8 Overhyped Movies We Can Consider Fairly Now The Dust Has Settled
8. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
The Original Reaction...
rating: 3
Given that Steven Spielberg agreed to come back for Indiana Jones 4 and the franchise wasn't handed over to somebody else, I doubt there were many fans out there who weren't eager to see how this thing played out. Unfortunately, though Harrison Ford was perfectly fine reprising his role as the famed archaeologist, the rest of the movie failed to deliver. The supporting cast were pretty lame, the CGI was excessive, and the story was (oddly) both confusing and bland. Now The Dust Has Settled...rating: 3.5
Viewed out of context - as an adventure movie with no relation to the Indy franchise - and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull looks like a far superior project. Not that it earns any extra points for that reason, but - with five years between now and its original release - it's easy to see this one for what it really is: an all-out adventure yarn that doesn't entirely work, but is never boring, and has a fun-filled spirit that is sorely lacking in modern movies. Had this been a standalone film, I think it would have been received incredibly well as a sweet throwback to serials.