Review: Indiana Jones IV
Spielberg/Lucas' Temple of the Crystal Skull Co-Stars Shia LaBeouf
Jun 7, 2008
Thanks to a grueling creative process courtesy of the Spielberg/Lucas powerhouse (one which has endured the last 19 years since the last Indy film), Paramount aimed for a large chunk of the 2008 summer box office with Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull. This non-stop roller coaster of action and adventure happily complements its predecessors, by staying true to the original formula, albeit with a couple of more modern twists thrown in for good measure and continuity.
Crystal Skull Picks Up Where Last Crusade Left Off
In order to stay true to the original trilogy timeline (and justify Harrison Ford’s own approach to senior status), this fourth installment takes place in 1957, 19 years (both storywise and in real-life) after the events of ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’.
The Nazi Regime has long been defeated, the Cold War is in its nascent stage, and an older Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. (Ford) has been kidnapped by a small but deadly contingent of Soviet commandos, led by the beautiful and calculating Colonel Doctor Irina Spalko (brilliantly played by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett). Their purpose: to infiltrate Area 51 (yes, that one) and locate the remnants of a craft which may have crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. This secret cargo may hold a vital link in a search for a mystical artifact known as the Crystal Skull of Akator, rumoured to bestow upon its owner unbeknownst power and knowledge.
Indy finds a way out of this predicament as usual, and what ensues is a series of chases, trips along the world travel map (a proven series formula), and encounters with friends both new and old, including a young Brando-esque rebel named “Mutt” Williams (Shia Leboeuf). A devoted and misguided pupil of a former colleague of Dr. Jones’ (played here by genre veteran John Hurt, sadly underused in this flick), Mutt has motives of his own for joining Indy’s latest race against the Russians, in finding the titular artifact.
A Return to the Indiana Jones TrilogyThough many will argue that Hollywood uber-director Steven Spielberg should have left well enough alone after ‘Crusade’, what makes ‘Crystal Skull’ work is its refusal to comply with the age of CGI sequences for the purpose of storytelling. By sticking to the original mold of live action sequences, old-fashioned fisticuffs, and a tip of the hat to the old serial actioners of pre-WWII cinema, Spielberg engages his audience for two solid hours of humor, action, and non-stop stunts. In short, this film simply offers what this director does best: providing shameless escapism, while still finding inventive ways to pay tribute to his previous works, something he aptly does this time around, even finding subtle ways to refer to departed comrades, such as Indy’s scholarly colleague Marcus Brody (the late, memorable Denholm Elliot), and Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery, who opted out of this project, having retired from films a few years ago).
(FUN FACT: One famous one-liner from another popular Harrison Ford trilogy, is uttered in this film, look for it near the film’s climactic finale.)
Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones
Harrison Ford comfortably returns to the old whip and weather worn fedora hat, trademark quips and all. His staunch unwillingness to blindly accept just any one of the endless drafts written for this last installment seems to have paid off in spades, giving us a more modern take on the same old blockbuster hero, all the while connecting him into well established tidbits of world mysteries (the aforementioned Area 51, the possible origin of South American monuments, etc…).
While unapologetically playing the character as one of few regrets and even fewer adventure years left in him, Ford shamelessly threw himself into the role, and gives his viewers plenty to cheer about, especially his witty one-liners.
Also making a return to this franchise is Karen Allen, who portrayed past love interest Marion Ravenwood in the first installment, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. Her return to the storyline helps bring this series full circle.
As for franchise newcomer Shia Leboeuf, who has had plenty of exposure since hitting the big time after last summer’s Transformers, his Mutt Williams character is carried well, enough so that one wouldn’t be terribly surprised, should he be offered a spin-off movie of his own.
It is safe to say that the possibility of a fifth installment of this series is remote at best; should this truly be the last screen adventure of the great Indiana Jones, this movie has surely earned its place amongst its predecessors, as a surefire hit.
8 out of 10
 |
