This had potential to be a really good movie.
Unlike many others I didn't think this movie was terrible. I actually did enjoy the movie and I would say it was solidly ok, but quite a few things held it back from greatness.
I'll start with what I consider the major issues and then address the minor ones.
1. Shia Lebouf, no surprise there for many I am sure. He was just terrible. His acting sucked, he was annoying, and he had zero charisma in comparison to his very charismatic on screen father. He was also very hard to take serious a tough guy greaser. A different actor would've made all the difference in the world
2.Ox, Every time this blithering old buffoon was on screen I kept longing for the wise and charismatic Henry Jones Sr. to be on the adventure instead. Especially at the end after the saucer flew off Indy calls Mutt Jr. and they all laugh and he said "somewhere out there your Grandfather is laughing" He should have been right there with all of them laughing for the love of God! They even started playing music from The Last Crusade. IN fact Sean Connery was willing to comeback as Henry Sr. if he they gave his character a significant role. Instead they just wanted to give him a cameo. Bad move!
3. Col. Spalko, She just came off as a silly over the top caricature and was hard to take serious. She also didn't come across as a very formidable adversary for Indy compared with the main antagonists of previous films such as Beloq, Donavon, and Mola Rom. She had nothing on those guys. Indy straight up laughs in her face in once scene
4. Mac, He was so buffoonish and annoying. They should've just brought back Sallah
Those what I thought were the main issues, and the movie would've been better off if the bottom 3 characters were replaced, and a better actor for the role of Mutt. Next I will address the minor issues I thought were pretty stupid and unnecessary
1. CGI prairie dogs
2. Mutt swinging on vines with monkeys
3.The quick sand scene where Mutt saves them with the rat snake. That scene only existed so Mary could telly Indy mutt was his son. They quickly get captured again only to escape the Russians a second time.
4. When Indy falls off the motorcycle and slides through the library right under the desk of one of his students, and the student is totally not phased then proceeds to casually ask a question. It was so ridiculous I actually burst out into laughter the first time I saw it
5. Old man Indy remarks from Shia Lebouf. Yes we get it! he's not that young anymore, but he looks good for his age and can obviously still kick ass
6. Very forced 1950's references. They really want you to be aware this movie is set in the 1950's. "I like Ike" has to be the worst. Why would he possibly say that when the Russians had him cornered? Maybe just to remind everyone this is in fact the 50's. You ain't nothing but a hound dog by Elvis Presley is on the radio while they drive to the top secret government storage facility. The fight in the cafe someone yells out "get that greaser" and Shake rattle and role starts playing. During the quicksand rescue scene there is a reference to buying a rope at Sears and Roebuck. Yes we get it back in the 1950's Sears was called Sears and Roebuck. Before Indy jumps in the lead lined fridge Howdy Doody Time is playing on television! IS this suppose to be in the 1950's or something, because I would have never guessed!
7. After Indy and Marion elope, wind blows Indy's hat right in front of Mutt"s feet and the classic Indy score starts playing. Mutt is about to adorn the hat before Indy grabs it right from his unworthy hands. That was one moment my heart sunk to my balls. Tease me with anything else except Shia Lebouf as the new Indiana Jones. Tell me my house burned down, and all my money was stolen, but teasing me with Shia as the new Indy is just a bit too cruel and usual.
8. The nuclear fridge scene. I'm honestly mixed on this one. Realistically Indy had little to no chance of survival, but it was just such an awesome scene that I'm willing to over look that