Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I didn't expect anything good, or bad when I sat down in the theatre. I knew the film would have flaws but I expected them, so I wasn't disapointed. I knew the film was set in the 1950's so that didn't come as an unpleasant surprise. Frankly though, the 1950's were a dull time and no amount of effort can replace the ambience of the 1930's for sheer seat-of-the-pants adventure. The post war world had lost the innocence of the 1930's and consequently it gained that post modern, mocking, self awareness that characterises our world today. Indiana Jones as an OSS operative didn't appeal to me either. It ruined the illusion of his independence.

And, this is yet another Spielberg film where the Father/Son dynamic takes centre stage...


On the other hand though... Harrison Ford still looks great, though even he is finding latter day Lucas script writing to be something of a challenge. He romps around doing his thing and beating the bad guys, and thats what we like. Simplicity and special effects. Shia Le Beouf seems okay, but there is a certain pretty-boyishness about him that I find slightly annoying. The whole, Marlon Brando rip off for example just struck me as contrived and he didn't really seem the part.

Frankly there is so much bad one could say about this film, so many things strike me as being just plain daft, but in the end, thats what I expect from Indiana Jones! Lost alien civilisations and two dimensional bad guys are what pulp is all about. I don't want to take it seriously, I just want it to look good, and whilst its not the 1930's... its close enough. I could whine all night, but I actually enjoyed it. Love is when you forgive people all there flaws, and I love Indiana Jones!

Four stars means good. I'd give it five, but it wasn't a patch on 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'