the Color of Context

Indy’s latest adventure is out of this world
Release date: 21 May 2008

By Jerilyn Covert

Bompa dum dum . . . bompa dumm . . . bompa dum dum . . . bompa dum dum dum! Oh John Williams, your classic score is instantly recognizable. And it’s the perfect background music to accompany Indiana Jones as he escapes from the bad guys–yet again!–and, latching onto a high beam with the tale-end of his trusty whip, swings valiantly into action. . . . “Damn, I thought that was closer,” Indy says, after missing his landing. Indeed, in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the fourth installment of the popular ’80s action-film series, Harrison Ford is not as young as he used to be. But instead of glossing over Ford’s advancing age (64), the filmmakers incorporate it into the story, which takes place about 20 years after The Last Crusade. Back then, it was the Nazis Indy was fighting, but this time it’s communists–KGB Russian operatives. They want Indy to help them find a crystal skull, which will provide the means to golden treasures and limitless power.

George Lucas produces and Steven Spielberg directs this 2-hour addition to the beloved series. Set in 1957, the story opens with Indy under capture by the KGB who take him to a U.S. military warehouse and order him at gunpoint to locate a box. . . . Box? What box. The warehouse is piled high with boxes. But this box has very specific, very top-secret contents: “Mummified remains!” says the head Russian (Irina Spalko played by Cate Blanchett). Still, how is Indy supposed to find it among thousands of other crates in the warehouse? Well, it’s not easy, but incredibly, he does it. And to top that off, he manages to get away. It’s almost like he’s been doing this for a while.

After an FBI interrogation scene, we find Indy back in front of his college class doing his thing, teaching ancient archeology and whatnot. But the adventure has barely begun when he meets Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), who asks Indy to help him solve an ancient riddle and save his mother (Karen Allen) and friend Professor Oxley (John Hurt) from their otherwise certain deaths. Of course, Mutt’s problems are entwined with the Russians and the crystal skull, and Indy and his small band of allies thus embark on a mission to restore order to an ancient alien race, to stop the Russians from discovering the skull’s power, and to do so without being captured or killed.

Wait, did she say “ancient alien race”? Yes, I sure did. And I know what you’re thinking: What business do aliens have in an Indiana Jones flick? It’s a valid point. But apparently, Lucas has long had the idea to introduce aliens into an Indiana Jones script. While many viewers may find the plot hard to swallow, the idea may be no less believable than spirits surging forth from an arc to slay a bunch of Nazis; an elaborately booby-trapped underground temple; or a grail that heals fatal wounds. Given all that Indy’s already seen, why not add a flying saucer to the list?

As befits most movies with over-the-top plotlines, the film also features a degree of cheesiness. But again, that’s not so different from the Indy films we fell in love with 20 years ago, is it? There’s a certain tongue-in-cheek charm, which in this case really flatters the dynamic between a tenured professor equipped with all the experience and know-how of Indiana Jones, and a foolhardy young ’50s greaser equipped with a switchblade and a comb.

The film is ably acted by all, but I do have to highlight Blanchett’s performance. Who would have thought she’d make such a good Russian bad guy? But she does: fierce, beautiful, and with a flawless Russian accent. The film also features a number of repeat characters–including a brief cameo by the arc from Raiders.

As a whole, the new Indiana Jones movie is a fun ride and a solid addition to the series. Word has it, Ford hopes to reprise his legendary role a fifth and final time for the big screen. Hey, why not? As long as he’s still donning his trademark fedora, and that epic score still plays in the background . . .