Al does Indy 4

[Head Mutant]

Al, I just wanted to say that was a smooth and polished review you wrote. I was very impressed - more than normal - with the turn of phrases and tone of the piece. Good job!

[starwenn]

I haven't seen Indy 4 yet (and if I don't get to it while it's still in theaters, I'll certainly be picking up the DVD), but I just want to commend you for that second-to-last paragraph, Al.

After reading reviews for Indy, "Rocky Balboa," and the fourth Die Hard movie and doing a lot of thinking, I came to the same conclusion Al did. Yeah, none of those movies were perfect, but that's not what we're after, is it? It's that last sweet rush of nostalgia, the memory of seeing these guys in their prime...and the ability to see them again, on the big screen, one last time. Not to mention showing all the kids and teenagers who have only seen these film series on the small screen how much of an adrenaline rush they can be on the big one. That's worth more than all the CGI tricks and all the hype in the world.

[Al]

Aw, geez, now you've got me blushing (although I'm glad you enjoyed it).

I had assumed Indy would be a really hard movie to review, but when I was in the theater everything just kinda slid into focus. Getting it ready to be posted was an adventure and a half, but the review itself flowed pretty naturally. Thanks for the compliments!

[zappakub]

That's the best Indy 4 review I've read - maybe because I totally agree with it. Good job Al!

[Al]

Thanks!

[PoolMan]

I liked your line at the end about the new movies being victory laps... intriguing thought, indeed. I can't say I agree though, because I think if you're going to create a new movie based on a beloved series, you still need to make a movie of equal quality as its predecessors. The "victory lap" comment suggests (to me, anyway) that they have the right to make even a crappy movie based on the merits of the older ones.

Not that that's the case; I quite enjoyed Indy 4. I've already mentally ranked it 3rd or 4th favourite in the series, but it's still Indy, and it's still fun. Too bad I was right about the CGI'ed up the arse!

In any case, solid review, Mr Al.

[Al]

Thanks!

As far as the victory lap bit goes, I'm not so much saying that it gives the filmmakers permission to make a subpar movie. It's more like we have license to sit back and enjoy it with an uncritical (or at least less critical) eye.

It's like seeing Black Sabbath at Ozzfest. You sing along because you know all the words, you wave your lighter when the bass gets heavy, you watch Ozzy scamper around the stage like a creepy lawn gnome, and you walk back to your car smiling.