Imagine you experience a sudden episode of amnesia and in a second you cannot remember who you are. Creepy, yet fascinating, and that’s why I’m writing about this film today. It’s actually an adorable French rom-com with a pinch of fantasy, which indeed left me smiling, but also reflecting on my life quite a lot. Ready to forget who you are? Let’s go. The lady we’re following in this film is Eloïse (Sara Giraudeau), who finds herself sitting on a bench and realises she has absolutely no idea what’s going on. She can’t remember her name, her home address, her profession – nothing, null, nada. Additionally, she doesn’t have a cell phone, which would surely make things easier since we keep literally our whole personal data on them nowadays. Eloïse doesn’t panic and just peacefully starts making first steps in her new reality. Soon she gets to her flat, finds out where she works and decides to say nothing about her amnesia to others. However, certain people notice that Eloïse is not acting like her old self, which makes the woman question who she used to be. Especially since what she learns about the old Eloïse is not very comforting. The new Eloïse, however, seems to be very much empathic, romantic, supportive and simply polite. She keeps on living her old self life, but she makes a lot of changes in her behaviour, which opens and closes numerous doors for her. I have to say I didn’t have such high expectations before watching this one, but in the end I found it very amusing. If you like French humour, I bet you’ll have fun. It reminded me of “Amélie”, just done in a less abstract way perhaps. But as I mentioned at the beginning, this film also gave me some food for thought. What if I woke up one day not remembering who I was and then, when I’d finally learn from others who I used to be – would I be happy about myself? I know it sounds surreal, because we may believe that everything’s fine with us and we wouldn’t like to change much. But imagine you could become such human blank page – what would you do differently? Would you change your approach to life? Would you behave in the same way? Would you keep on dealing with the same people? Would you change the way you treat others? And, perhaps most important, would you change the way you treat yourself? I swear, this silly rom-com that was supposed to make my evening more pleasant left me with some kind of existential crisis and hundreds of questions stuck in my head. But do I love when films do that to me? Absolutely. So if you do too, profitez bien!
I’m writing this post in over 30°C so I guess it’s clear I’m recommending a horror today. It took me some time to check this one out but you know what? It’s not bad. What I appreciate in horrors is this subtle way of making me feel scared. I don’t need a monster chasing after an ignorant teenager in the forest. Instead, it’s enough to give me creative editing, creepy music and an intense stare – and that’s it, I’m covering my face with a blanket waiting for someone to tell me what’s happening on the screen. I wasn’t watching today’s film hidden in a blanket tent, but it gave me chills and perhaps it’ll work for you too. The main character is Rose (Sosie Bacon), a therapist working with patients at a psychiatric ward. One day she meets Laura (Caitlin Stasey), a young woman struggling with some strange hallucinations. Rose is calmly explaining her patient that it might be just a certain condition, but Laura keeps panicking and forcing Rose to take her seriously. Since the patient is losing control, Rose has to call for some support, but before anyone appears, Laura immediately calms down and cuts her own throat. Before that, she stared at Rose for several seconds with a huge smile on her face. It’s a truly traumatising situation for the therapist, especially since before committing suicide Laura was describing her hallucinations as smiling people. And it seems like Laura is not the only hallucinating one… doom, doom, doom! Okay, I have to admit that the film is too long, in my opinion. At some point I felt like we already know what’s going on and keeping us wait to see what happens next wasn’t really building up on the tension. However, it’s one of those horrors that force you to stay constantly focused as you never know when you see another smile… I kind of guessed how they would finish the story, but they still managed to trick me, so I have a feeling like you might be surprised as well. Although… if you have trust issues, then maybe this film is not the best choice. I mean, after all the filmmakers are playing with our minds. Smiling is associated with something positive, while here it becomes very much disturbing, so I had those moments that the smile made me feel comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. Weird feeling. Try to see the film and perhaps you’ll experience it as well. Generally, I give my thumb up to this horror.
