I have waited almost 20 years for this movie, so imagine my trepidation when I read the horrible reviews for the latest movie. I generally re reviews, buecause they're all motivated in their own ways, and not always pure, like mine. And lets face it, negativity sells.
So I went and saw it, and let me tell you, they're full of shit. I loved it. I'm biased. I admit it, I went in wanting to like it. And I did. A lot.
Sure, you uspend belief that Harrison Ford can keep running at his advanced age. You have to suspend belief that it occured just a few years after the last one. But isn't that what movies are about, suspending belief?
It starts out that Indy is kidnapped by Kate Blanchettr Russian goons to find an object in the governments top secret warehouse, seen in previous movies, and the home of the Holy Grail, that Indy found in the first movie. He is forced to find it, and the adventure begins.
He escapes, and then the government questions his patriotism, he gets fired from teaching, and decides to move to England.
Introducing Shia LeBouf as Mutt, who tells Indy that his mom and his mentor, and Indy's friend, have been kidnapped in Chile. Thats where the story gets good, and you really need to go see it yourself, because I don't want to spoil it.
I really liked Kate Blanchette as the evil Russian. Yeah, her accent was sort of Rocky and Bullwinkle, and I was waiting for her to say Moose and Squirrel, but she nailed it. Not just in being bad, but how she portrayed her passion for her quest in the movie.
Harrison Ford was good, despite the endless cheesy shots of him smirking. He's funny, and you can see why he's been in some of the biggest series in movie history. I was afraid with him pushing 90, it would be a little much, but it wasnt.
I also liked John Hurt, and it made me happy to see him. He was the father in Hellboy, and it also reminded me Hellboy 2 is coming, and that is awesome.
Shia Lebouf was introduced as Mutt Williams. I didn't like him in Transformers. I didn't like him in Disturbia, but I did like that movie. I'de have liked to have seen Seann Williams Scott (Stiffler), or perhaps Jake Gly...Donnie Darko guy, but thats just me.
The special effects were good, and not overdone. I was sort of nervous, because Lucas is involved, and he overdid it in the new Star Wars, and forgot about the script. But they kept it within the realm, and that is bueno.
The stunt work was good, the fight scenes crisp, if not pretty believable. Indy has never been one to dominate a fight, and he still isnt.
The script was wonderful. Fast paced, some emotional scenes, funny, lots of fun. And once again, they kept with what worked in the originals. And it also left it open to future adventures
It did make me feel good, seeing a theatre full of people under 20. It is a great series, and I hope it opens the old ones up to them, so they can see their brilliance. The only drawback is the little kid sitting behind us asking a million questions.
But I give it 9.5 whips out of 10, with Shia LeBouf being my only drawback. If they continue, he'll be involved, and I'll have to watch his dumb ass more.
