Indy 4 screened yesterday at Cannes and for critics all over, and the reactions have been mixed, although most acknowledge that this is a fun, if not classic summer movie ride. Some of us at Fandango were also able to catch the screening, and personally, I think your own reaction will be based on your expectations. If you're looking for a great, unforgettable movie with a sound script and things you haven't seen Indy do before, well... you may have to keep looking. If you want to be entertained, see an old friend back in action, and be reminded of the simple pleasures of a big to-do summer entertainment, then you should be pleasantly satisfied.

Going in with few expectations (actually, I was thinking it might be horribly bad), I was surprised at how much the filmmakers did get right, and how much energy everyone brought to the project. I still think too many cooks were involved in its ultimate development (i.e. - the script and Spielberg throw in everything and the kitchen sink, and strain too much sometimes for effect), but Harrison Ford is still durable and fun to watch as Indiana, the supporting cast give it their best shot, and many of the action sequences are enthralling...below are some of the other critics' reviews so far...if you've seen the movie already, or have an opinion, let us know your thoughts! Only a few days left til that familiar score reverberates once more the world over...


The Critical Buzz:

"David Koepp's script accomplishes the two essentials: It keeps the structure on the straight and narrow, and is true to the character of Indiana Jones himself. Thanks to this and Ford's full-bodied performance, Indy comes through just as viewers remember him: crafty, capable, impatient, manly, and red-blooded American."
-Todd McCarthy, Variety

"The stunts and special effects are spectacular, as one would expect from director Steven Spielberg.... But while it's an intentionally far-fetched saga, there are especially implausible moments — even for Indiana Jones."
-Claudia Puig, USA Today

"All I wanted was to see a real Indiana Jones film. And to like it. Not even love. Just like...It’s an Indiana Jones film. And I like it."
-Moriarty, AICN

"I can say that if you liked the other Indiana Jones movies, you will like this one, and that if you did not, there is no talking to you. And I can also say that a critic trying to place it into a heirarchy with the others would probably keep a straight face while recommending the second pound of sausage."
-Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"...it was inevitable that this film was going to fall within a very narrow range in terms of quality. It was either going to be a worse- or better-than-average Indiana Jones film. It turns out it's one of the better ones and everyone involved can breathe a sigh of relief."
-Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"If you want to get prepared for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, don’t go back and watch the other Indy movies. Pull out The Lost World instead. Both films are directed by the same Steven Spielberg - bored, only mildly engaged and seemingly going through the motions. In both cases the result is superior to your average dumb*** summer blockbuster, but when weighed against Spielberg’s filmography and the previous films in the franchise comes up sorely lacking."
-Devin, CHUD

"…wraps up in a spectacle of fantastic implausibility. You can’t go into this movie expecting anything but. This is the ride you paid for, and by god, I’m happy this ride exists. So, you go with it, and you aren’t disappointed most of the time."
-Matt Dentler, indieWIRE