Stuffed toys and patriarchy – sounds like a cool mix to base a film on. Since I’m not American, I had no idea about Beanie Babies, which have, apparently, been a big deal. For those who also feel like googling them, let me explain: Beanie Babies are stuffed toys that were exceptional in the 90s because of their original stuffing. Instead of soft materials, they were stuffed with plastic pellets, also known as “beans”. The person who we may consider as the father of Beanie Babies is H. Ty Warner, the founder of his own corporation “Ty”. He started as a toy seller and ended up making a huge career in this industry, selling sick numbers of the unique stuffed toys. Today’s film is presenting Ty and his story, more or less fictionalised, but from a slightly different perspective. Turns out that Ty Warner (Zach Galifianakis) wouldn’t have achieved anything remotely similar if he hadn’t had three women in his life. Robbie (Elizabeth Banks) helped Ty start the whole business and was constantly pushing him to expand their business. In the meantime, she was also his lover, yet not the only one. Ty had another girlfriend named Sheila (Sarah Snook), who was supporting him in general operations and also, she was the mother of two daughters whose ideas were an important inspiration in making new Beanie Babies. The third significant woman in this story is Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan), who was a young student willing to find a part-time job and who ended up becoming the marketing master in Ty’s company. The names of the women were changed in the film, but their stories and impact on the company is very much real. Generally, it’s more of a comedy full of stuffed toy animals, which are pleasant to observe, obviously, but it’s also a quite peaceful drama showing patriarchy from a different perspective. When filmmakers try to do something about this topic, they often choose to show how directly men use women around them. However, in this story, all those three women were willing to support Ty and he managed to manipulate them so much that they didn’t realise how much he relies on them. I’m guessing he didn’t realise it himself either. And I’m not saying that from now on you should stop supporting your partner because perhaps they are using you – not at all. Having a supportive partner means more than anything, but make sure to take a step back and analyse your relation. Are you supporting each other, or it’s a one-way deal? And I’m not talking only about professional life support, because perhaps only one person in the couple is providing for the family. Yet, if you feel like you’re the only one being your relationship’s cheerleader, then maybe it’s time to have a talk. What I also appreciate this production for is that none of those three women are presented as absolute victims. Yes, they were manipulated and lied to, but they didn’t let Ty destroy them. They knew they worth, just simply got blinded for certain reasons. It happens. So if you’re looking for a relaxing film about female empowerment with a beardless Zach Galifianakis, then that may be a good choice for tonight.
I guess we all need something to help us let off steam after a long week, don’t we? That’s why today I’m recommending you a very Friday-ish production, which actually surprised me with its quality and idea. I spotted “Free Guy” on one streaming platform but thought it’s just a random action film and for a long time I didn’t feel the need to watch another copy-paste production. One day, my brain said “enough with difficult films, let me relax” and I ended up watching Ryan Reynolds being a game character. This story is about “Free City”, which is referred to as “MMORPG”. And since I’m not a player myself (unless you count deleting swimming pool ladders in The Sims), let me share what I googled a few minutes before: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Video Game. Basically, you create your own character and play with other people online. However, in that game you can also see some characters that are not controlled by any person, and here comes our Guy (Ryan Reynolds). What’s funny, we get to experience the game from his perspective, which is repetitive and boring. In the end, he’s just a bank employee who has to do the same each time a certain player appears there. Then, one day, thanks to a female player who’s singing Guy’s favourite song, Guy somehow detaches from the game and starts controlling his own self. This film is actually very coherent with what’s going on in technology world nowadays. You know, AI and all that… So yeah, Guy starts “programming” his character himself and can do whatever he wants despite not being controlled by any player. By the way, imagine such MMORPG (yes, I had to check the name, no way I’m remembering all those letters) game in the future where you cannot distinguish human-controlled characters from those controlled by AI. Creepy, but I’d totally watch a sci-fi thriller about that – just please, mention me in the credits. Anyway, the game obviously changes and the owners have to decide what to do with a self-controlling character of Guy. I have to say that I had a lot of fun watching this film and I believe the idea was very creative. It’s one of those family productions that may entertain everyone and parents don’t have to pretend they’re having fun watching ponies brushing each other’s hair and stuff. Oh and if you laughed at me admitting to be The Sims player – hold your horses, sir or madam. The production designer of this comedy has mentioned that “The Sims” was actually one of his inspirations for creating “Free City” world. You never know what may inspire you to making a film, and I guess that’s what I love about cinema. So sul-sul to everyone selling windows to pay bills of the Goth family and enjoy this weekend with Ryan Reynolds as a banker in (once again, had to check that) a MMORPG.
