It’s been a busy summer for me and I have gotten quite behind in my movies. I missed Speed Racer altogether, although many say that I should be thankful for that, and I just got around to seeing Dr. Jones put the fedora back on. Sad to say, I think I could’ve have waited even longer.
The latest and hopefully last Indiana Jones film is a forgettable popcorn film that would rank higher if it stood on its own. Lucas and Spielberg have once again created a film that pays tribute to the matinees they grew up on but this time the charm and boyhood excitement is gone. Harrison Ford limps through the film after starting out strong playing Jones as an aging hero. By the end though he’s acting like he’s 30 again and it just doesn’t play well. Perhaps more damning then Jones not acting his physical age is his diminished mental capacity. Part of the joy in the previous 3 films was watching Indy figure out and decode the mysteries and riddles that surrounded him. In this installment he’s got 4, yes, 4 people doing his work for him. There are just too many cooks in the kitchen. The script tries to be confusing but fails and is just annoying with the double agent twist and turns that everyone sees coming a mile away. Then there are the action sequences, which look dated and quite frankly fake.
There are a few positives though including the return of Karen Allen. Her Marion is the only woman that ever challenged Indy and she and Ford still have amazing chemistry. “It” kid, Shia Labeouf, continues to prove himself as Mutt and he and Ford have some of the film’s best scenes. I also loved the shout outs to past characters and artifacts. Unfortunately that ends up reminding you of how substandard this is as an Indy film.
Is this a horrible film? Hell no but it’s just not up the standards of the previous 3 films and to me that means it never should have been made.
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Speaking of karen Allen, I wrote an unsolicited script for Starman 2 back in 1998. It was my first script and I quit college to finish it. It’s been gathering dust ever since. I sent it to Jeff Bridges and John carpenter, although I would prefer if Carpenter didn’t direct a sequel. I wrote some good f/x sequences and some interesting characters. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be involved, but I’d to see the f/x scene from the beach being incorporated, (Jeff’s manager Neil will know the one, totally plagiarised from another movie, but it would look great on film today). If anyone has any questions, email me at hansenfilm@yahoo.ie and I’ll answer them. (Although I won’t give away any plot points. And yes there is a son and indeed, I actually have the perfect casting suggestion!!
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