Independence Day Jones

I'm going to stop apologizing for my sporadic posts as of late. Why? Cuz I'm busy and I aint gettin paid for this. So bite me.

That being said, Jobi and I have decided to post some thoughts on the upcoming debut of the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

My personal feelings are mixed. Anticipation is moderate, but more or less ambivalent. Positive: George Lucas IS NOT directing it. I just can't believe he felt like he could do it after Episode 1 and its fan-base uproar at his brilliant attempt at comic relief in the form of Jar Jar Binks. If that is his idea of good movie-making, he needs to stick to cartoons. Following that irritation, he went on to single-handedly RUIN the next two installments of what otherwise was a cornerstone in filmaking and storytelling. He should never be allowed near a manuscript of any kind, much less be behind the lens of any sort of camera more complex than the Disneyland disposable variety.

So thank god he relinquished command to someone of intelligence. Although, I have to say I'm not quite ready to rip my shirt off, grab a roman candle, and run berserk through the streets in excitement over Stephen Spielberg these days. Don't get me wrong, I idolized the guy growing up, and his expertise and finesse as a consistently good storyteller is second to none, and I thought Munich was one of the most relevant and poignant pieces in recent history. But I really wonder what's going on with this Indy 4 project. What has Spielberg done recently film-wise? He's been busy running around, protesting China and working with EA to create Boom Blox. I feel bad for doubting the Godfather of American filmmaking, but I'm finding myself crossing my fingers more often than engaging my adrenal glands.

I think it's a sign of possible shakiness when in an article I read on CNN, George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, and Harrison Ford all agreed that Lucas originally had some crazyass crackpot idea possibly involving aliens and Area 51.

WHAT?

The article went on to say that Spielberg and Ford managed to succeed in helping Lucas realize he isn't 12 and to take things a little seriously. But it also noted that compromises were being made. So maybe at the end of a grand adventure worthy of the Indy series, he'll suddenly be abducted by aliens at the last minute and it will snap to credits. Or hopefully it will just come down to the compromise being that at the very end of the credits a line will read "No aliens were harmed in the making of this film." and then at the VERY end, in the tiniest print possible it will read "Fuck you, George, and grow up".

As for the casting, I didn't realize that Karen Allen is back until I saw the most recent trailer. My reaction: Awesome. Good Choice. Let's just see is she'll be utilized properly or if Stephen Spielberg doesn't go off and marry her. Shia La Beouf? The verdict is still out on this kid for me. I'm waiting to see whether or not he has actual acting chops or if he's really just the arrogant, wise-cracking, fast-talking adolescent he's always cast as. I hated him until I saw Transformers (Michael Bay should be shot in the face, by the way). He was pretty entertaining, though him as leading material is still a bit hard to take. This is why he may actually make something of himself in Indy 4. Him as a sidekick is a much more appealing option until his balls drop and he figures out how to annunciate better. Cate Blanchett? Well, there's nothing to complain about there. She rocks.

I've got to get back to work, so I'll leave this as Part 1 and pass it off to Jobi.

B-Spot Out!

"Dumb as a sack of drunk hammers."