Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Spielberg, 2008)|||||5
There's something bubbling underneath the surface of this one... I'm not surprised at various writers' attempts to extract something out of its clever self-reflexivity. There are striking considerations of the new era the series takes place in now: the depictions of youth, the use of knowledge for intimidation, the very pettiness of the quest, the occasional sense of vulnerability allowed its Commie villains (i.e. the drag race in the awesome opening credits, Blanchett's admirably emotive performance). The film also seems to be striving to distill the very nature of the Indiana Jones films, what with its plot points concerning academia and adventure, and the revisions and referrals to history (the adventure seems to amount to little more than an opportunity for Spilko and Jones to horde knowledge and combat their principles towards discovery, at the expense of the remains of cruel conquistadors and humble natives).
But yeah, otherwise the movie just isn't very good. Silly, inane, too glossy, and the end is the definition of anti-climactic predictability. I hate to say it, but the movie could've used some... stronger violence? Ray Winstone's last scene is mind-bogglingly strange. And the whole movie is just another victim of the CGI age.
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying (TV broadcast) (Philippines) (|||||2.5Smiles of a Summer Night (Bergman, 1948)|||||8.5
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (Greenaway, 1986)|||||8.5
* Pride & Prejudice (Wright, 2005)|||||8
Speed Racer (Wachowski Brothers, 2008)|||||5
Invaders from Mars (Hooper, 1986)|||||6.5
The Matrix (Wachowski Brothers, 1999)|||||5.5
Lifeforce (Hooper, 1985)|||||8
