Indiana Jones 4: Community Review #9
May 20th, 2008 by Joel
Spielberg, Lucas, and Ford are back in action (finally!)
Okay it’s time! You know what to do! No spoiling! Good luck!
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16 Responses to “Indiana Jones 4: Community Review #9”
it seems like the recipe of a good Indiana Jones film would be 1 part Nazis and 1 part Biblical artifact… the Soviet army does a pretty good job of replacing the Nazis, but the other ingredient…
Bravo, Mr. Spielberg! I had a great time, I hope you do/did too!
What can I say? I have obviously been waiting the better part of my life for more of this, and that isn’t to say it’s been overhyped, but only that it has been overdue. And just like Nintendo’s great franchises and their storied delays, the wait will always be worth it when you know greatness is behind the curtain, whipping things together.
Great fun. Great action. Great humor. Great murky, dark, scary places. Great opening in New Mexico. Great Ark of the Covenant. Great refrigerator. Great 50′s diner fight.
And I could keep going, but I’m sure you all couldn’t watch without a smile on your face the whole time like I did. It’s just so dang FUN to let the adventure unfold. I was absolutely a kid again, or at least confirmed of my continued kid-ness.
How great it was that Kenya got this on time so that I could watch along with the rest of the world.
Granted, there was some movie-theater-in-Africa issues in our showing. 2/3rds of the way through the noon show (the first one in East Africa), the film turned upside down and skipped ahead to the ending sequence, with all the craziness that you all know about by now going on, inverted.
Me and the 2 others in the theater were like, “Oh, okay, spoiler alert!” and the workers rushed in and apologized.
20 minutes later they got it up and running again without the sound going around the theater, only in front. Quiet movie alert!
Nevertheless, these technical difficulties didn’t take away from what we knew was there, even with the spoiling of the “power” behind the crystal skull.
The only thing I could possibly nitpick on would be…uh…nah, nevermind. I have no complaints whatsoever. This was good old fashioned fun and popcorn, and done with great joy and excellence all around.
My one claim to fame is knowing one of the production assistants, so I stuck around and watched his name in the credits. David Buehrle, top name in the 2nd column! I worked with his wife at Pepperdine and we hung out with them a few times in Santa Monica. He wasn’t allowed to spoil anything, though, nor would I have wanted him to.
I’m proud to have gone into this movie as ignorant as I could have. I didn’t read a single review, not even a headline. I knew the title, the main actors involved, and that was about it.
I have to say again that the entire opening sequence for 20 minutes until Dr. Jones is back teaching again just had me bubbling over with fun-feelingness. So brilliant. Beautiful. Blessed.
Thanks for coming back one more time, Indiana. I’d be okay with it if you did again, too.
The Verdict:
So great! So fun!
Grade: A
At an archaeological site off of Hull’s Trace in Northwest Ohio, where the limestone comes up near the surface of the earth, I discovered the worn diary of a man named J.L. Manahan.
excerpts from the tattered field notebook:
“May 22, 2008: Found myself in a packed theater with friends tonight, seeing Indiana Jones ride again on the silver screen.
Had a really good time. Wish that I could’ve seen it in a quieter setting, though. Lots of chatterboxes behind me.
Nobody seemed to be aware of the fact that I was documenting what I saw on screen in my diary. I hope one day, someone will find these words useful.
Dr. Jones has gray hair and more than a few wrinkles. Yet, he hangs onto the back of a moving motorcycle, fires a bazooka, drives an amphibious vehicle, and gets into fisticuffs like he is a young buck. I find this most pleasing.
Marion Ravenwood is the same, just a little… older. She is pretty, funny, and not at all out of place.
Irina Spalko seems mysterious and obsessive, but what the hell- she’s wicked, so we don’t really need to get to know her. She will be on the receiving end when the movie’s karma catches up with her.
Mutt Williams is cocky, bullish, handy with a knife, and has a certain charm and wit, though he seems a bit less than literate.
