I wasn’t convinced that they needed to push the alien-angle so strongly, however. It wouldn’t have been a cop out for their to be a ‘vortex’ and the structure to collapse and that be that, with Spalko’s expression of horror a possible indicator of her seeing a live alien etc. Less is more rather than Lucas is nuts, y’know?

Still, this film was solid and entertaining with some lovely sparks of wit and action.

Wow, you liked it much more than I did. Don’t hate me after you read my review!

You know what? Bring my rating back down to FOUR. Forget the “extra” half a ‘popcorn’. I’m REALLY ****ing conflicted about this film. As a piece of blockbuster entertainment it’s undoubtedly stellar, but the more I think about it the more certain things become total bugbears.

For example, I understand that by setting it in the 50s they wanted to address the whole “atomic era” thing – and that image of Indy stood on the hillside, sillhouetted by that enormous mushroom cloud explosion, is unarguably beautiful, I just can’t help but think that there MUST have been a better alternative to achieving such an image rather than having that whole moronic escape-in-a-fridge mentality!

And the whole flying saucer and alien rebirthed thing just continually annoys the living daylights out of me.

I once read that leaked script that Lucas first commissioned about Indy and the Roswell landings etc. (one of the set pieces from that script gets a passing mention by Indy in the scene with the FBI agents) and I just absolutely hated it because the idea of Indy in an out-and-out “sci fi movie” just held absolutely zero appeal for me.

There’s people out there that LOVE the alien finale. I know, I’ve spoken to them and they’ve given me a long and illustrious defence of it. But I’ve also spoken to people who are like-minded to myself and I favour their way of thought.

Nostaligic moments and happy wedding endings bedamned, this is FOUR ‘POPCORNS’.

That’s my final word on the matter!

Honest!

Until I see it again this weekend…

… Oh shut up and stand by the strength of your convictions Gazz for ****’s sake!

Happy happy joy joy!!