2519 replies to this topic

[Blonde Bond]

By the looks of this trailer, I'm predicting that I am going to enjoy this movie full heartedly.

Now that he's older, Jones feels even more badass. Not anything like 'AVTAK's geriatric Bond.

But then again it's just a trailer, and not the finished product. Although I have to add, that cgi in the trailer didn't look all that bad. They've used rough cgi effects in the previous Jones adventures, so it wouldn't be such a big departure from the previous films, if they happen to use cgi here and there. Those special effect have never been out of place in Indy movie. And hey, it's a Steven Spielberg production all the way. So I'm not that afraid of George Lucas and his special effect company stuffing the movie full of special effects, that look , in most cases, a little cartoony in episodes I-III.

[Harmsway]

You're right, Harmsway, but what worries me most about CRYSTAL SKULL is that it may echo LAST CRUSADE not only in being a family affair for our hero but also in featuring an overmanned supporting cast of sidekicks. I fear we're going to get "Indy and the gang" again.

It's honestly a fear of mine, as well. "Indy and friends" isn't particularly what I want to see, though we'll see how it's handled in the film. At the very least, there's no single character sharing the spotlight with Indy like Henry Sr. did in LAST CRUSADE, which is something.

Besides, didn't Frank Marshall, Spielberg or someone recently state that CRYSTAL SKULL was closest to LAST CRUSADE?

Marshall did. Screenwriter David Koepp and George Lucas maintain that it's closest to RAIDERS.

I imagine that it doesn't really feel like RAIDERS or CRUSADE. I think it's likely that it falls between the two films, and then brings plenty of its own stuff to the table.

I certainly think it will have the edge on CRUSADE, given its greater visual interest level and more intriguing story. Furthermore, it doesn't seem to have humor at the expense of the characters (in other words, it seems set on maintaining Indy's intrinsic coolness), and despite having a group dynamic towards the final quarter of the film, I imagine it will still feel like a film that stars Indiana Jones rather than a film that stars "Indiana Jones and someone else."

On the whole, I'm happy with how things are shaping up. I have no doubts that KINGDOM will be a flawed entry that I'll have some criticisms for (just like TEMPLE and LAST CRUSADE), but I believe I'll enjoy it a great deal, and that's what I'm looking for. I do think it stands the chance of being the best of the Indy sequels.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Why must it look and feel like Crusade?

Well, frankly, I don't think it feels and looks much like CRUSADE at all. It feels like its own thing. This is much more stylized, more visually interesting, and more epic than the rather unimpressive CRUSADE.

You're right, Harmsway, but what worries me most about CRYSTAL SKULL is that it may echo LAST CRUSADE not only in being a family affair for our hero but also in featuring an overmanned supporting cast of sidekicks. I fear we're going to get "Indy and the gang" again.

Me too. We don't need 2,3 oh wait make that 1 sidekick.

Still, looks good. *fingers crossed*

[Double-Oh-Zero]

I'm a smitten kitten.

Ford looks suitably fit and grumpy, Blanchett looks strangely attractive, and the action scenes look satisfyingly over the top. Not too worried about the film becoming "Indy and Friends"; I'm sure Spielberg is aware of the fact that we've been waiting 20 years to see the return of Indiana Jones (as opposed to Indy's friends) and will therefore give the man with the hat plenty of face time on his own. The CGI is expected; from the looks of things, this film looks like it will be much bigger in scale than Temple and Raiders.

However...I wasn't as excited as I was when I saw the trailer for The Dark Knight. Although I tend to think that's simply because the KOTCS teaser snuck up on me, whereas I had been anticipating TDK.

[Loomis]

You're right, Harmsway, but what worries me most about CRYSTAL SKULL is that it may echo LAST CRUSADE not only in being a family affair for our hero but also in featuring an overmanned supporting cast of sidekicks. I fear we're going to get "Indy and the gang" again.

It's honestly a fear of mine, as well. "Indy and friends" isn't particularly what I want to see, though we'll see how it's handled in the film. At the very least, there's no single character sharing the spotlight with Indy like Henry Sr. did in LAST CRUSADE, which is something.

Oh? I assumed that that was precisely what Shia would be doing. BTW, is Sallah back? If not, it's an encouraging sign, but not, I guess, if Ray Winstone is going to be the Wade to Sallah's Leiter.

I do think it stands the chance of being the best of the Indy sequels.

Sure, although the competition ain't exactly fierce.

[Harmsway]

Oh? I assumed that that was precisely what Shia would be doing.

