I mentioned on Saturday (yesterday) that I have been watching quite a few movies and TV Series at home, yet yearning to go to the theaters! I did not make it to the movies at 2:00pm, but by and by with the errands completed, I got myself to AMC theaters in Burlington, MA. It was a three way toss up between run into the theater with a min to spare to see Indy, or wait an hour to see Indy or wait an hour and half to see Caspian. The first was too short a wait, besides, I love to see previews, so, option 1 out. Option 3 out, just because, it is too long a wait. I could have waited, but nah! Indy it was!
_preface_:
Before I get into the Crystal Skull movie, a little about my relationship with Indiana Jones movie. As a kid, I have vague recollection of seeing posters (huge posters) put up when the Raiders of the Lost Arc came to be released in the country. Of course, at that point of time, it would have been considered complete frivolity and waste of time and money by my parents to even think of seeing such a movie, or perhaps I was underage to see Indiana Jones battling Nazi's and the ghosts of the Arc. After that, I really heard nothing about the next two movies; Temple of Doom and last Crusade.
It was years and years later that I find myself having seen Patriot Games, Star Wars (re-release), Sabrina, Air Force One and many others, that became a growing fan of Harrison Ford. It was in the last 4-5 years that I finally caught up to see Last Crusade and then Temple of Doom.
Each of the Indiana Jones movie, has a sense of adventure of exotic locations from underground church graves in Venice to Grand Canyon to desolate islands and submarines, forest and poison dart throwing natives and more. There is the thrill of the unknown and unexpected turns and twists. There is our bumbling and yet incredibly lucky hero (Indiana Jones). It is so evident in the way Harrison reacts to the situations in the movie with amusement, anger, and sometime amazement, that it makes it real, alive and believable. He depicts a fictional, yet if he was real, he would really lead us into protecting all our ancient histories today.
So, I must say, I went in to see Kingdom of Crystal Skull with tremendous expectations! Well, sometimes, that is good and sometimes things take a downturn. (*spoliers beyond this*) Oh! Don't get me wrong! I still love Harrison Ford and loved that Karen Allen is back and we have the Henry Jones Jr. III. Awesome! A perfect way to get into the next set of Indiana Jones, the batan has been handed down!
Fanstastic Sequences: There are several sections that truly live up to my expectations (*spoilers*)
1. Great sequence when Indiana Jones II and III are on motorcycle with the reds chasing them. The chase goes through all sorts of streets and alley ways and into the library of the school when Indiana teaches. The chase stops briefly in the library whence Indiana Jones instructs the students to get out of the library for serious archeology! Ha! Ha!
2. Love the entire escape from a nuclear test site, in a fridge.
3. The amazon chase with reds and Indiana family and crystal skull, great! It has swords, and guns and giant red ants and monkeys.
4. It is very endearing to see Indiana Jones hot on the trail of the skull, following the clues from Dr Oxley, from the sanitorium to the ancient ruins with caves and poison dart throwing natives et. al. Awesome!
5. What makes Indiana real, lovable and a hero, is that he follows clues intelligently, passionately and does it to know and not as much for personal gain. He thirsts for the journey and the results. While the enemy lets him get on with it and grabs the treasure as soon as Indiana acquires it. One cannot help cheer Indiana when he flips the odds against the enemy in his own sometimes bumbling and lucky ways. Sometimes whatever he does works and sometimes it doesn't. But, he tries! and tries again!
Not-so fantastic! Now, now! I liked the movie, but there was something really missing! Earlier Indiana Jones movies all have this incredible solid story lines, and one felt completely involved in the quest. When the plane took off from point A to point B, you were with him in the plane, along for the ride. This sense of renewed archeological find was somehow missing. I almost wonder if there was more trade off for jazzy digitalization versus good old story telling! There were serious outcomes if Indiana fails in his quest and the enemy win. This one had it too, but it somehow did not convey the same gravity as unleashing the power of the arc or the power of the holy grail! Perhaps, Speilberg should have left the aliens out! yeah! More than have skull's return meant escape for the aliens in their ship, it meant something more for the good of this planet. Somehow the balance of good and bad for the planet is little more appealing for me, than bad for this planet and escape for the aliens. Whatever!
But, it was fun! Will I buy the DVD? Perhaps not! I will wait for the Blu-ray! ;)