Monday, June 02, 2008
What the hell took them so long? All those years wasted on Tom Hanks running around an airline terminal, security execs hacking bank computers to save their family, and FUCKING MITICHLORIANS. Finally the big three of the 80's get back together and show everyone else how to make an adventure movie. The John Williams music swells, the hat is picked up and it's time again for cracking whips, daring escapes, incredible chases and lots of people getting punched in the face. NINETEEN YEARS since the last one. If they had kept making one of these every three years, this would have been Indiana Jones NINE. That's five Indy movies we'll never get, just so we could hear some little shit say YIPPEE because a flying sloth told him he could take off early from work. Just so we could watch Leonardo DeCrapio forge checks. Just so we could watch Harrison on a deserted island with ANNE FRIGGIN' HECHE. I'm ticked off about all that lost opportunity because this movie is just That. Damn. Good.
Back in 1981 (when most of your were learning how to crawl, if that) Spielberg, Lucas and Ford got together and created the ultimate summer adventure movie template. Using the Adventure Serials of the early years of movies as their inspiration, an archeologist who carried a whip and a gun was born. Since saving the world from the Nazis, the Thugee cult and the Nazis (again), it seems that Indy became James Bond for a couple of decades (from what little backstory we get). But, things he did during those 19 years drag him into the middle of one more adventure. Though he's a bunch older and has lost a step or two, Indy still has the knowlege, strength and right cross that makes you NOT wanna bet against him.
The movie is pure summer fun. Harrison Ford still has that perfect charm for this character (smirk, smooth line, punch, swing on the whip, smirk, smooth line, etc.). George Lucas shows that he can still come up with great ideas, as long as someone else finishes the work. And, Spielberg...
Heck, we're talking about Spielberg. Even that airport movie was fun to watch.
This is a movie that is more about the Daring Adventure than about the Digital Art. More about the Fun than about the FX. Around the time of Twister and Independence Day filmmakers started losing sight of the heart of great blockbusters. The best moment of Die Hard wasn't the building blowing up, it was Bruce Willis finishing a conversation with "Yippee Kai Yay, Mother Fucker" (maybe that's what little Ani should have said). The effects and action should elevate a movie to blockbuster. But, the movie (characters, story) needs to be there first or else there is nothing to elevate. Spielberg has always shown he knows that. You root for Indy and his little "family" first. The pretty CGI add to that. This movie is just fantastic adventure. Edge of your seat, laugh your ass off, "how the hell did he just do that?" adventure.
Iron Man started this season off right. Indy just made sure it will be a movie summer to remember.
Prime's Bottom Line - 19 years since number 3. Let's see. Next year Back to the Future IV?
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