Indiana Jones & The Crystal Skull (2008)

Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull (2008)

Aurora Theater, Seattle, WA

May 28, 2008

*** ½ / ****

By Scott Muoio

Millions of Americans have waited almost two decades for another Indian Jones installment. Of those millions, I am not one of them. Ironic then that my enjoyment of The Crystal Skull is most probably greater than the majority of that fandom. So how is this possible? One word: aliens.

You see, Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull does what few films ever attempt: it mixes genres. Usually, adding a little romantic comedy with your fantasy or some other tried and true genre with a disparate concoction is a big no-no. Studios rarely, if ever risk their cash cow formulas for the sake of “art.” But then again, when your studio is in essence the duo of Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas, and they’re also the guys making the film, unquestionably all bets are off. In The Crystal Skull, the California buddies do what they want mixing diabolical Russians with futuristic spacecraft, historical ruins with ghastly spirits, ‘50s stereotypes with computer generated creepy crawlies, and nuclear bombs with alien mind control. It is a move that will, no doubt, have fan boys screaming bloody murder and me lapping it up like the bizarre movie connoisseur I like to think I am.

Now, about that Crystal Skull…

Indiana Jones 4 tells the story of Henry “Indiana” Jones (Harrison Ford), a part time history professor, occasional adventurer, and full time stud muffin. Now in his sixties, Indy is still a man on a mission and not afraid to get his hands dirty risking his life battling evil Russians for the sake of, well, I don’t know and I’m not sure he does either. But that’s not the point. The point of Jones’ adventures and The Crystal Skull in general, is to give us a thrill, make us laugh, and reintroduce us to one of cinema’s most charismatic, exciting, and memorable characters. This is what the Indiana Jones franchise has always been about, and on that front, The Crystal Skull is a riotous success.

This is a film expertly made by movie making professionals and it shows in every aspect of the film. From the writing and directing to the acting and cinematography the best of the best are on full display. There are flaws, for sure, including some odd computer generated backgrounds in the opening scene, a scenery chewing Cate Blanchett as a Russian dominatrix who seems out of another movie entirely, and a nuclear bomb tangent that must be seen to be properly ridiculed, but the film as a whole rises above its silliness if one is willing to sit back and happily soak in the folly. And folly is there ever! Certainly the more a viewer focuses on the ludicrous implausibility of enormous waterfall escapes and alien resurrections the angrier that person might become, especially when one has notions that those impossibilities shouldn’t garner the Indiana Jones tag. However, if, like me, you can take the silliness with not a grain but a jar of salt, and embrace the hilarity of graveyard boogie men, James Deanesque fisticuffs, and little green men from another planet than you just might find yourself enjoying this latest Indy adventure with a great big smile upon your face. The Crystal Skull is a fun, creative, fast-paced action film that will make you chuckle, your heart race, and even provides a bit of learned real life wisdom just when you least expect it.

As far as I’m concerned The Crystal Skull merges the disparity of archaeological swashbuckling and alien autopsies with expert precision, a great sense of humour, and still gives us that tried and true thrilling Indian Jones experience. It may seem insane but I truly enjoyed The Crystal Skull more than any Indiana Jones movie I have ever seen. Maybe I’m just weird like that or maybe there really is a great movie here. Whatever the case, you’ll never know unless you see it for yourself. And maybe, just maybe you might discover that you like some alien with your historical adventure after all.

Director: Stephen Spielberg

Producer: Frank Marshall, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy

Writer: David Koepp

Music: John Carpenter & Alan Howarth

Starring: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone