Indiana Jones 4 Review

Okay, so we went to see Indiana Jones - the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last Thursday afternoon.

Pretty good stuff. Worthy of being with the other three films.

Now, it's not perfect. It takes the pulp aspects of the Indy films more than a bit too far in several instances. For example, when Mutt Williams (Shia LeBouf) swings through the vines of the jungle trees just like Tarzan, complete with monkeys swinging with him. That was just epically stupid. Or how Indy survives a test nuclear blast. There's a dash of logic to that one, but it's a bit hard to swallow. Or multiple falls down rather large and apparently rocky waterfalls.

But then again, this is a world in which the Ark of the Covenant is not only real, but has intense magical power and is kept in a wharehouse in Area 51. So let's be honest; this isn't the most realistic of worlds we are dealing with here.

But it was fun. It was thoroughly enjoyable and ultimately, that's about all you can ask for when it comes to an Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Fords owns that character. Even LeBouf did a pretty good job playing the greaser stereotype (well, on the outside anyway, there are actually glimpses of more inside his character).

It'll be on my DVD shelf next to the original three when the time comes. Brilliant film? No. A whole lot of fun? Heck yeah.

Just the most beautiful baby!

These are from the third photosession we did with Lorelei. There are also family pictures, but you don't really want to see my ugly mug, do you? Let's just keep it to the pictures of the most beautiful and talented and intelligent baby in the whole wide world!

Ironman: movie review

Well, we dropped off Sweet Pea with her grandma and grandpa and took in Ironman (we also hit other errands afterwards, but hey, like you care!).

It lived up to the hype as far as I was concerned. Very well constructed film with tight editing, excellent special effects (not always easy to tell where the digital Ironman began and the practical man-in-suit ended) and very sharp acting.

Robert Downey Jr. was excellent as Tony Stark. He brought a certain flippant gravitas to the role. I know, flippant gravitas, what the hell? Downey Jr. was able to be serious as required but also the playboy that is late because he's "doing a Vanity Fair piece." In that case, piece of ass...great line by the way. His transformation didn't seem in-depth, but did seem believable enough and real enough.

I find personally that the great cinematic actors have very expressive eyes. As in somehow, they are able to let you into their character's soul with their eyes. Downey I think is able to do that here.

So excellent film, great way to start off the summer blockbuster season. Don't forget to stay until the final scene after the credits...