Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Film Review

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Let's all take a deep breath first... Done? Okay. Yes, Indy is back. It's all very exciting. I saw The Last Crusade for the first time when I was 8 and never looked back. Seventeen years later, the number of Jones quotes and trilogy references in my life is actually still increasing. I sit around waiting for a chance to throw out a phrase like "Bad dates," or even, "It belongs in a museum!" The original trilogy is tagged on the inside of my skull like cave paintings that I'm forced to pass by on the way to other memories. As you can imagine, I was more than slightly interested when Lucas and Spielberg decided to dust off the fedora. I saw the movie as soon as it was released, and I'm here to report on what to expect during Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Obviously a lot has changed since the last installment. The first thing comes up in conversation, and understandably so, is Harrison Ford's age. I refuse to be the billionth person to rehash the actual number, because it doesn't matter. Ford still looks great, moves well, and any action involving him is 100% convincing. All of the whipping, swinging, and fistfights involving Indiana are solid and thrilling to watch as ever. Indy's physicality is the most signature aspect of the series, and having it intact in Crystal Skull is a strong backbone to build off. For all the buzz over how much Indiana has aged, it's everything around Jones that has truly changed, with mixed results. The production looks great. The passage of time allowed them to make some tweaks, while still maintaining the glorious camp overtones of the previous installments. Much has been made by fans of the CG imagery in Crystal Skull. I won't deny there are a few moments, and you'll know them when you see them, when it's just too much, but those few jabs are the overwhelming minority. The notion that there would be no CGI in Crystal Skull, for no other reason than the original trilogy's lack thereof, is outrageous. To you persons I say: balderdash! If there had been digital imagery advanced enough to support Raiders of the Lost Ark, it would have been there. It's 2008, so lose your romantic notions of matte paintings, stuffed wild animals, and visible glass walls betwixt Indy and cobras. Those times are gone. The plot is one of the major highlights of the film. They knocked a curveball, in trying to deal with the time passed between films, out of the park with the transition from 1930s desert adventure to 1950s cold war sci-fi. I’ve heard umpteenth complaints about certain aspects of the story supposedly being too much of a departure from the original trilogy, but without spoiling any twists or turns, I can say that this particular Indy fanatic was very pleased. Supporting cast has never been much of a focal point in the Jones series, but the workload has been distributed more than in the past, likely to alleviate some of the pressure on Harrison Ford. We have the return of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood; she’s as feisty as ever. The much talked-about addition of Shia LaBeouf works, likely to the chagrin of many temperamental fans eager to see an “Indiana Jones’ son” plotline fall flat. The absence of Sean Connery is more than made up for by energetic performances from John Hurt and Ray Winstone. Lastly, Cate Blanchett delivers one of the most joyful and oddly sexy performances of the year as the Russian Dr. Spalko. The character itself is a bit underwritten, but Blanchett does the best she can with it, sporting her best theatrical-cold-war-villain accent. Overall, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a successful return to the Indiana Jones franchise. Yes, it’s different, but why shouldn’t it be? The character of Indiana Jones himself hasn’t changed, and seeing him tackle new obstacles, in a new time, makes for a satisfying night at the movies. If you’re expecting to see Raiders of the Lost Ark rehashed, then it might not be your cup of tea, but if you’re open to watching new adventures set in a new era, prepare yourself for the kind of thrill ride only Indy can provide. C. Patton - ShopForHalloween