Steven Spielberg and George Lucas waited nineteen years between films, “Kingdom” being more of an epilogue to the Indiana Jones story than a sequel. While Ford is gamely able to perform the stunts required despite his age, the character and the time period have changed and the quest is unusually outside Indiana’s normal domain.
Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. is still a professor of archeology in the academic world, while continuing to do his own brand of field work. He runs afoul of the new bad guys of the 1950s, the artifact-seeking Soviet military. Most of the faces around Indy are new, because his close friends and family have passed away. However, a key person from his past makes an appearance, re-awakening in the main character awareness of an opportunity missed. Indy must stay a step ahead of the Soviets, led by an intimidating, dark-haired femme fatale (Cate Blanchett, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), traveling to South America in search of a Crystal Skull, which may lead to a mythical city. He is joined by a rebellious young greaser named Mutt (Shia LaBeouf, “Transformers”), who is searching for his lost mentor and enlists Dr. Jones’ assistance.
The stunts of Indiana Jones were always great spectacles, creating some of the most tense and exciting moments of the films. While most of the stunts work in the context of the film, a few defy belief even within a reality that includes the Holy Grail. There is also a greater reliance on CGI-effects, which were not available in the earlier movies, including a few goofy-looking prairie dogs in the opening scenes. Despite these moments, which do take the audience outside the movie, seeing an older Indiana wearing his fedora and cracking his whip will give you a rush of sentimental joy. Solving puzzles alongside our favorite adventurer, while seeing what kind of troubles he gets into, is an unmatchable delight.
While the eventual resolution of the story takes the series outside its comfort zone – both Spielberg and Lucas taking an unnecessary risk here – it does not ruin an otherwise enjoyable adventure. The audience is made aware that Jones is more of a relic in a new world than a trendsetter. Choosing LaBoeuf and Blanchett to play intriguing new characters elevates the movie above some minor imperfections. Despite some shaky storytelling from its creators, the personal story of Indiana Jones will resonate with fans of the series, who want the opportunity to go on one more entertaining adventure with a film icon.
Rated PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images.
Jeremiah 'The Reel Guy' Rancourt
E-mail: jandlrancourt@verizon.net