Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

*** 1/2 (3 and 1/2 stars)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Genre: Action/Adventure
124 minutes - PG13 rating
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt

Brief Plot: The year is 1957 and in the midst of the cold war. The Soviets are now America's enemies and they need a captive Indy's help to find a crystal skull which is said to hold great power. Teaming up with a young greaser (LaBeouf) and old flame Marion Ravenwood (Allen), Indy must attempt to replace the skull to it's resting place in the Amazon before the Russians can use it.

Best Audience: If you ever have seen or liked Indiana Jones or Harrison Ford you should watch this film... bascially.

My Review: I found Indiana Jones 4 to be immensely entertaining. It isn't recordbreaking, breathtaking, superb, or any more of those "est" adjectives, but it definitely didn't dissapoint me. I don't think I've ever seen a movie as nostalgic as Indy 4. Ford impressed me by his ability to dust off the hat and return to his favorite role, and the rest of the cast, including Shia LaBeouf were quite competent. Yes, the film is over the top in about 4 different instances, and no it isn't quite as good as the originals; but it is still a lot of fun. When a movie franchise is as popular as the Star Wars or Indiana Jones films have been, it is impossible to expand the "wow" factor that has become legendary for fans, because the expectation and anticipation is so much higher. And we get everything we expect from the film: the map and red line travel sequence, the familiar John Williams themes, Indy engaging in a lengthly fistfight, car chases, an insane and over-the-top ending scene, dopey villians who end up getting killed - in short the whole nine yards. It's not supposed to be realistic, it's supposed to be Indiana Jones, he's as American as apple pie. So if you stop trying to hope it is better than the originals, which is an absurd thought, and compare it to modern action-adventure pieces, it really stands out because it is just so enjoyable. Lucas and Spielberg have served it up again, and Indy may be older, but what he stands for never goes out of style. (1 edit to this review)