Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount Pictures)
The Gold Standard For Summer Movie Fare
It has been a long wait for the new Indiana Jones film, but believe me it has been worth it. The fourth film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is an action packed adventure that thrills on all levels. It has excitement, romance, humor and amazing special effects. Plus it has the reuniting of Indy (Harrison Ford) and Marion (Karen Allen). What more could you ask for!
The film has a walloping opening scene with Indy and his friend Mac (Ray Winstone) being captured by the Russians. The time is the 1950s and the cold war is raging. The Russians take over an Army Base in the American desert and force Indy and Mac to help them find a mysterious artifact. This introduces the audience to the crystal skull which plays a prominent role in the plot of the film.
Later Indy is contacted by a young man named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf). He tells Indy his mother told him to contact the archeologist/professor. She, along with a Professor Oxley (John Hurt), is in trouble. Indy agrees to help and he and Mutt fly to South America where Indy discovers Mutts mother is his old love Marion.
At this point the movie goes into overdrive and the rest is pure adventure and fun. Indy has two able sidekicks in Marion and Mutt, and he has a worthy opponent in the evil Russian officer Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). As Indy races Spalko to find the kingdom of the crystal skull the audience is drawn into one epic thrill contest after another.
Ford is at the top of his game as Indiana Jones. He settles into his fedora and leather jacket like he has never been gone. He can still crack a mean whip and he still has that sideways smile and quick quip on his lips. And if you think he is not up to the physicality of the role, forget about it!
Allen has a more mature beauty about her now but she is still the same feisty Marion we met and loved in the first film of the series. If ever there was a woman who is the equal of Indiana Jones it is Marion.
LaBeouf and Ford have the same sniping relationship with each other that Sean Connery and Ford had in the third film in the series. Connery played Jones father in that movie and he is referred to in this film. It is a shame Connery did not make a cameo appearance. He is missed.
Blanchett is pure evil as Shalko and almost hisses when she walks. She adds potent power to the film by being such a great opponent for Indiana Jones. Blanchett gets absorbed by each of her roles and she is immersed totally in Shalko.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
If ever a movie was the perfect summer film it is this one. It holds your attention for the full running length of two hours and fifteen minutes. Then when it is over it sends you out feeling refreshed and energized by such a fun time.
Ford, Allen, LaBeouf and Blanchett are all perfectly cast, and each makes his/her role count towards the sum of the entertainment value. Throw in the brilliance of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg overseeing it all and you have movie magic of the first tier.
It may have been a long wait but that wait is over. Indiana Jones and the gang are back and in a movie that will satisfy all ages and all sexes. It is the kind of movie you have been hoping and praying for and this one delivers the goods.
I scored Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull a whip cracking 8 out of 10.
