You will see the twinkle of an old man's eye and the impetuousness of budding youth in "Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", the latest addition to the 80s saga about the part-time professor and archaeologist Henry Jones, Jr. Full of laughs(some to be discussed further below), action and CG wonder. It starts out as a bit of a joke compared to the previous films but gradually picks up sand--er, steam. You'll have to fall about three times before you get into the thick of it. Still, there are secrets and banal slip-ups to uncover. And, I aim to shed light on all of them.
(Without re-telling the whole story)We find our "old friend" Indiana(Harrison Ford, looking okay for old age but not quite as sharp as he used to be) in 1957 in the hands of Russians(the WW2 Nazi regime has been dealt with, obviously) who, led by a very seductive and snake-like Irina Spalko(played by Cate Blanchett) who is about as skilled with her rapier as she is with mind tricks(or so she says). A mystery is unravelled--along with a visit to a familiar place with a familiar treasure boxed up inside--regarding an artifact of some sort of alien technology. A dynamic and par Indiana explosive escape leads us to a young "greaser" named Mutt(Shia Labeouf) who claims to have valuable information connecting Jones and the mystery Spalko(Blanchett) spoke of to a crystal skull and an ancient Mayan-esque city of infamy(no big surprise it's El Dorado, the city of gold). It turns out some other unfortunate pieces to the puzzles(that of the ancient mystery/legend and of who this "kid" really is) have been captured by the same Russians. We follow the clues and gather the groups of good and bad together til we reach the epicenter of the story. Again, par Indiana, we run into some hazardous snags and come through unscathed. The mystery decompresses and unfolds itself. And, we get an eyeful of awe-inspiring treasures typical of underground chasms buried for centuries. The moment of truth arrives with the enemy holding its gun to the back of the good guys' heads, and "evil" gets its "just desserts". In a flash of light, we are given the "real treasure" before it all goes to pieces and our heroes escape with their lives. In the end, two unlikely homeowners settle the dust of their old relationship with words of wisdom from a smart yet somewhat scatter-brained colleague.
All in all, an epic adventure of mediocre proportions. No enormous surprises, but also no huge disappointments. The worst of it is the tired-old movie gimmicks. It is as if Spielberg and Lucas wanted to recapture the old while trying to make something new and hip-er of it. My big gripe with this sort of film is the machine guns blazing without anyone key to the story getting hurt. Having a half dozen guns unloading rapid shells on a handful of people whether on foot or in a car without a single shot at least grazing an arm or leg seems so old-hat and overplayed. It is all for effect and way past its time(like the side of a house falling over an unaware protagonist with the openning fitting just over him so that he can look upon the outcome in wonder). I'd rather they used pistols and shot less frequently.
The advantage--if you can call it that--of making this film now is of course the advancement in technology. CG and green screens were just a glimmer in the eye back when the first pre-DVD movies were made. It allows for some more daring shots now which might not have been seen in the them. While not trying to overdo it til the end, the effects in this fourth installment are still noticeable.
Using the same set-up as in the previous films, the creative team did not allow for many if any surprises. And, it almost seems laughable how some details come together. [I laugh when Indiana's quite vague description of who attacked him draws up the singular file of Blanchett's character in FBI records.] Particularly the heiroglyphics Indiana inspects on the city's walls(which, when you see them, don't exactly look like they are authentic compared to those of known cultures who may have arrived at the same conclusion as this people and thus mimicked the images). There's just something about some of the antics as well that seem silly. Blanchett is visually appealing as the villain but has just a hint of cheese about her. [The real "badass", on the other hand, is the typical rock-solid Russian who "never says die".] [Mild spoiler]Mutt's mom, Marion Ravenwood(Karen Allen reprising her role from the original movie), is a delight on screen but seems just as silly bumbling through the action. Which just adds to the feeling of flashing back to the 80s. [Perhaps that was the intent so that when watching the movies together, there is no feel of separation. But, it is still hard to swallow after progressing into the new millenium of movies.]
Highlights come in the form of some action scenes as well in subtle touches that simply make you smile or wonder. Watch for Harrison Ford to wrinkle his eye and face not unlike his father(Sean Connery, aka Henry Jones, Sr., in "The Last Crusade" who almost did not take the part for fear of people not believing him to be old enough to play Ford's father) near the beginning when he first faces Blanchett(a sign of "like father, like son"). The "disaster" sequence near the end with the focus on Blanchett's character is a ponderous moment and well done, despite the need for special effects. It's still a bit far-fetched(considering how the "heroes" can come away unharmed yet again) but dazzling to watch and a tip of a hat to previous works by Lucas and Spielberg. It really brings the artist's works together.
Perhaps the biggest surprise(and I say that politely) for me was Shia Labeouf whom I have yet to like in any of his films that I have forced myself to see. [Technically, I have sat through only one--"Transformers"--completely and did not like him in that much at all.] There is just something about him that irks me(perhaps starring in at least two stories from my childhood though he is younger than me). Nonetheless, he pulls his semi-cheesy character off fairly well. The handling of his knife and hair comb in between motorcycle rides makes me laugh a bit(not in a good comical way) as does his hair. His sword fight with Spalko(Blanchett)(with the old legs split between cars gag) and swing through the jungle via vines joined by monkeys are two of the most hokey and lame sights in the film. But, he gradually comes into the light as a potential successor of the role as educator/adventurer(provided he stays in school). [Ah, that old chestnut of a PSA.] Still, I would not want to see him suddenly take up the mantle as Young Indiana Jones(junior) or anything of the sort. If I see him in a sequel, another "National Treasure" type movie or any other film based upon a childhood memory, I will only re-ignite the firey feeling of disgust.
So, whether you are an old friend of the series(dust off your "grey hairs") or a newcomer, strap on your boots, have your whip(and quips) handy and go for the ride. [Don't forget your hat, either. I should have had a fedora, but instead ended up looking more like a "Short Round".] For the new generation, it may be the summer blockbuster(provided they have a retro mind maybe). For the older crowd, it will crop up a few laughs and smiles here and there(and perhaps offer thoughts to ponder and insight). If you hate snakes, there are only two to worry about, and they are not as bad as you might think(and one is not a snake). [Although, you have to wonder how things might have been different if the "heroes" had done the deed and the "bad guys" were in no way involved.]
[On a side note, I experienced something strange during the movie of which any explanation would be of interest. Normally, I lean on my right arm and gradually cut off circulation til I release it. But, this time I felt a tightness in my left knee and a squeeze/pinch of my upper right arm. It occurred just as Indiana and his crew were entering the ancient city. Any ideas why this happenned(whether medical or mystical)?]
I give "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"(Rated PG-13 at approximately two hours in length) a generous three stars out of four. It is neither the best(that being the first film of the series even though the effects at the end caused many nightmares) nor the worst(the second was considered a disaster with disturbing images). But, you may come away with something that sets you off on your own adventures or just another viewpoint of something you always knew(or heard before). At the very least, it was not a big disappointment(like some other movies that try to rejuvenate an old franchise).
--brainstormer, free-lance movie critic and participant in the Thoughts.com blogging experience. [Wha-whip!-Snap!-Ka-pow!]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Kingdom_of_the_C rystal_Skull
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