Why the latest Indiana Jones was crap.
(SEMI-SPOILER ALERT: the following review gives hints about some of the elements found in the film though it doesn't give away the story as such. Either way, even if it did, the plot is so predictable that you wouldn't be missing much)
Indiana Jones 4 (IJ4) was a let-down; albeit, an expected one. When directors decide to resurrect an old characters, themes and stories nearly 30 years after their inception... doom comes out, worse than the kind of doom found in the Temple of Doom. And please understand that 50% of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was terrible even back in the 80s (the first half with the whole dinner scene and insect tunnel gets props). IJ4 follows in the footsteps of the original trilogy's black sheep by being too over the top and having awkward pacing, but with the added crap that comes from a terrible plot premise and the lack of a cohesive storyline.
The thing that made the original Indiana Jones films great (even the Temple of Doom, though to a lesser extent, so lets exclude it from most of these comparisons) was that balance of slapstick silliness and the way they somehow were still taking themselves seriously. Yes, they had their crazy chase scenes, explosions, massive propellors, esoteric mysticism, and snakes, plenty of snakes. But at the same time there was a certain believability to the whole experience.
The new movie lost any sort of kind of believability. While the old films pushed the suspension of disbelief with stunts such as diving underwater to avoid a fireball on the surface, and silly gags that often seemed to take place in open air markets, IJ4 pushes the limit way past what anyone could possibly believe, skyscraper waterfalls, surviving nuclear explosions, and other things I won't give away. It turned into a cartoon. I believe that modern films have lost a lot of appeal since computer sfx have become the staple way to create action. Suddenly we see the characters doing things that are far less realistic than they ever would have done had the director had to rely on analog physical stunts and effects.
Then there is the issue of the subject matter. The old films were all about harnessing subjects that straddled myth and religion, legend and religious plausibility. The Ark of the Covenant is the best example. First of all, a great number of people on the planet, both Jewish and Christians alike already believe in the existence and historical power of the object, but like most relics, there is more mystery and curiosity about its powers than dogma. The Ark, as well as the Holy Grail, also have the benefit of being objects that are already embedded in the human psyche. We know about them, regardless if we believe or not. Few explanations are needed, just a few reminders about their nature.
In IJ4 we are given no such pre-existing myth objects. Instead we get this ridiculous foray into science fiction that loses all the appeal and mythical plausibility. It cannot be properly brought to a conclusion because we are never even given a proper introduction. The powers or nature of the Crystal Skulls and their owners are never explained or understood.
The great thing about Indiana Jones was that he was a man of action and science that was constantly having to approach the sacred and unfathomable with reverence and humility. Indi deals with the mysteries of religion, not science fiction. Even Temple of Doom understood that.
On top of these main issues, the film suffered from sequelitis, where the comeblack movie tries to hard to bring back old elements of the "classics" that it overloads us with cheap sentimentality, nostalgia, and explanations. IJ4 should have done like the old Indiana Jones films did: ignore the previous stuff. Did Indiana mention Marian in the two following Raiders of the Lost Ark? No. Did we care? No. Because Indiana is a man of action. He is James Bond. Who cares where his old lovers are. As for his father and markus, hints about their fates could have been done in a much cleverer and less cheesy way with props and setting.
Indiana Jones 4 (IJ4) was a let-down; albeit, an expected one. When directors decide to resurrect an old characters, themes and stories nearly 30 years after their inception... doom comes out, worse than the kind of doom found in the Temple of Doom. And please understand that 50% of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was terrible even back in the 80s (the first half with the whole dinner scene and insect tunnel gets props). IJ4 follows in the footsteps of the original trilogy's black sheep by being too over the top and having awkward pacing, but with the added crap that comes from a terrible plot premise and the lack of a cohesive storyline.
The thing that made the original Indiana Jones films great (even the Temple of Doom, though to a lesser extent, so lets exclude it from most of these comparisons) was that balance of slapstick silliness and the way they somehow were still taking themselves seriously. Yes, they had their crazy chase scenes, explosions, massive propellors, esoteric mysticism, and snakes, plenty of snakes. But at the same time there was a certain believability to the whole experience.
The new movie lost any sort of kind of believability. While the old films pushed the suspension of disbelief with stunts such as diving underwater to avoid a fireball on the surface, and silly gags that often seemed to take place in open air markets, IJ4 pushes the limit way past what anyone could possibly believe, skyscraper waterfalls, surviving nuclear explosions, and other things I won't give away. It turned into a cartoon. I believe that modern films have lost a lot of appeal since computer sfx have become the staple way to create action. Suddenly we see the characters doing things that are far less realistic than they ever would have done had the director had to rely on analog physical stunts and effects.
Then there is the issue of the subject matter. The old films were all about harnessing subjects that straddled myth and religion, legend and religious plausibility. The Ark of the Covenant is the best example. First of all, a great number of people on the planet, both Jewish and Christians alike already believe in the existence and historical power of the object, but like most relics, there is more mystery and curiosity about its powers than dogma. The Ark, as well as the Holy Grail, also have the benefit of being objects that are already embedded in the human psyche. We know about them, regardless if we believe or not. Few explanations are needed, just a few reminders about their nature.
In IJ4 we are given no such pre-existing myth objects. Instead we get this ridiculous foray into science fiction that loses all the appeal and mythical plausibility. It cannot be properly brought to a conclusion because we are never even given a proper introduction. The powers or nature of the Crystal Skulls and their owners are never explained or understood.
The great thing about Indiana Jones was that he was a man of action and science that was constantly having to approach the sacred and unfathomable with reverence and humility. Indi deals with the mysteries of religion, not science fiction. Even Temple of Doom understood that.
On top of these main issues, the film suffered from sequelitis, where the comeblack movie tries to hard to bring back old elements of the "classics" that it overloads us with cheap sentimentality, nostalgia, and explanations. IJ4 should have done like the old Indiana Jones films did: ignore the previous stuff. Did Indiana mention Marian in the two following Raiders of the Lost Ark? No. Did we care? No. Because Indiana is a man of action. He is James Bond. Who cares where his old lovers are. As for his father and markus, hints about their fates could have been done in a much cleverer and less cheesy way with props and setting.
Comments
but to clarify, the skulls were briefly mentioned, and in the movie, the famous Mitchell-hudge's skull was used to base the movie.
THe actual Crystal skull is very anatomically correct to a human skull (unlike in the movie), but things like how the skull cannot be made with modern-day technology and that has led some researches to come up with theories claiming it is supernatural.
A few things I found hilarious, is that the father of the young woman who discovered the skull has been noted to be very "indiana-jones type", because he traveled and excavated all over the world, and also claimed to have been held hostage by Pancho Villa. If you happen to remember, Indy talked to his son about being held captive by Pancho villa.
Other myths, like thirteen skulls brought together in order to teach and provide knowledge, have also been recorded. Basically every myth listed in the movie, is a myth that has been well discussed by doctors and archaeologists alike.
I found your blog when I google-imaged "random things"