(no subject)
I just had a lengthy discussion with my sister about the merits, or lack thereof, of the most recent Indiana Jones movie.
I was curious, so I did some research on the Crystal Skulls before I went to the theater. I had heard about them growing up, and remembered how they were 'mysterious' in that they couldn't have been carved by the indigenous people where they were 'found' using ancient methods. The mystery largely came down to the question that "if ancient mesoamericans could not carve these skulls, who could?", with the answer being either a lost civilization or a higher intelligence. Much to my disappointment, I discovered that the mystery has been solved: the skulls are widely considered to have been hoaxes perpetuated by unscrupulous 'antique' dealers.
So, having read this, I was somewhat concerned about the choice of artifact for the most recent Indy movie. At least, in the case of the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail, you have specific artifacts that have a wealth of legends and history surrounding them and that pose more questions than answers. In the case of the Crystal Skulls, you have shady antique dealers passing them off as relics to an ignorant, credulous public. There isn't much mystery to them, unless "You Want To Believe". The case is closed, unlike the other two items, whose location will probably never be known. In my head, going into the movie, there is already no real mystery for Indy to solve.
One departure from the previous movies is readily apparent. Indy is able to find a certain box in a warehouse of boxes by tossing gunpowder in the air. Because the box contains a relic that is 'highly magnetic', the gunpowder gradually flies to it. I say this is a departure from the previous movies because the previous movies did not depart from our world into a magical one until near the end of the movie. The ark was simply a relic until the final twenty minutes when the Nazis opened it. "The Last Crusade" didn't encounter anything strange until they met up with an 800 year old Knight. In this movie, Indy found the crystal skull pretty quickly. And it does magical, inexplicable things. Not only can you watch a show if you stare inside its eyes, it is also a key, an insect repellent and a magnet! Man. I'm glad that my skull just holds a brain.
I'd imagine a magnetic brain casing (or magnetic brain) would definitely be a liability, as far as evolution goes. Maybe that's why the aliens didn't stick around Earth - once humans started manufacturing iron tools, nails and hammers would fly across the city and keep whacking into the aliens' skulls. "Stupid apes! Why couldn't you just stick with copper?"
Another problem I had is that none of the characters were particularly well developed. I've heard rumors that they intend to have Mutt Williams be the next Indiana Jones. The final scene kinda alludes to this. However, the trouble is, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about him to make him a worthy successor to Indiana Jones. In fact, he seems like he -can't- do what Indy does. I mean, he's certainly intelligent and good in a fight. On the other hand, he also gets -scared- climbing into tombs at night and doesn't have the drive for knowledge that Indy does. This is the complete opposite of Indy, who won't stop at anything to get what he wants. Young Indiana Jones, in the first ten minutes of "The Last Crusade", was a more compelling character than Mutt Williams in the entire movie of the Crystal Skull. Marion Ravenwood makes a reappearance from the first movie. However, in this movie she mostly just argues with Indy about their relationship and drives a Jeep.
Rant of Unanswered questions:
I need to get this off my chest, as I really did not understand it. The Russian girl, played by Cate Blanchett, was the driving force behind returning the crystal skull. If she didn't kidnap Marion and Oxley and if she didn't push Indy into going to Nazca, the Aliens would've never gotten their skull back. However, she did it, and the Aliens shoulda been happy. They offer a reward, and she asks for 'knowledge'. So... they burn her eyes out, blow her head up, and disintegrate her. Wow. Those aliens are jerks. So much for a higher life form. I laughed at the animation of all the aliens fusing to make a complete alien, whose face then morphed into... what, anger? I couldn't tell. Bah. I think the explanation is that it was 'too much knowledge'. Wow, way to scare people away from learning. If you learn too much, your head will literally explode.
I mean, I know she was the 'bad guy', but I really didn't dislike her that much. Sure, she was communist and a nut job and believed in remote viewing and mind reading, but she didn't seem particularly evil. Nowadays, she'd just be an eccentric. I suppose, in the end, I kinda sympathized with her. If I met an intergalactic being who promised me a reward for aiding it, I can't say I wouldn't ask for knowledge.
Why doesn't Mutt Williams have a British accent? His adoptive 'father' was an RAF pilot, his mentor was British, and he grew up in England.
Why does Marion tell Indy that Mutt's actual name is "Henry Jones, III"? If it is, why didn't Mutt know this already? Did he never see his birth certificate or passport?
So, in summary: if you don't ask too many questions, the movie is a fine enough adventure movie. It's got chase scenes, fist fights, derring-do, and old forgotten temples with puzzles. Standard Indy stuff, really. However, if you analyze everything as my sister and I did, you'll discover a lot of holes that will ultimately drain out a lot of the enjoyment you had watching it.
