Other Kids Pack Lunch

My Official Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Review

2008-05-23T02:00:28-05:00

Last night, I was able to see the first showing of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at 12:01. I would have posted when I got home, but it was 4 in the morning and I was tired. And no, the movie wasn't *that* long.

I will begin my review by saying, if you're going in expecting this film to be as good or better than Raiders of the Lost Ark, you will be disappointed.

If you're going in expecting this film to give you back your childhood, you will be disappointed. No movie is ever going to accomplish that.

If, however, you're going in expecting a fun movie that isn't supposed to be serious and brings Indy back front and center, you will be more than pleased. This was me and I was exceptionally pleased. Especially after reading the fanboy whining this last year over this film and the ten thousand ways it was going to suck.

So, did I go in with my expectations lowered? I don't know that I went in so much with my expectations lowered as I went in knowing that what I was seeing was a movie that would never meet the expectations of a 19 year wait.

And yes: I was young, but I did see Last Crusade in the theater. We'll stop there.

Now, here's my full review. There are spoilers, so if you want to remain unspoiled, turn away now.

The movie begins with what I thought was a pretty clever shot. Remember that first shot in Raiders where the Paramount mountain gives way to the real peak? Imagine that. Only imagine a molehill in its place. Yes, they made a molehill out of a mountain. I actually found it to be a pretty decent way to start the film. It was almost as if they were telling us, "Hey. This isn't going to be Raiders, but if you stay with us and if you're a fan, you'll enjoy it."

The scene is the 1950s and the threat of Hitler's world domination is over. This Indiana is a weathered one. One who has served in WWII and fought for his country (those are some graphic novels I'd *love* to see, btw). He's older. But he's still Indy.

When we first see Indy, he's being pulled out of a trunk by a Russian flunkie masquerading as a U.S. military man. And it's instantly clear that, despite being a weathered Indy, he still hasn't lost his zest for smart ass remarks.

There's a thread of American distrust in this film from the beginning which kinda becomes lost as the film goes on. However, despite that, at the beginning, it's better dead than Red and Indy finds himself being fired from his job at Marshall College and is soon on his way to London when he is stopped by a guy by the name of Mutt Williams.

There was a lot of smack talk about Shia Lebouf being introduced as a new character into the Indiana Jones canon, but I've got to tell you: he's pretty damn good. He fits in nicely with the rest of the cast.

With Mutt introduced and his plight stated: his mother, a Mary Williams, needs saving and some yada yada about a Crystal Skull, it isn't long before the map and the red line of Indy travel.

What transpires is a lot of action and a lot of nods to the films that came and went before. Which, honestly, was exactly what I was expecting.

What makes this film different from the others - and also has some fans upset - is the introduction of alien mythos into the Indiana Jones canon. Admittedly, I was worried about this when I read in Vanity Fair that this might be the way the film was going. But seriously? They ate monkey brains in Temple of Doom. I think the fans are doing the exact opposite of the first frame of Crystal Skull and making a mountain out of a molehill with this one.

So yes: there are aliens. Or wait. An alien.

And yes, there is some CGI, but I found it to be neither overwhelming nor intrusive. Had CGI been what it is today, you would have seen it in Raiders, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade.

My major assessments of the film were:

You really can't lose with Cate Blanchett. And this film was no exception.
Harrison still has that charm. He *is* Indiana. There will never be another. When he smiled, I still saw the devil in his grin.
Karen Allen is still a firecracker and I was glad to see her back on the big screen. Marion has always been my favorite Indy girl and I only wished she had more screen time.
Shia Lebouf as Mutt Williams was a win. I'm glad to see that fan reception has been so positive for him. However, I'm not sure I'm feeling another spin-off franchise.
I actually *loved* the 50s aspect. It was different than the prior films, but a good different. You can't turn back the clock. It's sad, but true. And I think this was probably a good representation of how America was after WWII. Victorious and yet vicious toward its own countrymen.
The story of the Crystal Skull was somewhat weak, but with all the other stuff going on, I honestly didn't care. I was having fun. Sue me.
I actually found the idea that Marion and Indy spent so much time away from each other somewhat sad. I kinda resented the idea of him not seeing his kid grow up. Of all the things in the film that I disliked, I guess that was the one I disliked most. Even though I know that introducing Mutt any other way wouldn't have worked.
I'm pleased in seeing a film with two stars over the age of 45 for crying out loud. Why can't we have more of this? Give us young thangs hope that we won't be obsolete in the future, you know?

