Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) - Lucas, Spielberg and Ford go grave-digging

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Beloved characters, some new ones and a wealth of exciting situations and elements are teased on this classical poster for Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

 

Archeological doctor Jones is in trouble with the vexatious Russians in the 1950s, when he gets a whiff of an ancient crystal skull in South America, SPOILER which turns out to stem from an alien. 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is written by David Koepp (Inferno (2016)), with George Lucas (Radioland Murders (1994)) and Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour 2 (2001)) contributing story elements, and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (Firelight (1964)), whose 25th feature it is. It is the 4th film in the Indiana Jones franchise (1981-).

As a boyhood fan of the Indiana Jones movies, I so wanted to see one last great Indiana Jones film that the production of the 4th film made me highly excited. And so it was with great sorrow that I had to face the fact that it would not happen. Crystal Skull should have never been made. Despite inordinate testaments to the opposite (promotional interviews stressing the live stunt work and old-time honoring crafts involved in the production), the adventure here obviously now mostly takes place in front of green screens with more or less fantastical animations later conjured up as backgrounds. The feelings of wonder and awe at the physical sets, props, special effects and stunts of the original three films here vanish along with any sense of cinema magic.

With what remains, it is hard not to think that Harrison Ford (Firewall (2006)), although he tries tenaciously to appear sprightly, has aged too much, along with recommissioned love bird Karen Allen (Bad Hurt (2015)), and that Shia LaBeouf (Bobby (2006)), despite sometimes looking quite cute with his 1950s duck rump hairdo, doesn't really liven up his big adventure scenes. Cate Blanchett (Borderlands (2024)) embellishes her Ukrainian, power-mad Communist villain. But however way you turn things, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull should have remained an idea game between old friends, or a script in a dusty drawer somewhere.

 

Related posts:

Indiana Jones franchise: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - The ultimate thrill ride for a child (and many adults too!) 

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure
Steven Spielberg: The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
The Post (2017) - Spielberg returns to mastery with a thrilling salute to the virtues of real, critical, brave journalism
2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V]
Lincoln (2012) - Spielberg's inspiring presidential portrait stands tall 
War Horse (2011) - Spielberg visits WWI with problematic horse drama  
The Adventures of Tintin/The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011) - Affinities for Tintin, earlier Spielberg and film will decide your experience of this 3D mo-cap adventure
Super 8 (2011) - Abrams' nostalgic family crowdpleaser (producer)

The 2000s in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Munich (2005) - Spielberg wrings a brilliant spy thriller from fraught real-life massacre and its aftermath

Top 10: Best HBO titles 

2001 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Band of Brothers - TV mini-series (2001) - WWII-sacrifice and -comradeship portrayed with skill and integrity (producer) 

Top 10: Best future-set movies 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - A robot fairy tale with both heart and mind
Amistad (1997) or, Must... Free... Slaves! 

Hook (1991) - Arr, Spielbergian folly 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - The nostalgic last of the 'original' Indy movies 
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Spielberg's grand production of boy-in-China-during-WWII is a misfire

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (story)  

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - The ultimate thrill ride for a child (and many adults too!)
Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) - Fear takes many forms in tragedy-struck anthology

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Spielberg's greatest accomplishment

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure 
1941 (1979) - Spielberg's bizarre 'comedy spectacular' sinks like a rock  
Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Duel (1971) - Spielberg's truck terror is ideal afternoon fare

 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 185 mil. $

Box office: 786.6 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 4.25 times its cost)

