Rating: PG-13 | Runtime: 122 minutes
Release Date: May 22nd, 2008 (USA)
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director(s): Steven Spielberg
Writer(s): David Koepp / George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson (story) / George Lucas and Philip Kaufman (characters)

So much time wasted in human life waiting.

Nothing gets your heart pounding more than a nostalgic theme song playing during a film. And what’s more iconic than John Williams’ music when it comes to Indiana Jones? Besides, of course, the humor, adventure, whip, and hat. Steven Spielberg even goes out of his way to show the professor placing said hat upon his head in silhouette before we can catch a glimpse of the man himself.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull transports us back to the series’ 80’s heyday as though no one involved missed a beat during the 19-year layoff since Last Crusade. We’re thrust into the action, unaware of how we got there or how Jones was captured. None of that matters, though. The Russians need him to find an artifact and he complies until a chance at escape arrives. His cantankerous demeanor and never say die attitude is still present behind the wrinkles to find release every chance he gets until the end of what proves a faithful new entry into a classic cinematic franchise. Its problems in trying to be too extraordinary is more than made up for in tone and overall enjoyment.

Harrison Ford is pretty great and shows that age means nothing when it comes to breathing life into a role he made famous. His delivery of cynical, stubborn wit coupled with the geeky wonder at discovering answers to clues and puzzles remains intact. Just look to the “dry sand” sequence to see what I mean. This is a college professor who truly dives into his work and all the prerequisites are included for his character to maintain continuity.

We receive mention of Henry Sr. (Sean Connery is sorely missed, but the first two films succeeded without him) and Marcus Brody. We’re treated to some physical humor involving none other than a mammoth snake—every hero needs a mortal fear. Callbacks abound (including a fantastic glimpse at the ever-elusive ark) and it doesn’t take long to get caught up in the action to really start pulling for these adventurers to come out victorious again.

The story at-hand includes much of the series’ trademark mysticism to lead all involved on a quest to return the mysterious crystal skull to its rightful place while theoretically opening the doors to a treasure trove of gold. All the old stories about how the pyramids were created come into play with this quartz artifact that was sculpted against the grain in a process that’s meant to destroy it if ever attempted by man.

With its impossible magnetic pulse and draw of the mind to its eyes, no one quite knows what to make of it. They only agree that it must be returned. So, Indy and his band of misfits are on this journey to restore equilibrium and maybe uncover a mystery history will never forget. Hot on their heels, though, are the Russians as led by the ruthless Irina Spalko (an interesting Cate Blanchett), trekking across the globe for the wealth hidden within the skull. The sort of knowledge and power that no amount of gold could replace.

I must thank Spielberg et al. for stepping up to the plate and making this film (mostly) in the same style as the original trilogy. Worry was definitely setting in due to the badly blue-screened trailer and CGI rodent popping up from the underground in the very first frame. Yet the old style font and glorious grain of real film stock brought me back in time to ease into the proceedings with faith in what could occur.

All the action hijinks are present. Car chases, crawling though cobwebbed tunnels, running against time through ancient architectural structures, and some good old fist fights with way too loud sound effects that arrive just a hair off the mark (vintage Jones). My favorite sequence is an early motorcycle chase. It starts with a brilliantly orchestrated soda shop brawl before continuing through town with screeching starts and stops. It then finishes in the college library after a sliding entrance under tables and the perfect payoff of a student asking his professor a question as he rises from the floor like this chaos happens every day.

Credit to the filmmakers for bringing Karen Allen back as Marion and the addition of Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt. I don’t care what anyone says—the kid is good. And the inclusion of two of my favorite actors in Ray Winstone and John Hurt can only help. Why am I just heaping praise right now? Oh, right. Because the hammer is about to drop. I don’t know what Frank Darabont had up his sleeve since I haven’t read his rejected script, but this one definitely falls apart at the end.

I had a blast until the climax. I can handle the supernatural and questioning alien life as a possible answer to life’s unanswerable questions, but David Koepp takes it way too far. I laughed at the badly animated sword fight and shook my head at the Tarzan sequence, but the end had me shaking my head. Why go there when everything was so splendidly steeped in wonder while staying grounded in reality? Bringing Indiana Jones back from the dead might not be perfect, but I applaud the attempt to almost get it right.

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Shia LaBeouf and Karen Allen in INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.