Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Before I even start the review, let’s get the big question out of the way. Is this a good Indy movie? I sat in my seat and watched like a little kid, giggling at the sight gags, enjoying the one-liners, and just having a good time. I can say with great confidence that, yes it is the Indy movie we hoped for.
That isn’t to say it’s perfect. All the Indy films come with their flaws, but I’d say Crystal Skull can hold it’s own among them. The first in the series is arguably the best. Raiders is the epitome of what an action/adventure should be. Crystal Skull’s plot is out there. Of all the movies, it is the most absurd and has the flattest arc. But none of the Indy movies were ever really grounded in reality. Nazis gathering religious artifacts to take over the world? The new movie isn’t a far cry from this, so in that sense, the plot still works. No matter how crazy it gets, as long as the characters and action are solid, you still have an Indiana Jones movie
The real meat of movie comes from the characters. Harrison Ford comes with a bit of dust on his shoulders, but Henry Jones Jr., excuse me, Dr. Jones is back. Of course, he’s older this time around and he’s been through countless other adventures that we’ve missed these last years. His character is there in all its macho, superhero glory, but it’s matured a bit. The first thing we realize is that this is a post-WWII Indy, now living in a Cold War period, so his attitude seems somehow more righteous. He’s the good guy, and he wants to stop the bad guy. To me, it seemed like he cared less about the adventure, and more on the outcome.
Shia’s role was a bit weak, but the movie is about Indiana, and not Mutt Williams. I refuse to hate this guy, though. I think he’s funny, his delivery is witty, and fun to watch. He reminds me a bit of Michael J. Fox from the Back to the Future movies. One of the few problems I have with the movie, aside from the ridiculous plot, was the chemistry between Shia and Ford. It felt like they were together because they had to be. There were a couple moments that they looked like they were having fun, but those were few and far between.
The real test of this film will be its ability to draw new fans to the franchise. I wasn’t a huge fan before this movie, but I’d say the movie pushed me into being one. Look beyond the plot and some absolutely absurd moments in action (monkeys, snakes, and refrigerators are the clues, but you’ll know them when you see them) and enjoy the movie. Indy returns to where he needs to be: saving our world with archeology.
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