Indiana Jones 4 Review
Thanks for checking out our Indiana Jones 4 review. If you’d like, you can watch the video version of our Indiana Jones 4 review at the bottom of the post.
For years… nay… decades, film fans have been patiently awaiting another Indiana Jones film. Everything was quite until about 7 years ago when it came out that Lucas, Spielberg and Ford were indeed interested in brining the all time greatest action hero back to the silver screen… there was even talk once of Kevin Costner joining the series as Indy’s younger brother (don’t laugh… it’s actually something that I thought had some merit, but probably better that it never came to pass). As the years past, the feasibility of an aging Harrison Ford wearing the great hat again seemed to get less and less likely… to the point that some people (like myself) gave up all hope of it ever coming to pass.
Then word came out that an Indiana Jones 4 film was indeed in the works. Hope ran high. Joy once again returned to the nation and even the 65 year old Harrison Ford looked great. So does Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull live up to the great “Indiana Jones” name? Unfortunately… no.
THE GENERAL IDEA
The year is now 1957 and our intrepid hero, Indiana Jones has been kidnapped by Russian agents who need his help to find an important artifact hidden at the infamous Area 51. When the Russians get away with their prize, circumstances draw Indy and a young man (Shia LaBeouf) whose mother is being held by the same Russians into a race to uncover the mystery the Russians are trying to unravel that revolves around a strange crystal skull that legend says leads to a great city of gold. And so the adventure begins.
THE GOOD
With Harrison Ford being 65 years old, one of my biggest fears was that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull would just ignore the age issue and go on its merry way pretending like it just the same old Indy and asking us to suspend our belief about his age. Thankfully, the movie doesn’t do this. It not only acknowledges the age issue, there are a number of points throughout the film where they actually poke a lot of fun at it as well. I know it sounds strange, but just the fact that the movie often highlights the age issue sort of makes the action sequences seem more believable.
Let me talk about the action sequences here just a little bit. There are a couple of set pieces in this movie… including a car chase through the jungle and a motor cycle / car chase around the university campus, that really are spectacular. As a matter of fact, I’d go so far as to say that I think the jungle car chase scene actually surpasses that classic scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy gets dragged behind the truck. They were exciting, thrilling and had me on the edge of my seat. Some really good stuff.
The movie does a nice job of subtly referring to a number of things from the previous movies. George Lucas, when left on his own, went way over board with this in the Star Wars prequels, so there was a little fear that they would do that, or go to the opposite extreme and not allude to the previous movies at all. I’m glad to say they found some very nice middle ground
THE BAD
Although I’m a fan of Shia LaBeouf, and despite the fact that there are a couple of pretty solid scenes with him in the movie… I’m sorry, but no matter how much I tried I just couldn’t get into his character in the movie at all. For the first 10 minutes we see him he annoys the hell out of me… and after that he’s a lot less annoying, but still kind of felt “in the way” more than anything else for the movie. In heidsight I think the film would have been much stronger had he not been in it (the character I mean)
Despite the references to the older films, and despite the fact that Harrison Ford was as charming as ever as Indiana Jones… the movie never really felt like an Indiana Jones movie to me. I watched all three of the originals again this weekend, and Crystal Skull just doesn’t fit in well with the other 3 at all in my opinion. The movie failed to capture that essence that the other films had… so although the characters were there, the lines were there and even some of the memories… the “flavor” just wasn’t there.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER** As many of you have guessed from the trailers and some of the early rumors, there is an Alien plot in the movie that never worked for me at all. As a matter of fact it made the whole movie feel like it belonged to another franchise all together. It was a bad idea in my opinion. **END OF SPOILERS**
OVERALL
I liked this movie. As a matter of fact, if this film had been called by another name, and the lead character was named “Edward Cummings” or something like that instead of Indiana Jones, I probably would have walked out of the theaters saying “You know what, that was a pretty damn good (not GREAT) movie”. But as an Indiana Jones film… one we’ve been waiting 20 years for, I can’t help but feel a little let down by it. Don’t get me wrong, I still think it was a pretty entertaining movie and well worth going to see… but it never felt like an Indy film to me, and it certainly wasn’t great enough to be worthy of the “Indiana Jones” name. So a good movie, that should have been better. Overall I give Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull a 7 out of 10.
You can view our Indiana Jones 4 review video version here:
34 Comments, Comment or Ping
DON
good review John.
Personally I am not excited about indy 4.
I am looking forward to mummy 3 more than this.
May 18th, 2008
Joseph
Have the Gods no mercy? Come on! First the Star Wars prequels now this…tis a dark age my friends.
May 18th, 2008
GoneAFK
Now was this pre or post Waterworld Kevin Costner?
Just the sort of review I thought this was going to get.
May 18th, 2008
John
Hey Joseph,
Don’t get the wrong impression dude. It’s still a “good” movie. Just not as good as I was hoping for.
May 18th, 2008
Legion213
The Crystal Skulls are thought to have a alien origin. Which is probably where the alien plot comes from. So if it was to stick true to the legends. I wouldn’t see any other way to do it.
