With Jim Sabatini

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Rated: PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images
Reviewed by: Chris
Release date: May 22, 2008	Released by: Paramount Pictures Corporation

It's been 19 years since Harrison Ford starred in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He's dusted off his fedora, picked up his bull whip and, although he looks a bit worn, he's back in action as the archeologist/hero.

Director Steven Spielberg adds Shia LaBeouf to bring in a younger crowd as Indy's new sidekick, Mutt. He tracks down Indy to ask for help in finding Marion, Indy's old love played again by Karen Allen along with an old archeologist friend of Jones, played by John Hurt.

Mutt arrives on the scene as a hair-combing, leather-clad, motorcycle-riding young guy who admits to not having finished school. A fun bit has him attempting to escape the KGB with Indy hanging on the back of his bike as they whip around a university campus.

The story takes place in 1957 and the Russians are the bad guys this time around. Kate Blanchett is their leader and she sports a severe black bob and an exaggerated accent.

George Lucas gives us an overly complicated plot about a crystal skull artifact taken from an ancient burial site. The Russians want it and don't care who is killed in the process.

After an exciting opening involving Area 51, there's a talky and over-long middle where nothing much happens. Thankfully, things pick up with the rousing jungle chase that includes hair-raising waterfalls, shoot-outs between speeding jeeps, and killer red ants.

Indy still has a spring in his step and even through his young partner refers to him as "Old Man," he can still send his adversaries flying with a well-placed wallop to the jaw.

I'm happy to see the hero back in good form. When we're so used to heavy CGI action, it's great to see old-fashioned stunts; and there's almost no one better at it than grumpy Indiana Jones. It's good to have the "old man" back.