Well...yeah, and thats cool. IMO its still the weakest, crappiest Indy movie. I'm not upset as much as I'm let down by KOTCS. Admittedly I was one of the fans that thought there was no need for another Indy film. I found Raiders, Temple of Doom, and Crusade to be the perfect trio of films about the character. I also enjoyed the idea of there being a different romantic interest in each film...it gave Indy a kind of James Bond vibe that I thought suited the character. I own KOTCS on Blu-Ray but I've only watched it once and probably won't again until the boxset comes out.

I disagree. While I can't come up with another young actor who would have done better in that role, all you needed was someone who was as interesting as Harrison Ford was when he was young. Imagine a young Brad Pitt or Matt Damon in that role. They would have been far more interesting. In fact, the late River Phoenix was far more interesting in "Last Crusade". Even a young Tom Cruise would have been a good match for Indy. The idea of introducing a new character was no different than introducing Sean Connery in the third film. With a good actor, it could have worked almost as well.

Having said that, the role was written badly. In spite of the fact that the character grew up without his father, while it would have been believable that Marion would have steered him away from archeology, it's not believable to me that he would have grown up an uneducated idiot, considering that Marion's father, Indy's father and Indy were all educated men. I sincerely think they made the character an idiot so that today's young moviegoers could better relate to the character.

As far as the Marion character is concerned, while I supposed they still could have made her 'tough as nails', most people do mellow with age. Raiders took place in 1936. Skull took place in 1957. Most people change drastically in 20 years. Besides, I don't think her character was all that different - it just seemed different because she inhabited a much older body. But her smile never aged at all.

The problem with Shia is that he is incredibly uninteresting and all the characters he "plays" are exactly the same. I fail to understand how he's become such a success. Add to that the possibility in everyone's mind that there was at least a chance that the franchise might have continued with Mutt and without Indy and it was insanity to choose Shia for that role. Spielberg probably had access to any actor he wanted. And Shia was the best that he could come up with? That's pretty sad.

In fact, I'm going to take it one step further. I'll probably get hit by lightning for even suggesting this, but I think that a young Hayden Christensen would have been better. Imagine him as a high school whiz-kid who via books, thinks he knows more about archeology than Indy, which they clash over. But as an academic and with little experience in the real world, since Marion didn't want him following in Indy's or in her father's footsteps, he's a bit "prissy". During the story, he finds himself in situations that forces him to "man up". By the end, he's a lot more like Indy. IMO, that would have been far better than what we got.

Personally I think Vin Diesel should have been cast as Indy's son! :D

Folks, who cares! We FINALLY have Indy on blu-ray! That should be the most important thing. In keeping with a few of the previous posts:

- Really the series could've ended after Raiders, there was no topping THAT!
- I doubt 'millions' will be discarding their KotCS BD's.
- Falling into acting jobs is lot like falling into other 'everyday' jobs: Sometimes it's all about who you know!

I'm a fan of Shia's... he has a natural ability lacking in all the Channing Tatums/Paul Walkers/Chris Pines/Taylor Lautners/etc... I also think it was a casting ploy to bring in younger audiences that knew him from Transformers.

The real problem was the plotting, and just underwhelming ideas (the fridge, the vine swinging, the "inter-dimensional" beings)... not to mention underwritten roles for John Hurt, Ray Winstone and Karen Allen. It was just bad writing, plain and simple. The technique of trying to emulate the 80s visual style with lens flares and such backfired. And the CGI was out of place and looked bad.

I think it all boils down to Spielberg just not wanting to make it. Hes stated just as much in interviews, that he never liked the "alien" storyline and was doing it as a favor to George. But KOSC is so sloppily shot and edited, you can tell when its a stuntman and when it's Ford, because the footage doesn't seamlessly cut together half the time. And I know Spielberg is a better shooter than that.

The Jones Collection appeared in my Amazon Gold Box today so I placed my preorder at $71.24.

link? I've had it pre-orderd since day one and its still @ $74.99 USD. Just checked Amazon as well

The Amazon Gold Box "Quick Picks" section takes your personal browsing history (along with a number of other factors) into account and offers recommended products to you at 5% off. The only catch is that you have to purchase through the gold box page.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6...2f40915d_b.jpg

It might have been, but I think he brought something to the role that few other actors could have, and I think his rapport with Ford was actually pretty good, probably the best pairing in the whole series.

I don't think any of those things were a problem in any way, whatsoever. It's true that Karen Allen could have had a little more screen time, and Denholm Elliot was definitely missed... though there's still kind of a nice nod to him, IIRC. Considering that this was the first Indy to have CG effects, I think they did an awesome job with them, everything looked just great and fit in with the Indy universe.

No, I don't think that's the case at all. Spielberg isn't going to make a movie he doesn't want to make, even if Lucas and Ford come begging to him. Plus they seem to have had a fun time in the shooting, going to Hawaii and all the other locations. I really wouldn't say KOTCS is one of Spielberg's very best films, but it is one of the most fun, entertaining of his movies, totally.

To be fair, Shia was cast before the first Transformers came out. They were risking a lot if they were going off recognition, cause if that movie hadn't done well...

I honestly think Spielberg likes something about Shia as an actor. Hence why he's been in like five films he's been associated w/ (Indy 4, Transformers Trilogy, Disturbia, etc.).

Dangit then, it must be true.

Gold box deal on Amazon are user specific. So you could possibly never see that same deal.

watched the 1st 2 movies today....for anyone that finds willie annoying in temple of doom....u should really listen to marion in raiders.....she's almost as whiney as willie.

"iiiinnnnndddyyyyyy!!!!"

I'm convinced ppl just liked Marion because she drinks.

Sweet can't wait.

Right, but he was cast after TF had been shot and mostly finished, in April 2007, so Spielberg had seen the rough cut of his acting. So he knew what he had going in, and I think Shia did a fine job.

****ing box sets! Do we know when they'll be releasing them individually? Same with Jurassic Park!

Nope.
Has BttF gotten single releases yet? That might be a good indicator on the waiting time.

Maybe Amazon or somebody will offer a set that contains only the first 3 films? I have bought film sets with bad movies before (Batman and Robin leaps to mind) but KOTCS is not even a fun bad movie. It's depressing. I can't think of a more disapointing movie. They sure did "nuke the fridge" big time!

Seriously dude, why would you write that and why would someone's personal opinion on a movie matter that much to you??!! Your post made me laugh out loud and worry about your neighbours pets all at the same time :laugh:

Chill out bro and just look forward to the blu's - something tells me that when the inevitable screen shots and rumours about changes start floating about then we might have reasons to get agitated ;)

Don't hold your breath.