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12 The Founder | Wednesday 28 May 2008 Film ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skill’ A film for fans of the original trilogy only Mario Creatura When James Bond first hit our screens back in 1962, the world was awestruck. Here was a man who had it all - charisma, wit, charm, good looks and a string of women lying in his wake. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to (apparently) be with him. But there was one problem, he was English. Or more specifically, he wasn’t American. After dominating the filmic stage from day one, they simply could not stand being left in the shadow of a successful foreigner on the action stage. So Indiana Jones was born. Infinitely more human than Bond, Jones brought a level of grittiness to the genre of action hero that has made him a blockbuster hit ever since. So it is perhaps not a surprise that after millions of fans nagging them for the last 19 years, that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas gave in to make ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’. Every “ As a standalone film it is totally substandard despite the high level of sophistication from Lucas’s effects man will resort to a childlike state on entering the cinema, wishing that he too would be able to crack that whip and rescue buried treasure from the hands of the villainous Russians. Unlike in the previous films where the baddie was usually a Nazi, the film accurately moves on in the temporal world of Indy’s life. Set in 1957, 20 years on from the last, the political situation of the Cold War is accurately highlighted and encompassed by the steely persona of Irina Spalko, played by Cate Blanchett. Spalko plays a role similar to that of the female villain in ‘The Last Crusade’, a doctor working for an evil dictator and trying to grab as much magical material as possible to help in his world takeover bid. With Indiana enlisted to help stop the Russians by the young and virile Mutt Williams (Shia LaBoeuf), the adventure inevitably has the explosive action and mystical storyline that we as an audience have grown accustomed to over the years. But therein lies the problem, the story is weak and ultimately totally reli- ” ant on the previous branding of the franchise. As a standalone film it is totally substandard despite the high level of sophistication from Lucas’ effects. The only saving grace lies with the cheeky nods to the past films that will make many a die-hard fan grin with nostalgia. And that’s it. John Hurt is sorely underused and Ray Winstone’s recurrent cockney character fails to emit the right level of sympathy. Harrison Ford picks up the whip again for what will hopefully be his last foray into the world of Indy. Carrying on his smart-alik retorts he now readily fulfills the mantle of bumbling old academic taking large influences from the idiosyncrasies offered by Sean Connery in ‘The Last Crusade’. LaBoeuf is not as bad as he was in ‘Transformers’ and seems to have finally transformed into the young male actor that is worthy of a Spielberg flick even though the director seems to have made this film in his sleep with little creative challenge and originality. Well worth the price of a cinema ticket but only for those who love with a passion the previous 3 films. If you are one of the very few sad people left on the planet not to have seen an Indiana Jones film then you really should not start with this one! Sit down with a large tub of something sweet and enjoy the original magic of a geeky university lecturer with an amazing part time habit that will almost make you want to become an archaeologist... Summer Break Writing during the Summer Want to keep reviewing and writing during the Summer? We’ll still be publishing material that we receive online. Write online www.thefounder.co.uk/ articleupload.php Email your articles editor@thefounder.co.uk Want to get involved? The Founder has now closed applications for positions on the editorial board. However, we are still looking for: • Designers • Business Team • Photographers • Cartoonists • Correspondents Email editor@thefounder.co.uk
The Founder | Wednesday 28 May 2008 Books 13 1001 books to read before you die Vikki Weston It’s been a while since I’ve had to come up with a review for a book to read before you die, but this week I’m offering you one that sits firmly in my top 5. Written in 1932 Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a work of literary beauty and genius. Not only is he a superior writer, but for a book that pre-dates the Second World War Brave New World is phenomenally prophetic. Set in ‘The year of our Ford 632’ better known as 2540 A.D. Huxley’s work sees the global population living a utopian existence. This utopia is created through the extinction of individuality, art, religion and free thought. Humans are not created equal, they are created happy. Family is not only unnecessary, but evil and offensive, as is the concept of monogamy, that in the Pavlovian manner (look up Pavlov and his dog if this doesn’t mean anything to you) is sleep instructed to children as they grow up to perform whatever job or duty they were born into. The title is a direct quote from Miranda’s speech from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Huxley uses many Shakespeare quotes from various plays throughout the second half of the text after the introduction of John Savage, a man born in a ‘savage reservation’ outside of ‘normal civilisation’. John is one of the only humans to have ever come into contact with the works of Shakespeare and uses his plays and his language to make sense of the world. John, himself, refers ironically to the new concept of civilisation as a ‘Brave new world’. Further contextual references stem from the names of characters such as Mustapha Mond, Bernard Marx, Benito Hoover and Lenina Crowne (if these don’t ring any bells, look them up on Wikipedia). Huxley’s political and historical context is instantly evident. He uses the year of the first Ford car made on a production line as the standard date for the new world; which is a superb, yet subtle, indicator of the connection with creating human life on a production line. Huxley is a genius of political allegory and of literary creativity. Brave New World is famous for its multiple stream of consciousness style that, although sometimes confusing, has an obvious purpose in the ultra-modern aesthetic of the text. John Savage’s desperation and self-destruction having been introduced to the new world is beautifully written and sublimely tragic. His flawed relationships with his Mother, Lenina and Bernard all represent the flawed aspects of the supposedly perfect new world. His character is the only ‘reality’ that a reader can identify with, as the other characters are all born of a culture that is, as it is for John, impossible to understand. Surprisingly the only cinematic version of Brave New World was made in 1998, starring Leonard Nimoy and Peter Gallagher (of O.C fame) and is only very loosely based on the novel. Perhaps this lack of literary integrity comes from Huxley’s work being too brilliant a novel for anyone to successfully recreate the complex themes on screen. Brave New World takes everything we hold dear, from love to Shakespeare and sacrifices it on the altar of utopia. The bizarre thing is that utopia so very frightening and disturbing for a world that exists without disease, old-age, poverty or war, something that we seem to constantly strive for. Which, of course, begs the question, why is it so disturbing? Why would social stability and an end to unhappiness make us so unhappy? John is the man with the answer; he demands his right to be miserable, disease ridden and unsatisfied, for without it we cannot truly know happiness. John Savage refuses to exist in a ‘brave new world that hath such people in it’. The Railway The Railway Menu Highlights Free Bottle Main Meals - £6 Of Wine Our own hand-rolled 100% Aberdeen Angus Burger served with fresh salad and chips Battered Fish of the Day & chips With every 4 diners Warm crispy duck & mixed leaf salad, sesame dressing & garlic croutons Only with voucher* Serving : 12:00 - 3:30 / 6:00 - 9:30 (Mon - Sat) The Founder - Reader Offer Groups and Societies! Hire a heated, covered outside area in the centre of Egham, for free! Call: 01784 471962 Free Dessert 20% for every couple Off food at The dining Railway You must present this voucher and be a valid NUS cardholder to take Only with voucher* advantage of the offer - offer not valid on friday lunchtime
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Students unimpressed as Union announces Summer ... - The Founder

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