Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull dominates the Memorial Day weekend movie scene.
Fulfilling one of the easiest ever NWN forecasts, the new Indiana Jones picture is a huge hit. The early word amongst some turns out to be wrong, and most reviews have ranged from pretty good to quite good.
But a picture like this is not about reviews. It’s a summer action movie. Is it fun? Yes. Is it action-packed? Yes, maybe even a little too action-packed. Is Harrison Ford a credible action superstar at 65? Yes. Is Karen Allen’s return all it could have been? No, but it’s pretty good. Is that Shia LaBeouf kid any good? Yes, actually, very. Is the great Cate Blanchett having fun playing a psychic dominatrix KGB agent? Absolutely. Do we miss Sean Connery? Yep, but it’s not clear what he would do in the story. About which, by the way, I don’t believe in spoilers. But think 1957, Area 51, the Red Scare, with plenty of Reds actually running around — the Russian Communist Party has denounced the movie, which is playing on record number of screens there now — and a couple of other movies in the Spielberg and Lucas catalogue aside from the Indy movies.
Is Indy 4 as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark?
Is it as good as the first picture?
Of course not. The 1981 original is probably the best action/adventure picture ever.
Is Indy 4 as good as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?
Is it as good as the second picture, from 1984?
No, it’s not. It’s better. That movie, which started off in rollicking fashion, bogged down in something of a horror show.
Is Indy 4 as good as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?
How about the third picture, from 1989, the “last” in what seemed for the longest time to be a trilogy? The one in which the original James Bond plays Dr. Jones’s dad.
I don’t think it’s quite as good as that. It’s certainly not as funny. Of course, many found Last Crusade to be too jokey. Connery provided Ford with an equal. But the new movie has stronger female characters.
** ANOTHER CLINTON WHOOPS. I explain the OTHER big problem with Hillary Clinton’s notorious Friday remarks, on my other blog. (Not the RFK assassination reference, but her false claim that Bill Clinton’s 1992 nomination was in any doubt in June. As you’ll see, the Clinton high command knew in May that the fight was effectively over.)
** SUNDAY — WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama delivers the commencement address at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He is taking the place of the ailing Ted Kennedy, at Kennedy’s request.
John McCain is at home in Sedona, Arizona. He is entertaining three potential running mates: Florida Governor Charlie Crist, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
Hillary Clinton is in Puerto Rico.
Bill Clinton is in South Dakota.
** SATURDAY — WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
Barack Obama is in Bayamon and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Hillary Clinton is in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
John McCain is at home in Sedona, Arizona, where he is entertaining three potential running mates. Florida Governor Charlie Crist, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
** MOVIES … AND MOTORSPORT. We all know Memorial Day weekend is Indiana Jones weekend at the Metroplex. But it’s also the occasion of two great auto races. There’s the Formula One Grand Prix of Monaco, one of the most colorful and glamorous races on the planet, conducted on the streets of Monte Carlos. And there is, fittingly for the launch of Indy 4, the biggest and most historic race in America, the Indy 500. In, er, glamorous Indianapolis, Indiana. Both Sunday morning.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel. You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti.
While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, which I know as a former DemRussia advisor, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Crude oil closed at $132.19 per barrel on Friday. Energy markets are closed on the weekend.
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33 Comments
Jonas Blane:The new Indy trailer looks good.
May 24, 2008 - 2:05 pm Jonas Blane:Raiders was really fun.
May 24, 2008 - 2:09 pm Jonas Blane:The Temple of Doom trailer tries to make the movie look not so dark.
May 24, 2008 - 2:14 pm Jonas Blane:I really like the Last Crusade.
May 24, 2008 - 2:17 pm Capitol Boy:It’s kind of crazy to say Indiana Jones wouldn’t be a big success.
May 24, 2008 - 2:58 pm Pat Skipper:NYT reports mccain met with mike murphy in VA and is considering bringing Murphy on board.
May 24, 2008 - 4:00 pm Chris M:If McCain loses in November, chances are good the verdict will be that he lost it (or at least failed to give himself the best chance of winning it) over these past weeks, when he was unable to control the media’s portrayal of him whilst the Dems were engaged in a fairly vicious end-game.
If anything, while Obama has struggled to put away the doggedly determined Clinton, McCain has actually been knocked down a peg or two and is increasingly seen as just another politician surrounded by lobbyist-insiders. He’s had a very bad month.
May 24, 2008 - 8:18 pm Bill Bradley:McCain had a bad week. I wasn’t impressed by him on Thursday. I’ll get into on Tuesday.
May 25, 2008 - 9:55 am Bill Bradley:Thanks for the heads up, Pat. I’m not paying as much attention this weekend.
So you can play him again in the President McCain Movie!
>Pat Skipper:
NYT reports mccain met with mike murphy in VA and is considering bringing Murphy on board.
May 25, 2008 - 9:56 am Bill Bradley:May 24, 2008 - 4:00 pm
One would have to assume an unusual level of incompetence on the part of Steve Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford …
>Capitol Boy:
It’s kind of crazy to say Indiana Jones wouldn’t be a big success.
May 25, 2008 - 9:57 am Bill Bradley:May 24, 2008 - 2:58 pm
Sometimes I like it more than Raiders, though it’s not as good.
>Jonas Blane:
I really like the Last Crusade.
