Indiana Jones
Out of context: Reply #90
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- JerseyRaindog0
Ok, the following is all imo obviously.
Speaking objectively and I am a Indiana Jones fan so that's kind of hard...
The first half of this film is terrific. Great set pieces, live action stunt work, decent characterisation and for a while you're glad Indie is back on the big screen. Ford still looks good and plays the role in a way which reminds you why he's still a class actor. Even Shia LeBouef doesn't really disgrace himself when he appears. Indie and Mutts first real scene together in the cafe is delightful with some genuine wit and good get-out clause. And the ensuing motorbike/car chase sequence is the best thing in the film. When the action transposes to Peru then the film starts to unravel. The Indie films have always been a homage to those fifties Saturday morning adventure programs that would always end on cliff hangar and you have to forgive them some of their failings. But the whole jungle car chase sequence is a step too far. For starters when the impressive deforestation machine that's clearing a path for the explorers is destroyed by Indie we're able to have a full on chase through the jungle on what looks like a 2 lane highway. Suspension of disbelief is one thing but assuming the audience are idiots is another. The film is almost a lesson in moviemaking - act I is how to make movies with decent actors, direction, characterisation and live action set pieces, act II is how to screw them up with hokey throw away comedy, poor cgi and ludicrous unsurvivable stunts. Finally the biggest problem is the incomprehensible plot. As a teenager I understood all three previous films, as an intelligent adult I was baffled by the end of this one.
I don't the franchise is dead and there was certainly a clear indication that the mantle might be passed on in the last scene but please, please, please Mr Spielberg (I'm guessing your responsible for the first half and let Lucas take the reins for the second half) tell George to piss off next time, stick to your promise of only using celluloid for the rest of your career and make sure the script and plot stands up to at least the same scutiny of the first three.