The girl who was born too early… We’ve just lost Sinéad O’Connor, a very talented and extraordinary musician. If you didn’t know her when she was a young artist, perhaps you might not be her biggest fan for what she was doing in her last years. To be honest, I wasn’t following her that much because I wished to remember her for her music career and not her personal struggles. However, when I found out that she passed away, I decided to see this documentary, to perhaps understand the transition she went through. From the very beginning Sinéad was a rebel and definitely not afraid to do whatever she wanted. But her behaviour could have been justified since she wasn’t much supported by her parents. She even wrote a public letter saying “If only I can fight off the voices of my parents and gather a sense of self-esteem(…)”. Your background matters a lot, even if you succeed in the future, there’s always something deep inside that makes you suffer, and we could see that in Sinéad. Still, despite the difficulties and her unusual style, she became a true music icon and was appreciated by many musical specialists. She had this amazing vibe and people could experience the music together with her on a totally new level. At the beginning of this post I wrote that she was born too early – and I’m sure of it. If only she was in her 20s now, she would have been a leader of various minorities. Through her art she was trying to fight against patriarchy, racism and social inequalities, which nowadays would have been heard much better. Back then she was still a strange woman not following the rules that most people followed, so obviously it’s difficult for her to make a significant change. Still, she was making a lot of progress in her musical career until one day… And if you know her story, you know exactly what happened. But I’m not going to comment on that because that might be an interesting plot twist for those who are just learning about Sinéad. Did she do the right thing? I can’t say. I supported her views and the willingness to make a change in this world, but sometimes it’s important to think of the consequences. She wasn’t doing that. She was a very concrete, stubborn and brave woman who was screaming loud while experiencing maltreatment. I believe she could have become an activism icon once again if only someone had helped her, especially after her son’s death in 2022. I kind of feel like she’s a human reminder of how much we fail as humanity… There are so many negative posts about her, especially in the last years, but why didn’t we think of giving her a hand? Perhaps she just needed more attention, but not as a music star – just as Sinéad. She was diagnosed with so many disorders, yet even celebrities decided to publicly mock her. We definitely need to reflect on her case and take mental health much more seriously than we already do. Anyway, this documentary was obviously made when Sinéad was still alive and it focuses on her young self who was a true sunshine willing to connect with people through music and not wanting to support the evil in this world. And that’s the picture of her I want to remember. Rest in peace, Sinéad.
