Theatrical Review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

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The fedora is back. The whip is back. John Williams, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Harrison Ford are all back. Hell, even Karen Allen is back. So what´s missing from the fourth "Indiana Jones" adventure? The fun, the old school feeling, the maniacal villain.

There is a fabled Crystal Skull, which, when returned to its proper resting place, will unlock the secrets of a golden city, bestowing untold power on the recipient. Of course, Dr. Henry Jones (Ford) falls into the search for it and the city after being targeted by the government. He was kidnapped and used to get inside a high security compound housing artifacts. The Russians, led by Irina Spalko (a wasted Cate Blanchett), are after a mummified corpse for an unspecified purpose. Jones is drug into the fray by a young whippersnapper (Shia LaBeouf), the son of his former flame Marion Ravenwood (Allen from the first film). With Spalko hot on their heels, the group sets out on one more adventure.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is a movie out of its time. Others have taken the same concept, notably the "National Treasure" films, and recreated the fun attitude of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." In a word, the film is flat relying on brief comedic moments pilfered from the rest of the series instead of creating new gags or memories. After an entire film of batting away references to his lineage, is their any reason for Jones to call Mutt (LaBeouf) "Junior" other than to invoke Sean Connery in "The Last Crusade?" Why, in the opening action sequence, does the script bother to drop references-and a brief glimpse-of the Ark of the Covenant? And why does Ford get the ubiquitous line,"I have a bad feeling about this"?

Nostalgia, pure and simple. Drop enough references to other, more popular work and the audience will be apt to overlook this installment´s shortcomings. Ironically, none of them have to do with the actors involved. All, though, come directly from the script. Let´s start with something I´ve already mentioned: Cate Blanchett. It seems to me if you´re going to have an Oscar winner in your film, you give her something to do. A meaty part, a mustache-twisting, diabolical identity unlike anything we´ve ever seen. But she and the Russians are merely set dressing, an obstacle for Indy and his intrepid group to overcome on their merry little way. They are almost an afterthought, a plot device to set the mood and time period for the events so the audience doesn´t forget them.

All the supposed mind control expert does is stalk around in a grey form-fitting jumpsuit, spouting set up lines to Ford (befitting a classic James Bond villain more than a Soviet agent) like,"Any last words, Dr. Jones?" He then responds "I like Ike," a sentiment most likely designed as another in a long line of one liners from the film. She never comes off as deadly as Bellog from the first film or even a credible threat.

"The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" feeds on our love for the characters and this type of adventure, so much so the script forgets to blaze a new, fresh path. It even forgets its own internal logic. What is the power of the city of gold? Is it power for world domination? Is it the knowledge of the universe? The film never really gets to that part in the end; instead, it´s hell bent on delivering a whiz-bang CGI experience where one isn´t called for. It´s as if the ending to "AI" was dropped into "The Searchers." Quite simply, the effects at the end don´t mesh with the practical effects that come before. Instead of staying grounded in reality, the climax takes a left turn when it should have gone right. The result? A jaw-dropping mindless coda Indy aficionados and general audiences will probably snicker at.

Ford, soon to be 66 years old, does his damnedest to bring Indy back in the exact same way we remember. By and large, he succeeds. All he has to do, really, is put on his trademark hat and wear a pair of brown pants and the character is born again. His age, mentioned ad nauseum in the press, isn´t much of a factor here. Other characters mention it, often in a joking manner, yet Jones himself doesn´t feel old. He may have lost a step and doesn´t crack his whip nearly enough, but he´s still Indy.

The rest of the cast fills out their roles as expected. Allen is back, a bit pudgier and older than we remember her, without missing a beat from the first film. John Hurt gets to mumble half his lines, a step up from his role in "Recount." Jim Broadbent, in a bid to replace characters not in this installment, gets precious little screen time, making the most of it. And Winstone…his George McHale-one of Indy´s long time friends-feels like a mere plot device instead of a flesh and blood person. As a character, we have no connection to Mac while he fits into a very specific category of second bananas upset at being the second banana. His eventual fate doesn´t shock or surprise or elicit any other emotion besides a shrug.

Which brings us to, I guess, LaBeouf. It is clear Lucas and Spielberg intend to bring Mutt back for another film, perhaps even in the lead role, based on the final scene. Coming off of both "Transformers" and "Disturbia" last year, LaBeouf presents a mature immaturity in his greaser role, with the right amount of smart aleck quips and reverence for his elders. But I´d maintain he´s not ready to take the mantle of the "Indiana Jones" franchise. He needs to grow up just a little bit more, gain a world weariness look to him similar to the one Ford had back in 1981. Right now, he´s too pretty and manicured. Given time, there is potential.

Maybe it´s a symptom of the iconic music being too prevalent in our society, but I found the score by John Williams to be too understated. As with his composition for "Superman Returns," I wanted-and expected-a grand new version of the Indy theme at least once with the motif running through the entire production. It is there, to be fair, though not in the way I was expecting. Imagine a "Jaws" film without the famous music telling us the shark is on the way. It always feels like something is missing.

After nearly two decades, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" reunites a legendary character with his equally legendary creators. But to what effect? Just to have one last go ´round? A victory lap? To prove Ford could carry an action movie and Lucas isn´t as bad as the "Star Wars" prequels would have us believe? What is the point in this fourth installment, besides a quest for bigger box office? Even the story is half baked, relying on science fiction instead of fact…or some semblance there of.

Something is missing in the film. Maybe Indy doesn´t belong in this century. Maybe the combination of the classical whip and fedora with UFO´s and aliens just doesn´t fit. The spark just isn´t there. It´s always a pleasure to reconnect with an old friend. The time has come, though, to finally say goodbye. Let Indy ride into the sunset with Marion. The latest adventure for the famed archaeologist garners a 6 out of 10.

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