There are not many things that still bring me pleasure like in previous times - blame it on a completely natural process of ageing, but at this point I am aware that clock is ticking and everything is just about being comfortable, not about the excitement anymore. However, the news about upcoming Indiana Jones movie got me all excited - this was THE cinematic superhero of my youth and I can never forget the thrill of watching "Raiders of the Lost Ark" for the first time (and many times afterwards) - in order to mentally prepare for this, I have spent a whole week re-watching all of the Indiana Jones movies in order just to make sure I know who is who. Guess what, I still love "Raiders of the Lost Ark" the best - every subsequent sequel had better production, bigger budget and more explosions and somehow less heart.
On to a latest (and hopefully, the last) Indiana Jones movie - out of a sheer affection, I decided it will be in a lovely old (and recently renovated) cinema "The Movies" that proudly stands here since 1912. and when facing a closure, locals from the neighbourhood pulled cash to save & renovate it. It is such a special place that I feel compelled to always visit and support it. It is decorated in a classic Art Deco style and at this point everything is so new that it smells on carpets and glue - audience is also very lovely, real film lovers and not silly teenagers who usually prefer huge cinemas. There is a certain magic and charm about small places.
What can I say - I am much older now, I am not a teenager anymore and this type of stuff is not even entertaining to me. It appears the merchandise is out of Spielberg & Lucas hands, Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm Ltd. pulling the strings, investing the money and pushing the promotion. I am honestly surprised that Harrison Ford even accepted this. Maybe he though it would be a perfect closure. In any case, there was a first part of the movie (call it an introduction) set in a WW2 where Indiana was digitally de-aged to look younger - this was actually done very well and you would never know the difference - this part actually feels like a classic Indiana Jones adventure. Everything that comes after that is unfortunately a never-ending action and run from one crowded place to another, so much that we never have a chance to actually care of these characters. The worst of all, the movie is too long - at 2,30 hours it feels seriously tiresome and when it all ended, the audience in a cinema felt not excitement but a relief.
Harrison Ford is not to blame - at the age of 80 he is still reasonably fit elderly gentleman and he does everything to keep this mammoth afloat but the story itself is silly (or perhaps it always has been?) while his supporting cast is just not so engaging. Instead of his son and wife (who were important characters in 2008."Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" now we have British actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge as his goddaughter. She is a cunning daughter of a scientist introduced in WW2 scenes and for the most of the movie we are not completely sure is she antagonist or a hero - when she eventually switches over to Indiana's side, its already a bit too late, we can't take her seriously as a goodie because she was baddie for too long. There is an obligatory child sidekick (this time a young Moroccan), almost unrecognisable Antonio Banderas in a very short, cameo appearance and a Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as the main Nazi enemy. My conclusion is - "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is still by far the best Indiana Jones movie and every subsequent sequel had bigger budget but less heart. Piling action scenes and car races trough the crowded streets of exotic locations does not necessarily bring anything new. It could be that I simply can't accept what is basically a cartoon-based pulp fiction adventure movie anymore the same way I did when I was twelve. But such a huge budgeted spectacle will not appeal to young kids who are not connected with 1981 classic and the elderly audience will probably feel exhausted as me.
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