At one documentary festival this year I had a chance to see several very good productions and today I’m sharing one with you. Generally, I’m not much interested in politics and never-ending discussions who said what and who did what, so I try to avoid films that are too political. However, since I’m a traveller and I’ve always been fascinated by the countries that are especially difficult to reach for me, I couldn’t just skip a documentary about North Korea. What I learnt from this film is much more than I’d expected so fasten your seat belts. Despite the fact that it’s a documentary about North Korea, the person that we’re following is actually Danish. Ulrich Larsen used to work as a chef, but had to retire because of a serious illness. How come a Danish chef becomes the main figure in this film? Well, Mads Brügger, the director, had previously made a documentary series called “The Red Chapel” (“Det Røde Kapel”), which is shortly speaking (you’ll find out more about it in today’s film) about Danish comedians that “accidentally” performed in North Korea and mocked their authorities there. As you might be guessing, Brügger was immediately put on the list of people who mustn’t enter the country, so his filmmaking plans about this particular region are quite limited. And here comes our Danish chef Ulrich, who has seen Brügger’s series and decided to join the Korean Friendship Association, which is basically a group of people in Denmark (and all over the world) that are supporting North Korea’s authorities and whatever is happening there. The two men have agreed to cooperate and from that moment on Ulrich was the director’s mole. His task was to gain as much trust among North Korea supporters as it’s possible and see where that may lead him. And that’s what I’d like you to learn yourselves while watching the documentary, because it’s a lot, trust me. All I can say is that the whole project took… about 10 years. Yes, 10 years. Imagine spending so many years pretending someone you’re not, surrounded by people you don’t trust and you know that all those relations are absolutely fake. At the beginning, when he’s just a member of that association, the consequences wouldn’t have been too harsh if they’d found out about Ulrich’s double-life. But when the things get more serious, the man starts living in a constant danger. And as long as he’s in Denmark, he’s rather safe. But what happens in North Korea, stays in North Korea. Literally. Another reason why you should see this documentary is perhaps learning about the reality in that country. Personally, I read and watch a lot of stuff about different cultures and nations, so I’d known a bit of what’s presented here. But perhaps you don’t and that would be the first time you actually realise the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” is in fact just “Korea”. This documentary is so unreal that there were moments I forgot I was watching a non-fiction. Sometimes I felt like the pace was a bit too slow, but since it took them so many years to make the film, I cannot complain too much. In the end, it’s a mind-blowing documentary and if you’re a fan of action and mystery films, this one will satisfy you more than most fictional productions. I promise.
I’m the kind of cinephile who’s not ashamed of watching something that most serious film critics would roll eyes hearing of. Today, I’d like to recommend you a story that I rewatched way too many times when I was growing up. But before you stop reading thinking it’s a silly comedy for teenagers, let me just assure you that it’s not. No matter how old you are, I bet you’d find something for yourself in it. At the beginning, we get to know Terri (Hilary Duff), a very talented teenager whose biggest dream is to become a singer. She’s applied for a music program in Los Angeles that may not only be her first step in the singing career, but also a chance to get a scholarship to study music. The girl’s biggest fan and supporter is her brother Paul (Jason Ritter). Unfortunately, the boy dies in a car accident, which makes Terri question whether she should take a risk and participate in the program. Especially since her father doesn’t approve his daughter’s plans. As you might be guessing, Terri secretly joins the summer courses. Will a shy teenager singing in a choir become a professional-to-be? You have to see yourselves. I watched this film for the first time simply because Hilary Duff was starring in it and back then, in the early 00s, she was a very popular young actress. Who doesn’t know Lizzie McGuire, right? And I remember how much “Raise Your Voice” hit me. I expected a cute romantic comedy with a cheerful and perhaps a bit clumsy girl, and I ended up crying like a baby questioning my young life’s choices. I swear. Terri is struggling with a big loss and lack of understanding coming from her parent, but at the same time she is really talented and deep inside she knows what she wants to do. I bet you all have gone through such stage in your teenage life where you had to lead a battle between yourself and… well, yourself again? Young people are constantly being pushed by their family, society, friends, yet they need to remember of their plans and ambitions, so the fact that they are somehow managing in this crazy world is more than amazing. Even though this film was made in 2004, I believe many current teens may find this story comforting. Besides, it’s full of songs that give so much of the 00s vibe that it’s impossible not to bounce to them. Have I mentioned that one of the teachers that Terri works with during the program is played by John Corbett? Oh I wish I had such goofy yet inspiring music teacher. Well, I did, but he was much older and definitely less handsome. And I’m definitely not recommending this film because I had a huge crush on Oliver James, who plays the role of Jay – another young musician who gets “interested” in Terri. Not at all… But seriously speaking, this story may seem basic and predictable, but if you’re a sensitive person who didn’t have it easy as a teen, then you’ll enjoy this little nostalgic ride. It has well-written characters, lots of funny moments, good music and a dramatic pinch that may touch your heart. Perfect musical drama if you ask me. Besides, we all need a little break from ambitious productions that you have to watch 3 times to understand what’s going on, right? So take that break. The film was, in fact, a box-office flop, but I don’t care. My teenage self was a big fan and my adult self won’t forget about that.
