Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Finally, after a nearly two-decade absence from the big screen (and a few years for the iconic character; he has moved on from the ’40s and Nazis to the ’50s and the Commies), archaeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones—hat, whip, quips and all—has returned, and he’s doing it in steely-eyed style.

Still a sexy mix of brains, brawn, and brusqueness, our shopworn hero, Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones (Harrison Ford), is called back into action from the classroom to the caves, when he finds himself inextricably knotted in a Soviet scheme to uncover the secret behind a hidden set of mysterious and powerful artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls of Akator.

Contending with a powerful and relentless enemy (Cate Blanchett as a ravishing Russkie, simultaneously channeling The Terminator and Dita-Dominatrix), a wisecracking young greaser who won’t let him off the hook (Shia LaBeouf, less-obnoxious than usual but still not entirely believable), and his long-lost, still scolding ex-love, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen returns, looking better than ever and keeping up with her usual moxie), Indy definitely has his work cut out for him. The reliable Ray Winstone, the charismatic John Hurt, and brilliant Jim Broadbent round out the name stars, while a steady stream of well-cast supporting and bit players help make every single scene crackle with authenticity.

While the first Indiana Jones movie (1981) is still untouchable (snakes! Nazis! Melting faces!), the second (1984) remains nearly unwatchable (or at least unhearable, thanks to the ultra-irritating kid and ever-screaming love interest); and the third (1989, co-starring the incomparable Sean Connery and featuring uber-talented River Phoenix as the young Indy), is an enduring, unflappable fan fave.

Director Stephen Spielberg and storyteller George Lucas clearly have not lost their love and enthusiasm for the old-school serial formula of rip-roaring adventure. An old wiz in the biz but a newcomer to the series, screenwriter David Koepp is to be commended for retaining the spirit of the originals while welcoming audience members who weren’t around in the ’80s. Fitting right in with its sensational, supernaturally-charged cinematic cohorts, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a highly entertaining and entirely welcome entry in the franchise.

Much like action-oriented oldie-but-goodies Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, and Clint Eastwood before him, the now 60-something Ford still exudes enough realism, gravitas, and good humor to pull off everything we expect from our beloved buccaneer. While there are maybe a few-too-many one-liners from the AARP book of jokes, the rough-hewn hero’s maturity works in the context of the story…and what’s more, in a summertime sea of superheroes, Indy emerges once again the coolest crusader of them all.

That’s not to say Indy’s a perfect 10. The movie’s mired with perhaps a little too much self-awareness, expository dialogue, and computer-aided imagery at times—and it’s much tamer than its predecessors—but those are minor quibbles in comparison to all that’s good about it. Better late than never, for sure.

Pulse-pounding chase scenes that would throw Rube Goldberg for a loop-and-a-half abound, as do several stunning special effect sequences and shocking stunts. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a big, bold popcorn movie carefully crafted to stand the test of time…and space (did I forget to mention the extra-terrestrial beings?).