The Return of Indiana Jones
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As Indy gets up from his first knockdown, the crowd gasps as a crack rings out. Is it the old man's hip? No its the bull-whip, wielded to devastating effect. After 19 years Indiana Jones is back!
I'm not going to give the story away other than to say it's the usual fare of fist fights, car chases that end up going over a cliff, snakes and melting faces, set against the adage that those who seek power or fortune will ultimately be destroyed by it. The one change is that it's 1957 and Cold War communists are now play the Nazis traditional role.
Performance-wise, Cate Blanchett doesn't quite cut it as chief baddie Iriana Spalko, primarily because her accent drifts from Russian to Roedean. And the years have taken their toll on Harrison Ford. Where previously he dominated the screen, this time round, it's Indiana Jones and the Cast of Thousands. Shia LaBouef as Mutt Williams takes on the more physically demanding scenes (heir to the franchise methinks), and Karen Allen revives her role as Marion Ravenwood. Jim Broadbent as Dean Stanforth, the sublime John Hurt as Professor Oxley, and 'ardman' Ray Winstone as Mac McHale completes a trio of supporting Brits.
So the story is predictable and you can almost pick out the scene destined to become the theme park water flume ride, but I loved it.
It's an action film that wants to entertain, rather than take itself to seriously. It may not triumph at the Oscars, but it will win a whole new audience to the preceding trilogy, and set up the franchise for the future.
Performance-wise, Cate Blanchett doesn't quite cut it as chief baddie Iriana Spalko, primarily because her accent drifts from Russian to Roedean. And the years have taken their toll on Harrison Ford. Where previously he dominated the screen, this time round, it's Indiana Jones and the Cast of Thousands. Shia LaBouef as Mutt Williams takes on the more physically demanding scenes (heir to the franchise methinks), and Karen Allen revives her role as Marion Ravenwood. Jim Broadbent as Dean Stanforth, the sublime John Hurt as Professor Oxley, and 'ardman' Ray Winstone as Mac McHale completes a trio of supporting Brits.
So the story is predictable and you can almost pick out the scene destined to become the theme park water flume ride, but I loved it.
It's an action film that wants to entertain, rather than take itself to seriously. It may not triumph at the Oscars, but it will win a whole new audience to the preceding trilogy, and set up the franchise for the future.
Here Is The Writer : Martin Gallagher
Martin Gallagher has never played for West Ham or England, nor had a number one hit single, but he has worked in the City for many years (for what that's worth). A life-long Londoner, he made the migration from east to west a few years back and is still trying to get used to the absence of fried chicken takeaways and the over abdundance of coffee shops. Martin is married, has two daughters, and is also interested in travelling, football and writing. He hopes to publish his first novel 'sometime in the future'.
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