Are you ready for the last adventure with Indy? I’m not, but I know a lot of you are expecting my post about it and I was mean enough to keep you waiting… Sorry for that. In order to make myself clear and present you my personal point of view, I believed it was needed to write about all the previous parts before focusing on the newest one. The day has come, so let’s do it. The last film was released 15 years after the fourth one and over 40 years after the first one, which I already considered a huge challenge for the filmmakers. It’s 1969 and everyone’s celebrating the fact that Apollo 11 landed on the moon, so just to give you an idea where in time the film is set. Indy is an elderly man, who’s about to retire from working as a professor. Oh, SPOILERS are already coming, but I guess you cannot complain – it’s the fifth part in the end. We find out that Indy and Marion are no longer together due to their mutual trauma about losing Mutt – their only son. The young man died in the Vietnam War, which emotionally destroyed both parents. Thanks to a little retrospection, we learn that Indy had a good friend named Basil Shaw, with whom they were trying to save history and put certain objects in the museum (classic Indy). Surprisingly, the retiring professor is visited by Basil’s daughter and his own goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). The woman has become an archeologist and is fascinated by Antikythera, an ancient mechanism that, according to the film, was created by Archimedes himself, and that most probably allows to travel in time. As you might be guessing, Helena is not the only one who wants to find it and here come the most typical villains in the series – the Nazis. Or actually one of them – Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a scientist and astrophysicist, who would love to obtain the ancient mechanism and go back in time to correct certain mistakes that Germans made in the WWII. Indiana, despite his age, decides to join Helena and together find what her father was searching for till his last days. And save the world, in the meantime. If you’re not a patient reader, you’ve probably already seen my rating. Personally, I believe this part is not that bad. First, I’m aware of the fact it wasn’t directed by Spielberg and that they had a different plan for the series. As I mentioned in my previous text about the fourth part, Shia was supposed to carry on. The filmmakers were struggling with the script a lot, and I believe it was because Spielberg still couldn’t agree with the fact that Mutt wouldn’t be our new Indy. So considering the circumstances, I think the idea to kill Mutt in the War was actually the best option. Second, I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about presenting Indy as a weak and hopeless man, which is not consistent with his character. But hey, he’s a man who lost a child and the love of his life. To me it was actually more than logical to show that he’s an ordinary man, just like us, who also struggles with such big loss. He’s no hero, he’s a human being and he has the right to be in grief. Besides, as a character, he’s no longer in his 40s, so give him a break. Third, I actually liked the character of Helena and I believe they made a great casting choice. Phoebe has this adventurous and sassy vibe that makes her a perfect companion, or even protagonist, but I’ll get back to that. Fourth, finishing the series with the fourth part wouldn’t have been satisfying enough, in my opinion. We deserved to know what happened to Indy, especially since it’s obvious Mutt was going to take over. Finishing Indy’s story, even in a bit disappointing way, made the story complete. Fifth, mind the fact that thanks to Helena, Indy has regained his hope and pride. He had another chance to try himself as Indiana Jones, experience new adventures, make use of his knowledge and remind himself of his greatness. This is how I read the story and I’m satisfied with it. Obviously, I’d have changed a lot of elements, like the ending… going back in time was really unnecessary, but I know that it was probably Lucas’ responsibility. Spielberg was more old-fashioned and he wanted to keep it that way. But if you mix Lucas and Disney, you end up in 212 BC. I didn’t like that part at all, although hearing Helena saying “big fan” to Archimedes actually made me laugh at loud, so in the end, there was something worth waiting for. Another thing is the character of Teddy (Ethann Isidore). The young actor did a very good job, so mind the fact I’m talking about the character only – what was the point of bringing that boy?! In my opinion, a horribly written character. Was it supposed to be a copy of Shorty from the second film? Not a good one. Shorty was smart, but Teddy was just annoying, to be honest. He had some strange superpowers that made me question everything he was doing. And the moment when he starts a plane… I bet Spielberg wouldn’t have agreed to that. So Ethann, great job, I’m just sorry you got such a badly designed character to play. And guys, if you agree with me, please don’t hate the actor, let’s just disagree with the writers instead, shall we? However, when it comes to the first sequence of the film, set in 1944, I actually loved it. It took them a looooot of work to de-age