Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

Writing: 4/10

Direction: 6/10

Cinematography: 5/10

Acting: 8/10

Editing: 6/10

Sound: 7/10

Score: 8/10

Prod design: 6/10

Casting: 8/10

Effects: 5/10

Overall: 6.3/10

Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is a blockbuster misfire. Its themes of parenthood, family, mortality, and age are well-intentioned but half-baked into the narrative. Its plot device is clumsy and the logic is flimsy. The narrative is convoluted and exposition is dry which dulls and grinds the film to a halt. The UFO plot feels tacked on and character motivations are contrived and feel like running places. The third act is sloppy with the UFO plot being too high concept for the franchise. Overall it's a film which has interesting ideas but listless in execution.

Crystal Skull on a technical level invokes similar problems. It's imagery employs uses framing, lighting, transitions. It's overtly lit cinematography gives it a clean and artificial look. The production design evokes more of a clean look and iffy green screens leading to terrible composition. It has odd creative choices( Tarzan sequence and the forest set piece). The sound design is inconsistent and generic. The choppy editing is clumsy and makes it nauseating for the viewer. Harrison Ford and Karen Allen are the highlights in this abysmal mess lending this film some charm and delight. Overall Crystal Skull is a poor sendoff for Indy and this franchise.