Blogged
Going to Indiana
My wife is excited to see the new Indiana Jones flick, and by extension I am too. Like the iconic franchise itself, we are largely immune to critics, so the few tepid reviews I’ve read mean little to me. My plan to get my posterior off the couch and into the theater for this is validated, however, by the earnest review by Ian Spiegelman in Gawker today:
It rocked much, much harder than I thought it would. I was truly afraid that Shia LaBeouf would ruin it. I don’t like young men, period. I especially don’t like young men who are challenging my old heros. But Shia actually plays a pretty interesting, funny character. And when he tries to push Indy into a corner, Indy gives him his awesome dead-pan, which amounts to, “C’mon, Kid, I could break you in half and you goddamn know it. Why not just behave yourself and learn something?” And Shia’s “Mutt” is just obedient enough—and smart enough, recognizing that Indy is probably the best role model any boy or girl could have—to listen and not make the whole movie a stupid generational fight.
The whole Indy-as-role-model theme made me happy throughout the movie. It’s not overdone, and Indy still does all his trademark slapstick falling, tripping, flat-on-his-ass stuff. But when Indy gives advice to this kid, I felt all teary. And then when his advice was stupid, I felt like, “Awesome movie!”
Indy is older, and it shows in the fight scenes, but it also shows that he knows how the fuck to fight. And his big punch-to-punch scene in this movie is the best he’s had since he fought that huge German on the airfield in Raiders.
Spiegelman addresses just about all of my fears going into Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, particularly those regarding the new young Jones boy. I, too, dislike young men - young people generally - in films and on television, which is why you don’t find me spending much time watching the CW. (Happily, others are apparently coming to feel the same way about that network.)
The summary from Spiegelman:
But seriously, a person who doesn’t like this movie is kind of a dick. It truly is a happy thing. Anyone who doesn’t get it, they weren’t supposed to see it.
All righty, then! Off to the googleplex.
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I just saw a gushing headline somewhere for the film, so Gawker-guy may not be its only fan.
I suspect that if people expect it to match the original, disappointment might ensue. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t be a fine movie in its own right.
If the bar is set at 100 feet, reaching 99 feet 6 inches is not exactly failure. Except in America.
Now, then, let’s eviscerate the CW, shall we? Fingers elsewhere point to Dawn Ostroff, so I’ll point mine in her direction, too. It’s my understanding that when the two networks merged, some fine shows were thrown under the bus. I don’t know; I didn’t watch them.
But I do know that I added exactly ONE new show to my viewing list for 07-08: the CW’s Aliens in America. Yes, it involves young men, but not just young men, and certainly not young men with washboard abs. Our heroes are two super-nerds, one so nerdy that he’s a wide-eyed innocent just off the plane from Pakistan. It probably falls somewhere between Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development (in its family dynamics), and The Wonder Years, and it’s fabulous.
And cancelled.
I hate the CW.
(Enjoy the movie!)
Upon reflection, this was probably a show about young men, but not necessarily for young men, if you know what I mean. I wish a cable network would pick it up. Like USA, where characters are welcome.
Now, then, let’s eviscerate the CW, shall we?
A fine recreational activity!
I never say Aliens in America, but heard good things about it from people who feared it was not long for this world. Television is a tough business.
I am so pleased about the coming demise of the CW I could bust.
I recorded the show to DVD to archive because I expected its demise from the beginning, but then it went on a long hiatus during the strike. Here’s the thing: the entire series was filmed BEFORE the strike. The CW had this fresh meat during the strike and didn’t show it. When the show returned, I didn’t know it and missed several episodes. One airs this weekend. I hope I catch them all, because I suspect we won’t see the DVD release, either.
I have to go now. My boss is sending me email and I should probably answer.
[...] we haven’t seen the new Indy movie yet, even though we’re fairly anxious to see it. Part of it is the usual difficulty in breaking out of the comfy cocoon and getting to the theater. [...]