Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

by Gail Campbell Thomson

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Cert. 12A, 123 mins
Stars: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent
Directed by Steven Spielberg

PARTICULAR care should be taken when messing around with the childhood of a generation. The consequences can be dire, as many a disenchanted Star Wars fan could tell you at the end of Revenge of the Sith. Like it or not there are rare films that come along once in a blue moon that are literally worshiped; the original Star Wars movies are examples of this, and so are the outings of Indiana Jones.

It’s been 19 years since the Dr Jones last graced our screens, and his newest adventure Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a well-made, solidly entertaining piece of escapist hokum, but it has a daunting legacy to live up to.

It may be 27 years old, but Raiders of the Lost Ark still regularly appears in most people’s top 10 best films and is arguably considered to be one of the best action adventure films ever made. It spawned two successful, (although slightly inferior), sequels, (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and host of pale imitators. Audiences have been left drooling at the prospect of another instalment for the last 19 years.

Put bluntly, and perhaps a little unfairly, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is going to be judged by a very high benchmark. And unfortunately, those going into the cinema expecting another gritty, dark adventure in the style of Raiders of the Lost Ark are going to be disappointed.

Times have changed for director Steven Spielberg, for Indy and for us, and this is reflected in the film. This is a lighter, slicker and very often tongue-in-cheek romp that lacks the darker threatening tone that some fans may have wished for.

This may be due in part to an over reliance on hyper real CGI enhanced stuntwork which doesn’t always work. Most notably in an OTT vine swinging episode that would make Tarzan wince.

Events have moved on from WWII to the 1950s, and the threat from the Nazi’s is no more. The first draught of the cold war has blown into America, the atomic race is on, and the fear of communism has everyone looking for reds under their beds. Regrettably the audience does not get a faceless evil they can boo without guilt that they had in the previous films. The villains here are led by sword wielding KGB agent Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett).

After being ‘persuaded’ to help on a not-so-fun treasure hunt, and being given a hair-raising introduction to KGB diplomacy, Indy is sought out by motorbike-loving, juvenile delinquent ‘Mutt’ (Shia LaBeouf) – a nice Marlon Brando homage from The Wild One - who brings worrying news of an old friend and a quest for the mythical Crystal Skull of Akator.

A fairly simple, compact story by David Koepp has us out of the blocks early and the action is pretty much relentless with some genuinely thrilling set pieces. Much may be made of Indy’s age, but Harrison Ford ably keeps up with the physically demanding aspects of the role, even managing to crack some amusing self-effacing quips at his own expense.

John Williams’ score effortlessly invokes moments of iconic magnificence and a sense of eerie melodiousness.

The pace alternates between fast and furious, in the chase sequences, and creepily tense in tomb raiding scenes, but oddly enough, even at film’s darkest moments you never feel as though the central gang of good guys are in any real danger despite the profusion of gun toting baddies, nasty wildlife, treacherous geography and hostile natives.

Also, the pay-off at the end, the so-called 'maguffin' everyone is seeking is not really as impressive as it should be.

Karen Allen makes a welcome return as Indy’s original flame, Marion Ravenwood, adding some amusing scenes with Indy and nice note of nostalgia.

Cate Blanchett is good but underdeveloped as the cool, calculated villain. 

Unfortunately, supporting cast members Ray Winstone and John Hurt are pretty much wasted in their roles - as Indy’s British counterpart and genius professor gone loopy - respectively which is a real shame.

All in all Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a slickly made often hugely enjoyable addition to the series but it lacks the lightning in a bottle that would make it truly special.