May 25, 2008 - 9:58 am Bill Bradley:May 24, 2008 - 2:17 pm
Well, yes, except for the caged child being lowered screaming to his death at the end of the trailer …
>Jonas Blane:
The Temple of Doom trailer tries to make the movie look not so dark.
May 25, 2008 - 9:59 am Bill Bradley:May 24, 2008 - 2:14 pm
Great fun. As much fun as you can have in a movie theater seat without having sex.
>Jonas Blane:
Raiders was really fun.
May 25, 2008 - 10:00 am Bill Bradley:May 24, 2008 - 2:09 pm
I’ve thought about the new movie and I think it really does work.
>Jonas Blane:
The new Indy trailer looks good.
May 25, 2008 - 10:00 am Capitol Boy:May 24, 2008 - 2:05 pm
The Clintons are just damn amazing.
BB: ** ANOTHER CLINTON WHOOPS. I explain the OTHER big problem with Hillary Clinton’s notorious Friday remarks, on my other blog. (Not the RFK assassination reference, but her false claim that Bill Clinton’s 1992 nomination was in any doubt in June. As you’ll see, the Clinton high command knew in May that the fight was effectively over.)
May 25, 2008 - 10:35 am Brasky:Nice piece on “that other blog.”
May 25, 2008 - 11:36 am Chris M:Maybe the Reeps will have a candidate for governor after all:
May 25, 2008 - 12:50 pm Len:http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8375899&nav=menu613_2_6
(Mitt Romney buys a house in La Jolla).
Excellent story of Clinton mendacity.
May 25, 2008 - 3:29 pm Jack Aubrey:Watch this Fox “analyst” joke about assassinating Obama.\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjYpkvcmog0
May 25, 2008 - 5:32 pm Sacramento Solon:Jack,
That’s a very sick lady…no humor there. Thanks for sharing…
May 25, 2008 - 6:19 pm Sam Loomis:We are quickly approaching a Prop-13 moment with energy - a moment when the electorate realizes it was wrong and wants something else NOW. Most have a few colleagues in the office who must commute because they must live far from work. Paying for 2 $60 tanks per week will not stand.
The electorate understands energy (where it comes from, where it goes) way more than the politicians think it does.
Stand Clear.
May 25, 2008 - 6:39 pm carole w:I just finished watching “Recount” on HBO. I loved it!!!
May 25, 2008 - 8:38 pm Sacramento Solon:Have a safe Memorial Weekend and THANK YOU, to all the Vets!
Carole,
Thanks, but the only Vets you have to thank tomorrow are the ones who are no longer with us. Let’s all think hard about what they gave so that we could enjoy so much.
May 25, 2008 - 8:53 pm Bill Bradley:I think all vets celebrate today. There but for the grace of God …
May 26, 2008 - 12:48 pm Bill Bradley:How does it end?
>carole w:
I just finished watching “Recount” on HBO. I loved it!!!
May 26, 2008 - 12:48 pm Bill Bradley:Have a safe Memorial Weekend and THANK YOU, to all the Vets!
May 25, 2008 - 8:38 pm
I was jogging yesterday and noticed that the price of gas had just gone up 6 cents from Friday night!
>Sam Loomis:
We are quickly approaching a Prop-13 moment with energy - a moment when the electorate realizes it was wrong and wants something else NOW. Most have a few colleagues in the office who must commute because they must live far from work. Paying for 2 $60 tanks per week will not stand.
The electorate understands energy (where it comes from, where it goes) way more than the politicians think it does.
Stand Clear.
May 26, 2008 - 12:49 pm Bill Bradley:May 25, 2008 - 6:39 pm
That’s for sure.
>Sacramento Solon:
Jack,
That’s a very sick lady…no humor there. Thanks for sharing…
May 26, 2008 - 12:50 pm Bill Bradley:May 25, 2008 - 6:19 pm
Liz Trotta was once a very highly regarded network news correspondent. Then she became an angry conservative.
>Jack Aubrey:
Watch this Fox “analyst” joke about assassinating Obama.\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjYpkvcmog0
May 26, 2008 - 12:50 pm Bill Bradley:May 25, 2008 - 5:32 pm
Thanks.
>Len:
Excellent story of Clinton mendacity.
May 26, 2008 - 12:51 pm Bill Bradley:May 25, 2008 - 3:29 pm
Mitt Romney, and anyone closely associated with him, can’t win in California.
>Chris M:
Maybe the Reeps will have a candidate for governor after all:
May 26, 2008 - 12:52 pm Bill Bradley:http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8375899&nav=menu613_2_6
(Mitt Romney buys a house in La Jolla).
May 25, 2008 - 12:50 pm
Thanks.
>Brasky:
Nice piece on “that other blog.”
May 26, 2008 - 12:52 pm Bill Bradley:May 25, 2008 - 11:36 am
It is a stunner, on several levels.
>Capitol Boy:
The Clintons are just damn amazing.
BB: ** ANOTHER CLINTON WHOOPS. I explain the OTHER big problem with Hillary Clinton’s notorious Friday remarks, on my other blog. (Not the RFK assassination reference, but her false claim that Bill Clinton’s 1992 nomination was in any doubt in June. As you’ll see, the Clinton high command knew in May that the fight was effectively over.)
May 26, 2008 - 12:53 pm carole w:May 25, 2008 - 10:35 am
RE: How does it end?
May 26, 2008 - 3:16 pm…With a loud ahhh:)