What kind of fractal image can I pick for my review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? In the end I chose Green Springs because most of the action takes place in a jungle and around water. The tie is tenuous at best but it’s the best I could do. Hope you enjoy the fractal and the movie review.-
It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same for Indiana Jones. Twenty years have passed since Raiders of the Lost Ark first took the screen. “Indy” is older, grayer and even more rugged but he’s still gallivanting around the world and getting into trouble. This time he’s gotten himself captured by some Russian Operatives. (It’s 1957 and “Commies” have replaced the Nazis as the bad guys.) The story moves from Nevada to Los Angeles to Peru and finally to the Amazon jungle for the ultimate climax. From star to end this movie is one wild ride.
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There’s all the action anyone could want and the period details are perfect in every way. The stunts are amazing (if they tend to defy the laws of physics) and the FX are all first rate. (The movie reputedly cost over 150 Million dollars to make and you see all that money up on the screen.) At first I find the nods to the first three movies charming but after a while they became a bit annoying. (Ooh--what movie was that bit from???) The script is formulaic in the extreme (and you can almost hear the plot-gears grinding along under John Williams’ rousing, symphonic score). Still, the movie delivers on everything one might expect.
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Harrison Ford is his usual gruff, underplayed self (just like he was in the first three movies.) Shia LeBoeuf isn’t given much to work with as “Mutt” Williams (the heir apparent to the “Indiana Jones“ franchise) but he does a fine job with what he has. I was glad to see Karen Allen (from “Raiders“) back as Miriam Ravenswood on screen after an absence of twenty years and still looking fabulous. Cate Blanchett (as Irina Spalko the head Russian) does a good job and even has the Russian accent down pat. The rest of the large cast does well.
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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull isn’t as good as the first three movies in the series. It gets a little weird and “science fiction-y” at the end for my taste. (I know that’s an odd criticism from me since I’m such a fan of S.F.--but it doesn’t quite work here.) Still, the movie is quite enjoyable. It delivers what the viewer expects and it’s a great “popcorn” flick. Fans of the series may not "love" the movie but I believe they'll like it a great deal.
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FINAL GRADE: B+
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