How Disney Should Make Indiana Jones 5
3. Give Us A Better Villain
If a story is only as good as its villain, it becomes painstakingly obvious why Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was such a letdown.
In fairness to Cate Blanchett, who is a great actress, her Irina Spalko had a grade-A Hollywood evil to compete with, and the script she had to work with just couldn't get the threat level out of second gear.
Indy fans are used to compelling villains who singlehandedly raise the stakes. Who didn't holler with delight when the despicable Belloq and Toht were engulfed by holy fire? And Mola Ram rips his victim's freakin' hearts out and enslaves kids!
The early Indiana Jones movies did a good job of outlining what's at risk - if the Nazis had succeeded in their diabolical schemes the world would have suffered dire consequences, but Crystal Skull's Russian threat waged more of a cold war.
What Indy 5 needs is more villains like Belloq and Mola Ram, and less Spalkos. Oh, and more henchmen like that giant from Raiders who gets mangled by the propeller.