Review: 'Indiana Jones' Whips Up Good Time

'Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull' (PG-13)(out of four)

Forget what those snooty critic types have to say: "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" -- the long awaited return of Harrison Ford as the iconic archaeologist and adventure hero Indiana Jones -- is movie to be treasured. Loaded with fast-paced, cliffhanger action, it's funny, smart and brimming with energy. Ford is as good as ever as Indy and director Steven Spielberg is in top form at the helm of his fourth Indy film.

Produced again by George Lucas, the new Indiana Jones film is as every bit thrilling and enjoyable as the first three adventures. The first Indy film in 19 years, "The Crystal Skull's" greatest blessing is that it feels like an Indiana Jones movie. And in the end, no matter where you rank it among the three other chapters in the saga (it's a foregone conclusion that nothing will match up to the first, "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), it will be hard to argue that "The Crystal Skull" isn't another classic.

Set in 1957, we first find Indy and his sidekick, Mac (Ray Winstone) being pulled out of a trunk of an Army transport car (driven by Russians in disguise) at the Area 51 secret holding facility in New Mexico -- the long-rumored holding place of such government artifacts including an alien from the infamous Roswell spaceship crash 10 years earlier. As it turns out, the alien rumors were true: and the Soviets, headed by a Stalin crony -- a psychic named Dr. Irena Spalko (Cate Blanchett) -- is gunning to use the mind powers of the extraterrestrial to win the Cold War battle with the U.S.

Escaping the bad guys and returning to his college professor gig, Indy is encountered by a young, motorcycle greaser with an attitude named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), who has informationabout an imprisoned former colleague, Professor Oxley (John Hurt). Mutt learned of Ox from his adventurer mom, Marion, who along with the professor was snatched in Central America while looking for a mystical crystal skull that is said to possess otherworldly powers.

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Turning in his college specs for his fedora, leather jacket, khakis and bullwhip, Indy and Mutt dive into the thick of the hunt for the crystal skull, and aim to rescue Ox and Marion Williams -- who turns out to be Indy's old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). The reunion of the former lovers adds a huge emotional wrinkle to the physical rigors that lie ahead, since Spalko and her comrades are after the crystal skull, too, but obviously for more devious reasons.

"The Crystal Skull" has everything you'd want and expect out of an Indiana Jones film. In addition to the action and a smart script, the new characters mesh well into the storyline, the settings are breathtaking, and the Mayan temple and pyramid sets are awe-inspiring. Even with its faults -- Blanchett's diabolical handlebar-mustache twitching read on the villain may push the limits for some, and the "gimme a break" factor is tested with waterfall and desert escape scenes -- "The Crystal Skull" has a definitive Indiana Jones movie tone.

Already a genius by the time he made "Raiders," Spielberg has clearly improved his filmmaking skills over the years. Still, it's refreshing to see that he hasn't forgotten the practical sensibilities that made the first three Indiana Jones films the classics that they are. It's evident from the opening titles of "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," where like before, the credits subtly play over the developing action.

Spielberg could have emblazoned the "Crystal Skull" title over the screen, accompanied by John Williams' whip-cracking triumphant theme and snazzy graphics for today's audiences -- but instead, from the beginning and throughout the entire film, the director stays true to the classic form of the Saturday afternoon adventure serial that he and Lucas rejuvenated in 1981 with "Raiders."

The filmmaking this time out was as old school as Spielberg could make it, although computer-generated effects inevitably factor into the movie. But like the previous Indy films, the visuals and spectacular action scenes never outweigh the characters, including a satisfying turn by Blanchett as Spalko and a no-nonsense rough-and-tumbling performance by LaBeouf -- who looks to inherit the Indy mantle should Spielberg and Lucas proceed and Ford decides to hang up his fedora.

True, LaBeouf doesn't quite have the world-weary quality that Ford has at this point in his young film career, but there's no question the burgeoning actor has enough right now to hold his own in the presence of the venerable action star.

Of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without Ford giving his all in the role. In fact, the actor looks more comfortable in "The Crystal Skull" than he has on the big screen in years. And while time has brought wrinkles and gray hair, it hasn't slowed the 65-year-old Ford's step one bit, or most importantly, affected his burning screen charisma as Indy.

Ford's effectiveness in "The Crystal Skull" wouldn't be complete this time, however, if it weren't for exciting return of Allen as Marion, who slipped back into the groove of her character as easily her larger-than-life co-star. Some of the best dialogue in the film, in fact, occurs between Indy and Marion, not for the words so much but for the way they say them. The way they bicker as a couple after one of the film's biggest revelations from their past relationship (and the film's worst kept secret) is classic.

But Indy and Marion's past isn't all we get a glimpse of, as fans will surely revel in the homages of the previous films, which are scattered in "The Crystal Skull" -- not as cute visual cues, but meaningful parts of the movie.

In the end, like old days it represents, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" reminds us what movies are all about. It's not about brain surgery, as some highfalutins would like to conclude after they've over-analyzed the movie. Instead, "The Crystal Skull" is loaded up with brain candy and has nothing but escapist fun on it's mind.

And that candy hasn't tasted this good in a long, long time.

--"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" opens in several theaters across the country at midnight and nationwide on Thursday.