Harrison (over 100 artists working for over 3 years… imagine!) and that sequence put me in the adventurous mood immediately. Of course I could say it’s AI in some moments, but it’s like judging Marvel’s productions for not being realistic. It’s action and adventure, it should be illogical, irrational, strange and fun. And I have to say that I enjoyed those 2,5 hours in the cinema. To me, considering the circumstances, the crew did a very good job. One thing that I would add is… bringing Shorty back. Imagine how cool that would be! Ke Huy Quan is still an active actor and he could have added some additional nostalgia to the story. I believe that Disney will continue the story of Indiana with Helena and perhaps they’ll make a new series, especially since the mechanism for travelling in time is with her. So if by any chance someone from the producing crew is reading my post – please bring Shorty back. We would love that! And for now, let’s say goodbye to Indiana Jones, a true legend and probably the reason why a lot of people went studying archeology in the last 40 years. Those films are a true gem in the history of cinema and instead of complaining, let’s appreciate the fact we’re living in times where we could join Harrison in his adventures on the screen. And don’t you dare forget – that belongs in a museum!
Another day, another Indiana Jones adventure. We’ve already covered the first three, and probably the most appreciated parts, but today I’d like to focus on the fourth film, which is actually my second favourite. Yes, you’ve read me right – this is my second favourite film of all the five. Now, before you have a heart attack and start questioning my taste, let me say a few words about the plot and I shall explain my choice. So, this part was made much later, in 2008, but the action takes place in the 50s. Indy is obviously a bit older and this time his main enemies are Soviet agents. All of them are very much interested in finding the alien corpse, which was said to be found in the Rosswell incident. Soon, Indy is approached by some young guy named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), who claims to know Indy’s old friend and colleague Harold Oxley (John Hurt). Apparently, the professor has been abducted, but before, he managed to find the crystal skull, which most probably belongs to an alien. As you might be guessing, Indy and Mutt start their adventure to find the skull, the professor and also Mutt’s mother. And if you haven’t seen this part, please do and then get back to my text, because SPOILERS are coming now. So… I guess I owe you some explanations why this is my second favourite film of the series. First, I love the fact that Indy doesn’t fight against Nazis again. As I said in my previous post, I believe it’s not a bad idea, but if every part had been about that, we would have had enough. I actually do have enough after three parts with Nazis, but never mind. Perhaps I’ll surprise you, but it was Spielberg who decided to change the villains. He was still very much influenced by his own film “Schindler’s List” (a magnificent one, just saying) that he couldn’t suddenly present Nazis in this more easy-going way, in a rather comedic film. So after discussing it with Lucas, they decided that Indy would be fighting against Soviet agents, which was actually more logical considering the period of time in the film. Second, I’m glad that Marion got back. I have to be honest – bringing other ladies to the picture was a very bad idea and made me dislike Indy a bit. I know, he’s a male protagonist and they always look good with a woman by their side, but Indy was different (at least according to me) and in this film we can see how much he loved Marion. There’s even this beautiful scene where they are all in danger and he still finds a moment to compliment her – I always laugh and awww in silence at that moment. She’s always been the one and only and I’m glad they brought her back. Third, say whatever you want but Shia should have been the new Indiana Jones. Boom! He is a disgustingly talented actor who, in my opinion, proved his ability to continue the series. The filmmakers and producers claim that they weren’t that satisfied with him after this film, but I’m afraid there was another reason. Have you noticed that Shia disappeared at that time from Hollywood? We all know such stories, don’t we? I bet it wasn’t about him not being enough. He was more than enough. But Hollywood is just a business, like any other. You don’t follow their rules, you’re out. Mind the fact that the ending was so obviously pointing out that Mutt takes over (the hat scene in the church). I’m actually disappointed they didn’t manage to continue the series this way. I bet it’d have been much better than what they offered us in the fifth film. Even Spielberg didn’t direct the last part despite having directed all the rest. Coincidence? I secretly hope he was also disappointed about not continuing the series with Shia. Oh well, too bad. Lastly, I actually found it fun and exotic that Indy was dealing with aliens in this part. I know there are many people who may say that only the first three parts matter, but I’m here to defend the fourth part and perhaps encourage you to give it another shot. And one more film to go, so see you next time!