Nope. While Shia's in it a lot, imagine him in more of a Short Round role (but a bit more important than that). He's just a supporting player trying to keep up with Dr. Jones.

BTW, is Sallah back?

No. He's not.

If not, it's an encouraging sign, but not, I guess, if Ray Winstone is going to be the Wade to Sallah's Leiter.

Ray Winstone's Mac is actually a friendly competitor, so he's an uneasy ally. He has his own agenda.

I do think it stands the chance of being the best of the Indy sequels.

Sure, although the competition ain't exactly fierce.

Granted. But just like you're excited for RAMBO regardless of quality, I'm more or less excited for KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL regardless of quality. I like Dr. Jones. And that this genuinely holds the promise of being an entertaining, fun ride makes me happy.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Love the shadow silhouette on the side of the truck.

I loved that too! Unfortunately I didn't really love anything else in the trailer...

[RedKelly]

check it OUT!

[craigbegins]

Its incredible! Looks like the wait between now and The Dark Knight won't be all bad

[Tarl_Cabot]

I think it looks great in what little was shown...I'm glad Ford is able to pull off Indy at his age-I didn't think he could.He looks ridiculously good for 65.

As I said before, if Rambo is the lesser of the 80s revivals this year than we are in for an amazing year at the movies.

[Loomis]

While Shia's in it a lot, imagine him in more of a Short Round role (but a bit more important than that). He's just a supporting player trying to keep up with Dr. Jones.

Glad to hear it. I'd always assumed it'd be just like

Spoiler

the father/son relationship in LAST CRUSADE, only this time with Ford in Connery's shoes and Shia in the role of "Junior".

Now, I guess it will be like that - to an extent, anyway - but it's good to know that it won't utterly swamp the film like it did last time out.

But just like you're excited for RAMBO regardless of quality, I'm more or less excited for KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL regardless of quality. I like Dr. Jones.

Fair enough. I'd say that INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM and INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE are better films than RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II and RAMBO III, and I'm sure that INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL will be a superior film to RAMBO (which I suspect is a terrific flick only if one is already a somewhat committed Stallone supporter who also happens to have a strong stomach). However, Rambo commands a greater share of my fan loyalty, although I still have a bit of time for Dr Jones.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Comon Mel Gibson...get the old sleeve-less leather coat and the sawed off double barrel shot gun out and dust it off...it's time for Mad Max to join the party.

While Shia's in it a lot, imagine him in more of a Short Round role (but a bit more important than that). He's just a supporting player trying to keep up with Dr. Jones.

Glad to hear it. I'd always assumed it'd be just like

[RedKelly]

I was waiting for that trailer long enough I wish it was released in November like they were going to but I think it was better to wait so they could do the CGI.

[craigbegins]

I'd love to see that trailer on the big screen. So many people are complaining about the cgi on imdb

Edited by craigbegins, 14 February 2008 - 11:50 PM.

[Dell Deaton]

check it OUT!

Incredible! Looks great to me.

Thanks for the link.

[stromberg]

Another topic merged

[Loomis]

Comon Mel Gibson...get the old sleeve-less leather coat and the sawed off double barrel shot gun out and dust it off...it's time for Mad Max to join the party.

Definitely. It's a pity it came so close to being made in 2002/2003 (in one of those random encounters, I found myself sharing a cab one day with colleagues of George Miller who told me it was very much happening - nope, I don't move in Hollywood circles; like I say, it was just one of those random things). Still not entirely sure why it fell through - the official version as reported in the media was something about the filmmakers not being able to shoot in Namibia, which was supposed to be the only country in the world where the terrain could cope with the special tyres that were going to be used on the souped-up vehicles, which sounds a pretty tall story if you ask me. More likely to have been a combination of the fear of terrorism (although you'd have thought that "safe" locations could have been arranged) and difficulties in getting Gibson to commit/affording his asking price.

However, in the wake of Gibson's declining fortunes as an actor and the comeback successes of all these elderly action stars, I hope Mel will imitate Sly's Rocky/Rambo double whammy by making MAD MAX 4 and LETHAL WEAPON 5.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I could do without more Martin Riggs but I'd love to see M(2)back on the big screen.

It's Bush's fault that we have no MM4.

[Qwerty]

Excited for the return of Ford. Intrigued by the addition of Shia. Psyched to see Blanchett as our villainess.

Yet... this trailer just feels like it could have been an "event"--at least, that seemed to be what numerous sites were making of it--but doesn't quite cut it. I felt just a little underwhelmed.

Still... I'm a guarenteed theatre seat filled on opening night.

