There’s this scene in the long-awaited fourth installment in the franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Our hero and his returning love interest from “Raiders of the LostArk,” Karen Allen as Marion, find themselves in a remote jungle, captured by bad guys pointing weapons at them. A sexagenarian Harrison Ford shrugs and quips, “Same old, same old.”
The line aptly sums up the experience of this throwback theme park ride from the last millennium.
And for many devoted fans, that sameness will be considered the highest endorsement.
Producer George Lucas, director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp revive the blockbuster series without altering anything much beyond the special effects techniques. They preserve the heart-stopping stunt sequences, eye-popping production values, playful tone and Fedora Boy’s lovable impishness — all of which made 1981’s “Raiders,” 1984’s “Temple of Doom and 1989’s “The Last Crusade” so popular worldwide.
But with the adrenaline rush and lighthearted escapism, there’s also still the flat dialogue, oversimplified characters/caricatures and an insane “mystery” story line. Its intentional superficiality keeps “Kingdom” from reigning with today’s smarter, fresher popcorn movies like this month’s “Iron Man.”
Spoiler alert! Though the media has already revealed most plot points, don’t read beyond this point if you want complete surprise.
Phone home, E.T., because your old director uses a nutty space alien gimmick to resurrect Indy. The movie opens in Roswell, New Mexico. It’s now 1957. Thus, the Communists replace the Nazis as the stereotypical bogeyman … and woman. Cate Blanchett plays a Stalinist paranormal specialist. Our favorite patriotic American adventurer/professor/spy finds himself in the pursuit of a translucent skull and a city of gold in the wilds of Peru. The coveted item offers psychic mega-powers the Reds want. Can Indy and friends stop them from getting it?
Fortunately, the silly narrative can be ignored when you allow yourself to get sucked into the action. Grave-robbing, hostile creepy-crawlers, outrageously extended chase and fight scenes — your favorite Indian Jones motifs come into play as an important new character is introduced. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, or even an archeologist, to guess that Marion’s rebellious son Mutt (played with fitting attitude by Shia LaBeouf) has, um, you know, a special relationship to Indy.
Lucas and Spielberg are nothing if not financially savvy. They cleverly set up the franchise for the future in the last scene of the fun but brainless “Skull.”
‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’
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