'What are they doing now?': When Harrison Ford fired back at critics, revisiting the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull debacle

The Polarizing Legacy of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Ah, 2008. Obama was the fresh face of politics, Britney was making a comeback, and Indiana Jones was back, but not quite better than ever. If one thing's for certain, Harrison Ford's return as the legendary, whip-cracking archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull stirred up more dust than a runaway mine cart.

"What Are They Doing Now?": Ford Takes Aim at Critics

As reported by Cinemablend, Ford unleashed his inner Indy on critics who weren't too kind to the 2008 flick. "Those were their rules — not [director Steven Spielberg’s and co-writer George Lucas’] rules," Ford bristled. He went on to argue that the film’s shortcomings were a matter of opinion, not fact. This is Ford's version of cracking a whip at critics, folks, and it's louder than ever.

"Those Were Their Rules": The Audience vs. Spielberg and Lucas

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull had its challenges, and not just from face-melting artifacts. Ageism loomed over Ford, and Shia LaBeouf's Mutt didn’t exactly growl. The infamous alien twist was more 'Close Encounters of the Why Kind,' and even the screenwriter David Koepp was “never happy with” it. Yet despite this, the film still managed a respectable 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was released on June 30, 2023. Whether it's to rewatch the classics or see Ford in Yellowstone's prequel, 1923, the Indiana Jones legacy is far from being sealed in a wooden crate.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.