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. It was like going to a reunion and seeing the people you knew and them being as funny and entertaining as you remembered them. I loved the shout outs to the prior films and felt that this film, if anything, was a love letter to the fans. When Indy put on his hat for the first time and the crowd cheered, it felt good to be a child of the 80s.

The bottom line is this: Indy isn't a young man anymore. This film won't bring back your childhood. Nothing will. This film also isn't going to win any Oscars. It's a film to be enjoyed for the ride that it is. Pick it apart and, no doubt, you'll be left with a shoddy mess. Sit back and enjoy it, however, and while you won't get your childhood back, you will still feel that same thrill you felt as a kid when you watched Indy as a kid.

He's still got it.

Related

Indiana Jones Primer on Squidoo

Heath Ledger's Joker: After Heath's Death, What Will Be Different In Regards to The Dark Knight

2008-05-17T01:15:19-05:00

I came across an interesting blog post and found myself digging through the memory banks of my pop culture riddled mind for memories of comic book movie marketing past. I found myself responding in length on the post's link on ShowHype, but thought I could be a little more verbose (oh yay!) here.

The question lies in this poster and whether or not the poster is banking on Ledger's death:

You know, seriously, it's a valid question. And normally, I would find such marketing suspect.

If we weren't talking about The Joker, that is.

Before Heath's death, I expected a big marketing push surrounding The Joker. He is the big man on campus when it comes to the Batman rogue gallery. Hell, he's the granddaddy of all comic book villains.

But honestly, this really isn't out of the norm for comic book film derivatives and the villains that star in them. Sure, you have your exceptions. Like Batman Begins for instance.

Neither The Scarecrow nor Ra's Al Ghul were big parts of the Batman Begins' marketing push. But to me, that was perfectly understandable. Both characters were familiar to those familiar with the Batman comic or maybe even just Batman: The Animated Series, but to the average film goer? Nah. Let's not kid ourselves. For most people who have only watched the films, The Scarecrow is that guy in The Wizard of OZ. And a friendly fellow he was, too.

Then there's the Joker. As far as I'm concerned, he was the *first* supervillain. Lex Luthor is just a mobster. The Joker is a true supervillain worthy of his own marketing push.

First of all, he was truly one of Batman's first enemies. Wikipedia spells it out pretty well in their Joker page:

The Joker is a fictional character and supervillain that appears in the comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, the Joker is the archenemy of the superhero Batman and first appeared in Batman #1 (Spring 1940).

The Wikipedia article also notes that The Joker was voted by Wizard Magazine as being the greatest villain of all time and that Nicholson's Joker was ranked #45 in AFI's Top 50 Film Villains of All Time.

Seriously, when we're talking comic books, The Joker is a big deal. Definitely bigger as far as popularity and scope than Ironman and he has his own movie (Note: Ironman fans, don't get mad at me - I'm not suggesting that he's a better character - just that his familiarity with the masses is more pronounced).

Ledger's Joker was shroud in secrecy with Warner Brothers attempting their best to keep the Joker's face hidden until the first real trailer hit the screen. If you've followed this mess since the beginning, you'll know that they were only half successful due to those fan pictures someone snapped of Ledger heading to his trailer in make-up.

Then there were the mock-ups and even that one photo that everyone thought was real and then turned out to be a hoax. Oy.

Bottom line is: Joker's a big deal around the woods of Pop Culture Central. And he's a big deal for Batman.

But even with The Joker aside, it's not anything new for film studios to make a big deal of a supervillain in a comic book film.

Here's just a few examples.

All of these posters were present in the theater before each film's release. There were others as well. Penguin, Poison Ivy, etc.

Hell, anyone remember these? I think I had the whole set:

So, while I definitely think the blogger has a valid point, I think that when viewed within the context of movie marketing for comic book films, what they're doing with The Joker and his promotional posters are quite normal and no different than they would have been had Ledger still been alive.

Now, what is a little goofy is the Oscar talk for Ledger's Joker. Never ever would that have happened had Ledger not passed away. Comic book films and Oscar just really don't mix. Not outside the special effects arena. Hell, most of us geeks are still amazed that Return of the King wiped the floor of the Academy (deservedly).

And while I didn't know Ledger, common sense tells me that he was an actor who attempted to strive for some artistic integrity. I think he would have found such a posthumous attempt to be overdone and exploitive. Just my opinion.

And now that's out of the way, I must say that when it comes to The Dark Knight marketing machine, I think I'm digging these two posters the most:

Put together, they're absolutely magnificent because of their similarity. I also think that they represent how they originally represented the two characters. Polar opposites, but needing the other in order to truly exist.

Oh and BTW, they finally released the photos of Eckhart as Two-Face and I can see why they've been hiding him. It's seriously both scary and amazing in terms of the work they did. Take a look: Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face.

