Thursday, May 22, 2008 7:38 PM CDT
Whipped into shape
Even with flaws, latest 'Indy' flick gets mostly high marks from area residents
By Nathaniel West/Staff Writer
nwest@jg-tc.com
A recent documentary on the History Channel about the real-life archeology underscoring the “Indiana Jones” films is of the opinion that the iconic character influenced many younger American archeologists in their career choices.
Add Christopher Davis of Charleston to that list. Since his preschool days, the 23-year-old graduate student at Eastern Illinois University has dreamt of becoming an archeologist when he grows up, and now is studying to do just that.
It all started after his mother, Delilah Davis of Charleston, took him to see “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” in the theater.
“From then on, he wanted to be an archeologist,” she said.
The tradition of watching the latest “Indy” flick on the big screen continued for the Davises at midnight Thursday, when three generations of the family sat front and center in the Kerasotes ShowPlace 10 in Mattoon for “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
According to the Davises and other area residents who caught the midnight show, the latest installment from executive producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg has some flaws, but on the whole was worth staying up late to watch.
Christopher Davis’ few complaints about “Crystal Skull” certainly aren’t enough to give him pause as he maps out his future. “It was a good movie; I genuinely enjoyed it,” he said.
Both he and his mother, who were accompanied to the film by his girlfriend, Amanda Stephens, 22, and his nephew, Eric Poe, 8, were a little put off by the film’s climax.
(Not to give too much away here, but the central theme of “Crystal Skull” was almost inevitable, coming from the creator of the “Star Wars” saga and the director of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”)
“I think Lucas (who co-authored the story) went a little too far (with) the sci-fi feel to it, rather than the archeology,” said Davis. His mother added that the ending was “a little farfetched.”
Still, the Davises were delighted to make it a family event. “It’s wonderful we can share that interest,” said Mrs. Davis.
Her son said, “It was fun to go one last time. I don’t think they’ll make another one.”
Mattoon residents Josh and Amelia Sanders both are fans of the three previous “Indiana Jones” films — even the much-derided “Temple of Doom.”
Josh Sanders did some reading on the development of the newest movie, and prior to the midnight showing, he was confident the filmmakers were on the same page. “For as long as they’ve been planning it, I’m thinking if they’ve all gotten back together, they must have gotten the right script,” he said.
The next day, Sanders said most of his expectations were met, although he feared “Crystal Skull” was too dependent on the earlier films. “Unlike the others this one did not stand alone as well without having seen at least ‘Raiders’ and ‘Last Crusade,’” he said.
“Even so, the film had all of the action expected in an Indy film, as well as the comedy and cliffhangers … All together, not a bad end to a great series of films.”
Marshall resident Travis Bounds, 24, a graduate student at EIU, also was raised on Indiana Jones. His first theatrical encounter with the Man in the Hat was “Temple of Doom.”
Prior to the early Thursday screening, Bounds said he found the title of the film to be “somewhat esoteric and out there, but I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.”
Afterward, he gave “Crystal Skull” a “B” grade. He said the film was similar visually to the previous three, although the use of CGI special effects was still noticeable. Bounds also suspected that Spielberg and Lucas shared some directorial duties.
“My one major critique was the disjointed nature of the film, in that you can tell what Spielberg did and what Lucas shot,” he said. The third act “seemingly falls apart” because of this, Bounds also said.
“I guess I just had trouble with the technology they used to bring Indy into the 21st century.”
Randy Ethridge, a 51-year-old resident of Charleston, was coaxed into the late-night viewing of “Crystal Skull” by his son and his friends. But he wasn’t too upset.
“I’m always interested to see what new things (Spielberg and Lucas) add as far as special effects and stunts,” he said prior to seeing “Crystal Skull.”
Later, Ethridge said, “I thought the movie followed the ‘Indiana Jones’ theme well, (with) lots of action, funny one-liners and always something else just waiting to go wrong.”
He also said Harrison Ford again “did a great job” as the title character — “even for an old guy.”
Overall, Ethridge concluded: “I think anyone who liked the previous ‘Indy’ movies will enjoy this one also.”
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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