‘Mac’ McHale is a great character, however, his papery ways are soggied by the fluid nature of his allegiances. Just who does this guy serve, besides himself? And why would anybody trust such a man?
Oxley, Sanforth, and Dovchenko are all worthy men who play diminished roles in the movie. Oxley looks harried, but speaks with great eloquence. Stanforth is cute, in an old man sort of way, but he doesn’t quite replace Marcus Brody, and I suppose he is not meant to. Dovchenko plays his part to perfection. Every henchman Indiana Jones tangles with ought to at least put up a fight, and Dovchenko puts up several.
The Crystal Skull is an interesting legend. It makes for an interesting story. The artifacts themselves are kind of supernatural macguffins, allowing a grand adventure to unfold.
I felt very nostalgic about this film. And not at all in a bad way. Nostalgia is what the whole thing is about. That, and everything else.
I give it an A-”
I shall have to go do some research on this “Indiana Jones” Manahan wrote about in his diary. God only knows what became of Manahan himself.
I enjoyed this movie.
I wish I would have brushed up on my Indiana Jones knowledge before I went by watching the first three films. I haven’t seen them since I was much younger, and probably didn’t catch half the references to the first films.
It had good action scenes. And I enjoyed the 50′s setting.
Three complaints.
One: The comic timing seemed a little off. Harrison Ford didn’t seem to be as on as he usually is.
Two: I felt like the story line was too sci-fi feeling for an Indiana Jones movie.
Three: I HATED the cgi gophers. Why were they even there?
Overall, I thought this was a fun move, though.
I give it a B+.
Kelly, I agree about it being a bit too Sci-Fi.
And I STRONGLY agree about the gopher’s being retarded. Actually, if they had been real gophers and not CGI I probably could have gotten over it. It just was out of no where and for no reason. Kinda took me out of the movie.
But no, overall, I really liked the movie.
Justin, I can’t imagine seeing the end before the rest of the movie. That would throw me for a loop, I think.
I really liked:
1.) Mutt and Indy’s first scene. Lots going on in the background and underneath the surface dialog. Juggling all that masterfully.
2.) Anytime Harrison Ford yells frantically in a movie for a vehicle to be stopped, turned, or something to happen. First INDY it was for his friend to start the airplane while he ran away from an army. This time it was fruitlessly to turn a boat around before plummeting into a waterfall.
3.) Indy telling the student that if he wants to be of any use at all as an archeologist he’d better get in the field and out of the library. That’s kind of how I feel about literature —- don’t just talk “ABOUT” stories, but dive into stories themselves and live a little. We’re humans, not robots — we don’t HAVE TO eat Mr. Spots. Ok, only Bruce will know why I just wrote that.
Overall, I can completely forgive this movie for going a bit XFILES on us, because I know that another Indy adventure would feel NO pressure to take up this storyline again. Indy, if you believe the beginning of the Last Crusade and the short-lived tv series of Young Indiana Jones, is always getting himself involved in all sorts of ancient culture / weird mythology / strange supernatural trouble, and so there’s no reason the next one couldn’t be something totally different.
I’d watch a Mutt spinoff, if Spielberg was involved. If it’s just Lucas — then I’m scared. Indy IV was already CGI enough, we don’t need MORE. We need the writing, the wit, the humor.
Indy, Indy, Indy. On the plane, hat over eyes. I am smiling all the time.
All you need to know about this movie or Indy is in this song.
The first 2/3rds of the movie are as good as anything in Indy, even better without a backwards masking final reel. Personally, I like the 1950s. I was born then.
My only true disappointment was
(spoiler)
that the ARK is glimpsed early and then, and then. . . we never see it again. Perhaps in Indy 5?
Spielberg knows how to make a movie like this. Lucas will never top Indy #1, but that’s ok. He created the two of the greatest movies of all time, and we can forgive him whatever else he doesn’t give us.
