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INDIANA JONES and the KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL |
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INDIANA JONES
and the KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
Movie Review
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf
Review by Eli Manning
SYNOPSIS:
Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.
REVIEW:
This is a very fun and entertaining film to watch. Go see the film as it's worth the price of admission. Review over!
To fill the rest of this column I try to entertain you as much as Spielberg, Lucas and the gang entertained me in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
In the 4th installment in the Indiana Jones series a whole lot has changed. Indiana is a lot older and so is the world. We are taken into the world of the 1950's in the opening shots of Hot Rods, Rock and Roll music and the good old fashioned U.S. Army (or at least we think it is!)
Harrison Ford is finally playing his age as the very humble Indiana Jones. He's still in the midst of adventure, but he has lost a step. But a slower Indiana is still better than most.
And in this 4th installment, a whole lot has remained the same. The formula for the Indiana Jones series is still there. They begin with a bang and grab us with some outstanding action sequences. Then exposition happens to set up the actual plot. Then we're on an adventure ride with Indy as our tour guide as we learn a whole lot about Archaeology and get entertained even more with more action sequences. Then they finally get to their destination and then the adventure is over. All the while we are always laughing as in many ways this series is almost as much of a comedy than an action film.
In almost every single Steven Spielberg film, the movie is really about a father/son or mentor/protege love story. Just list his films in your head and you'll always see a father story of some kind. This time Indiana meets Mutt Williams, played well by rising star Shia LaBeouf, who serves as his protege (or actual son maybe?) as they search to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.
Mutt Williams (or Henry Jones Jr. Jr.) is the new Indiana Jones. Shia LaBeouf can continue on with the series and Harrison Ford can become his sidekick in future movies. I'm not even upset about its blatant sequel setup one bit like I usually would. This series is like a drug for me -- I just can't get enough of it. It's just so much fun to watch.
Movies are about entertainment. And in this reviewers opinion, the more entertained you are, the more art it is. Some films are actually about something as its themes drive the movie. I like those films too and are usually more entertained by them than most summer popcorn films. But Indiana Jones is what the Summer movie season is all about and we are a better society because of it.
Sometimes there is nothing more theraputic than a good old fashioned action film. And no one does is better or probably will ever do it better than Mr. Steven Spielberg. He's outdone himself once again and I am going to admit that I think he's the greatest filmmaker ever!Yes, he does like to get a tad overly sentimental at the end of his movies (and this one too), but I understand. He just wants to leave people feeling as good as they can. We're all suckers (or at least most of us) for sentimentality, and Spielberg does that better than everyone else too.
4 stars out of 4 stars
Take a look and go back to the past! More Classic Reviews
 Batman 1989 dir. by Tim Burton starring Jack Nicholson Michael Keaton |  Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 dir. by Steven Spielberg starring Harrison Ford Karen Allen |
 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984 dir. by Steven Spielberg starring Harrison Ford Kate Capshaw |  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 dir. by Steven Spielberg starring Harrison Ford Sean Connery |
 Heaven's Gate 1980 dir. by Michael Cimino starring Kris Kristofferson Christopher Walken |  Blade Runner 1982 dir. by Ridley Scott starring Harrison Ford Rutger Hauer |
 Dead Calm 1989 dir. by Phillip Noyce starring Nicole Kidman Sam Neill |  The Karate Kid 1984 dir. by John G. Avildsen starring Ralph Macchio Pat Morita Elisabeth Shue |
 Robocop 1987 dir. by Paul Verhoeven starring Peter Weller Ronny Cox |  Labyrinth 1986 dir. by Jim Henson starring Jennifer Connelly David Bowie |
 Born on the 4th of July 1989 dir. by Oliver Stone starring Tom Cruise Willem Dafoe |  A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 dir. by Wes Craven starring Amanda Wyss Johnny Depp |
 The Untouchables 1987 dir. by Brian De Palma starring Kevin Costner Sean Connery |  The Mission 1986 dir. by Roland Joffé starring Robert DeNiro Jeremy Irons |
 Raging Bull 1980 dir. by Martin Scorsese starring Robert DeNiro Joe Pesci |  Say Anything 1989 dir. Cameron Crowe starring John Cusask Ione Skye Lili Taylor |
 Do the Right Thing 1989 dir. Spike Lee starring Spike Lee Danny Aiello Ozzie Davis |  Big 1988 dir. Penny Marshall starring Tom Hanks Elizabeth Perkins |
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