Back in 1981, two of Hollywood’s biggest directors, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, came together in hopes of making the best “popcorn movie” ever. It would have to be funny, thrilling and just a bit romantic to round it out. After exceeding their budget many times and constantly adding more and more action, Spielberg and Lucas created an iconic cinematic hero: Indiana Jones. One of the most iconic explorers of all time, Indiana Jones appeared in three movies during the 1980s. However, despite fans’ protests, the trilogy seemingly ended with “The Last Crusade.” Now, after nineteen years, Indiana Jones is swinging back into the spotlight with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Appropriately set nineteen years after the events of the last movie, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” takes place during the 1950s. The movie opens with an aged Indy (Harrison Ford) being kidnapped by the frightening Soviet Union agent, Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). Spalko has brought the American hero to Hanger 51 to find a box that will give her unlimited knowledge. Never willing to help the “Reds,” Indy uses his iconic whip to escape the Russians. On the run, he meets up with a greaser named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf). Together, the two men decide to search for the legendary crystal skull of the lost city, Akator (also known as El Dorado). However, with determined Russians chasing them through ant-infested jungles, Indiana Jones and Mutt certainly don’t have an easy time getting it. One of the most difficult things about sequels is the possibility of a slump; fans have such high expectations that the movie is almost destined to fail. With “Indy 4,” the nineteen-year wait has left fans expecting a movie nothing short of epic. While “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” might not be the best in the franchise, it certainly is an entertaining, nostalgic ride. The Indiana Jones movies have always been known for their crazy action sequences, and “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is no exception. Indy and his gang survive a trip down a huge waterfall, deadly temples and even nuclear fallout. What is quite noticeable about the action in the latest Indy installment is that it is simply over-the-top ridiculous. However, the entire series is fairly outlandish–that’s what always made these movies so much fun. Despite being unbelievable and unreasonable, the action sequences are an absolute blast to watch. “Indy 4” is pure fun, start to finish. While everyone can enjoy the silly stunts, the plot and script leaves a lot to be desired. The film opens with some awful dialogue and bad puns. In the past, these corny lines have added to the “B movie” feel of the films. But now, the one-liners feel simply out of place. They just aren’t entertaining; they’re just embarrassingly bad. Unfortunately, the plot is just as terrible. Focusing on a science-fiction storyline, the plot is extremely murky and difficult to comprehend. It’s often hard to follow the story and many newcomers to the series will find themselves completely lost. In some respects, the convoluted plot ruins the carefree fun of the film; you spend so much time trying to figure out what’s happening that you forget to sit back and relax. You’d think that after such a long wait, the latest installment in the Indiana Jones series would be polished and perfect. However, it’s clear that little time was spent on crafting a flawless story. On the surface, this film is fun and thoroughly enjoyable, but it fails to live up to its predecessors. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is a good summer blockbuster, but certainly not an instant classic. Grade: 4