I like everything Justin and Mike wrote that they like about this, so amen to all that.
No in theatre distractions for us in Ohio unless you count a whiny kid right behind us, kicking my chair, and forcing me in my head to ask over and over what kind of adults bring their sick kids to this movie and, in a theatre with 1000 empty seats, choose to sit RIGHT BEHIND us?
6 days in – aren’t there more people who’ve seen it by now?
Geesh. Justin.
I liked this movie. Maybe it was because it was a nice relief from my disappointment of Prince Caspian which I had also recently seen. Or maybe, it’s because I just really love the Indiana Jones movies (minus Temple of Doom). Or maybe, it’s because it was a solid adventure Indiana Jones movie. You decide.
***Spoilers somewhat***
I loved the intro scenes with Mutt and Indy. Mutt constantly stealing stuff, and Indy already watching over him. Their conversations throughout the movie made me laugh. Sorry Kelly, I do think the comic timing was spot on. I was laughing throughout a lot of this movie. Good fun. Especially Mutt and Indy.
The alien business…threw me off a little bit towards the end when the crazed Russian woman was yelling “I want to know everything! Tell me everything! I want to know what you know” and things of the sort. That part got a little crazy, but I dont even care. I dont even care.
The CGI gophers, totally annoying. I could definitely and will definitely forget about those, but really – can Lucas help himself? I think he can’t. I’m going to let it slide.
I loved the shadow shot of Indy and the hat. The infamous hat. Awesome. I got excited and happy just seeing that, waiting for more.
One more thing – I dont think I’ll ever go to South America. The man-eating ants were overwhelming, well done, and throughly disgusting. Thank goodness that alien skull saved them!
I dont know what else to say. Others in the review covered it fairly well. Refer to Mike and Bruce’s reviews I agree with them (that’s not a cop-out of writing more to my review…it’s just unnecessary to repeat the same exact things too too many times).
Oh – and I’d watch an Indy spinoff. I loved Sheeaaa Laboufey in this film. yay! Indy!
I already decided I liked it, and I give it an A. That’s all you need to know. ha!
INDY TIMES 2
Saw Indy 4 for the 2nd time yesterday (with my dad, Mary, and Joan), and liked it even more and even though I knew what was coming. (Spoilers ahead.)
It gave me the chance to study Indy and watch for his moves, quips, and asides. (Favorites: “I have a bad feeling about this” . . . from Han Solo, of course; and “They all had the same problem, Marion: They weren’t you.”)
The shadows and the hat–like Shelby says–are very comforting and endearing. It makes me want to study how to shove people out of vehicles so effortlessly. I think I counted at least 15 people Indy is able to move out of one side of the car or truck or the other.
Glad to see old themes and images reemerge: snakes, hands going into dark places to open up intricate caves and temples, the Ark, and Marion Ravenwood.
I liked the wedding scene especially; despite those “interdimensional” people, God still consecrates this marriage; and the hat blowing in just at the end, when Mutt picks it up, and Indy grabs it on the way out, off to the honeymoon that they should have had 25 years earlier. And more adventure? I can only hope Lucas and Spielberg live long enough, cause Indy will.
Indy Times 2 Again
So yeah saw it again with the Parkers – this time with no interruptions on the technical side.
In the end, not a spoiler, when Indy keeps Shia on the mountain and says “Somewhere out there my dad is laughing”
I really think a nice touch would have been a cut scene here to Sean Connery in the theater, watching Indiana Jones 4 at this exact scene, and then turning to the camera…
…and everyone around his seat in the theater will eagerly wait for him to laugh…
but instead he just frowns and shakes his head and says,
“I’m the man now…Dog!”
And it would be funny because Indiana was the name of their dog growing up and the entire universe would fold in on itself because it had finally connected James Bond, Finding Forrestor, Indiana Jones, and internet jokes at the same time and we would all die.
