One of the most popular movie heroes, Indiana Jones, is back. While there had been talk about a fourth movie in the Indiana Jones series for years, it looked like it might not happen. There were many difficulties to get through: a script had to be written that Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford could all agree on, time had to be found to make it, and, as the years went on by, the ability of Harrison Ford to do another action movie was increasingly questionable. And yet, it happened. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was filmed, becoming the fourth film in the Indiana Jones series.
But, with such a long wait, and with so high an expectation for this film, does it deliver what people want?
Not quite. It tries hard, and manages to get closer to the feel of the original trilogy than the Star Wars prequels did for their respective franchise, but it falls a bit short. Some of the script needed revision – the dialogue, especially early on, just did not flow right. Some of what happened to Indiana Jones was not believable (as, for example, when he hides out in an old refrigerator). And, most of all, the Chariots of the Gods theme for the story itself, while it often is used in shows like In Search Of in stories next to discussions on the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail just did not feel like a right fit for the Indiana Jones universe.
Nonetheless, there are the kinds of things one expects from an Indiana Jones movie in this outing of the series: humor, world travel, fantastic chase sequences, romance, and the search for some ancient truth. While the action was well done (and Harrison Ford proves he can still fit into the role of Henry Jones Jr.), the green screen background with its CGI more often than not was discernable by the viewer, making it easy for one to remember they are watching a movie instead of feeling like they are there with the characters: Marion (his old flame), Henry “Mutt” Williams (Marion’s son), Mac McHale (an old friend and associate of Indy, played to the full by the excellent Ray Winstone), Professor Oxley (another old friend who helped raise Mutt played by John Hurt), and Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), a Russian scientist wanting to gain access to the secrets of the crystal skull.
If I had to explain what they movie is like (without giving all the plot details and twists), I would say it is what one would expect if one mixes Erich von Däniken, Indiana Jones (especially Temple of Doom), and a humorous pastiche of H.P. Lovecraft (Professor Oxley playing the person who has gone crazy because of his contact with ancient occult forces). From my first viewing of the film, I would say it is the weakest of the series, hindered, in part, because of the theme Lucas wanted to bring into it. There were parts of the story which made me think the screenwriter should have done better historical research (were they suggesting Indiana Jones could read Mayan in the 1950s?) and someone needed to fix the dialogue. It is a fun movie, and if you liked the series before, you will probably like this one, although probably not as much as the rest. In the end, I had one last question: will Mutt decide to go back to school? If so, one hopes it will be Indiana University so that he can continue the Indiana tradition.
3 out of 5 stars.
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