Archaeology Archives | Otaku No Culture

Is The Fountain of Youth Hidden On Apple TV Plus?

The reason Fountain of Youth is not playing at theatres may be because there’s no good weekend to have its debut. The filmmakers spent a lot of money on achieving authenticity, which is a shame given this busy blockbuster season.

On Apple TV Plus
Spoiler Alert

The choice in which Skydance Media produced work to view over the weekend was tough. I could’ve gone to the theatres for the latest Mission Impossible or stayed at home for Fountain of Youth. The latter won me over because it has an archaeological idea which I believe, at the time of writing the screenplay, predicted the discovery at the Pyramids of Giza. If the real world claim of tunnels underneath from two years ago and last March is true, I’m wondering how many modern day seekers are going to find a way down those tunnels said to exist underneath! I won’t say how this connects with this story, as it’s a massive spoiler.

Here, Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) is on the quest for the fabled Mesoamerican landmark, which is the title of this movie. Unlike a certain Indiana Jones movie, the story unfolds in the present day and sees him running away from people trying to stop him from stealing artifacts that contain a clue to where the spring may lie. The result has a few entertaining chase sequences like those from the movie, National Treasure, but not quite hitting the high notes like when Indy returned in the fourth film, Dial of Destiny.

Continue reading “Is The Fountain of Youth Hidden On Apple TV Plus?”

Where Does The Legend of Lara Croft Fit In if “Tomb Raider” is Just a Title?

Although the wait to see The Legend of Lara Croft in action in her classic form was long, the buildup to that moment where she finds herself using two guns (than bows and arrows) is well worth it.

The Legend of Lara Croft Promotional Poster Although I have not played the latest video games in the Tomb Raider series, the animated adaptation certainly helps get me up to speed with how this IP has changed over time. I find that The Legend of Lara Croft is good at rekindling my interest and although part of the backstory (she originally had daddy issues) has changed, there’s just enough of what made those classic games memorable surface once again. And I’m not talking about her sex appeal. When I love Indiana Jones style adventures, the concern here is if it’s a modern style tale or something pulpy?

Although Crystal Dynamics’ take on this IP doesn’t have the same oomph as the past games from Edios/ Square*Enix, at least there are other publishers who can use their creative license to expand the universe, and say what is truly inspired from legends and lore versus beating other tomb raiders to the treasure. While the emphasis on the folklore is lighter in these later products, I’m thankful the animated take doesn’t forget about what made this series appealing. Although those elements didn’t get heavy until the finale, the wait is at least worthwhile. Continue reading “Where Does The Legend of Lara Croft Fit In if “Tomb Raider” is Just a Title?”

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Isn’t Always About Turning Back Time!

It’s safe to say there’ll most likely be spinoff series following Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but not everyone will want it.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny To be honest, to put Indiana Jones in another rousing live-action adventure means using CGI. I know of one fuddy duddy decrying this latest movie for various reasons. He’s impossible to please, and while I’ll agree too much digital use can be detracting, it’s too late! That’s how movies are made today. Even Moulin Rouge was rich with digital enhancements to make gay Paris come alive. The same was done in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to make his last hurrah look good!

The extended opening act presented a younger Indy, and the technology to render him has improved by massive leaps. I’m sold by this illusion, and even the action had everything I recall from the original films and a lot more! That is, all the fights happening inside and out of the train is reminiscent of James Mangold‘s directorial work in The Wolverine.

Continue reading “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Isn’t Always About Turning Back Time!”

When Worlds Collide in Heroes of the Golden Mask Proves to be a Headscratcher

Here’s hoping the animated take, Heroes of the Golden Maskm will inspire John Wilson to finish his book series that insired the film.

Heroes of the Golden Mask Movie Poster When the only people who can save Ancient China are the Heroes of the Golden Mask, and one of them has fallen, who else can the royal family turn to? Apparently, it’ll take bringing a Yankee to the Imperial Court to fill in the gap! Curiously, this world also needs the assistance of a Mayan warrior and a soldier from Atlantis too. The big question I had was to wonder why a film that’s set in this past would feature warriors from other cultures?

I’m sure Chinese producers were happy that a novel exists to explore how the masks discovered in Sanxingdui might have been used, but to toss in ideas taken from many Ancient Alien theories–including that all these past cultures communicated with one another–is mystery. Anyone who’s seen the exhibit might make this connection too. Maybe that’s what original author John Wilson penned when writing his book, The Ruined City (The Golden Mask Book 1, Amazon link). I haven’t read it, but after watching this film, I definitely want to pick up a copy.

Continue reading “When Worlds Collide in Heroes of the Golden Mask Proves to be a Headscratcher”

The Hunt is on for Schemes in Antiques

Ultimately, Schemes in Antiques is about broken relationships rather than a hunt for treasure.

Well GO USA
Now Playing in Theatres
(Please check local listings)

Xu Yuan (Tao Guo) may well lose his head in Schemes in Antiques (古董局中局). This Chinese action-adventure flick examines the trade in artefacts, and I’m sure it’s even much worse should other nations get involved. In fact, this movie looks at the role the Japanese had when the head of Wu Zetian Mingtang (immortalised as a Buddha statue) is revealed to be a fake, and the real one must be found.

The story picks up and moves like Tomb Raider (2018) without the blockbuster stunts and huge set design. It works because the budget is spent on getting deeply into the detail about what distinguishes a fake artefact from the real. There’s even some light humour added so that we’re getting a blend of shenanigans from the people who ally with Xu in his hunt for a lost head.

Continue reading “The Hunt is on for Schemes in Antiques”

No, The Lost City of Z is not about Zombies! An Analysis & Review

The Lost City of Z is one of those rare films which does not glamorize the pulps, where exploring the world means danger in every turn!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

The Lost City of Z is one of those rare films which does not glamorize the pulps, where exploring the world means danger in every turn! Many old-time radio shows over dramatize these stories so listeners are invested to tune in next week, and not many — at least to my knowledge — lay the world grounded in reality. They are more like heroic fiction than anything else. When considering this biography takes place circa 1912 and spans nearly two decades, there’s a lot of ground to cover.

This film written and directed by James Gray does a fantastic job of detailing the life of adventurer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) from his days of being an intrepid socialite to explorer to soldier (and back), and his conflict with “high society” which led to whether or not he is accepted amongst his peers because of something his father did. Ultimately, this film is about father and son relationships instead of seeing how Nina (Sienna Miller) stayed devoted to him. Some may say he is out carousing through jungles in search for a lost city and fighting in World War I as a means of escape. He knew he had a duty to his country than to his family, and while the latter plight gets explored to a tiny degree, I doubt a full look at his family life could have been done. Sacrifice had to be made to emphasize which narrative matters. In this movie’s case, the various conflicts tends to focus on matters of male ego, especially when he has a rival of sorts in the Royal Geographical Society.

Continue reading “No, The Lost City of Z is not about Zombies! An Analysis & Review”