Then they could cut in the rest.
A double take of the movie was had by me, and one was $2.25 in purchase price! HA!
The first go around was exciting, hopeful, funny, and super enjoyable. The action was not over the top too long for my taste and I really liked the nuclear bomb fake town action. CRAZY!
It should go without saying that any nostaglic, American pop culture loving citizen (like myself), should have enjoyed the jocks vs. the greasers and the old college scene motorcycle chase!
Let alone, it goes without saying that anyone who cared for, grew up with, and appreciated the first three Indy’s SIMPLY HAD TO BE SATIFIED with this 4th one! My personal “over” enthusiasm may be fueled from a Prince Caspian disappoint though perhaps, but seeing the movie twice – I know that is not the case!
The whole first half of the movie was REFRESHING and GOOD! The second half of the movie was good too, just more actioney and alien than I expected. I’d have to say the alien stuff was believable enough for me and I’ll buy that for a dollar type acceptance.
The second two buck viewing was just as fun, ALL OVER AGAIN! I honestly would see it again with people who hadn’t seen it just b/c I would be giddy throughout in what was coming up – the funny lines, the good 50s scenes and feel, the good Indiana Jones feel!
*spoiler*
A is my rating for this movie. Not + simply b/c 13 aliens combined bodies at the end in weirdness.
Now insert link to “Hat Over Eyes” (Hat Over Eyes) if I knew how and if I would have beaten Bruce to the punch!
I think sentimental attachment to the series is clouding some vision here, I’ll be the dissenting voice – we don’t want people accusing this review blog thing of being biased.
As I told somebody recently, “Brittan and I went to PF Changs and then saw Indy 4. It was amazing. The food I mean…”
I did like the first half, but I thought the ending was weak sauce, as opposed to the amazing sauces at PF Changs which ranged from spicy, to sour, to savory..
IJ4 was National Treasure 2 meets Signs, and I don’t mean that as a compliment.
One of the things I always liked was the idea of taking really fantastic historical mysteries from the Bible and making them come to life. Probably not totally biblically accurate, but somewhat relatable to “real life” in the sense that we do believe that the Ark existed at some point in time, and it really did have some supernatural properties bestowed on it, an actual “magic object”.
Introducing aliens into the mix just seemed to easy, I was hoping for a more cerebral adventure, with some classic whip action thrown in in tasteful doses.
I also concur with everyone that pointed out how horrible the CG was in some spots. In my opinion, the technology and budget available to these studios means that a viewer should never be able to tell that something is CG, ESPECIALLY NOT GOPHERS!!! Also, I thought the aliens looked cheesy and pretty boring.
I will give PF Changs an A for very good food and service, followed by little shot glasses filled with dessert, I would give it an A+, but it’s pretty pricey. I will give Indiana Jones and the CGI Gophers a B- out of respect to my nostalgic reviewers, and then wait for what I hope to be a very good Hellboy 2, Clone Wars, and The Mummy 3 later this summer to satisfy my need for gratuitous action and adventure!
Ok, finally saw it.
I agree with Bruce, it was great fun. I guess the thing with Indy is he always discovers things that people have been searching for their whole lives or something that many people don’t believe is true.
**Spoiler**
This time it’s aliens. I do kinda wish that they didn’t put the flying saucer in the end; nevertheless, it was the best flying saucer I’ve ever seen. The alien temple room was pretty sweet with the sculptures and stuff.
** End Spoiler**
I was afraid that Ford would give a fragile performance, but he surprised me and I was glad for that. Shia was a smart choice to put in the movie. Always enjoy his acting.
Some things that I anticipated and was pleased with (things that Indy movies can’t go without):
**Spoiler**
1. I liked how the film looked like an older movie.
It looked and felt like the original three.
Which is good.
