Short Note from The Reel Girl

Hello my stalwart readers (Nicole, I'm talking mainly to you...)

  Just a quick note to apologise for the extremely slow progress from me. Once I began reviewing movies in the theatres I discovered that I needed to see the movie at least twice to be able to do it any justice. Unfortunately in PG that's easier said than done, with our one theatre and matinees at said theatre only on the weekends. That being said, I'm going to start alternating between theatre flicks and DVDs, that way there will be a guaranteed post every week. I'm also going to put up a poll, to help determine which DVDs you, o trusted reader(s) would like see me review! Look interactive blog!! That's all for now! Until next time, keep it reel! 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Dun da dun daaah Can you hear that? Dun da daah Where is that coming from? Dun da da daah, dun da dun da DAHHH!!! It's coming from your local theatre, and do you know what it means?! Indy's back! And while I'm not going to say that he's better than ever, he's still back. This might not be the most exciting news for you, but I spent my weekends as a kid being 'educated' in the ways of George Lucas by my father. I can still remember vague memories of watching 'Last Crusade' at the drive-in, especially when Walter Donovan turns into dust after drinking from the wrong grail. Since then the Indiana Jones has always been near the top of my 'favourite' movie list. The mix of humour and adventure along with the gruff but lovable performance by Harrison Ford as my favourite achaeologist is perfection. To say that 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' had a lot to live up to for me is an understatement, although I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in that boat. There were a lot of us expecting a lot out of this movie. And while it took me seeing it two times, it's passed the test for me. (although it only had to be better then 'Temple of Doom' to do that for me.) While the new subject matter is a little...well, weird Ford, Lucas and Spielberg pull it off by reminding the audience of why they love Indy in the first place. (Like the red line while travelling, I LOVE the red line while travelling!)

The movie puts us right back into the world of 'Indiana Jones' by using the old Paramount logo that's a little faded and not as a glossy as the new one, just like Indy himself. They also manage to jump us in time from the thirties to the fifties with Elvis' "Hound Dog" blaring through the speakers of an old jalopy. When Indy finally comes on the scene, from the trunk of a car, it's the first little gasp of excitement for me, putting on his hat (which is also looking like it should retire) in shadow, just like in 'Raiders.' While he's looking older, if possible, gruffer, and a little worse for wear I finally can relax; because I know that I'm in good hands, with this old-man Indiana Jones, especially when he says "Russians" the same way he always used to say "Nazis." Now that Hitler has gone the way of the dodo, he and his search for the occult is replaced by the Russians and their search for psychic weapons. Not only this, but Dr. Jones has to contend with the McCarthy era anti-communist witch hunts going on in his own country. I guess it's nice to know that history has plenty of villains in the wings, at home and abroad, for Dr. Jones to butt heads with.

While the audience is thrust in to oddity by realising that Indy's been brought to Area 51, Lucas and Spielberg remind us that it's still Indy by revealing that Area 51 is the giant warehouse from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' The whole movie goes on like this, anytime things seems a little too odd, it's balanced out with a little reminder from the previous films. For example, the Russians have just found the alien corpse they were looking for in Area 51 and while Indy tries to escape their clutches he knocks over a crate which is revealed to hold the infamous Ark of the Covenant. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the movie is a series of homages to the older films, it's not, far from it in fact. I would never use the phrase "non-stop thrill-ride," ever, but here it actually applies, the movie was over before I even realised that two hours had gone by. it's just nice to know that fans with high expectations and people seeing their first Indiana Jones movie would both be entertained.

Harrison Ford was wonderful, and I have to say I was extremely skeptical when I heard he was doing another Indiana Jones movie. The man looks older every time I see him in a movie, and I wasn't sure he was going to be able to pull it off. Don't get me wrong, the smart mouth is still there, which has always been a huge part of the character. But there was no way this guy was going to be running for his life from a giant, runaway boulder and getting out alive. However when Indy tries to swing from the ceiling into a moving car on a rope and ends up crashing into a completely different vehicle, my worries were put to rest. 

I was also really impressed with the supporting cast in this incarnation of Indiana Jones. Cate Blanchett is absolutely fantastic as Col Dr. Irina Spelko. Her accent is fantastic and I don't think anyone has ever pulled off a blue jumpsuit like that before. While she's more sinister than Dr. Elsa Schneider from 'Last Crusade,' that who she reminds me of. She is searching for something that she deems supremely important, not only for the organisation to which she belongs but also for herself. And she would do absolutely anything to gain the knowledge that she so desires. Cate pulls this off so well that you almost want to cheer for her, almost.

Then we come to Shia LaBeouf. He has a great entrance, riding on his motorcycle through the steam/fog at the train station and from that point on he doesn't disappoint. It's easy to see why he was cast in this role, they needed someone who could match wits with Harrison Ford. Both of these men have quick wits and it was fun watching them go at it, especially with Ford being the cool tempered one for a change. One of the best things about his character, Mutt Williams, is that he's a conduit for the audience. Every time he doubts that Indy can do something, you, in the audience get to smile to yourself and think 'just wait' and when the intrepid Dr. Jones pulls it off you get a smug 'told you so' until he finally gets it; Indiana Jones can do pretty much anything. 

Last but not least, there's Karen Allen. I can not tell you how excited I was when I saw that Marion Ravenwood was back. She was always my favourite of Indy's ladies, his best match, in my opinion. And while, just like Jones, she's a little older and a little wiser she still has that twinkle that I always loved in 'Raiders.' While she might have been better at getting herself into trouble in the first movie, she seems to have learned from Indy and now is just as, if not more, adept as him in getting out of dangerous predicaments. It's also nice to see that while they've been apart for so long that the passion is still there. They still bicker constantly and are still crazy about each other. 

A couple little extra things. When Indy stumbles in to a replica 50s home in an atomic bomb testing site it's funny how out of place he looks in such a suburban environment. It's as if to remind us that he belongs out in the field, getting into trouble. However, this also served to give me the first and only real 'yeah right' moment of the movie. You know the kind of thing that no one, not even everyone's favourite achaeologist, could survive. The bomb drops and Indy hides in a lead lined fridge which then proceeds to fly who know how far, and crash land. Only to have our hero fall out unscathed and concious...yeah right. Oh well, I guess it's one of those moments you have to really suspend reality. There are also some lovely homages to Marcus Brody and Dr. Henry Jones Sr. While neither man could be in the film it was nice to know that they weren't just forgotten. There is also a great Greaser/Soc fight in the diner, where Steven Speilberg's daughter Sasha pulls a great punch on Shia LaBeouf. Also the complete and utter irony of a car full of Russian communists crashing their way through an Anti-Red Rally. It's just one of those little moments to make you chuckle. 

Finally, remember the snakes from 'Raiders'? the bugs in 'Temple of Doom'? the rats in 'Last Crusade'? What was in store for us in 'Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'? I thought it was scorpions when a bunch fell on Mutt early on, but that was just like the tarantulas from 'Raiders,' something short and sweet to freak us out a little. No, what we get instead are giant, people eating ants. It gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.

All in all 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' does not disappoint, Indy is still Indy and the ride is still just as exhilirating, even if it is aliens. While that may be hard to come to grips with, I dare you not to laugh while Mutt tries to save Indy from a dry sand pit by throwing a giant snake to him like a rope. Because, still after all this time, he still "hates snakes"! Now enough of me babbling, get to the theatre!