I think it's safe to say that he won't be getting his own poster.

(All photos © Warner Brothers)

Lost: Call The Movers! (Or, What The Hell You Say To Me?)

2008-05-09T02:18:42-05:00

So, if you haven't seen tonight's episode of Lost (5/08/08), you may want to skip this post because it will be packed full of spoilers.

I generally have no problems with Lost. Despite the fact that it leaves me in the dark a bit, I find myself enjoying the mystery and tire of hearing people whine about, "But I don't understaaaaaaaand." (Then turn off the TV!)

However, last night. Whoa.

I was okay with all the crazy crackheaded stuff they dealt us throughout the show (for the most part) until that last directive that Locke gave Ben.

For those who didn't watch and want to get a big fat spoiler, Locke was given the directive, once they reached the cabin, to "move the island."

To that I say:

How exactly do you "move" an island? I'm under the impression that this isn't something you can do with a UHaul, but who knows?

I mean, it's a good idea in theory. Remember those family members or friends of your parents that your family didn't really like, but they kept coming around anyway? You'd act like you weren't at home, but they didn't leave, they just kept knocking and knocking?

Seriously, what better way to freak out the people who annoy the hell out of you and just won't go away than to suddenly move. Poof! And there can't be anyone more annoying than those who just want to nuke your ass. Right?

Of all the things I expected Locke to tell Ben, that wasn't one of the ideas that crossed my mind. And I have some pretty far out thoughts.

Despite the WTF of it all, I still find myself screaming at the commercials (that's right - I don't have DVR OR Tivo) to end so I can get back to the show.

I think there's a possibility that a major clue was given in the episode preceding this one regarding what's really going on during the conversation between Hurley and Jack in Hurley's psych ward. Or, they could just be fucking with us again. They're so good at that.

So truly, despite the constant WTFs, I still enjoy the show and find myself more annoyed by the whiners than anything.

It also appears that John Locke must be around 47 at the time of this show being that it takes place in 2004 and it seems he might have been born around 1957. I don't know that's a fact. Just going by the Buddy Holly vinyl and the bobby socks.

So what were your general thoughts on the episode? Have you given up on Lost? Have you started whining? Or are you just along for the ride?

6 Fantastically Fantastic Movie Marketing Ideas - From The Simpsons to The Empire Strikes Back

2008-04-07T05:20:00-05:00

For the most part, I believe it's considered cool to snub one's nose at movie marketing. At least that's how it seems. And while I love my underappreciated indie films, I think it's high time we give some credit where credit's due: to the overworked marketing kids who have actually turned out some awesome campaigns.

There have been some true doozies in movie marketing. But, there have also been some successes. In fact, some of the marketing campaigns turned out better than the movie. While that's up to the viewer on the following movies, I definitely think these were some of the coolest ideas in movie marketing. Dorky or not.

The Simpsons Movie - Turning 7-11s Into Kwik-E-Marts

Photo by astrangegirl [Flickr]

This is, in my opinion, the best movie marketing idea EVER. To promote the upcoming Simpson's movie, 12 7-11s were transformed into Kwik-E-Marts. Did it work? Well, you see that line? You tell me.

It worked. Even I was tempted to drive a couple hundred miles to see one of these things. Had it not been for the gas, I would have. That's the gas in the car, mind you.

Cloverfield - Hiding the Biggest Monster in Town

A giant lion. Voltron. Godzilla. Rodan. These were just some of the theories regarding the mysterious monster in JJ Abrams latest project. They were, of course, all wrong, but for months, the internet was in a frenzy trying to figure out what this bad boy looked like. And when Cloverfield debuted, geeks everywhere rushed to the theatre to find out. Yes, I am a geek. I admit it.

The Blair Witch Project - Is It Real or Is It Fake?

To this day, there are still people who think that the Blair Witch Project was real. Don't believe me? Look up the Blair Witch Project on YouTube and check out some of the comments. You'll be amused. Trust me.

Star Wars Trilogy Re-Release - Banking on Nostalgia

What better way to bank on a movie than to recycle your older material. Not only did it bring in the dough for the first trilogy, but also greased the wheels for the upcoming lackluster prequels. But hey: you can't say it wasn't successful.

Movie glasses - Fast food premiums

Photo by synthrabbit [Flickr]

Say it's dorky. That's fine. But it's something that was cool and it's something that's missed. Children of the 80s covet their movie glass collection. Movie glasses were produced for films such as Star Wars (all three films), E.T. and The Great Muppet Caper:

Photo by brenjay [Flickr]

Today, fans scour thrift stores and Ebay looking for their favorites. And yes, even I've collected a few. I even have an entire set of Annie glasses from Swensen's, thank you very much.