2. Good punching sounds (they always sound juicy)
3. Funny humor (Harrison and Shia good duo)
4. Sweet chase scenes (Jungle brawl and motorcycle chase)
5. Really cheezy, bad animation of someone dying (which
they gave us double of: Ants and Alien mind frying)
6. Snakes
7. Crazy natives
8. Good Soundtrack
9. Good Graphics (besides the cheezy, overdone dying
people)
****End Spoiler***
…..that’s all I can think of right now.
I’m going to see it again tomorrow.
I’m having friends over at noon, we are going to watch the first three at my house, then off to the theater. So you may see a second review from me.
Until then **swapchkk** (whip sound…cue the Indiana Jones theme song!)
OSC gives his review finally:
OSC review
I agree with him that 1 and 3 are more powerful and sit in our memories better because they are about the God of Moses and Jesus coming down and smiting evil. And 2 doesn’t ring as true b/c, eh? Some crazy cult mystic power underground enslaves children?
This one won’t match 1 or 3, to me, because it sort of does leave the universe of Indy too open.
I like his comment about the Ark’s cameo.
As it settles in, my order of Indy films:
1. Raiders
2. Crusade
3. a tie right now…
Temple was last place, but it still holds a special place for me because it was the only one that we “owned” (taped copy from Video Spectrum I suspect) and I watched it probably 100 times and it was part of my upbringing and loving of films.
I’ve seen Raiders probably 10-15, and Crusade I’ve probably only seen 5 times. We never owned those, and Raiders was on TV more than Crusade ever was.
Sometimes you can forgive a movie for being a little bit dumb or suspending belief a little too far because it’s a “popcorn” movie. IJ4 is not one of those movies. Yes it’s a blockbuster film released in the summer for families, with lots of action and light humor, all the main ingredients for a “popcorn” movie. But this is Spielberg and this is my favorite movie series of my childhood and probably ever. I so wanted to love this movie, all of it. The nostalgia kept me in it for awhile. I was loving everything, the dry humor, the one liners, the dirty fedora and cracking whip. Then the aliens showed up. I’m not against them going with a Sci-Fi theme, no problem at all. But I feel like they totally botched it. Once they got to South America, I just felt like the movie got stupider and stupider. The scenes were magnificent looking, but the acting got worse, the sword fight between Mutt and the Russian chick on those cars looked horrible and were not believable at all. Karen Allen just looked goofy the whole time. I did not like her role for a second, let alone the story line. It just did not work for me. And the crazy guy friend professor weaved in and out of understanding things, which I did not think was consistent. I’m actually extremely angry about the way the second half of the film went. Maybe I was too dumbfounded by what was happening to understand the ending, but I thought the person who returned the skull got supreme understanding or whatever. The Russian lady puts it back on, sticks around and gets fried? I don’t even want to know what was going on, I just don’t care. They just did not connect the dots very well. Tracey and I called the second half of the movie “kitchen sink” because it seemed like they just threw every idea in there that they could think of with the kitchen sink. All those years of re-writes and multiple writers taking a crack at IJ4 and this is what they settled on? 21 years of waiting for this? The first half was an A+, second half was an F+. I loved that I got to see Indy put on the hat again and kick some butt, but I’m sadly disappointed with the ending and execution. Like I said, sometimes you know going into a fluff popcorn movie that it’s not going to all make sense or be true to life and it’s OK. Not my Indy. Maybe I’ll see again someday and think about it differently. As of now I’m not counting on that.
Thanks! Yeah 2nd half did blow. I had a fun time, but of course it settles in and you can let nostalgia fade away and then see the 2nd half for what it is: National Treasure 5, without the funny sarcastic sidekick from those movies, so, i.e. – dumb and not even funny to redeem any of it.
Chalk this up to…Lucas, you think? Fighting for 19 years to get an alien movie in there? It wasn’t even throwback 50′s scifi movie like Matinee was or anything. It was just sudden A.I.-Spielberg invasion, and not very good at it.
Ah well, I’m happy for the first half and it was worth it to me.