’s real low-points. Also, Spielberg’s fixation on aliens in the CGI-fuelled finale is somewhat tacky to say the least. I guess Spielberg must have had that much fun making “War Of The Worlds” that his head is still in the clouds, shall we say. I prefer to think of the Indiana Jones series as adventure films rather than Sci-Fi films. The fantasy elements in this one seemed to overshadow the film to a point of annoyance. On the plus side though, it’s nice to see a “1950s Indy” and Spielberg has made good use of some familiar rock ‘n’ roll soundtracks throughout, including the Elvis Presley number “Hound Dog” on the lively opening credit sequence, that also interworks some of Lucas’s “American Graffiti”. The film, however, works best when the action sequences are in full momentum and this Indy-yarn is somewhat saved from mediocrity by one such standout. The film’s high-point is an exciting breakneck-speed jeep chase, complete with sword-fight, that culminates in a man eating ant rampage and to top it we get a three tier waterfall splashdown. Yes, the film does feature a nice mix of cheesy sets, stand-in stuntmen and some eye-catching CGI visual effects that do generate some genuine fun but nothing really groundbreaking. Like the other Indy adventures in the series, this new film attempts to mix the Saturday matinee thrills of old with comedy elements and throw-away one-liners. Cliffhangers are somewhat limited in "Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull" but there is one that deserves special mention. The most uniquely original and comically suspenseful cliffhanger would have to be the scene in which Indy survives a a nuclear blast by locking himself inside an ice box. Yes, a lead-insulated refrigerator does the trick, sending Indy hurtling out of danger and landing safely in the desert sand. This edge-of-your-seat sequence is visually stunning to say the least and easily the most inventive surprise packet to come out of the film. Such scenes are not easy to conceive and I am sure that Spielberg would be very happy with his achievements in this sequence, that certainly hits the bulls-eye or should I say, the gopher. At 65 years of age, Harrison Ford proves that he still has what it takes to play Indy and Spielberg directs in a competently, I have seen it all before manner. Cate Blanchett let’s her usual art-house fare take a backseat to make way for entertainment of the buttered popcorn variety. Her bit as the villainous scientist, Irina Spalko, is high camp and she certainly looks like she is having a ball with the material. It’s a real pity though, that her enthusiasm struggles to rub off onto the audience. With “Disturbia” and “Transformers” to his credit, “it” youngster of the moment Shia LaBeouf is an interesting choice as Mutt Williams and is a welcome addition to the proceedings. With his Marlon Brando motorcycle and hat, together with his flick-knife and hair comb, Shia certainly fits the bill as a rebellious teen of the era. The return of the feisty Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood is a nice nod-and-a-wink to “Raiders” but sadly she just doesn’t have that much to do. We don’t see Karen until very late in the piece and when she makes her entrance she has very little impact on the film other than to surprise Indy with some family news. “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull” is a rather familiar journey, you have been on this Indy rollercoaster many times before and you know all the twists and turns….including the punch-lines. It’s not an outstanding achievement like the earlier installments but more so a good attempt at bringing back some old-fashioned adventure to the big screen. I guess when they set the bar that high first time round the only way is down. Fans of the earlier films are sure to lap up the rollicking adventure, heck, there was even a bit of applause at the end of the screening I saw… which obviously means Spielberg, Lucas & Ford have certainly done something right! It could have been worse and it could have been better but the important thing is its still okay and fans will appreciate it for what it is…. another exciting chapter in the life of the famous whip-cracking adventurer. © Copyright Pick Of The Flicks. All rights reserved. Official Site Synopsis: The whip-toting, punch-packing, snake-hating, globe-trotting archaeologist with a fedora is back on screen in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” debuting worldwide Thursday, May 22, 2008. This newest adventure begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 – the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have barely escaped a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield. Now, Professor Jones has returned home to Marshall College – only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy’s recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him. On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries both a grudge and a proposition for the adventurous archaeologist: If he’ll help Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Indy could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history – the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear. But as Indy and Mutt set out for the most remote corners of Peru – a land of ancient tombs, forgotten explorers and a rumored city of gold – they quickly realize they are not alone in their search. The Soviet agents are also hot on the trail of the Crystal Skull. Chief among them is icy cold, devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), whose elite military unit is scouring the globe for the eerie Crystal Skull, which they believe can help the Soviets dominate the world … if they can unlock its secrets. Indy and Mutt must find a way to evade the ruthless Soviets, follow an impenetrable trail of mystery, grapple with enemies and friends of questionable motives, and, above all, stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into the deadliest of hands. Other Indiana Jones Style Adventures - Now on DVD: Romancing The Stone (1984) [DVD] The Jewel Of The Nile (1985) [DVD] King Solomon's Mines (1985) [DVD] Allan Quatermain And The Lost City Of Gold (1987) [DVD] Biggles: Adventures In Time (1986) [DVD] Jake Speed (1986) [DVD] Jane And The Lost City (1987) [DVD] Cannibal Women In The Avocado Jungle Of Death (1988) [DVD] National Treasure (Widescreen Version) (2004) [DVD] National Treasure: Book Of Secrets (2-Disc Edition) (2007) [DVD] The Librarian: Quest For The Spear (2004) [DVD] The Librarian: Return To King Solomon's Mines (2006) [DVD] Harrison Ford DVD Collection - Now Available: Shia LeBeouf DVD Collection - Now Available: Cate Blanchett DVD Collection - Now Available: Karen Allen DVD Collection - Now Available: Pick Of The Flicks - Recommended Links: TV_Adventurers at Hollywood Cult Movies Action & Mayhem at Hollywood Teen Movies Pick Of The Flicks Blog Spot / Messageboard: Use the search bars below to search our site, find your favorite movie or find your favorite poster:
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Cinema Synopsis: On May 22 2008, Indiana Jones is back in a new globe-trotting adventure. Directed by Steven Spielburg and starring Harrison Ford as Indy, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" features an outstanding cast, including Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Oscar winner Jim Broadbent and Shia LaBeouf. Harrison Ford Posters:
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