I’ve just realised that today’s the 13th and when I used to write posts everyday (yes, I was that crazy at the beginning) the 13th of every month was saved for films that I didn’t like. What a coincidence… Well, it’s still Indiana Jones and it’s still Steven Spielberg, so it’s rather impossible for me to dislike it, but I have to admit that this part is my least favourite. But first things first: at the beginning we have some shots from the past, meaning 1912, when Indy was still a very young guy and he was trying to save a crucifix from a group of robbers. In 1938, the action is again focused on that crucifix, but I don’t want to spoil what happens there exactly. Anyway, to me that beginning is a bit pointless, especially moving back to 1912, but hey, that’s just my opinion. Then we move on to the main story – Indy finds out that his father Henry (Sean Connery) has disappeared. The man is an explorer as well, so obviously he went missing while searching for some important artefact. This time it’s the Holy Grail, which is said to be some kind of mystical cup that has incredible power. So in this part Indy has to find the Grail and his own father. And as I said, this part is, in my humble opinion, the least adventurous and exciting of them all. First, I feel like Indy’s father is in the spotlight more than Indy, which makes the film feel like it’s some kind of side story instead of another part of the series. Second, Nazis again… I mean, I know that Spielberg is somehow fixated on the topic of WWII, which I respect because otherwise we wouldn’t have got his other amazing productions, but too much is too much. On the other hand, they set the story in the 30s so it was quite difficult to avoid bringing Nazis into the pictures. Still, Indy is an archeologist – he could have fought some ancient cults in the jungle again instead of the N guys… Third, to me the action is horribly slow in this part. And I kind of felt like they made the film just to have it done, which might not be that far from the truth. In fact, the filmmakers signed a contract for five Indiana Jones films, but since people weren’t much excited after seeing the second film (apparently camels > voodoo), they decided to finish the project with a trilogy. And, perhaps, to satisfy the audience, they got back to the style of the first film, which is quite obvious and visible. No matter what people say, I have the right to share my opinion and here it is: instead of progressing with Indy as a character and making his adventures more and more surprising, they gave us a drama with Nazis, little action, a few jokes and cringy special effects (the worst of the whole series). Why, Mr. Spielberg, why?! I mean, I know why – money. If Spielberg and Lucas kept on progressing with this project, they would have made a much better series, but at the same time they would have risked losing viewers. Fewer viewers = less money. Besides, even if they wanted to finish with the third part (we now know they didn’t), they didn’t do it in any satisfying way. I mean, the ending of the second part is more memorable than the ending of the third one. Something was not right… Anyway, not to be all negative, I have to praise the fact that Sean Connery as Indy’s father was a wonderful choice and their tandem was just adorable, especially since Indy played the more reasonable one and Henry was just a big child who would do anything out of curiosity. And I’m not saying this production is bad, because it’s not – it’s still an enjoyable action and adventure film. But comparing to other parts… sorry, that’s not my favourite for sure. And I bet the filmmakers would agree with me. Luckily, the series didn’t end after three films so stay tuned for a journey to another millennium.
I have nothing to watch 