Review: 'Indiana Jones' wields enough snap to satisfy

www.usatoday.com - 19th May 2008

4 votes
Harrison Ford: It has been nearly two decades, and Indiana Jones is a bit more grizzled. But his witty banter is still decidedly intact.
In Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (* * out of four), he uses his wits and still-considerable brawn to fend off an atomic bomb, ruthless KGB agents, roiling rapids, flesh-eating insects and angry Peruvian natives. And he tangles again with his most hated nemesis: the snake.

Right about the time the natives get restless, however, so do we. But the excitement picks back up and, overall, it's pleasantly nostalgic to see Harrison Ford as Jones again.

Ford seems to have taken the 19 years since the third Jones in smooth stride. He remains dashing in his weathered fedora, and he can still snap a bullwhip with finesse. Still, much fun is had, particularly by Shia LaBeouf's character, with Jones' having grown a bit long in the tooth.

Teaming Ford with Transformers' LaBeouf and reuniting him with Karen Allen were inspired choices. Less so is Cate Blanchett, who's over-the-top as an evil Russian scientist with the thickest accent since Bullwinkle's Natasha.

The stunts and special effects are spectacular, as one would expect from director Steven Spielberg. A motorcycle chase across the grounds of an Ivy League college is a treat, and Jones tosses off some of his best lines.

In This Story

Related Content

Video: Indiana Jones TV Spot 2
2nd TV spot of the 4th Indy movie! The movie stars Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen and Ray Winstone.

Indy set to be a smash hit - trailer seen over 200 million times in first week
Times sure have changed in the 19 years since Harrison Ford last donned the signature fedora of thrill-seeking archaeologist Indiana Jones. The viral spread of the trailer for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is proof of that. The trailer for the May 22 release has drawn highly enthusiastic responses in theaters. But it may have had its biggest impact online, on a younger audience that may not think of Ford, 65, as equal to today's spry action heroes. After premiering Feb. 14 on "G

Indiana Jones to Debut at Cannes Film Festival
Harrison Ford had better send his tux from the Oscars to the cleaners. The star of the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – the first Indy adventure in 19 years – is going to the Cannes Film Festival. Despite initial rumors that the movie would open this year's annual rite of spring in the South of France – to run from May 14-25 – the movie, which also stars Shia LaBeouf and original Raiders of the Lost Ark costar Karen Allen, is due to be screened out-of-competition in

More Indiana Jones Photos
Paramount Pictures has provided ComingSoon.net with more photos from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of which many have debuted in magazines recently. Opening May 22, the anticipated Steven Spielberg action-adventure stars Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Karen Allen, John Hurt and Jim Broadbent. Follow the link for more pics.

Indiana Jones 4: First Review
Someone has seen Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Jeff Wells has the scoop from someone on the Crystal Skull team over in Spielberg-land (read: I’m not sure how much you can believe this over-the-top positive report), and here are the highlights: “The best of the Indy sequels.” “The film has the strongest supporting cast of the sequels.” “There are many breakneck set pieces, with a protracted jungle chase being particularly memorable. As well as being evocative of the t

Trailer: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
65-year old Harrison Ford goes on another rampage, battles Nazis, saves priceless archaelogical treasures - here's the official trailer. This time, in addition to Karen Allen reprising her role as Marion, he's got Cate Blanchett to keep him company, along with Shia LaBeauf as his sidekick Mutt.

A Fifth Indiana Jones Movie Already Being Planned?
With the 4th film not even in theaters yet, it’s looking like George Lucas has plans for a fifth installment of the Indiana Jones movie series starring Shia LaBeouf. Lucas joined up with director Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford on the long-awaited fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which premieres at France’s Cannes Film Festival this weekend, and he admits that the filmmakers have left the door open for another sequel. He says: ”I haven’t even told Steven

'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull': The Untold Story
Harrison Ford keeps his own hangar at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport. Among his inventory are a helicopter, a jet, and an immaculately painted blue-and-green biplane. He's a skilled pilot, and sometimes he goes for rides between earthly appointments. Today's a helicopter day. In fact, Ford's been out choppering around on this clear, calm mid-March afternoon, touching down only now to do an interview. Wearing jeans, a navy blue T-shirt, and dark aviator glasses, he strides across the landing area so purp

