Yes, as you mention, it's totally possible to “reboot” some series – Casino
Royale I loved, the new Batman looks excellent, and I think The Hobbit has a
lot of promise. Then there's a rare situation where a movie with a lot of
old, recycled ideas can somehow come off fresh and exciting with the right
cast and director (Iron Man). Now that's one flick where I was ready for the
sequel right after it was over.

So I had some hope for this Crystal Skull since the early info was
promising, especially with Cate Blanchette and Spielberg directing. But
based on the results, Lucas has failed hard.

But she did have another good point which was that we've seen the stone gears and doors and antechambers and cobwebs before. So there's also the sense that we've been there, done that and that it's all become just a bit too repetitive by the 4th installment.

I guess this is why superhero movies, of late, have latched onto the concept of a “reboot” wherein a series is reinvented/reinvigorated by new blood and a new cast.

Actually, the 007 movie Casino Royale is a great example of this.

Makes you wonder how interesting an Indiana Jones movie in the hands of a solid director and good cast (unlike others I'd be ok with someone else giving the role a shot) could be.

So in my mind I have put Raiders and Crusade as the best at 5 stars, Doom with 4, and this Skull flick as 3 which is pretty average.

It does kind of raise an interesting issue – we might place more importance on these films we enjoyed as kids since we were kids when we saw them – certainly far easier to impress a kid. So I wonder if this film seemed crappier because we have totally built up our image of Indy and imagined this installment already in our minds.

Like – I can't be objective about the original Star Wars – I would give that 5 stars even though it has problems, and the prequels were just so disappointing. I might have to force myself to revisit those for this blog…

Even the ant sequence near the end — while cool — felt a bit stale (reminded me of a similar scene from the, dare I say it, *superior* film from 1999 'The Mummy').

Now I love the first three Jones films. I even like Doom a lot. I honestly felt a greater let down with Crystal Skull than I felt with Phantom Menace. At least Phantom Menace despite its many flaws was something I'd still want to watch again (albeit while cringing frequently). I have zero desire to ever watch Crystal Skull again. Really.

And re: Transformers. It was pap. But at least it had Megan Fox!!!