A Welcome Return by an Old Friend

SPOILER FREE

First let me start out by saying just how geeked out I was by the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. While Star Wars definitely holds a special place for me, like so many others the Indiana Jones movies are of a different status – these could really happen (sort of).

So it was with great anticipation that I went to see the latest installment at midnight last Wednesday. I read nothing about the movie and allowed myself only to view the official trailers as to not learn anything about the movie.

To be honest, I was anticipating another chapter of the 1930’s-style serialization. Instead I got something completely different, not to say that was a bad thing. Steven Spielberg realizing the intelligence of movie goers would not allow him to play Harrison Ford off as a 30-something, he set the movie 19 years after The Last Crusade (Incidentally, that is the amount of actual real time that has passed as well).

So George Lucas and Spielberg made an Indiana Jones adventures that reflects 1950s happenings and such – i.e. The Cold War and other things that I will not get into as not to spoil it.

All that being said I was not disappointed with the latest and perhaps final chapter of the saga. As soon as the movie starts, Ford is wearing the trademark fedora and jacket and basically getting himself in over-his-head. He returns to the character with the ease of well, slipping on that jacket.

Karen Allen’s return as Marion Ravenwood also worked really well, and the on-screen chemistry she shares with Ford has not waned after all these years.

Shia LeBeouf wasgood but at times seemed a little out of place like he was trying to still figure out how he was cast in this movie. Cate Blanchett was magnificent in what I believe to be her first action role.

My only problem, and I guess the way this was written you could tell this has all been a set up, was with the script. It was a fun, summer adventure movie, which had none of the passion of the original films. Something was missing from Indiana Jones and it was not the last 19 years. He did not have the same charisma, charm and dialogue that he had the previous three flicks.

I am all for the passage of time and how it changes people, but I think to take those traits away from both Ford and Indy left me feeling like I missed something.

Again, that being said it was a fun ride that I highly recommend. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a nice valentine to the series and seems to wrap up the life of Indiana Jones. There is a scene at the end where you could possibly see the passing of the torch to LeBeouf’s Mutt Williams, but instead I think you actually will see that in the end, the only person who is Indiana Jones is Indiana Jones (and Ford).

Iron Man - Spoiler Free

Twenty-four hours ago I finished watching the latest Marvel movie-offering, Iron Man. It was good, real good. The best way to sum up the experience is this, I can not wait until the next one comes out. So let's take a spoiler-free look at what is definitely one of the better superhero movies to come out, as well as a strong-origin flick.

First, Robert Downey Jr. has Tony Stark down pat. As confident as I was that he would make an excellent Stark, that confidence was only strengthened as I watched Downey behave as I believe Stark would. As I have been fond of saying since news of his casting was first released, Downey was born to play this role.

Second, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts was excellent casting. She was the one person who seemed a little out of place. Not that Paltrow could not handle the role, its just I never really could envisioned the star of Shakespeare in Love in a comic-book movie. Well, any reservations I had about her were silenced almost immediately when Pepper skillfully "takes out the trash" so to speak when Tony is called away from a late-night conquest early in the film.

The chemistry between Downey and Paltrow in the unrequited love that Stark and Potts have for each other was masterful. Its all I can really say to describe the emotion the two were able to convey. Its as if they were both Stark and Potts, and going back and forth with one another for years.

Jon Favreau did a masterful job directing this film. His choices in interpretation of Jarvis was and excellent one that worked and should make fans happy how he was able to keep the character and also update him.

As for the story, it was strong. Favreau actually starts the movie at one point, than rewinds about 36 hours to show you how events lead to Stark's current situation as the film opens. There are a lot of scenes of Downey designing and building the Iron Man armor, and clocking in just over two hours this movie could have dragged, but it never did.

Finally, if you have not seen it yet, make sure you stay in your seats when the credits begin to roll, as Marvel has been apt to do lately, they stash a final scene at the end of the credits, and it is worth sticking around for.

Color Me Surprised

Midway through this week's stack of books, the only one that really jumped out at me was surprise, surprise - Buffy the Vampire Slayer #14. It has been consistently one of my favorite books since it debuted a little over a year ago. Each issues as strong as the last. That being said, my pick of the week was actually sitting at the bottom of the pile - Image's Gemini #1.

Going in I had no idea what Gemini was about (and there is the reason is what sitting at the bottom of the pile). The cover and art looked intriguing enough for me to open it up and give it a try. Well, color me surprised by I really enjoyed this book. Its about a hero, who seems to be programmed. He has a group of handlers that monitor him and activate and deactivate him.
Issue one opens with Gemini in battle against a force of evil as we get introduced to the crew that "watches" his every moment. We also get a glimpse into Gemini's normal everyday life, but its not the secret identity thing you would think it is. And just as you get towards the end and really interested in the character and what is going on, something happens that is not normal for Gemini, and nothing it seems, will ever be the same. I can not wait for issue two.

Last but certainly not least is the conclusion to Richard Donner's Last Son storyline in Action Comics Annual #11. The book was entertaining as Superman has to pair with his arch-nemesis to take on yet another arch-enemy. But the real interesting part of this story is the resolution to the Christopher Kent storyline. Do not want to give anything away, but Donner (with an assist from Geoff Johns) does it really well. And reading the issue I could not help but think of Christopher Reeves, even Adam Kubert's art makes Clark look like Reeves.