Indiana Jones and the hunt for memorabilia: No. 1 fan Harrison Ford scoops up his own action figures
It appears no one is more excited about the upcoming release of the latest Indiana Jones installment than its leading man, Harrison Ford. The greying actor was spotted carrying a stack of his own action figures - including a fedora-clad Mr Potato Head - while out in Los Angeles yesterday as he prepares to return to the big screen in his signature role for the first time in 19 years. Harrison has again pulled on his his leather jacket and picked up his bullwhip for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of th

In pictures: Indiana Jones premiere
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas recast Ford, 65, in the role 19 years after the last Indiana Jones movie.

Harrison Ford Got Ear Pierced After a "Drunken Lunch With Jimmy Buffett"
What prompted Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford to get his ear pierced? "A semi-drunken lunch with [late 60 Minutes correspondent] Ed Bradley and Jimmy Buffett, who were both wearing rings," he tells Maxim of the 1997 decision. "Afterward," Ford said, "I walked down Madison Avenue till I found the first jewelry store that pierced ears." Ford's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hits the big screen May 22. He said it wasn't tough stepping back into the role after nearly 20 years.

Classy Cate is the star of the Cannes red carpet as Indiana Jones finally hits the big screen
It might have been the grand return of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, but the red carpet premiere in Cannes was stolen by Cate Blanchett. The Australian actress, who stars as Harrison's adversary in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull cut a glamorous figure in a smoky grey gown today. While most new mothers are still struggling to lose baby weight, the actress appeared super svelte, despite giving birth to her third child just weeks ago.

Video: Harrison Ford gets air
Maxim talks to Indiana Jones about his real life aerial adventures, and his eagerness to crack the whip once again.

Video featurette: hanging with Shia on Indy set
The official Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Krystal Skull site has a speacial featurette with Shia LaBeouf, also featuring some Harrison Ford. Check it out by following the link.

Ford and Flockhart to marry this year
Harrison Ford will marry Calista Flockhart when he has finished promoting the new Indiana Jones movie, reports say. The couple have been an item since meeting at an awards ceremony in 2002 and live with Flockhart's seven-year-old adopted son Liam. A source told The Daily Express: "Marriage is something Calista has wanted for some time. It's like they're pretty much married anyway. "Harrison loves Liam like he's his own son and wants to adopt him. Calista thinks it's a brilliant idea but wants him t

Video: MTV Movie Awards - Who's Up For Some Golden Popcorn?
Michael Cera, Shia LaBeouf, Amy Adams and others top the nominations for the 2008 awards. Average Joes, funny girls, hearthrobs and CGI villains will battle it out on June 1.

Harrison Ford: Calista Flockhart Is the Best Mom "in the World"
Harrison Ford has the Indiana Jones franchise under his belt, but it's fatherhood that gives him the most pride. "It's made me just a tiny bit less self-centered," he says of helping to raise girlfriend Calista Flockhart's 7-year-old son, Liam. "She's brought a child back into my home," he tells Reader's Digest. "It's a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a child's growing up, which is always an endless springtime. You see the blossoming and the growing and the nurturing and the payoff." Ford, 65

DreamWorks to make 'Ghost' in 3-D
DreamWorks has acquired rights to the Japanese manga "Ghost in the Shell" with plans to adapt the futuristic police thriller as a 3-D live-action feature. Story follows the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime. Created by Masamune Shirow, "Ghost in the Shell" was first published in 1989. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and t

Cate Blanchett touches down in London with precious cargo - newborn son Ignatius
Almost 24 hours with a newborn baby a long haul flight is enough to leave most mother's frazzled, but Cate Blanchett looked a picture tranquility as she arrived at Heathrow this morning. The star, who has been in Australia since giving birth in Sydney last month, was all smiles made her way through the terminal with baby Ignatius in tow. The only hint of fatigue came in the form of dark sunglass, which she kept planted firmly on her face. