Indiana Jones returns in a mission to find the Crystal Skull
After 19 long years, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Harrison Ford have decided to bring back everyone’s favourite archaeologist Indiana Jones for another rollicking - and long overdue – adventure.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set during 1957 in the midst of the Cold War between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is contacted by “Mutt” Williams (Shia LaBeouf) who informs him that his former college Professor “Ox” Oxley (John Hurt) has been kidnapped by the Soviets due to his expertise on the Crystal Skull, a mythical Mayan relic which will give whomever possesses it untold power.
Jones agrees to help Mutt find the professor, and becomes entangled in a dangerous mission involving a deadly Stalanist (Cate Blanchett), a treacherous double agent (Ray Winstone), and Jones’ former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen).
A still charming Harrison Ford leads a fine cast
Seeing Harrison Ford back on the big screen as Indiana Jones is indeed a pleasurable sight. Ford proves that age should not be a hindrance when it comes to action movies as he takes on the films heart thumping action sequences with gusto, with his magnetic screen presence and his patented dead pan humour still in tact.
Supporting Ford are several fine actors, the most memorable among them Cate Blanchett - who seems to have relished taking on a campy role - and Shia LaBeouf, who is perfectly cast as the high tempered rebel with a cause.
The return of Karen Allen is a welcome sight, and John Hurt is good fun as the delirious professor whose brained is fried by the powers of the Crystal Skull. However, acclaimed character actors Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent are let down by a lack of character development.
Steven Spielberg pulls off the impossible in spite of several obstacles
Spielberg delivers exceptional work in the director’s chair. The films action sequences are extremely well choreographed, and despite an over 2 hour run time and sometimes complicated plot, Spielberg still manages to deliver an engrossing and fun movie. However, what does hinder Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is some of its special effects work, especially in regards to several green screen shots during a wild chase through the jungle.
Indiana Jones and the Return of the Crystal Skull is a superb nostalgic adventure
The film features various nods to previous instalments in the Indiana Jones franchise, specifically so in the films opening scene set in the famed warehouse seen at the conclusion of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and its subsequent peek at The Lost Ark of the Covenant.
Just how these moments will translate to fresh viewers to the Indiana Jones series would be anyone’s guess, yet for fans of the series a delirious enjoyment should be felt during these moments of nostalgia.