[Professor Dent]

The look of the trailer is what I expected (or maybe it was what I was hoping for). The hat on the ground, the silhouette on the door, the action, humor, & music were all perfect. I can't wait until opening night.

[DaveBond21]

Well, it looks like Indiana Jones adventure, all right, though it definitely seems bigger than the last time out. Very epic. I'm a little unhappy with the apparent abundance of CGI in the trailer, but on the whole, it does pretty well for me.

Anyone catch that Irina Spalko's (Cate Blanchett's) glasses magnetically attach to a container marked Roswell, New Mexico?

Yes, there was some CGI there, plus quite a lot of night-time action which is often used to make special effects look better. But one of the things I loved about the first 3 Indy movies was the amount of daylight action.

[sharpshooter]

Spielberg is the old master. He knows how to direct a film the right way. I'm looking forward to seeing his work as much as the film itself.

[Harmsway]

I'd always assumed it'd be just like

Spoiler

the father/son relationship in LAST CRUSADE, only this time with Ford in Connery's shoes and Shia in the role of "Junior".

Now, I guess it will be like that - to an extent, anyway - but it's good to know that it won't utterly swamp the film like it did last time out.

Well, you see,

Spoiler

Indy and Mutt don't even know they're related for the first 2/3 of the film. I imagine some father/son-ness will creep in towards the final third, but with all that's going on in that section (including Indy falling in love with Marion again, as well as a lot of important plot development, and lots of big action heads towards its climax), I can't imagine it becoming the focus. Just one story element of many.

In some ways, KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL strikes me as the ROCKY BALBOA of Indy. A retired Indy gets sucked back into one last adventure, and in the process, gains closure and contentment. Ending up with Marion and discovering he has a son ties into that thematic arc.

[Skudor]

While I will definitely go to see this movie, for old time sakes, I guess Indy for me is something I left behind as I grew up, whereas Bond somehow seems to still appeal. I wonder if there is something inherent in each franchise - that Indy is, like Star Wars, inherently aimed at the younger crowd whereas Bond is designed to have a much wider appeal?

[marktmurphy]

I do think it stands the chance of being the best of the Indy sequels.

Sure, although the competition ain't exactly fierce.

They're all extremely good films; Raiders is pretty much perfect so it stands above the above two, but unless you get nitpicky and only judge them relative to each other, the whole run of Indy films are superb so far.

[Jim]

I do think it stands the chance of being the best of the Indy sequels.

Sure, although the competition ain't exactly fierce.

They're all extremely good films; Raiders is pretty much perfect so it stands above the above two, but unless you get nitpicky and only judge them relative to each other, the whole run of Indy films are superb so far.

Yes, maybe if I watch the other three - can't have seen any of them for a decade or more - I will become more interested.

You there, child number two! Use your half term more productively! Put down the alcohol and hie thee to HMV and purchase DVDs or I shall thrash you to death!*

*will probably spend the money on smack and hookers instead. Children, eh? Tchoh!

[Loomis]

I do think it stands the chance of being the best of the Indy sequels.

Sure, although the competition ain't exactly fierce.

They're all extremely good films; Raiders is pretty much perfect so it stands above the above two, but unless you get nitpicky and only judge them relative to each other, the whole run of Indy films are superb so far.

Hmmm.... wouldn't say "superb". I'd say that TEMPLE OF DOOM and LAST CRUSADE are, at best, "quite good", and I've been known to be a lot ruder about the latter. Just my humble opinion, though. For a trilogy in which all three efforts are superb, I give you Bourne.

[Blonde Bond]

The Indy trilogy as a whole is much better and enjoyable than most of the Bond movies. Even if 0-0-7 is my man to call for, Indy has provided more enjoyment for me. Very solid trilogy, and I'd rank it above the original Star Wars and Bourne trilogies(the latter also is a very solid trilogy)

[Simon]

Very solid trilogy, and I'd rank it above the original Star Wars and Bourne trilogies(the latter also is a very solid trilogy)

As far as trilogies are concerned, I would find it hard to surpass Bourne.

If I say this five times in quick succession and wave a pendulum at you, any chance you would revise your assessment?

[MarcAngeDraco]

Yet... this trailer just feels like it could have been an "event"--at least, that seemed to be what numerous sites were making of it--but doesn't quite cut it. I felt just a little underwhelmed.

I have to agree Qwerty. I was expecting (perhaps hoping) to be blown away with how great the new film looked.

It's Indy so I'm there, but I just expected to be more pumped up about it than I am.