The Mummy 3 & Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (contains lots of spoilers)
Back with movie reviews :-)
Now...let's see.
First, let's talk about Indiana Jones. I have to agree with those who said that it wasn't nearly as good as the first three Indy movies. It wasn't. Not by a long shot.
However, that being said? It wasn't as bad as it could have been. I mean, I was kinda worried seeing as how Harrison Ford is about ready to draw social security and he's back playing Indy. He was actually pretty damned good. I loved the interaction between Indy and Marion. I've always liked Karen Allen's character in the Indy movies and this one is no exception.
I have to say my least favorite character was Mutt Williams played by Shia LeBeouff. If he's who they play to pick up the dusty fedora? Well, it's not going to be a pretty sight the first time he has to carry the movie without HF. Or KA, for that matter. I've heard people complain about the improbable plot. Well, to be fair? Indy movies have always had what you would call "improbably plots". I mean, really, where would the fun be in a movie that was totally probable? Besides, these movies are supposed to hearken back to the days of 40s and the serial movies like Flash Gordon and the like, right? At least, that's what George Lucas and Steven Spielberg always said they were supposed to do. And, for the most part, Indiana Jones movies did exactly what they were supposed to do.
I do think that they probably need to retire the fedora, bullwhip and everything that goes along with it. It's time. Cause I really don't think they're going to be able to find a younger Harrison Ford-type actor who can pull it off with the same panache that HF could. And if you don't have that? Well, you really don't have a good Indiana Jones movie, now do you?
Okay...onto The Mummy 3.
I've gotta say that I liked this one much, much better than Indiana Jones. I think that Maria Bello did an outstanding job as Evie. I know a lot of people were going to look at her performance and measure it against Rachel Weiss' and find it wanting. But I think she did a great job with what she was given to work with. Was the movie as good as the first two? Probably not. But then again, the first two weren't high art either. I do think that Luke Ford did a great job as Alex O'Connell. I can see him picking up the mantel for the Mummy movies much, much easier than I could for LeBeouff doing it for the IJ movies. For one thing? You could actually see a dynamic and some chemistry between Luke Ford and Brendan Fraser. Every now and then you'd have to go "BF doesn't look like he's old enough to have a son that old." But that didn't happen all that often. Oh, and speaking of chemistry, I think BF and MB have great chemistry as Evie and Rick.
I do have to say though, that my favorite parts of the movie were the ones with Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li. I wouldn't actually mind seeing a movie about Yeoh's character, Zi Juan. I read a review of the movie that said Yeoh had the shining moments of the movie and I'd have to agree with that assessment. It made me start looking for other movies by her.
Of course, the fight scenes between her and Li were kicka$$. And, really, what's the point of having two of the world's biggest martial arts stars in a movie if you don't give them some killer action scenes, right? And the Mummy did that. Oh, and the yetis? I can't forget the yetis. When Juan's daughter started calling for help, I really didn't expect the yeti to show up. It was a kinda cool little twist in the movie. I wish Russell Wong had had a bigger part. I've liked him ever since his Vanishing Son days.
Overall, I liked both of them. The Mummy more than Indy. As to when they come out on DVD? I'll definitely buy the Mummy. Indy? Well, it depends on the price, I suppose. It'll probably be around $15 and if it is, I'll probably pick up a copy.
Well, that's it for me. I haven't got anything else on my radar for a bit (well, unless I can get to Journey to the Center of the Earth before it leaves my area).
Now...let's see.
First, let's talk about Indiana Jones. I have to agree with those who said that it wasn't nearly as good as the first three Indy movies. It wasn't. Not by a long shot.
However, that being said? It wasn't as bad as it could have been. I mean, I was kinda worried seeing as how Harrison Ford is about ready to draw social security and he's back playing Indy. He was actually pretty damned good. I loved the interaction between Indy and Marion. I've always liked Karen Allen's character in the Indy movies and this one is no exception.
I have to say my least favorite character was Mutt Williams played by Shia LeBeouff. If he's who they play to pick up the dusty fedora? Well, it's not going to be a pretty sight the first time he has to carry the movie without HF. Or KA, for that matter. I've heard people complain about the improbable plot. Well, to be fair? Indy movies have always had what you would call "improbably plots". I mean, really, where would the fun be in a movie that was totally probable? Besides, these movies are supposed to hearken back to the days of 40s and the serial movies like Flash Gordon and the like, right? At least, that's what George Lucas and Steven Spielberg always said they were supposed to do. And, for the most part, Indiana Jones movies did exactly what they were supposed to do.
I do think that they probably need to retire the fedora, bullwhip and everything that goes along with it. It's time. Cause I really don't think they're going to be able to find a younger Harrison Ford-type actor who can pull it off with the same panache that HF could. And if you don't have that? Well, you really don't have a good Indiana Jones movie, now do you?
Okay...onto The Mummy 3.
I've gotta say that I liked this one much, much better than Indiana Jones. I think that Maria Bello did an outstanding job as Evie. I know a lot of people were going to look at her performance and measure it against Rachel Weiss' and find it wanting. But I think she did a great job with what she was given to work with. Was the movie as good as the first two? Probably not. But then again, the first two weren't high art either. I do think that Luke Ford did a great job as Alex O'Connell. I can see him picking up the mantel for the Mummy movies much, much easier than I could for LeBeouff doing it for the IJ movies. For one thing? You could actually see a dynamic and some chemistry between Luke Ford and Brendan Fraser. Every now and then you'd have to go "BF doesn't look like he's old enough to have a son that old." But that didn't happen all that often. Oh, and speaking of chemistry, I think BF and MB have great chemistry as Evie and Rick.
I do have to say though, that my favorite parts of the movie were the ones with Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li. I wouldn't actually mind seeing a movie about Yeoh's character, Zi Juan. I read a review of the movie that said Yeoh had the shining moments of the movie and I'd have to agree with that assessment. It made me start looking for other movies by her.
Of course, the fight scenes between her and Li were kicka$$. And, really, what's the point of having two of the world's biggest martial arts stars in a movie if you don't give them some killer action scenes, right? And the Mummy did that. Oh, and the yetis? I can't forget the yetis. When Juan's daughter started calling for help, I really didn't expect the yeti to show up. It was a kinda cool little twist in the movie. I wish Russell Wong had had a bigger part. I've liked him ever since his Vanishing Son days.
Overall, I liked both of them. The Mummy more than Indy. As to when they come out on DVD? I'll definitely buy the Mummy. Indy? Well, it depends on the price, I suppose. It'll probably be around $15 and if it is, I'll probably pick up a copy.
Well, that's it for me. I haven't got anything else on my radar for a bit (well, unless I can get to Journey to the Center of the Earth before it leaves my area).