Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch is an action-packed adventure film that takes audiences on a thrilling journey through exotic and treacherous landscapes. In this installment of the popular Indiana Jones series, the renowned archaeologist and adventurer finds himself entangled in a web of mystery and danger as he searches for the elusive Pearl Witch. Set in the early 1940s during World War II, the film begins with Indiana Jones receiving a cryptic message from a former colleague, Dr. Amelia Hamilton. The message contains information about a legendary artifact known as the Pearl Witch, said to possess incredible powers and untold treasures. Intrigued by the promise of both historical significance and personal gain, Indiana embarks on a perilous quest to find the Pearl Witch before Nazi agents do.
Intrigued by the promise of both historical significance and personal gain, Indiana embarks on a perilous quest to find the Pearl Witch before Nazi agents do. As Indiana traverses jungles, deserts, and ancient ruins, he encounters a wide array of obstacles and foes. From treacherous booby traps and deadly snakes to Nazi soldiers and double-crossing allies, the road to the Pearl Witch is fraught with danger.
Uncle from Another World – Episode 1
What’s it about? Takafumi’s uncle was hit by a truck in the year 2000 and spent 17 years in a coma. Upon awakening, he tells Takafumi he actually spent those 17 years living in the other world of Granbahamal—and he has the magical powers to prove it.
I so want to be on board with what Uncle from Another World is selling me, because “isekai Jumanji” is a very funny concept. Unfortunately, the premiere seems determined to squander its good ideas with a combination of misdirection and persistent inconsistencies.
Kawai Shigeki is taking the head director chair for the first time, and his previous outings as episode director have almost exclusively been on action shows (including infamous JSDF propaganda vehicle GATE). His lack of comedy chops are painfully apparent, weighted down further by a thudding script from Ihara Kenta (Trapped in a Dating Sim, The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter, the unpleasantly sleazed-up-to-eleven Mieruko-chan adaptation). There’s an effective opening where the show leans into the dark possibility that the titular Uncle might just have a persistent delusion (which has its ableist issues as a comedy premise but at least as a piece of bleak satire or parody it’s something), but it lasts all of five minutes before confirming that not only was the other world real, but the Man Named Uncle has kept his magical abilities in our world.
RIP “scene whose joke was suffocated in its sleep”The rest of the episode goes on to recycle about three jokes: Uncle’s life in another world was relentlessly bleak; he’s out of touch with modern technology; and he had no idea that the woman following him around in the other world had feelings for him. These range in execution from “not really a joke but sure” to “I see the joke you abandoned halfway up the road back there” to “pedant mode activated.”
I confess to feeling a blossoming canker of cynicism during that cold open I praised, where the room of haggard-looking, heavily outlined male characters were interrupted by a female nurse who had the face of a pleasant but deeply uncanny robot. Hard to sell me on your “this is the real world” premise when men get to look schlubby but the women are equally airbrushed in fantasyland and modern Tokyo even when doing a decidedly hard and unglamorous job. But to be fair, there’s a dire lack of visual contrast between the real world and Granbahamal overall.
Y’know how you do a full face for your twelve-hour shift cleaning up other people’s fluids?It’s supposed to be a land of magic where everyone is hot, even the rando bandits, but it’s still drawn and lit with heavy lines and dark colors, meaning there’s no shock value when the Uncle reveals the horrible things that happened to him. The punchlines are as if we’re looking at Happy Tree Friends, but all I can do is shrug and say “what did you expect, landing in Berserk?”It makes it dead dull to look at too. Somewhat minimal animation wouldn’t be a problem with more striking boarding and color composition, but this is a series of grey rooms occasionally broken up by a breathtakingly brown forest.
But what really kills me is the lack of care. Obviously, I don’t need this to be meticulously worldbuilt just to tell some “Gen X Man Miss Sega” jokes. But I do expect a show to adhere to its own rules—so why does the cold open rest on the Uncle realizing he needs to use Japanese for his spells to work in Japan…only for him to swap back to activating them with fantasy language later? But what really broke the premise for me was one word: tsundere.
A third of the three jokes rests on the premise that Uncle didn’t recognize that the elf woman following him was being tsundere, and so he took her at her word when she said he was hideous and she hated him (frankly? Fair enough). Takafumi posits that this is because tsundere didn’t become a popular concept until 2004, after his uncle was taken into Truck-kun’s loving embrace. To which I respond: motherfucker, Ranma ½ started airing in 1989.
