CRACK THAT WHIP!!

I liked "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" because it gave me exactly what I expected. I mean think about it, it's in the title that wonderfully escapist title. What is the Crystal Skull? I dare not say to those who have not yet seen it, needless to say it doesn't really matter, but it does get the ball rolling, and it rolls furiously.

Only a man like Indiana Jones could be found in a place like Area 51 at the beginning of a movie, and only a man like Indiana Jones could get out of a sticky situation involving Russians, only to end up in a nuclear testing site with a bunch of fake dummies, and only a man like Indiana Jones could survive an actual nuclear blast while hiding in a refrigerator and get barely unscathed.

I guess that's why the guy is so popular, he's pretty indestructible only now he's older and wiser and looks like he's getting pretty used to it.

When Indy returns to his day job as a college professor he is accused of being a communist sympathizer, he is put on indefinite suspension, but of course the good Dr. Jones can't just walk off quietly into the sunset. A young greaser named Mutt Williams (Shi Lebeuf) seeks out Indy to help find a professor named Oxley who Indy once knew. After evading some government officials courtesy of Mutt's motorcycle, the two are off to find Oxley and the mystery of what he was uncovering.

Along the way Indy runs into his old flame Marion (We missed you Karen Allen) along with the Russians from the beginning headed by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett having a lot of fun). They also find the the doctor Oxley (John Hurt) who seems to have lost his mind, however he is guided by the secrets that the Crystal Skull has given him and along the way, the gang encounters man eating ants, some cool looking monkeys and three waterfalls, along with a cool car chase.

So here's what's right with the film, Harrison Ford is one of those actors who has aged gracefully, and he plays Indy his own age, he's a little world worn and even has a hint of sadness at the beginning when we learn how alone he has now become. Indy is in a different state than he was in the first three. He's gone through a war now, and the world seems more dangerous and complex. Indy even reaches a little bit of depth with his old age, that I found touching in the beginning. Spielberg doesn't miss a beat with the amount of action and site gags he has become accustomed with this series.

A lot of the success of this film has to do with nostalgia much like Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns". The whole point is being brought back to the spirit of what the original films were like. Unlike George Lucas' "Star Wars" prequels which lacked heart of the original, Spielberg and Ford want to remind us why this character has lasted into our minds. Call me an old softy for thinking that way. Then of course there is the re-introduction of Marion Ravenwood which got the biggest reaction from the audience in the theatre I was watching it in. Had Howard Hawks been alive today, I'm sure Karen Allen would've become the star she so richly deserved. Her million dollar smile puts Julia Roberts to shame.

Ok so this film isn't perfect, the dialogue is probably the most wooden and humourless of the series which is a serious drawback. I was in stitches as much as I was in suspense in the first three films, but this one seemed to be struggling for some genuine chuckles. Luckily Ford's reactions and timing make up for some of the lazy script.

But the whole point of Indiana Jones is keeping it light and fluffy and keeping it going. Not much attention is given to the plot which is the major problem of recent blockbusters. Spielberg and Lucas are smart enough to know that the plot is only an excuse for the action, so any contrivances can be forgiven. Indiana Jones will forever be divided by audiences and critics alike, but for my money no other character has made the summer movie season seem so worthwhile.

3.5 stars out of 4