Indiana Jonesing for the Past
Warning: There are *NO* spoilers ahead. Read on to remain in ignorant bliss.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark", when it was released, was so novel and groundbreaking, it would be too much to expect the same from the fourth installment, "Crystal Skulls", after almost 30 years. Where to begin if you try to list all the changes the action movie genre has gone through since the early eighties?
The Indian Jones franchise, Jaws and it's ilk, intentional or not, started the furiously paced action laced storylines, huge budgets, complex and over the top stunts, CGI effects,, trailer money shot, DVD releases, bonus scenes and intricate story lines found in today's HBO series, makes "Raiders" seem like an antiquity from before our time, the 50s rather than the 80s. "Crystal Skulls" answers the question, "Gee, I wonder what Indian Jones would look like with all the wizardry they're doing today?", but it doesn't make you feel like you saw something new and fresh.
It was hard not to think of references to "American Graffiti", "Alien", "Stargate" and of course, the franchise itself (The Ark of the Covenant itself has a brief appearance of course - you know it's coming when you hear that all familiar mysterious, creepy chorus). I was half expecting a little jaw to come out of the skull. This is not always a bad thing, if you can blend it all together as a unique story, but that's not the case here.
The movie is still worth watching, for the spectacle and there are some memorable and funny scenes, namely the motorcycle chase around university grounds, the use of a famous Presidential election slogan, and once again, an encounter with yet another, this time, giant snake. And instead of multitudes of rats or snakes, it's ants. Think again, kiddo, before you use that magnifying glass.
The movie ends with a teaser of perhaps a younger Jones taking on the mantle, but Jones the third just doesn't have the charisma or the fit for the character that Ford does. Who does? All of the supporting characters are bland as well. The chemistry found between Marian, Marcus, Jones Sr. and Sallah just isn't there. I am a big Kate Blanchett fan, the only actress who can play both Queen Elizabeth and a Brooklyn housewife convincingly and she was underused in a character that was very stock. Another release seems doomed (no pun intended) for failure. Spielberg and Lucas will continue to make more movies, some of them very good, but hopefully not with Mr. Jones.