The 4th installment of the Indiana Jones film series, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a film that I see as a parody of the previous 3 films. The film seems as if all other ideas where exhausted and the film felt like a rehashing of old material.
The film was certainly not perfect, but unlike most I did not think the problems were in the silly set ups and 'get out of jail free' solutions to perilous situations. If this film has a serious problem it was probably the story. It's just plain hard to keep track of most of the time. There is a tremendous amount of exposition (probably more than in any other Indy film), and if you aren't paying attention – and I mean like there's gonna be a quiz on this at the end – it's really easy to get lost. Particularly when it comes to a crucial plot point about someone taking the skull, bringing it somewhere, failing to unlock a puzzle, and taking it right back again.
Another interesting fact about this film, in fact what may have been too big a hurtle in the eyes of some, is that the 'deal breaker' scene comes very early in the film, and to protect those who have not yet seen the film, this deal breaker comes in the form of a refrigerator. As soon as this scene was over I said to my self "this is the point of no return. If the audience cannot accept this, they won't be able to accept anything else in the film". I did accept it, and once I sat back and said "whatever" (Indiana Jones films typically require extra suspension of disbelief) I had a great time at the movies. The Indiana Jones franchise has never been about the stories; not really. Indiana Jones has always been about having as much fun as you can in a movie, and I have to say this movie was a lot of fun.
Smith - Comment
ReplyDeleteStating that this film is a parody is an interesting view. I feel as though they were not planning for it to be a parody, however, I think that it did turn out as one. There was so much repletion and it had the same main theme as The Last Crusade. Atonement with the father. I agree with you that the movie had story problems but not many problems in terms on semantics, directing and filming. There are a lot of hidden moments and not so obvious plot twists. It is hard to keep up. For example, when visiting Professor Oxley’s old prison cell, the final clue to where to find the graveyard was not obvious so we never actually know where they went. To know where to put the skull was a stretch in the storyline because there was no confirmation as to what the right thing to do was. It was just whoever connected with the skulls eyes knows where the skull must go and how to get there. I disagree that you have to accept the refrigerator scene or just give up. I felt as though they went too far this time in what Indiana could withstand, however, it was enjoyable and I agree that that is the main point of the Indiana Jones movies. Adventure and fun.