His last escapade in The Last Crusade 19 years ago may have screened before many of us were born, butIndiana Jones , who made archeology sexy the way James Bond did spying, is still hot property. Even if the actor Harrison Ford is a grandfatherly 65.

Returning from riding into the sunset, college professor cum adventurer Indiana Henry Jones Jr, is given a resounding homecoming by his creators George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull.

Plot
Set in 1957, during the climax of the Cold War, Indy (Indiana Jones’ nickname), narrowly escapes the clutches of Russian solders after they brazenly invade the compounds of an American military base, which houses a warehouse which stores the country’s military secrets.

Because of his involvement in assisting the enemy to locate a mummified alien, Indy is suspected of being a commie spy, and kisses his career as a professor goodbye.

Now jobless, Indy soon meets a delinquent biker, Mutt (Shia LaBeouf ) who knows about his legendary exploits and carries information of a mysterious Crystal Skull that is also coveted by the Russians.

Indy reluctantly takes Mutt under his wing, for reasons best unsaid due to its critical involvement as a plot device, as they go and a search and rescue mission to recover the lost relic and save Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen),Indy’s old-flame.

Led by a rapier wielding Soviet Colonel, Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), the Russians go on a roller-coaster-like-ride hunt for Jones and his party through the jungles and waterfalls of South America.

Acting and Directing

Lucas and Spielberg have meticulously co-written Indy’s maturity in age into the script, as evident from the fight scenes. Indy now has a throw a couple more punches to knock an opponent out, as contrasted to the previous three flicks where his fists would be able to floor an adversary with ease.

Other than that, nothing has change much for Indy. The fedora-clad one still possesses the same grin, the same humour, and the same phobia of snakes we recognise from the past 3 films. Ford remains the action hero that has endeared him to fans worldwide.

One major disappointment is that Indy’s iconic whip and gun are much less seen in this movie as compared to the previous films than UrbanWire would have liked.

Retaining the original flavour of the series, director Steven Spielberg conjures up fast-paced action scenes that jump from one frame to another in super quick time which leave the viewer at the edge of his seat.

Another major complaint that UrbanWire has is the utterly redundant portrayal of Shia LaBeouf’s character as Tarzan. Being accidentally tangled up by vines, he summons the aid of monkeys to his rescue and invites them to join his party by mimicking the mammals and swinging from vine to vine in pursuit of his group.

Much more satisfying is the talent of Cate Blanchett. Despite being British, she pulls off a thick Russian accent convincingly. Though she has done a decent job with her new role,believes it may not be good enough to land her another Academy Award with a rather straightforward role.

Karen Allen’s reprisal of Marion Ravenwood is another treat for fans of the series. Like how Ford’s character had aged, her character’s spunky and independent nature, coupled with a charismatic beam, leaves viewers reminiscing about her first adventure with Indy in The Raiders Of The Lost Ark as they bicker about their past relationship in this film.

Rising star Shia LaBeouf is at home with his new role as a switchblade expert cum biker. He pulls off the character of Mutt with finesse and confidence. Not playing second fiddle to Ford’s character, Mutt actually begins to wrest leadership from Indy. This is evident when Mutt’s eagerness to solve the mystery puts his older partner in the backseat.

While the pairing of Lebouf and Ford is a dangerous gamble, played by the producers to attract a younger viewership, it is also a gamble that’s paying off.

Verdict

Having such a great partnership in Spielberg and Lucas, we are sure the next Indiana Jones movie would be still a hit. If we have to, UrbanWire would gladly wait another 20 years for the next Indiana Jones flick to be released.

Although Kingdom of the Crystal Skull doesn’t carry the same drama as its predecessors, it truly lives up to its genre as an action and adventure film. Heavy CGI effects notwithstanding, this film has a sense of familiarity that people of all ages can identify with. Like the other 3, this movie is a thrill ride for the whole family.

For those of you who think that 65-year-old Ford might be too old to be doing this genre of films, UrbanWire hopes that just for old times sake, there just might be a couple more chances for him to put on the iconic creased fedora hat and become the action hero again.

Still looking the part, an ageing Harrison Ford will still be fondly remembered by a new generation of audiences as Indiana Jones. As Indy once famously said in The Raiders Of The Lost Ark “It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.”

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie Details

Opens: 22 May 2008

Movie Rating: PG 13

Running Time: 124 mins

Language: English

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Harrison Ford, Ray Winstone, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen