Highly anticipated by many of its fans all over the world and eyeing to pen down a new box office history, the latest installment of Indy movies aren't particularly loved by all movie critics.
- May 21, 2008
AceShowbiz - Twenty seven years ago, the whip-cracking Indiana Jones mesmerized people all over the world when he began his adventurous journey in search of the lost arc. The archaeological professor then followed up the success of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" with two other chivalrous ventures in "Temple of Doom" and with "The Last Crusade". Now, nineteen years after his last thrilling adventure, the daring professor is indeed going back to crack his signature whip in the big screen with "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and he is aiming to score bigger than ever at the box office. Still, though the fourth Indy film is highly anticipated, it doesn't actually get early receptions it hoped for, especially with the mixed feeling given by the movie critics.
Bringing its action star, Harrison Ford, back to reprise his most famous role ever after his golden years have passed, "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" at first offered much doubt whether or not Ford could do justice to his character. Still, some critics believe that the filmmakers are clever enough to set this film in 1957 which is about 20 years apart from the first three movies and most importantly remains true with Jones' memorable character to please the fans. Todd McCarthy of Variety commented that in the latest film, Jones "comes through just as viewers remember him: crafty, capable, impatient, manly, and red-blooded American". Rafer Guzman of Newsday added, "Its success rides almost entirely on Ford, who brightens the action - always improbable, occasionally ludicrous - with physical humor and rascally charm. He wears the role so naturally that his supporting actors often seem to be faking it." Aside from panning the doubt over Ford's performance, others who support the positive reviews also applauded the spectacular special effect and stunt works on the action adventure tidbit.
On the other side of the story, though some offer rave reviews over the Paramount Pictures' movie, equally as much give their poor overlook toward the much awaited film. Unlike those who think of this movie as an accomplishment, these critics viewed "Crystal Skull" as disappointment and suggested that fans would find it failing to live up their expectation. The less-than-impressed Christy Lemire of The Associated Press complained that the movie is "about as unfocused and meandering as the title itself", once it went past the characters' introduction. Equally as disappointed, Hollywood Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt gave out his uneasy thought stating, "After about an hour, the film abandons any pretense of story for a rush through fights, chases, machine gun fire, scorpions, quicksand, monkeys, huge snakes, and finally a secret city - part Mayan, part Aztec, certain to become both a video game and amusement park attraction.... The actors are asked to do little more than look reasonably alert."
Regardless of the hailing and panning of Indiana Jones' latest perilous adventure, all and all most critics agree on one thing, that is "Crystal Skull" will work as instant nostalgia for the fans. The film starred by Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Karen Allen is preparing to blast the silver screen on May 22. This time, it follows Jones as he teams up with young and rebellious Mutt Williams in excavating the legendary Crystal Skull of Akator and at the same time dodging off Soviet agents headed by Irina Spalko who seek to get the object to help their country conquer the world.