May 18th, 2008
Dylkill
Wow, that is exactly what I expected from this movie, some good action scenes, but let down a lot by Shia LaBeouf. I’m still pretty excited for this movie, but there are a lot of movies this summer that I would much rather see. Good review John.
May 19th, 2008
James
Ok, after reading John’s spoiler, I think he knocked some points off because he falls into the camp that thinks it’s ok for Indy films to deal with invisible men in the sky but not invisible GREEN men in the sky?
This is not a shot, but an observation: some people are having a hard time with the Indy/sci-fi blend.
To each their own. I just don’t see the difference myself. It’s all otherworldly to me.
Nice review though. I have been surprised by all the good reviews. Ebert even gave it 3 1/2 stars…so, it looks to be, at the very least, a fun pulpy summer ride, which was the point all along.
May 19th, 2008
DarthMuppet
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… as long as this provides me with a good dash of goofy fun as it follows the adventures of (a now much older)Henry Jones Jr…. then I’ll be happy.
Really, that’s all the original films were… nice, goofy, pulpy fun.
I’m not expecting a cinematic masterpiece here, God knows that this series was never meant to be taken that way. Don’t get me wrong, Raiders is a classic, but at its heart it is nothing more than throwback pulp fun.
I’m not sure, but I think the whole “looking at the past with rose tinted glasses” thing may be coming into play here with some people. I’ve watched all three of the previous films on a regular basis since the day that they came out, and I’ve never really seen them as anything more than highly entertaining summer popcorn movies. With the exception of Raiders, all the films have had their share of cringe worthy moments… so I’m not going to let things like that put me off.
I do have one gripe with something you said John. I haven’t seen Crystal Skull yet, but… I’ve always thought that out of the three previous films, it was Temple of Doom that felt drastically out of place. I think it’s an enjoyable flick and all, I’ve just never felt that it gelled all that well with the other two.
May 19th, 2008
James
DarthMuppet…
You’re right. People seem to be forgetting the spirit in which this series was made: fun, pulpy B-movie action flicks, dressed up with A-movie trimmings.
If I hear another reviewer lament how Kingdom is not Raiders, I will scream.
NOTHING will ever be Raiders. Raiders was a freak of film..a once in a lifetime merging of talent and timing that was truly catching the proverbial lightning in a bottle.
May 19th, 2008
JordanC
One thing that drives me crazy about many good films (The Departed, Indiana Jones 4) is that they have that fat sack of shit Ray Winston. He’s a talentless shrek-man who can’t seem to get ANY accent right, and you always feel that the movie would be much better without him, and even any character he plays.
Why do they KEEP casting him? He’s garbage, and he damaged this film I thought.
May 19th, 2008
Kristina
Oh man, I feel a little bad that it didn’t rock you harder, John. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays. Do you still think it’ll be the top-grosser of the year now?
May 19th, 2008
Mozzerino
Jordanic, you are a madman, slagging of Ray Winstone like that. That guy will kill your monster, be sure of it.
He was also absolutely awesome in SEXY BEAST.
May 19th, 2008
AjaxLou
Overall reaction is mixed with a leaning to the positive side. A better outcome than what was feared so there is a quantum of solace to be taken.
May 19th, 2008
Robert(wolf)
I thought Indy 1-3 were just good…didn’t blow me away, maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up with them like most people have. But it does sadden me knowing Indy 4 is letting some people down this early on.
May 19th, 2008
Phil Gee
Wow, the Indy reviews have certainly been flooding in the past 24 hours. If the action is as good as you say John then that will be enough to put a smile on my face (after the limited action of Iron Man and the incomprehensible action of Speed Racer). Nevertheless, i will be there Thursday with zero expectations hoping to have a good time.
John, would you mind telling us what you thought of the performances by the other newcomers to the film, Ray Winstone, John Hurt and particularly Cate Blanchett? I figured she’d be a slam dunk in the film but a lot of critics are saying she’s not that good. Also, is John Williams music as good as ever?
May 19th, 2008
James
Not sure what reviews you are reading Phil, but Blanchett has been getting most of the raves, outside of Ford. The Irina Spalko character is more in line with the pulp sensibilities of the 50’s, so it lends itself to being a scene stealing role. Ebert is practically waxing romantic over her character in his review. *LOL*
If there are any criticisms about the characters, it’s in how they are used (or underused)…..and not in how they are portrayed by the actors per se.
May 19th, 2008
kiyo
it does kinda suck that the movie didn’t deliver as much as was expected but i don’t think that the points you’ve mentioned will affect my enjoyment of the movie anyways. i guess because i didn’t grow up with the films and am not attached to the mythos it won’t really seem like such a problem to me. probably won’t even notice. man Thursday can’t come any sooner
May 19th, 2008
Kristina
@Rober(Wolf)
I’m with you, man. I like the movies, but I don’t hold them in high regard, like the rest of the internet seems to.
May 19th, 2008
DarthMuppet
James:
Exactly! I keep seeing the same basic trend with the reviews I’m reading… Those who are walking away either hating it or slightly disappointed seem to be going in expecting an oscar caliber film or forgetting just how much of a goofy B-movie serial the original films really were. Those who are coming away loving it are the people who went in only expecting to see another fun as hell installment in a kick ass pulpy B-movie serial.
