Actually Really Good


I expected something terrible, primarily because of all the chatter about the film leading up to its release, but it was nothing like I expected it to be. It's an Indiana Jones adventure that lives up to the first three films.

It's exciting, and it's well-paced. The story keeps its audience invested until the very end. You really want to see where it goes, and the payoff is worth it. I won't spoil a thing. I've heard that, like most films lately, this one is performing poorly at the box office, which is a shame. This film deserves an audience, and it's something meant to be seen on a big screen, with an audience.

Also worth noting-- this isn't the emasculating, woke character assassination some are making it out to be. I doubt those people watched the movie. Indiana Jones is the star from start to finish, and he isn't taught any lessons or overshadowed by anyone else. The female star is more or less his sidekick, following him and learning as she goes, and she is ultimately the one who rethinks her entire life based on lessons learned during her time at Jones' side.

reply

I saw it this past weekend and really enjoyed it. I went in with modest expectations and was pleasantly surprised.

reply

You are probably blind due to toxocariasis from having all the other Disney dogshit crammed down your throat in recent years.

reply

No, I watched it with an open mind without any preconception.

I form my opinion after I see a movie. Not before like many do.

reply

So I guess we should all go pay to see the movie in the cinema a few times before we make our minds up?

reply

Agreed. I wasn't going to see it, because I was believing all the negative scuttlebutt about it on YouTube. The "capitalism" line in the trailer certainly didn't help. But my brother is a huge Indy fan and he took me to see it. Enjoyed it so much I've already seen it twice.

reply

All the negativity can sometimes be a blessing in disguise, because it makes it that much easier for the movie to surpass one's expectations. And the opposite is also true: I went to the theatres to see Force Awakens, and since everybody was singing its praises my expectations were pretty high. I was seriously underwhelmed.

reply

Same here on Force Awakens. I walked out of the theater thinking, "They just remade 'A New Hope.'" And I totally checked out when they killed off Han Solo. It was so telegraphed that I just had this sinking feeling and when it actually happened I was just like, "Nope. Not what I want." Sat there with my arms crossed the whole rest of the film.

reply


Agreed 100% ... it's not the best of the series but it's far from a total disaster as many critics seem to be saying

The only thing that kept "taking me out of it" was how nimble Indy seemed for a guy who's just celebrated his 70th birthday (while being played by a 79-year-old actor).

But then I remembered, Indy's "health level" was reset to zero in "Last Crusade" when he was 38. That's how he was able to live well into his 90's in the "Young Indiana Jones" series.

I do NOT at all get what the men's rights snowflakes are whining about here. Seems they get triggered and whine "woke" when ANY woman appears in ANY role these days

The only time he's really "emasculated" is when Helena knocks him out, which I was fine with because his plan to remain in 214 BC, while understandable for him, was still insane

reply

Saw it a few hours ago and was not disappointed. I went in expecting an Indiana Jones movie and that's exactly what I saw. The theatre was packed and all the people in my group really enjoyed it.

reply

Actually, Indy was the sidekick in this. After the opening train scene, he's doesn't really have any agency to move the plot forward. Basically, he gets Antonio Banderas' boat and does water displacement. That's it. He's pretty much a passenger in this. And they make a point to show that Helena knows better with smugness and mugging.

As for the action, it's not bad. But it's a movie that was too long and the CGI at the end looked like a TV series.

reply

Once Indiana Jones has his bluff called on blowing up the Ark in Raiders, he's a passenger for the entire climax of the film. Similar thing happens in Dial of Destiny, but the point is, it's happened before.

reply

You're correct about him being a passenger at that point, but he was the one who discovered the location, figured out the height of the staff, and moved the plot along. In this, he had none of that for most of the film. The part he did play could have been removed (first sequence) and the film would have been the same. It's a Helena movie when you break it down.
Also, removing the Initial sequence would bring the movie closer to a 2 hour runtime. Disney could have literally made a movie about her which may actually have been better.

reply

Indy "figured out" the height of the staff because someone else translated it and read it to him. And it was Sallah who found that guy, not Indy. Indy "figured out" the height of the staff about as much as I "figured out" Einstein's general theory of relativity. Indy has always had help.

reply

Though you're right, it doesn't make the new movie better. The new movie isn't a great flick. Sorry, but I watched it and it's not good. Disney should have just made it a Helena story without Indy.

reply

If you liked it, it's good. If you didn't like it, it isn't good. If the Rotten Tomatoes audience score is anything to go by, around 88% of theater goers enjoyed the film. It's too bad you're in the 12% that didn't like it.

reply

If you believe that that score is accurate then I have a bridge to sell you. It's not as easy for RT to hide known critics' scores, but it's very easy for them to manipulate nebulous audience scores.

Rise of Skywalker, which has a low audience score everywhere else, has been stuck at 86% on RT since release. 1,000 vs 100,000 reviews - didn't matter, never budged. Ever since the Captain Marvel fiasco, they've had these scores on lock and they're all highly suspect.

reply

Rotten Tomatoes can't manipulate the audiences I saw it with over the weekend, nor the reactions of friends and family I've spoken to who have seen the film. So far, everyone in my circle IRL has loved it. Thanks for the heads up on possible manipulation of RT audience scores, though. Rise of Skywalker was the worst movie I'd seen in a theater since Batman Forever.

reply

I agree with your sentiment. Some like movies that others don't. I rarely listen to RT or IMDB on things though. It's my friends and associates who hold more sway.

reply

Did you like this or Evil Dead Rise better? Both Family oriented films.

reply

I liked it better than the Crystal Skull. Parts of the action sequences were over the top and went on too long but still better than the jungle sequence in Crystal that looked like a cartoon to me. Not nearly as good as original Raiders of course or Temple and Crusade.

reply

I really need to rewatch Crusade. I saw it when it was in theaters and left feeling unimpressed. It was too simple, and felt like a dumbed down parody of an Indiana Jones film. I left Dial of Destiny feeling much happier about what I'd seen, but perhaps if I rewatch The Last Crusade I'll enjoy it more.

reply

you won't

i didn't like it then, and i absolutely hate it now

reply

"Actually Really Good"
Thanks, needed a laugh.

reply