[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull premiered 18 May (Cannes Film Festival, out of competition) and runs 122 minutes. Lucas' ideas and wishes for a 4th film were brushed off by Spielberg and Ford for many years, allegedly until Spielberg's children demanded another Indy movie, when development began more seriously. Shooting took place from June - October 2007 in New Mexico, California, including in Los Angeles, Connecticut, Hawaii, Brazil and Argentina. The film was shrouded in heavily guarded secrecy, and a 37 year-old who was found to be in possession of stolen photos and budget papers from the production was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months prison time for the offense. Paramount reportedly spent 150 mil. $ promoting the film. Ford, Spielberg and Lucas forewent salaries in favor of a profit participation payment, reportedly beginning their payment once the film crossed 400 mil. $. - Ford eventually had made 65 mil. $ from the film. It opened #1 to a 100.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 3 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#3-#5), grossing 317.1 mil. $ (40.3 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 53 mil. $ (6.7 %) and the UK with 50.7 mil. $ (6.4 %). It was the year's 2nd highest-grossing over-all, behind The Dark Knight, and the 3rd highest-grossing in North America, behind The Dark Knight and Iron Man. The film was nominated for a BAFTA and a Grammy, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to 3 notches over this one. The film made in excess of 117.2 mil. $ on its home video releases in North America. LaBeouf stopped defending the film at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and was criticized publicly by Ford for it. He later said he regretted this, but probably only made things worse when he elaborated about Spielberg; "He told me there's a time to be a human being and have an opinion, and there's a time to sell cars. It brought me freedom, but it also killed my spirits because this was a dude I looked up to like a sensei." Ford returned as Jones in James Mangold's massive flop Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). Spielberg returned with A Timeless Call (2008, short) and theatrically with The Adventures of Tintin (2011). Ford first returned in Crossing Over (2009). Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is certified fresh at 77 % with a 6.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?

I'm So Excited!/Los Amantes Pasajeros (2013) - Almodóvar flees with unfavorable comedy

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A colorful, simply animated poster for Pedro Almodóvar's I'm So Excited! that spells fun and debauchery

A flight with a series of colorful characters on it and a crew that work on a mix of sleeping pills, tequila and drugs takes off but experiences problems in the air and has to embark on a risky emergency landing.

 

I'm So Excited! is written and directed by Spanish master filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (Folle... Folle... Fólleme Tim! (1978)) whose 20th feature it is. The original Spanish title translates to 'the fleeting lovers' or 'the passenger lovers'.

Almodóvar, who at this late point in his career had turned more permanently towards drama, it seemed, here presents a tequila-chucking, (the amounts one of the characters drinks is just ridiculous), lip-sync-dancing round of light doodling mid-air, as if he attempts taking himself back in time, back to his wacky, drug-enamored, anarchistic early pictures. The attempt is pathetic and unfunny.

It is neither risque, sexy nor fun that the stewards drink like louts, do drugs or are vulgar in today's world. At least it isn't in this film. I'm So Excited!, with its light-hearted tone, is up against a time that is not light-hearted anymore, and it loses. But it is also a horny picture, a trait that deserves salute, although this generally is a failed recess for the Spanish master.

 

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Pain and Glory/Dolor y Gloria (2019) - Almodóvar's 8½ 
The Skin I Live In/La Piel que Habito (2011) or, Almodóvar's Extreme Make-Over
Broken Embraces/Los Abrazos Rotos (2009) or, Mysteries in Love and Life

Talk to Her/Hable con Ella (2002) - Almodóvar's beautiful coma love drama 
Live Flesh/Carne Trémula (1997) or, A Spanish Fix

The Flower of My Secret/La Flor de Mi Secreto (1995) - Paredes star turn in charming Almodóvar work 

High Heels/Tacones Lejanos (1991) - Superficially worthwhile Almodóvar crime melodrama 
Labyrinth of Passion/Laberinto de Pasiones (1982) - Sexual mix-ups in screwball Madrileña style 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 5 mil. €, approximately 5.58 mil. $

Box office: 21.2 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 3.79 times its cost)

[I'm So Excited! was released 8 March (Spain) and runs 90 minutes. Shooting took place from July - September 2012 in Spain, including in Madrid. The film opened #33 to a 97k $ first weekend in 5 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #32 and in 99 theaters (different weeks), grossing 1.3 mil. $ (6.1 % of the total gross). The film's 3 biggest markets were Spain with 6.5 mil. $ (30.7 %), France with 3.7 mil. $ (17.5 %) and Italy with 2.4 mil. $ (11.3 %). The film was nominated for 2 European Film awards, among other honors. Almodóvar returned with Julieta (2016). Javier Cámara (Madrid, int. (2020)) returned in Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed/Vivir Es Fácil con los Ojos Cerrados (2013); Pepa Charro (Mai Neva a Ciutat (2019, TV-series)) in Esposados (2013, TV-series) and theatrically in Presentimientos (2013). I'm So Excited! is rotten at 48 % with a 5.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of I'm So Excited!?

The Interview (2014) - Outrageous comedy at North Korea's expense

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With a hilarious top center tag-line, this USSR propaganda styled poster for Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen's The Interview sells the movie brilliantly

One of America's most popular, - but fairly unintelligent, - talk show hosts manages to secure an interview with North Korea's fabled Communist dictator, who is a fan. But the CIA feel that the opportunity needs to result in the demise of the notorious villain!

