Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I know that my many avid readers have been waiting with baited breath for this review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. So, without any hesitation here we go:

The reason I have been reluctant to put this review on is I really wanted this to be a great movie, one for the record books and it seems it just wasn’t in the cards! I do not even really want to say all that much simply because I don’t want to give anything away.

Indiana Jones a.k.a. “Jr.” is back doing what he does best, outwitting the Nazis because well, the Nazis are stupid! I was really excited to see that they had brought back Karen Allen from Raiders of the Lost Ark. It seemed that everyone was present and accounted for, with some new faces, in this all-star cast, as they say. Most of the action is great with a few minor exceptions of stunts that when you see them you are thinking: “What?”, with a disbelieving look on your face but then you think, “It’s Indiana Jones, he can do anything!” and then you’re like “OK, dude!”

It really actually sucks that I can only review and talk about my frustrations of this movie with people that have seen it! This is what I am going to do: I am just going to let you go see it, because I know you will probably go to see it no matter what I say and I don’t blame you, it was a good movie just not a great movie that continues in the style of greatness of the previous three films.

Perhaps that’s what it was, I went with too much expectation? That has to be the reason, I have felt it before with Spider-man 3, Major League 2, Batman 3 & 4, and the list goes on! What Hollywood does is build up anticipation for a movie like the Fourth installment in the Indiana Jones series. They build movies up so much that your expectations are so high it has to be, absolutely has to be, the GREATEST movie for our thirst to be quenched! Yet only once in a while, I would say 3 – 5 movies per year do I actually feel physically full after watching a movie.

The choice is up to you, as it always has been; I only offer my insight.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Here we are again with the Chronicles of Narnia. This is the second book from C.S. Lewis within the entire series of The Chronicles of Narnia. Only some brief history is given in the movie of what has occurred at Narnia since the children left. Narnia is now ruled by the Telmarines and the Narnians have gone into hiding, believed to be extinct. Prince Caspian is the next in line for king of Narnia and is believed to give Narnia back to the Narnians. However, when his aunt gives birth to a son his uncle plots to kill him and take his throne. Caspian’s professor helps him escape in the middle of the night and gives him Queen Susan’s horn. During an event-filled chase scene, Caspian runs into some Narnians and before he can think he blows the horn.

Thus Enters Peter, Susan, Edmond and Lucy, the kings and queens of old. That is all you’re going to get from me, I do not take too kindly to people ruining movies for me or telling me: “Dude, this one part…” I have read all the Narnia books and was thoroughly entertained by both the books and the movies. I do, however, like the first Narnia movie better. Prince Caspian was a good movie, the cinematography was good, acting was good and it was even humorous at times. There was just something in me or the movie that didn’t build as much anticipation or growing interest.

When the wife and I purchased our tickets, the young gentleman asked if we had read the books and we replied that we had and then he began to give us the run-down of what he thought of the movie in comparison to the books. “It strays a lot from the book, but I enjoyed it.” That is all I am asking for: Enjoyment! I do not want to watch a movie then break out the book and begin underlining or highlighting the differences because where would that get me? Nowhere! What now? Send an angry letter to the MPAA and let them know that I am highly disappointed with how they handled the screenwriting? What kind of no-life, insecure, closed-minded, unimaginative prat do you think I am, the old Siskel and Ebert? (no offense!)

I say it was worth my $7 (military discount, yeah!) to sit there for a couple hours and forget about the laundry list of things I gotta do when I get home. I was entertained and will offer this information to think about: If I was watching this movie, and it was good, don’t get me wrong, but if I needed to go to the restroom and dispose of my overpriced movie beverage, I would, my wife wouldn’t.

“Sift through that and find a nugget… sift away Sifty!”

The Golden Compass

There are several times in the lives of those fortunate few where a movie comes along and completely drains life itself! The Golden Compass is one of those movies. I was rather excited to see this flick with a good cast, adventure, science fiction-esque concept and finally one of the greatest elements that can guarantee the success of a movie… talking animals?!

There has been a large amount of arguing over the religious content of this movie, so, while this is not a religious blog but simply as an excuse to write what I think about movies I have seen. I will, however, offer the feeling from myself of confusion? As I started watching this movie I was thinking about what I heard regarding this authors stance on religion and I was thoroughly confused until 1 hr and 40 minutes and 37 seconds. I remember looking at the DVD player, noting the time mark and thinking: “OOOOOOH!!!!”. This does not bode well when the entire movie is 1 hr 43 minutes!

There is an ethereal item that they are searching for and the Magisterium is trying to stop them and deny the existence of “Dust”. If my assumption is correct the Magisterium is the bad guys and those searching for the “dust” are the good guys. It seems to me that the roles are reversed? And Until that illuminus 1hr 40min 37sec I was just confused!

There may be some or even most of you that feel I am wrong since I have not read the books and I am not loosing my identity in the characters, world and vernacular since my life is not worth living so I must find a way to escape myself? (big breath!!) The entire reason to watch a movie is so we do not have to read the book, am I right? There are some times where I sit and read the book of the movie I have seen or read the book first. I go to movies to be entertained, explosions, great concepts, deaths in extraordinary ways and to L.O.L.!

Suckfest!

"What I thought" Meter:

Ironman

This is the bad-boy that started it all! Jam packed with action and, to my surprise, humor! I will give one surprise away @ the end. Stay till the credits are over and there is a tasty treat for all you comic lovers. Robert Downey Jr. does a fantastic job as Tony Stark and I didn't even recognize Jeff Bridges til' he started talking, you know what I mean, he's just got a voice!? IRONMAN is a continuation of Hollywood's stint to venture into the last greatest untapped source of GREAT material.... comic books.

This is a must see by anyone who can see, no offense to the visually impaired that aren't reading my blog anyway. I never was a reader of Ironman, I stuck to Punisher and Spawn. However, this movie is causing me to rethink my taste in comic books.

Pretty much the AWESOMEST movie I've seen this year!