Sunday I had the honor of attending the Houston Premiere of the latest Indiana Jones movie thanks to a friend at LucasFilm. I will keep this review spoiler free and give away less than trailers since none of you have seen it, but after you do we can talk all you want. Anyway short version is GO see the movie, don't put 19 years of hype and expectation on the film because no movie will ever live up to the pedestal you put Raiders on. You probably have seen National Treasure, Tomb Raider and the Mummy series in the intervening years and while your standards have lowered to enjoy them, allow your selves to enjoy the Crystal Skull also. The reason you probably saw those series was partly for one simple reason you were waiting for more Indy and this weekend you get the real deal back in the theaters so go see it.

Some critics/naysayers may complain that Russians aren't as scary as Nazis, but that might be because there are folks out there pushing what they call a progressive agenda that is nothing more than Marxism and Socialism wrapped in fancy redistribution of wealth tactics so how can they find their forefathers scary. Sorry for digressing into a political rant, but Russians can be plenty scary, 40 years of Cold war the world hanging by a thread under the the tip of a nuclear spear, two titan nations clashing in Cuba, Korea and Vietnam, Berlin can be plenty of fodder for scary villains.

Back to the movie review, Indy is older, more world weary, but still able to put himself in harms way for fame and glory and to save the girl. I was never sold on Shia LeBouf as the new sidekick when it was announced, but he is Spielberg's go to it kid and my problems with Transformers was more with the story, and Bay's direction than his acting skills. I thought he did a good job as Mutt in this movie, certainly not the wooden acting of say a few young annikan skywalkers and he held his own in the action sequences though there was one slightly ludicrous even for an Indy movie scene (when you see it you will know), but that is probably due to George's script. Ford seems to slip right back into the role and I didn't think he overplayed the age thing with Indy not being able to do all the things as well as he used to is probably a reflection on Ford getting on in years himself. Marion is back, though she isn't a prominent player in the movie though she wasn't in Raiders either. Sadly no Sallah, Brody or Sr. in this movie, though the latter two are at least mentioned as Indy assess his life, career and future after some early movie setbacks.

The story I won't go into but if you know anything about the legend of the Crystal Skull you have an idea of where it is going. One of the critics after the show was slamming the ending, but I didn't understand his point because he seemed to have no problem with the paranormal/supernatural/otherworldly aspects of a box to talk with God, stones that bring life to a village or a cup to give eternal life, but he struggled with this ending. then again I am not a student of film with some pretentious attitude and the only power they in life comes from ripping other peoples movies apart. Williams music has some nice touches and it is great to hear the Raiders March and Marion theme again.

I am a fan of movies, I can remember seeing Raiders at the Revere cinema with all my cousins, we got there late so we had to sit in the two seat rows along the wall and my cousin Carolyn screamed so many times during the movie, ah good times. My mom used to threaten my sister and I she would rip our hearts out and after Temple of Doom we started to listen to her just a little more. For the Last Crusade I took my dad as part of some father son bonding time and when I was a little older I contemplated painting a mural on one of the walls in my room in the iconic boulder scene from Raiders. So yes I am a fan of the Indy movies and I am a fan of Crystal Skull as well. I avoided the spoiler riddled negative reviews that hit the net a few weeks ago, because like I said there is no point putting 19 years of expectations on the movie, no movie can handle that burden (just ask the star wars fans after EP I). I remember reading the script for Indy and the quest for Noah's Ark ( google Sons of Darkness - it turned out to be more fan fiction than a commissioned script), because I wanted more Indy. Indy has always been a fun summer movie and Crystal Skull is just that. Will it blow all records for box office out of the water I don't know because today's audience is more fractured and has a short attention span due to all the various media sources/options out there. But if you want a thrill ride of a movie then go see Crystal Skull. If you want to reconnect with your youth and relive the adventure go see Crystal Skull. If you want Shakespeare or something then Crystal Skull is not for you (course neither was any of the other Indy movies, so don't take some unrealistic high road and claim they were it is just a movie). Summer movies are about imagination, adventure, 2 hours to put the troubles of the world aside and have fun and Crystal Skull is fun so enjoy it. As Indy's Dean said in the movie,

“You reach a point in your life where life stops giving you things and starts taking them away.”

Well thankfully before life takes everything away Lucas, Spielberg and Ford decided to give us another episode of the adventures of Indiana Jones so don't pass it up. Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks for sharin' that here, Mike! The missus and I wouldn't miss this for anything, no matter what the critics had said. But it's nice to have the insight of someone who's seen it who can say that it's definitely worthwhile, without gettin' all spoilery and such!

Shiny!

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

my pleasure to share my review to help fight off the negative reviews that seem to be burning up the net. sorry I have been away for a while been busy getting ready for STS-124 next week and a training simulation I am working on potential having built, think of it as an MMO for Mission Ops. Already worked out a good acronym because what would a NASA project be with out a good acronym. I call it Simulated Environment & Role-playing Educational Network to Interactively Teach You.

Please feel free to start a new thread for any NASA news you might have to share; I'm sure you can find a board around here to accommodate!

-RC =^[.]^=

HA!!
Serenity LIVES!!
Maii-- you're too much!

well see my office is has all the blueprints on the wall as well as the Blue Sun Travel posters (Serenity Valley poster is on my door) and the worlds of the Alliance. Plus I have converted about 20 folks since the dvd's have come out, including the division chief.

I ran through several acronyms Holocron, Cyberdyne, Skynet, Sith, (Jedi is already used in MOD) and several others before getting Serenity to work. it took sometime before I figured out what word to use for Y.

I even modified the browncoat triangle patch as the Project Serenity Logo.

so far I have been making some good contacts with some MMO builders like Sony, Turbine and others.

Heheh... If it wouldn't be a breach of security, you oughtta post some pics of your shiny, Browncoat workspace, Mike!

-RC =^[.]^=

here you go. my office is not too exciting.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=ekhorl...;localeid=en_US

Thanks, Mike! That was shiny! Your office, alone, is a recruitment trap! How can anyone walk in and not ask about all the spiffy Fireflynalia?

By the way, do you build models?

http://www.fireflyshipworks.com/

It's a neat li'l project in the works.

Stay shiny!

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

At least a few converts were snared in my office trap. Well I have the stuff at work since as the family grows at home I lose out of places to put stuff up. soon all my swords and other memorabilia will end up in the garage. I have been keeping an eye on the shipworks site. very cool project. I haven't built many models lately, except LEGO Star Wars( just finished the ultimate collectors Death Star II). I will have to see how Serenity turns out and what the cost is. I might be able to swing a birthday/Christmas combo deal.

thanks for the review maiii & i, for one, appreciate it being spoiler free.
i'll be waiting for the DVD as $9 or so for one ticket is too much.

Awesome maiii!

Thanks for the unbiased and unspoiled review too