I was curious, so I did some research on the Crystal Skulls before I went to the theater. I had heard about them growing up, and remembered how they were 'mysterious' in that they couldn't have been carved by the indigenous people where they were 'found' using ancient methods. The mystery largely came down to the question that "if ancient mesoamericans could not carve these skulls, who could?", with the answer being either a lost civilization or a higher intelligence. Much to my disappointment, I discovered that the mystery has been solved: the skulls are widely considered to have been hoaxes perpetuated by unscrupulous 'antique' dealers.
So, having read this, I was somewhat concerned about the choice of artifact for the most recent Indy movie. At least, in the case of the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail, you have specific artifacts that have a wealth of legends and history surrounding them and that pose more questions than answers. In the case of the Crystal Skulls, you have shady antique dealers passing them off as relics to an ignorant, credulous public. There isn't much mystery to them, unless "You Want To Believe". The case is closed, unlike the other two items, whose location will probably never be known. In my head, going into the movie, there is already no real mystery for Indy to solve.
One departure from the previous movies is readily apparent. Indy is able to find a certain box in a warehouse of boxes by tossing gunpowder in the air. Because the box contains a relic that is 'highly magnetic', the gunpowder gradually flies to it. I say this is a departure from the previous movies because the previous movies did not depart from our world into a magical one until near the end of the movie. The ark was simply a relic until the final twenty minutes when the Nazis opened it. "The Last Crusade" didn't encounter anything strange until they met up with an 800 year old Knight. In this movie, Indy found the crystal skull pretty quickly. And it does magical, inexplicable things. Not only can you watch a show if you stare inside its eyes, it is also a key, an insect repellent and a magnet! Man. I'm glad that my skull just holds a brain.
I'd imagine a magnetic brain casing (or magnetic brain) would definitely be a liability, as far as evolution goes. Maybe that's why the aliens didn't stick around Earth - once humans started manufacturing iron tools, nails and hammers would fly across the city and keep whacking into the aliens' skulls. "Stupid apes! Why couldn't you just stick with copper?"
Another problem I had is that none of the characters were particularly well developed. I've heard rumors that they intend to have Mutt Williams be the next Indiana Jones. The final scene kinda alludes to this. However, the trouble is, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about him to make him a worthy successor to Indiana Jones. In fact, he seems like he -can't- do what Indy does. I mean, he's certainly intelligent and good in a fight. On the other hand, he also gets -scared- climbing into tombs at night and doesn't have the drive for knowledge that Indy does. This is the complete opposite of Indy, who won't stop at anything to get what he wants. Young Indiana Jones, in the first ten minutes of "The Last Crusade", was a more compelling character than Mutt Williams in the entire movie of the Crystal Skull. Marion Ravenwood makes a reappearance from the first movie. However, in this movie she mostly just argues with Indy about their relationship and drives a Jeep.
Rant of Unanswered questions:
I need to get this off my chest, as I really did not understand it. The Russian girl, played by Cate Blanchett, was the driving force behind returning the crystal skull. If she didn't kidnap Marion and Oxley and if she didn't push Indy into going to Nazca, the Aliens would've never gotten their skull back. However, she did it, and the Aliens shoulda been happy. They offer a reward, and she asks for 'knowledge'. So... they burn her eyes out, blow her head up, and disintegrate her. Wow. Those aliens are jerks. So much for a higher life form. I laughed at the animation of all the aliens fusing to make a complete alien, whose face then morphed into... what, anger? I couldn't tell. Bah. I think the explanation is that it was 'too much knowledge'. Wow, way to scare people away from learning. If you learn too much, your head will literally explode.
I mean, I know she was the 'bad guy', but I really didn't dislike her that much. Sure, she was communist and a nut job and believed in remote viewing and mind reading, but she didn't seem particularly evil. Nowadays, she'd just be an eccentric. I suppose, in the end, I kinda sympathized with her. If I met an intergalactic being who promised me a reward for aiding it, I can't say I wouldn't ask for knowledge.
Why doesn't Mutt Williams have a British accent? His adoptive 'father' was an RAF pilot, his mentor was British, and he grew up in England.
Why does Marion tell Indy that Mutt's actual name is "Henry Jones, III"? If it is, why didn't Mutt know this already? Did he never see his birth certificate or passport?
So, in summary: if you don't ask too many questions, the movie is a fine enough adventure movie. It's got chase scenes, fist fights, derring-do, and old forgotten temples with puzzles. Standard Indy stuff, really. However, if you analyze everything as my sister and I did, you'll discover a lot of holes that will ultimately drain out a lot of the enjoyment you had watching it.