I am becoming slightly obsessed with the end of the world. It’s not surprising really, given all the recent portents. Even if the cyclones and earthquakes are just chance occurrences, there are more enough manmade threats to contemplate, what with terrorism and the ever-present possibility of nuclear annihilation.
My obsession has reached such a pitch that I decided to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull solely for the opportunity to see him survive a nuclear bomb. Was it worth it? Almost.
Indiana Jones finds himself in Area 51 and thinks he has found civilization. What he actually finds is a Baudrillardian concept town displaying all kinds of Americana enacted by mannequins. There’s a postboy throwing a newspaper and a family sitting around a table, all of them placidly awaiting the devastation of the H-bomb. It is fascinating and satisfying to see him somehow survive by hiding in a lead lined fridge being blown hundreds of yards across the desert.
The rest of the film is leaden and formulaic; and the cast and script are creaky (Shia Lebouef is perhaps the most wooden). Spielberg’s films now remind one of Woody Allen - it looks like the real thing, but the soul (and originality) are completely gone.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Leave a Reply