Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might not be the adventure all the Indy fans had been waiting for, but the film does manage to pack plenty of action, humor and big stunts.
I was a little disappointed with the overall plot (specially towards the ending of the film), but still managed to enjoy the it thanks to film keeping the elements that make Indiana Jones a great time at the movies.
The film took about 19 years to happen, but the stars aligned and Harrison Ford returned as Indy, Steven Spielberg returned as director, and George Lucas returned as producer and story writer (with Jeff Nathanson and screenwriter David Koepp).
Fans also got to enjoy the return of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood – which in my opinion was one of the best things this film had to offer. The film’s plot moves Indy into the Cold War and trades the Nazis for Russians. This is done to explain Ford being older, and really worked.
As an aged and part-time professor, Dr. Jones finds himself on another adventure after he is kidnapped by a group of Russian soldiers led by Col. Dr. Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). They are after the body of a mysterious creature that was involved in a certain crash in the 1940s that the government had Indiana Jones (and others) investigate. It doesn’t take long for a huge action scene to break out and for Indy to do his thing to escape.
The film never really slows down from that point as Indy is thrust into an adventure with a kid named Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) to retrieve a crystal skull, find a lost friend, and stop the Russians. Along the way, he is reunited with his former love Marion, finds out some interesting revelations about Mutt, and stumbles onto another amazing discovery.
With the film being a smash hit at the box office, most fans have already seen it, but I will stop with the plot description to try to avoid plot spoilers for those who haven’t had a chance.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a fun rollercoaster ride of a movie and manages to capture the past glory of the franchise. Ford is older, but he can still deliver the goods.
I have been a fan of this franchise since I was a kid when Raiders of the Lost Ark arrived at the big screen, and when the theme music for Crystal Skull started playing I felt like a kid again.
The first big fight scene showed Ford can still deliver the punches and work the whip. You also had to love the snappy one-liners that the actor delivers in a gravely growl (such as his comments on Spalko’s accent). As the film moves on, the actor seems right at home in the familiar role, and hasn’t missed a step in the years since his last adventure.
While Ford brings the action to Indy, you have to thank Allen for bringing the laughs. Although Indy has had a few loves, Marion Ravenwood was the one that could go toe to toe with Jones. Like Ford, Allen doesn’t miss a step, and shows she still has the spark to put Indy in his place.
Ford and Allen’s chemistry make the sparing between the two characters almost as much fun as the actual adventure. The two trade verbal jabs left and right, and Allen’s performance makes her return almost as big as Indy’s – or at least it was for me. She quickly became one of the reasons I was willing to forgive the film for its weak final big act.
The film also benefits from the addition of Blanchett as the villain, Ray Winstone’s George 'Mac' McHale (Indy’s adventuring friend), John Hurt’s Professor Harold 'Ox' Oxley (who also provides some laughs), and LaBeouf's Mutt Williams.
When I heard the story behind Mutt, I was prepared to hate the character, but I thought LaBeouf handled the role. His performance makes the character a good addition to the franchise, but I am not sure I am ready to see an Indy film with just Mutt.
Blanchett works as a villain, but at times I felt she was just a backdrop to the story rather than someone actually able to go toe to toe with Indy. This wasn’t Blanchett’s fault, but her character needed more screen time to be menacing.
The film looks fantastic on Blu-ray’s 1080p high definition picture. Spielberg and Lucas know how to do a big picture, and Blu-ray is the perfect format to show off Indy’s adventure.
The film’s production (from the 50’s feel of the U.S. to the jungle’s green plant life) looks sharp, and helps sell the film’s time setting. Spielberg’s handles the directing chores with the steady hand that has made him a Hollywood icon. The behind the scenes special features make it look like he had as much fun shooting the film as fans had watching it.
The 2-Disc Blu-ray comes loaded with the kind of special features you would expect from a film this big with such a huge fan base.
For fans of the franchise, the features take you into the character and his long journey back to the big screen through interviews with Ford, Lucas, Spielberg and others involved.
By disc two, the features feel like more of the same, but the wealth of information keeps the topics interesting. With that said, it might not be enough to keep the attention of anyone but diehard fans.
Disc One has the feature film, trailers, and the following special features:
The Return of a Legend (HD) – which follows the evolution of the new film and has a tribute to Indy and his creators.
Pre-Production (HD) – which shows how much work went into getting ready for the film with looks at Spielberg as he creates animatic sequences, Shia LaBeouf as he learns to swordfight and captures the reunion of filmmakers and cast on the soundstage.
Disc Two takes you even further into the making of the film, and the work it took to bring it to the screen with the following features:
Production Diary: Making Kingdom of the Crystal Skull — Join filmmakers, cast and crew for a complete look at the making of the film. The diary includes: Shooting Begins: New Mexico; Back To School: New Haven, Connecticut; Welcome to the Jungle: Hilo; Hawaii; On-Set Action; Exploring Akator; Wrapping Up! (all in HD)
Warrior Makeup (HD); The Crystal Skulls (HD); Iconic Props (HD); The Effects of Indy (HD); Adventures in Post Production (HD); Closing: Team Indy (HD)
Pre-Visualization Sequences: Area 51 Escape; Jungle Chase; Ants Attack (all in HD)
Galleries - The Art Department: The Adventure Begins; Cemetery and Jungle; Akator (all in HD)
Stan Winston Studio: Corpses, Skeletons & Mummies; Aliens & Crystal Skulls
Production Photographs; Portraits; Behind-the-Scenes Photographs
Although the film seems to lose it at the end, I still enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The movie has some flaws, but it managed to keep me entertained from start to finish and left me wanting one more adventure from Dr. Jones.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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