I spent a few minutes trying to figure out if they only met shortly before he came back or if we’re seeing him in adult-o-vision retroactively before realizing that there were only three minutes to go and I did not care
Even if we argue that tsundere as a term wasn’t in the lexicon until the early 2000s, the archetype was so suffocatingly prominent in the 90s that by 1996 we already had a critical interrogation of it. Uncle was isekai’d with a buffet of tsundere love interests in popular culture, from Kimagure Orange Road to Full Metal Panic! to Love Hina. It’s the kind of detail that wouldn’t matter in a one-off throwaway joke or if there was a one-title exception to a generally true observation, but they’ve chosen to hinge an entire joke around it in a series whose bedrock is about the gulf between 90s otaku entertainment and the landscape circa 2017. And also, I was just so bored by that point.
A quick glance at the wiki indicates that future episodes will introduce Uncle’s childhood friend, who’s apparently been nursing a crush lo these 17 years that he’s naturally oblivious to. [This is a misreading on my part y’all, I’m sorry; it’s Takafumi’s friend who joins the cast. My overall feelings on the show’s weird treatment of women stands though.] I’m not sure I have it in me to slog through more of the show’s weird-feeling treatment of women (Tsundere Elf looks like a teenager, incidentally, while Uncle looks like his 30-something self), especially not when it’s so bad at landing a joke. A more skilled creative team might’ve been able to sell the dark comedy or at least keep the pace clipping along serviceably, but unfortunately the show as delivered has left me in despair.
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Dela stops by to rub some salt in their wounds
Along the way, Indiana is joined by a resourceful and quick-witted local guide, Isabella Sanchez, who becomes an invaluable asset in their pursuit. The film's plot unfolds with a series of thrilling action sequences, including a heart-stopping chase through a crumbling temple, a death-defying leap across a chasm, and a pulse-pounding battle against a giant, mythical creature. Through it all, Indiana's wit, courage, and intelligence are tested to the limit as he unravels the secrets of the Pearl Witch and confronts his deadliest adversaries. Ultimately, Indiana's quest for the Pearl Witch leads him to a hidden island in the Pacific Ocean, where he discovers the true power and nature of the artifact. In a climactic final showdown, Indiana must use all of his skills and knowledge to prevent the Pearl Witch from falling into the wrong hands and unleashing chaos on the world. Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch is a thrilling addition to the Indiana Jones franchise, combining the classic elements of adventure, mystery, and danger that have made the series a beloved favorite. With its captivating storyline, breathtaking action sequences, and charismatic protagonist, the film is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats from beginning to end..
Reviews for "The Lost Temple: Indiana Jones' Quest for the Pearl Witch"
1. John - 1/5 stars - Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch was a major disappointment. The plot felt convoluted and lacked depth, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. The characters were poorly developed, with many of them feeling one-dimensional and uninteresting. Additionally, the action scenes were lackluster and failed to create any real excitement or tension. Overall, it was a forgettable film that didn't live up to the Indiana Jones name.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - As a fan of the Indiana Jones series, I was extremely disappointed with Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch. The movie felt like a cheap imitation of the previous films, lacking the charm, wit, and adventure that made the originals so great. The dialogue was cringe-worthy at times, and the attempts at humor fell flat. The plot was confusing and failed to captivate my interest. Overall, the film failed to live up to the high standards set by its predecessors.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch was a messy and uninspired addition to the franchise. The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, leaving little room for character development or meaningful exploration of the plot. The performances were subpar, with Harrison Ford appearing uninterested and phoning in his performance as Indiana Jones. The action sequences lacked the excitement and thrill that I have come to expect from the series, making it hard to stay engaged with the film. Overall, it was a disappointing and forgettable movie experience.
4. Lisa - 1/5 stars - Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch was a complete waste of time. The film relied too heavily on outdated tropes and cheesy special effects, making it difficult to take the story seriously. The plot felt contrived and predictable, leaving no room for surprises or originality. The acting was mediocre at best, with the cast failing to bring any depth or nuance to their characters. I found myself bored and disinterested for the majority of the film, and I would not recommend it to anyone.
5. Alan - 2/5 stars - Indiana Jones and the Pearl Witch was a disappointing addition to the franchise. The film seemed to rely too heavily on nostalgia and failed to bring anything new or exciting to the table. The plot felt recycled and unoriginal, lacking the sense of adventure and intrigue that made the earlier films so beloved. While the action sequences were decently executed, they failed to ignite the same sense of excitement that the original trilogy managed to achieve. Overall, it was a forgettable and underwhelming experience for fans of the series.