The Insider Fan - Lord of the Rings, Superman Returns, etc.

Before Superman Returns even began shooting, the filmmakers and studio began a dialogue with fans that made them feel as though they were a part of the filming process. Instead of treating them like peasants, they were treated like insiders.

Many films have done this and it's easy to see why it's successful. You're more likely to spread word of mouth on something that you feel a close connection to. Superman Returns wasn't the first film to do this and it hasn't been the last. Even Cloverfield's viral marketing made the marketing of the film an interactive experience for fans. Instead of talking at them, they were made a part of the story.

And it worked.

Whether or not any of these films lived up to their promise, the campaigns worked. And they were fun. Which made them worth it in the long run. If you ask me, anyway.

So What Did The Blair Witch Look Like?

2008-04-04T15:52:00-05:00

Recently, a friend and I started discussing The Blair Witch. Like it or not, when I first watched The Blair Witch Project, I was genuinely freaked out. Over time, of course, I didn't find it so scary, but at first, it was freaky as hell.

After watching the final moments of the movie again, I began to wonder: what did the Blair Witch look like? It's an obviously natural question and one that the filmmakers avoided for obvious reasons. It's also what made the film so scary in the first place because, no matter how scary their vision of the Blair Witch might have been, no doubt, what we saw in our own heads was much worse. It's a vision made up of what we find the most frightening. A custom monster made by our own worst fears.

Still, I knew that at least some enterprising person out there had made their vision of the monster public. So, I went on a Blair Witch hunt and this is what I found.

Rendering from The Curse of the Blair Witch

You know, I think if it hadn't been for this Sci-Fi documentary that premiered before the movie's release, I wouldn't have been so freaked out. But I did and it was this image that completely freaked me out:

What the hell people? What the hell? That thing is scary and I don't even know why. Just looking at it makes me want to rip up the carpet, tear out the foundation and see if I can hide underground. I hate that thing! I'm going to move on before I do serious damage to myself.

McFarlane's Movie Maniac's Action Figure

This is the way the sculptors at McFarlane envisioned the Blair Witch. And while, by God, that's some scary creature, for some reason, I still find the first one scarier.

And after hours of searching, this is what I've come up with. So, I'm curious to know - when you watched The Blair Witch, what did you imagine the witched looked like. Answers such as "Mickey Mouse" or "John McCain" do not count!

Post-Strike The Office Premiere Catch-Up

2008-04-02T13:24:00-05:00

Yay! The Office is back, The Office is back!

I know I've missed Jim and Pam, Michael and Dwight, but there's that good chance that you have forgot where things left off when those ink pens dried up. So, courtesy of moi here at otherkidspacklunch, here's a Post-Writers Strike catch-up so you'll be ready for that big Office premiere.

Jim and Pam are now an item. Who could forget that, right? Since the Season 4 premiere, the two have been seen kissing and, in one instance, even shared a weekend together at Dwight's Beet Farm.
Karen's gone! She is now the regional manager at the Utica branch. During an uncomfortable run-in with Jim, Karen scolds Jim for leaving her in NYC to go to Pam.
Michael and Jan are still together despite the fact that Jan sold out Michael by providing Dunder-Mifflin with his diary. This prompted Michael to go bat for Dunder-Mifflin instead of Jan. However, despite this "setback," the two remain together. As of the final pre-strike episode, the two were living together in Michael's apartment where Jan was busy bleeding Michael dry financially.
Pre-strike, Dwight and Angela had broken up when Dwight idiotically did in her sick cat. However, it appears Angela still has feelings for Dwight - made most apparent by the fact that she's now dating Andy in order to make Dwight jealous.
Ryan has left Scranton and is now working for the corporate office where he is busy becoming a first-class dick. He has also initiated "Dunder-Mifflin Infinity," a website that allows customers to order their paper online. This has been a sore spot for Michael and one that he has fought adamantly against.
Kelly and Ryan's "relationship" appears to be over despite her pretending to be pregnant once and her attempts at making Ryan jealous by dating Darryl from the warehouse.
Meredith suffered a pelvic injury when Michael ran over her in the Dunder-Mifflin parking lot. While hospitalized for treatment, it was discovered that she had contracted rabies from the bat that made an appearance in season 3's episode, "Business School". Michael sees this as another opportunity for an event and initiates a marathon for "supporting the rabid."
Toby appears to still be smitten with Pam.
The other Kelly - that's me - is still insanely in love with all the inhabitants of Dunder-Mifflin's Scranton branch.