You’re also right in another aspect… there is no way in hell this film could ever be another Raiders, that would just be impossible! Anyone who goes in expecting that is bound to be disappointed, no matter how much fun the movie is.
Now, John… I’m not knocking you for your opinion of the film. I just wonder if your expectations are the reason you came away slightly disappointed.
May 19th, 2008
digital drew
Maybe its too much CG ?
just guessing
May 19th, 2008
Mark-Salinas-MN
Good review.
I will go see the movie….hopefully it will be worth the time?
Mark Salinas, MN
May 19th, 2008
nbakid2000
I should really stop reading reviews/discussion boards, I’ve already learned too much information about this film that I shouldn’t know. Damn. But I’m a sucker for discussion.
Anyway, I’ve heard good things about this and I’ve heard bad things about this…
******SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER********
Apparently people don’t like the use of CGI in this film (I said they were going to CGI the crap out of this thing regardless of what they told you, and apparently, according to some reviews I’m right), Shia swinging around with a monkey army (a CGI monkey army), and the fact that Indy never seems in any real peril through the action sequences, and the film is very talky. And a lot of the people have mentioned the characters other than Indy are poorly used and also, the third act of the film basically involves Indy and Co. standing around.
******END OF SPOILER END OF SPOILER********
I just hope they’re all wrong and I have a blast at this thing. If this sucks, you can blame Lucas, Spielberg and David Koepp for ruining a good thing.
May 19th, 2008
nbakid2000
**********VERY MINOR POSSIBLE SPOILER**********
Apparently a lot of plot points don’t get sorted/ended out either.
******END OF VERY MINOR POSSIBLE SPOILER******
John, how as the CGI usage in this thing? More than the 30% (for “background elements”) we were promised? Did they lie about that?
May 19th, 2008
DJ Machismo
This is good news for me. I tend to lean towards the side of liking movies such as this more than most people (for instance I absolutely loved the Star Wars prequels and do not think Lucas messed anything up with them).
So it bodes well for me that I will get a good amount of enjoyment out of the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Very nice, now I am even more excited!
May 19th, 2008
Amish_Bill
John,
Was it a good-not-great movie because your anticipation level was so high (like you said 20 years in the making) or was it really just an OK movie? I think there’s a difference. I know I build up movies so much in my mind that they are inevitably bound to disappoint even if it was a solid movie. Do you get what I’m saying?
May 19th, 2008
Meli
I’m glad you weren’t completely disappointed, John. That would have been a shame.
Myself, I’m not expecting a masterpiece, but a good bit of fun. From your reivew it seems like it will deliver that much. I never have felt cozy with Shia’s character, especially from the trailers and feared it would turn out like you said in your review. Oh well. The kiddo really likes him, so that’ll be part of her enjoyment during the flick. LoL
May 19th, 2008
carlm
I hate when when somebody says it was good but not as good as the orginals, like with Star Wars or Indy. You sperm burpers have to realize that your not 10 years old anymore. Movies are much different seen the the eyes of a kid than that of an adult.
May 19th, 2008
Jake Vermont
@ John Do you still think Indy4 will be the movie of the year?…..
May 19th, 2008
John
Hey Jake,
I never said it would be the movie of the year.
@ Everyone asking if I only gave it a 7 because my expectations were so high
My expectations were never actually all that high. My HOPES were high. But as I said right in my review…. if it were any other movie I would have said “That was a really good… but not great movie”. Crystal Skull would have got a 7 from me regardless.
It’s a good movie… but not great. But that’s just MY opinion.
May 19th, 2008
Sound Designer Dan
Maybe it never got the essence because it had too much CGI? Or maybe because Denholm Elliott (R.I.P.) or John Rhys-Davies isn’t in it?
Hopefully, this movie doesn’t have too much CGI because the lack of CGI made the prior 3 feel real.
May 19th, 2008
Dragonslayer
I ain’t seeing this, I’ve finalized it in my mind. And it’s not because of the review. As I have said, I ain’t all that excited about this movie. Iron Man and Prince Caspian both fufilled their purpose, in fact they both are down so far as the best films of 2008, at least of the summer. But that’s my opinion. The Dark Knight and Incredible Hulk are probably the films I wanna see this summer. Maybe Wall-E instead of Hulk.
May 19th, 2008
DON
IRON MAN has set the bar so high that all movies are gonna look not so cool.
Action wise some may surpass IRON MAN but overall none of the big blockbuster movies will match it.
May 19th, 2008
Jay
A fitting review that matches my expectation. I also had the same perception that this would be a decent adventure-actioner and not having the ‘Indy’ vibe. I’m skipping this till DVD release.
May 19th, 2008
andrew
Although from the review it sounds like it will be a good movie i really think there should have not been another Indiana Jones Movie. Harrison Ford seems too old to still be running around on treasure hunting. For example, I’ve never seen a 65 man move as fast as he does in the trailer. Also, the stunts seem bigger and more grand then they did in the original trilogy making the age issue even more relevent because how could someone believe that Indian Jones was able to do even more physically demanding stunts as an old man then he did when he was in his prime.
May 20th, 2008
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