Blog O’ Obscurity

I really wanted to like this movie. I really, really did.

I remember watching “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at a birthday slumber party when I was six or seven. It was thrilling. I closed my eyes when the big German dude got caught in the airplane and stared in wonder as the Nazis melted. “Temple of Doom” was exciting and and horrifying, and “The Last Crusade” was a classic adventure without a weak scene throughout the entire film.

I wish I could say the same for “Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. My misgivings began when I heard a rumor about aliens showing up. Seriously, why? I still sent opening weekend with excitement in my heart. The opening scene at Area 51 was pretty good with some good action and an exciting chase. Harrison Ford getting shot five miles out of an atomic blast inside a lead refrigerator was over the top to say the least. What an unnecessary scene!

I thought Shia LeBeouf did a pretty good job as Indy’s son. He shows up as the spitting image of James Dean on a motorcycle and holds his own against a fading Ford.

I guess my main problem was that I didn’t buy into the action sequences. Don’t get me wrong, they were visually incredible with state-of-the-art effects. But they came across as cartoons. My other big problem was the setup for the archeological search. There was no logical sequence like “Last Crusade” of traveling from Venice to Alexandria to the secret canyon. The story seemed to be one disjointed sequence after another.

Let me be specific. The Russians are slowly plowing through the rain forest with a gigantic tree devouring tank. All the other vehicles slowly plod behind the behemoth. When Indy and the gang break free, they hijack a jeep and suddenly a high speed chase ensues through the jungle. Seriously, what the hell. Where did this jungle freeway come from where jeeps can push 60. This isn’t the middle of the desert.

So, sorry to say. Big thumbs down from me. Try again Lucas and Steve.

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