C
C A Iversen
Guest
NO SERIOUS SPOILERS
Ok, have just got back from seeing this movie and I'm convinced this one's going to have three kinds of viewer, extremely pleased, mildly happy and disappointed.
I was extremely pleased, mind you I went in with the right kind of expectations, I was ready for the franchise to be somehow derailed by this final chapter. Did that happen for me? Not at all.
This movie has holes and flaws and you'll all find them, but it's in how you as a viewer choose to react to them which really defines this films quality.
Some of these flaws are in some majorly overblown action survival scenarios, where you just know that no one would walk away from these things, but hey, this is Indiana Jones and for 2 hours 20 minutes, you aren't in our world anymore, your in his and it all works by his rules. Let those who are nit-pickers beware, there are many to pick, although those who can get lost in escapist fun and adventure will overlook these and just enjoy a thrill ride from start to finish.
I found that Last Crusade offered a fairly fitting ending to one of cinemas greatest characters, whereas this film offered a much neater and more complete finish. This for me rounds out the character arc of Doctor Jones and I'm more than happy if this is where we say goodbye.
As for the performances, anyone who was worried by Shia LaBeouf will for the most part find their concerns slipping away by the minute, I know I did. There were a couple of things they had him do which I thought were cool, but waaay over the top, but in general this movie showed that he's the kind of guy who can handle difficult roles and if not shine over-whelmingly, then at least not stuff them up.
Karen Allen was fine in her role and the only thing I could say against her was that there were a couple of lines she delivered which betrayed the fact that she'd largely been away from acting for a long time. Besides that her part was largely tagging along with Indy & co and helping with a bit of plot exposition, but that was fine with me.
Others, such as Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent provided their usual solid and interesting performances. I felt Winstone, as Indy's sidekick, and Broadbent as the University's Dean, both did a great job given the fact they are new additions to Dr Jones' circle of friends.
Finally, Harrison Ford. There is no doubt that this man is the embodiment of Indiana Jones (and presumably Han Solo too), till he leaves this world. He's been an actor who's been missing in action over the last 19 years since the last installment. Sure he had Air Force One and What Lies Beneath, but both of those could only be described as "decent" or "good" efforts. This is back to doing what he does do well. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of lines, maybe three, where there's something in the way he speaks which doesn't quite sound like the Indy of old. This can clearly be put down to the fact that Indiana isn't the same person exactly to who he was. He's an older man and like us all, we change, gradually.
The stunt work for the most part, had you believe that this was one unbelievably tough old guy, but we have to remember that the action and punishment Indiana endures is as natural to him as sitting in front of our PS3's and Xbox 360's whilst chowing down burgers or nachos is for us. He's a part of that generation which won us our freedom in the second world war and never had the chance to waste a large chunk of his life in front of a tv set. That said there's one event where credibility is stretched beyond belief, but I'm willing to let them away with it. Why? Because I love this character.
What of the story? Well, this is a tale which isn't traditionally an Indiana Jones story, this is new territory and more than a little sci-fi. There are those who won't like that it's not a strictly "religious" artifact that's being sought out, but I think most of us will be more than happy to be offered something more than the usual "standard fare" for such an important, perhaps final chapter in the Dr Jones saga.
In closing, I have to say that there will be many who aren't as impressed with this movie as I was, but I guess many of us have now grown up and can't look at a film like this the way we did when were in our childhood or adolescence. I also believe that so many of us have become jaded movie critics and almost seem to watch films with a notebook and checklist, waiting for everything we want and noting down any flaws if we aren't delivered our personal fantasy.
If you aren't one of those people and you are a fan of Indiana Jones, go right away, you are headed for a blissful experience.
I'd love to hear your views.
Ok, have just got back from seeing this movie and I'm convinced this one's going to have three kinds of viewer, extremely pleased, mildly happy and disappointed.
I was extremely pleased, mind you I went in with the right kind of expectations, I was ready for the franchise to be somehow derailed by this final chapter. Did that happen for me? Not at all.
This movie has holes and flaws and you'll all find them, but it's in how you as a viewer choose to react to them which really defines this films quality.
Some of these flaws are in some majorly overblown action survival scenarios, where you just know that no one would walk away from these things, but hey, this is Indiana Jones and for 2 hours 20 minutes, you aren't in our world anymore, your in his and it all works by his rules. Let those who are nit-pickers beware, there are many to pick, although those who can get lost in escapist fun and adventure will overlook these and just enjoy a thrill ride from start to finish.
I found that Last Crusade offered a fairly fitting ending to one of cinemas greatest characters, whereas this film offered a much neater and more complete finish. This for me rounds out the character arc of Doctor Jones and I'm more than happy if this is where we say goodbye.
As for the performances, anyone who was worried by Shia LaBeouf will for the most part find their concerns slipping away by the minute, I know I did. There were a couple of things they had him do which I thought were cool, but waaay over the top, but in general this movie showed that he's the kind of guy who can handle difficult roles and if not shine over-whelmingly, then at least not stuff them up.
Karen Allen was fine in her role and the only thing I could say against her was that there were a couple of lines she delivered which betrayed the fact that she'd largely been away from acting for a long time. Besides that her part was largely tagging along with Indy & co and helping with a bit of plot exposition, but that was fine with me.
Others, such as Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent provided their usual solid and interesting performances. I felt Winstone, as Indy's sidekick, and Broadbent as the University's Dean, both did a great job given the fact they are new additions to Dr Jones' circle of friends.
Finally, Harrison Ford. There is no doubt that this man is the embodiment of Indiana Jones (and presumably Han Solo too), till he leaves this world. He's been an actor who's been missing in action over the last 19 years since the last installment. Sure he had Air Force One and What Lies Beneath, but both of those could only be described as "decent" or "good" efforts. This is back to doing what he does do well. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of lines, maybe three, where there's something in the way he speaks which doesn't quite sound like the Indy of old. This can clearly be put down to the fact that Indiana isn't the same person exactly to who he was. He's an older man and like us all, we change, gradually.
The stunt work for the most part, had you believe that this was one unbelievably tough old guy, but we have to remember that the action and punishment Indiana endures is as natural to him as sitting in front of our PS3's and Xbox 360's whilst chowing down burgers or nachos is for us. He's a part of that generation which won us our freedom in the second world war and never had the chance to waste a large chunk of his life in front of a tv set. That said there's one event where credibility is stretched beyond belief, but I'm willing to let them away with it. Why? Because I love this character.
What of the story? Well, this is a tale which isn't traditionally an Indiana Jones story, this is new territory and more than a little sci-fi. There are those who won't like that it's not a strictly "religious" artifact that's being sought out, but I think most of us will be more than happy to be offered something more than the usual "standard fare" for such an important, perhaps final chapter in the Dr Jones saga.
In closing, I have to say that there will be many who aren't as impressed with this movie as I was, but I guess many of us have now grown up and can't look at a film like this the way we did when were in our childhood or adolescence. I also believe that so many of us have become jaded movie critics and almost seem to watch films with a notebook and checklist, waiting for everything we want and noting down any flaws if we aren't delivered our personal fantasy.
If you aren't one of those people and you are a fan of Indiana Jones, go right away, you are headed for a blissful experience.
I'd love to hear your views.
