| BOTTOM LINE: Indiana Jones is back with style | | | | on screen. The action is probably on par with the |
| with a strong central concept, great character | | | | previous films, and Spielberg and Co. manage to |
| moments and entertaining sequences that we've | | | | make these quite entertaining and at times funny |
| come to know and love, despite not quite hitting | | | | (harkening back to the old Saturday afternoon |
| all the marks (and in fact missing some | | | | serials which these films are based upon). There |
| completely) that the previous films did. | | | | are quite a few references to Indy's age in this |
| THE GOOD: The single biggest question mark | | | | film, but they're worked in organically and after a |
| hanging over this new installment in the Indiana | | | | few scenes you don't really notice his age as your |
| Jones series was whether or not Harrison Ford | | | | swept up in the story. What works well in this film |
| could still play the role at his age without any | | | | is that it still has many of the elements that made |
| mobility assistance; I'm glad to say that he's most | | | | the previous films so good, so when you walk out |
| definitely up to it and for much of the running | | | | of the cinema, you feel as if you've watched |
| time you can believe that no time has passed at | | | | another Indiana Jones film and not some tired |
| all, save some scenes where they make his age | | | | cash in which is a shadow of its former self. |
| a blatant issue. It's great to see Ford back in | | | | THE BAD: Despite being a good Indy film, there's |
| action and in a strong, dignified role after a string | | | | something missing from this installment. It has the |
| of woeful and forgettable films ("Hollywood | | | | usual components that made the old films work, |
| Homicide" any one?). Story-wise, this film has a lot | | | | such as character, action and a fascinating |
| going for it, least of all being the Crystal Skull itself | | | | archaeological object in the Crystal Skull. And it is |
| and it's tie in with an alien civilisation that helped | | | | an entertaining adventure film with some excellent |
| teach early humans to build technologies more | | | | action. However, one of the strongest elements |
| advanced than they were capable of at the time. | | | | of the previous films in the series involved the |
| Whenever the story moves toward the Skull | | | | mysticism surrounding the object that Indy was |
| itself, there is a certain spookiness about it, | | | | chasing and in this film, despite an excellent finale |
| especially its ability to communicate telepathically | | | | where we finally get the power of the skull |
| with people and is best exemplified in the finale | | | | emerging for all to see, we don't really get a |
| when it is returned to its altar and combined with | | | | sense of the mystical aspect to the story. |
| the other alien skeletons in a spectacular finale. | | | | Spielberg and Co. are too focused on including too |
| As this object revolves around an alien artifact | | | | many scenes which function as explanations for |
| there's a visit at the outset from the film to Area | | | | why this film should exist (ie backstory: what |
| 51 where our main villain played by Cate Blanchett | | | | happened to Indy's father and Marcus Brody, |
| wants to steal the body recovered from the | | | | what happened to Indy in the years between this |
| Roswell crash in 1947; all nice touches. Continuing | | | | film and the last, poking fun at and/or |
| the theme from "The Last Crusade" of Indy's | | | | acknowledging Indy's advancing years). As a |
| family, we're introduced to Indy's son played by | | | | result, not as much emphasis is placed on the |
| Shia LaBeouf who does an amicable job of | | | | Crystal Skull itself and its power which is a shame |
| exhibiting his father's traits, and Karen Allen | | | | because it was perhaps one of the strongest |
| returns as Marion and it was nice to see the | | | | concepts in all of the movies (definitely better |
| feisty relationship between Marion and Indy back | | | | than the Grail from "The Last Crusade"). |