Thanks for writing and sharing this. I recall being disappointed in the film when it arrived in theaters, almost from the opening scenes. The reason was the opening atomic test sequence was almost identical to a season finale of the 1980's TV series called Crime Story, where characters inadvertently find themselves in a dummy town moments away from nuclear extinction. While I'm sure the "lift" was unintentional on the part of the Crystal Skull filmmakers, it seemed like a pretty big error for someone of Lucas's caliber. I also recall not being crazy about the way the film ended. HOWEVER, upon reading your take I'm curious enough to invest the time to watch it again to see if fifteen years later there might be some magic I missed the first time.
Though it has its moments (most notably, that extended opening scene) Crystal Skull is my least fav of the films. That said, I really enjoyed seeing it through your eyes. The ending bit about our shifting perspective of time is especially poignant, and true. Beautiful work.
Sorry to "gang up on you," but I have to agree with the other commenters that this is my least favorite Indiana Jones film. As you accurately pointed out in your previous essay, Last Crusade is the funniest of the series, but this movie goes too far and has a rather ridiculous tone. I am not referring to the alien plotline, which I accepted. I think some other people objected to that story not because it was too "unrealistic," but because it deviated from the religious artifact tradition of the 1980s films. Personally speaking, I consider the part when they encounter the aliens in the temple and Spalko explodes from too much knowledge to be the only great scene. I actually cite that scene whenever I'm trying to illustrate the concept of why we can't understand all of God's plans or qualities. It's simply too much for our finite minds to handle and comprehend. Overall, the movie is certainly not bad, but simply okay. I understand your reasons for liking it so much and you've done a good job articulating them.
Thanks for writing and sharing this. I recall being disappointed in the film when it arrived in theaters, almost from the opening scenes. The reason was the opening atomic test sequence was almost identical to a season finale of the 1980's TV series called Crime Story, where characters inadvertently find themselves in a dummy town moments away from nuclear extinction. While I'm sure the "lift" was unintentional on the part of the Crystal Skull filmmakers, it seemed like a pretty big error for someone of Lucas's caliber. I also recall not being crazy about the way the film ended. HOWEVER, upon reading your take I'm curious enough to invest the time to watch it again to see if fifteen years later there might be some magic I missed the first time.
Though it has its moments (most notably, that extended opening scene) Crystal Skull is my least fav of the films. That said, I really enjoyed seeing it through your eyes. The ending bit about our shifting perspective of time is especially poignant, and true. Beautiful work.
Sorry to "gang up on you," but I have to agree with the other commenters that this is my least favorite Indiana Jones film. As you accurately pointed out in your previous essay, Last Crusade is the funniest of the series, but this movie goes too far and has a rather ridiculous tone. I am not referring to the alien plotline, which I accepted. I think some other people objected to that story not because it was too "unrealistic," but because it deviated from the religious artifact tradition of the 1980s films. Personally speaking, I consider the part when they encounter the aliens in the temple and Spalko explodes from too much knowledge to be the only great scene. I actually cite that scene whenever I'm trying to illustrate the concept of why we can't understand all of God's plans or qualities. It's simply too much for our finite minds to handle and comprehend. Overall, the movie is certainly not bad, but simply okay. I understand your reasons for liking it so much and you've done a good job articulating them.