[net.movies] Indiana Jones and the ClashBashSmash

rlw@wxlvax.UUCP (06/05/84)

Well, I went to see it.  I suppose that early show Monday night was an off
period for the theater but I was amazed to find myself in a 3/4 empty theater.
For reference: a week ago the line stretched halfway across the theater's
parking lot -- in the rain.  Afterwards, there were about 25 people in line
waiting for the 9:30 showing.  The usher said that attendance has been trailing
off ever since the opening weekend crush.

The movie was a disappointment.  There was no plot:  just one sequence of
exciting events after another.  It quickly became a self-parody.  "Oh boy!  How
will he get out of this?"  Even the much proclaimed violence was overrated.
Except for one particularly heart rending scene, there was no violence to speak
of that you couldn't have seen in a 1950s Western or Tarzan flick.  

It was impossible to suspend disbelief.  The combination of action, slapstick,
suspense, anachronism just did not blend into a story.

Since I mean this to be a commentary and not a spoiler, I won't go into
details but I do have two questions for those who may have paid more attention
to the fine points:  How did the British Colonel miss those ugly things on
what was reported to be "the only path" to the Palace?  Whatever happened to
the body of the guy crushed by the spokes of the wheel?  When Indy and friends
turned to leave, the body was gone.

I guess it was worth the $4.50 but I'm glad I didn't waste any money on popcorn!

--Dick Wexelblat  (Well, next week ST-III.)

P.S. Saw a trailer for 2010.  Don't fail to miss it!