‘Indiana Jones’ Returns both Nostalgic and Fun
-----Impossible standards and hype were raised for this film. With a few other franchises recently rebooting, take Rambo and Die Hard for instance, it seemed like a great idea to bring the adventuresome archaeologist back too. And after all, ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ lived up to franchise standards, so who’s to say Indy’s return couldn’t?
-----Indeed, in the newest entrance into the Indy mythos 19 years have passed for us, and about the same time has passed for our hero. Unfortunately the film does not bring back Sean Connery as Indy’s hysterical father. However, when God closes one door He opens another, and indeed Karen Allen returns as original Indy flame Marion Ravenwood. That being said, the plot follows Indy as he’s forced by Russians to investigate the mysterious Crystal Skulls they’ve found. Along the way he discovers he has a son (Shia LaBeouf) courtesy Marion. The plot is agreeably far fetched and even a bit ridiculous at points, but the film still provides top notch entertainment and adventure along the way for the viewer looking for a good time. All I’m trying to say is that if you weren’t thrilled with ‘Temple of Doom’ brace yourself; because the ultimate outcome to Indy’s newest adventure boldly competes with pulling out the hearts of protagonists with your hand.
-----Harrison Ford is, of course, back as Indy with his usual flair, just lacking a bit of the physical prowess. Although, 19 years later anyone expecting otherwise is…well, you get it. Shia LaBeouf adds an element of intrigue as Indy’s son Mutt. Playing your typical greaser in this anti-communist America he fits in nicely to the mythos, neither out of place nor boring. Karen Allen has, like Harrison, aged, and yet still carries that classic smile we recall of ‘Raiders of the Lost Arc.’ Cate Blanchett places the now Indy cornerstone, evil foreign military broad. As for the rest of the cast, everyone fills in the ensemble nicely, with unfortunately no one else substantial returning from previous films. Like I said, Sean Connery made the third Indy one of my all time favorites, and I’m still waiting for Jonathan Ke Quan to return as lovable sidekick Short Round. If only…. Despite only a few returning characters, it is the chemistry of those who do and the newcomers alike that really made this film work for me. They’re enthusiastic and fun and ultimately the bread and butter of an Indiana Jones with a somewhat forgettable and bizarre plot.
-----The movie has a certain retro sense to it, as surely intended by Spielberg. Take for instance, when the name of the film dawns the screen in plain white letters reminiscent of older cinema. Not to mention that it opens on Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog.’ There are even some clever nods to the previous films, including a return to the warehouse where the Arc was mysteriously put to rest in the original Indy adventure. On top of the retro feel, there are also some undeniably modern touches to the filmmaking process, namely CGI prairie dogs and nuclear explosions. The movie is maintained as a period piece during the somewhat paranoid era of American history. Across many lands and Mayan temples, Indy 4 stays fast paced in keeping with the rest of the franchise. The cinematography is adequate and effectively shows the exotic landscapes. And of course, it just wouldn’t be Indiana Jones without the classic Indy theme, ‘March of the Raiders.’ This effectively brings tingles to my spine and probably many Indy fans that have grown up with the films. Expert use of classic music is something often overlooked in modern cinema. Take the recent Bond movies for example, seldom do you hear Bond’s classic theme song used anymore, save the credits and trailers.
-----Ultimately, there’s a chance you could be disappointed by this film if you’re a ‘Raiders of the Lost Arc’ die hard. I, however, enjoyed ‘Temple of Doom’ and ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ alike. While most will agree that the ‘Raiders’ and ‘The Last Crusade’ are agreeably superior, I still really love the whole franchise and think that the latest entry does a fine job in upholding the classic series standard. Acting as somewhat of an epilogue on the famed archeologist’s life, while also tying up many ends that could have gone forever unanswered; ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ is a fun film that reminds us why we came to love Indy in the first place.