 

The Interview is written by Dan Sterling (South Park (1997-98)), with great British Columbian filmmakers, co-writer/co-producer/co-director Evan Goldberg and co-writer/co-producer/co-director/co-star Seth Rogen (This Is the End (2013), both) contributing story elements.

The Interview is a Dr. Strangelove (1964) reminiscent adventure that's closer to reality than most would care to admit. It is not only a party to watch, it is also a very unique film, and one whose like you'll never see again, due to the dire ramifications for Sony it incurred, (read about those in the section under the trailer.) 

This is an extremely ludicrous and insane comedy, - and you can argue that the enormous controversy it caused makes it less foolish. Because it obviously hit a tender nerve, (in North Korea), and hit it bull's eye.

James Franco (The Disaster Artist (2017)) is permanently keyed up, and Rogen is also a bowl of fun as the odd team heading to the normally hermetically sealed dictatorship. Diana Bang's (Fast Layne (2019, TV-series)) performance as the North Korean Sook, whom Rogen's TV producer falls for, is off the charts. The Interview is a patriotic, freedom-loving kick in the nuts for Kim Jong Un and mad dictators everywhere. It is a howl, and you need to watch it!

 

Related post:

 

Evan Goldberg: Sausage Party (2016) - One outrageous, funny, horny adult animation (co-writer)

This Is the End (2013) or, Hollywood Apocalypse

Pineapple Express (2008) - Funny people incite laughs in ludicrous stoner comedy (co-writer) 

Seth Rogen: Sausage Party (2016) - One outrageous, funny, horny adult animation (co-writer) (co-writer/voice star)

Neighbors (2014) - Stoller's low-flying raunch turkey (co-star)

This Is the End (2013) or, Hollywood Apocalypse

The Guilt Trip (2012) - Rogen/Streisand buoy low-fuel road dramedy (co-star)

50/50 (2011) or, Dude's Got the Big C (co-star) 

Paul (2011) - Pegg, Frost and Mottola delve into SF with mixed results (co-star)

Funny People (2009) - Sandler, Rogen, Mann and Co. tickle our ribs effectively in Apatow's endearing if overlong comedian comedy (co-star)

Observe and Report (2009) - Hill's hilarious dark comedy leaves good taste in the gutter (co-star)

Pineapple Express (2008) - Funny people incite laughs in ludicrous stoner comedy (co-writer/co-star)

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 44 mil. $

Box office: 11.7 mil. $

= Mega-flop theatrically but may have become profitable in the end

[The Interview premiered 11 December (Los Angeles) and runs 112 minutes. The original script centered on Kim Jong Il, but the project only gained traction after his 2011 death, at which point it was rewritten to focus on his son, the current president of North Korea. Rogen was paid 8.4 mil. $ for his work on the film; Franco got 6.5 mil. $. Shooting took place from October - December 2013 in New York and British Columbia, including in Vancouver. The script was obtained by the North Korean regime, who began sending threats to distributor Sony, who made minor alterations of the film in response. But the threats got worse and was followed up by a massive hack of Sony Entertainment on 24 November, leaking personal e-mails, films and sensitive records to the public, while threats of terrorist attacks against cinemas screening the film increased the pressure further, to the point that cinema chains backed away from distributing the film and Sony eventually pulled the plug on their wide release plan. Marketing was already advanced, and around 30 mil. $ were apparently spent for this purpose. The (North Korean) hackers now switched focus more to the White House and President Barack Obama, who were against Sony's curtailed release. They eventually released the film in a few hundred cinemas (3,000+ had been the original plan), and it opened #16, its peak position, to a 1.7 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it grossed 6.1 mil. $ (52.1 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Germany with 1.8 mil. $ (15.4) and Australia with 935k $ (8 %). The off-railed distribution was improved by almost 6 mil. online rentals within less than a month, netting 40 mil. $. The film also made in excess of 7.6 mil. $ on North American home video releases. The film was also licensed to Netflix, and Sony may likely have been collecting insurance compensation for the shelved wide release, so it is likely that it has made Sony money by now. Goldberg and Rogen returned with many short, video and TV credits but has not released a feature as directors since The Interview. Rogen returned as an actor in Broad City (2015, TV-series), Kroll Show (2013-15) and theatrically in Steve Jobs (2015); Franco in I Think You're Totally Wrong: A Quarrel (2014), which he also directed. The Interview is rotten at 51 % with a 5.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Interview?

