Weakest Indy but still brilliant!

When I heard that there was going to be a fourth Indiana Jones film I was thinking to myself: "Cool, but wonder how good or how bad it could be". I thought this film was bloody brilliant because it is very original with really cool characters apart from Mutt. Personally, I think Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull became just as successful and has earned very similar sorts of reviews as Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace did. Also because it was a new film to a franchise that was released over 10 years previously which connects Indiana Jones so well with Star Wars. Also because of George Lucas' involvement. I admit that the story wasn't as powerful as Raiders Of The Lost Ark nor Last Crusade but it was just as thrilling as them with same type of action. It felt like a family comedy because there were some humorous scenes particularly about Indy's age.


Harrison Ford brings Indiana Jones back into action in a huge way. Because of the story, Indy was funnier in this one than the other three. I don't think Harrison Ford liked Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull because he said "I didn't hate Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, I just thought it was disappointing." I really liked Cate Blanchett as villainous Col. Dr. Irina Spalko. She pulls off a good Russian accent and does look evil even though it is her first attempt at playing a villain. It was about bloody time that Cate was working with a director like Spielberg. I would love to see her in more of his films. I hated Shia Lebeouf as Mutt Williams. I thought his character and personality was absolutely pathetic. I mean, a biker in an Indiana Jones film. Come on! I really loved Karen Allen's return as Indy's old flame Marion Ravenwood who was in the first film: Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Ray Winstone plays Indy's friend Mac. Ray always makes his characters interesting because he plays, looks and sounds like Ray Winstone every time no matter what characters he plays. John Hurt was really weird as Professor Harold 'Ox' Oxley who is an old friend of Indy's. Jim Broadbent makes an appearance too as Dean Charles Stanforth who is another teacher in the school Indy teaches at.


I don't know whether Steven Spielberg was keen on Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull or not because I remember reading an article on IMDB about Ford and Spielberg not accepting the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull storyling that George Lucas thought of. Well, if they didn't like the story why can't they have thought of a different one. Despite this, I am sure Spielberg and Ford wanted to make Indiana Jones the original hero like he was before but I totally agree that they did do that with this fourth film. The story wasn't quite as realistic because there were aliens involved which is one very light but not very effective disappointment with Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Indy's relationship with Mutt was a lot like working together hard but working with a lot of impatience. There is a revelation of how Mutt is related to Indy in the film which you will just have to wait and see. Marion's relationship with Indy brought back memories of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. They both squabbled and argued over things in that film but they still did that in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull but not as hard. It was Indy and Marion's first reunion in 27 years. Mac and Indy's relationship sort of confused me because one minute Mac was with Indy then he was against him. I guarantee that confused quite a lot of other people who have watched this film before. The sound effects were outstanding just like in pretty much all action films. The art direction brought us back down memory lane to the Temple Of Doom because Indy enters tombs, graveyards and churches in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull which is very original of Indy to do that. Also, there are dead corpses found so that brings originality into it. Indy wears the same costume once again. Mutt's boots, gelled hair, leather jacket etc is just inappropriate. I mean, he could be the new Indiana Jones. It doesn't bring his taste to the missions. I loved Cate Blanchett's black haired wig she wore. It really suited her. The make-up and visual effects were just so stunning.


It sort of turned out like The Phantom Menace did in the Star Wars franchise regarding satisfaction within it. Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is a fantastic action-packed family comedy thrill ride which I loved. One of the best summer blockbusters of 2008. I wouldn't call the whole film disappointing at all but it did have very light flaws I thought. Out of the four films there have been, Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is my 2nd favourite of 4th with Raiders Of The Lost Ark - 1st, Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull - 2nd, Last Crusade - 3rd and Temple Of Doom - 4th. Welcome back, Indiana Jones. Please bring us some more Indy action but with a decent storyline. Thank you Ford, Lucas and Spielberg!

8/10