Hey there. How was your weekend? Mine was filled with revelations. See, the weekend is generally the time I watch the most movies and television, usually compiling a list in my head of notes and observations that would otherwise go unheard. Aren’t you lucky?

This weekend was mostly dedicated to Indiana Jones, so let’s get crackin! Don’t worry, the whip jokes will end soon.

Revelation #1: Nazis Are So Annoying!

After watching both Raiders and Last Crusade this weekend, I was happy to see Indy do battle with the Russkies in IJATKOTKS (Easily the best/hardest-to-type/worst abbreviation for a movie ever). Especially in Last Crusade, the Nazis just didn’t pack the punch they had in the original. Sure, Harrison gets a Hancock from Hitler, but everything seems a bit more vague in the, er, “Last” installment. It was good to pump some new blood into the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ’50s setting of the new movie. It was exciting, as if Indy had been dropped in another time and place, and perhaps a different movie altogether. It’s also weird to think the Indiana Jones timeline is about 50 years behind ours. Everyone accepts bringing Indy to the ’50s because it explains his age, but by now, we also have to accept he’ll never catch up to us. He’d be about 115 years old if they did Indiana Jones And The Age Of The Internet Access unless, of course, he stumbled upon a time machine, which after this latest installment is definitely within the realm of possibility. Bottom line: Nazi. I hate those guys.

Revelation #2: I Think My Theater Switched the Last Reel of Indy with A.I.

I’ll have more to say on the entire Crystal Skull movie later, but for the majority of the movie, I was smiling like a big idiot. I will admit that the ending fell off the rails for me, and I started to wonder why I was watching A.I. I don’t have a problem with the alien storyline. It’s a logical plotline for the time period of the movie, and plausible if you’re willing to accept the first three movies. But I think if this weren’t the age of CGI, the ending would have been handled in a more clever manner. They didn’t have to show so much to get the point across. I was with the movie to the end, through the fridge-flying, through the vine-swinging (barely), and through the waterfalls, but as soon as that Crystal Skull was returned to its rightful neck, I knew I was gonna be shown too much. There’s talk of knowledge being a treasure, but I wish this one was at least partially buried. I think it would have been more effective.

Revelation #3: Harrison Ford is a MAN!

Is he seriously 65? Seriously? I don’t even look that good NOW and I’m 55% younger than him!

Revelation #4: No One Cheered When The Lucasfilm Logo Came Up This Time

For every Star Wars movie I’ve seen, the audience clapped when the Lucasfilm logo popped up. This time around — nothing. Was this a theater full of people who were “burned” by the prequels? His last movie was Revenge of the Sith, and that’s generally accepted as a worthy entry to the series, and sort of a redeemer for a lot of haters. Was this apprehension? I know it can’t be that everyone in the theater hates him, because they paid for their damn ticket.

Revelation #5: My Childhood Is Still Intact!

I did it! I still have a childhood! More than anything, Crystal Skull is meant to give you a glimpse into the things you used to enjoy. I actually admired how outrageous the set pieces were, especially after just watching the original movies, it was fun to see some completely unexpected moments mixed in to the classic Indy formula. Had we seen another movie where Indy fought Nazis and went back after the Ark, people would have claimed it was a retread. Crystal Skull is something completely strange and unfamiliar to the world of Indiana Jones, and I had a great time watching it. I’ll readily admit there are scenes too goofy even for me, but there was so much energy to the movie, by the time you were turning to the person next to you saying, “That was ridiculous!” Indy and co. were already on to something else. If you didn’t enjoy Crystal Skull for its pulpy goodness, it may be time to re-evaluate what you’re looking for in a movie.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 at 9:43 am and is filed under Film, Weekend Revelations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.