If a Tree Falls (2011, documentary) - Activism vs. terrorism in recommended doc.

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A destitute, ominous poster for Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman's If a Tree Falls

The film focuses on especially one young man's entrance into the activist organization the Earth Liberation Front, as it moves from environmental activism to environmental terrorism, - depending on the viewer's own determination.

 

If a Tree Falls is written by co-writer/co-editor Matthew Hamachek (Gideon's Army (2013)) and co-writer/co-producer/co-director/co-editor Marshall Curry (Street Fight (2005, documentary)), who directed it with co-producer/co-director/cinematographer Sam Cullman (Beyond the Spin (2003, video)).

It is a distinction of the film that it doesn't draw conclusions on behalf of its audience, although just to get to know something about these activists of course for most people will mean increasing one's sympathy for them, despite the fact that their actions don't improve the environment to any considerable degree. 

The film takes a bit long in the investigation of the activists' radicalization. The most exciting part of the documentary is the final part concerning the trial.

 

Watch a clip from the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: 61k $

= Uncertain but likely a box office disaster (projected return of 0.20 times its cost)

[If a Tree Falls premiered January (Sundance Film Festival) and runs 85 minutes. 10 companies collaborated in the financing and production of the film. Shooting took place in Oregon. The film opened #78 to a 5k $ first weekend in 2 theaters in North America, where it did not achieve a higher position and grossed 61k $. The film was screened at several festivals as well, without recorded gross numbers. If made on a scant 300k $ budget, the film would rank as a box office disaster. The film was nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar, lost to Undefeated. Curry returned with Point and Shoot (2014, documentary); Cullman with Black Cherokee (2012, documentary short) and theatrically with Art and Craft (2014, documentary). If a Tree Falls is fresh at 88 % with a 7.00/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of If a Tree Falls?

Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) - Whannell and Wan's deflated tormented family sequel

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A toddler interacting with something unseen in the pitch dark is a scary motif on this poster for James Wan's Insidious: Chapter 2

 

Josh, Renai and their two sons move again following the traumatic events of Insidious (2010). But Renai experiences that the ghosts move with them, while Josh vehemently rejects this...

 

Insidious: Chapter 2 is written by co-writer/actor Leigh Whannell (Dead Silence (2007)) with co-writer/director, great Malaysian-born American filmmaker James Wan (Stygian (1998)), contributing story elements. It is the 2nd film in the Whannell/Wan Insidious franchise.

The sequel to the highly effective horror shocker seems like it was thrown together too quickly. Despite parts of it being technically impressive, it isn't very scary as such, and Rose Byrne's (Annie (2014)) Renai's experiences are so alike to the character's in the first film that it becomes somewhat involuntarily funny. Patrick Wilson (Aquaman (2018)) channels Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson's legendary performance of that character in The Shining (1980)) and does well, but the plot is too complex, crowded with dimensions, characters and time travels. Another issue is that the film's inexplicably evil transvestite ghost doesn't measure up to the nightmarish devil from the original film.

Related posts:

James Wan: 2018 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]  

Aquaman (2018) - Wan delivers a majorly satisfying, gung ho action-adventure splash
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2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess
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2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  
Insidious (2010) - Wan's thrilling, scary ghost horror

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Saw III (2006) - Good performances in Bousman's grisly third trappings (story contributor)

2004 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

Saw (2004) - Wan and Whannell's landmark horror beast 

 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 5 mil. $

Box office: 161.9 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 32.38 times its cost)

[Insidious: Chapter 2 was released 13 September (North America, UK, Ireland) and runs 106 minutes. Shooting took place in 25 days from January - March 2013 in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 40.2 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent one more weekend in the top 5 (#2), grossing 83.5 mil. $ (51.6 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 11.5 mil. $ (7.1 %) and Russia with 9.9 mil. $ (6.1 %). The franchise returned with Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015), written and directed by Whannell with new stars. Wan returned with Furious 7 (2015). Wilson returned in Jack Strong (2014); Byrne in Neighbors (2014). Insidious: Chapter 2 is rotten at 39 % with a 4.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Insidious: Chapter 2?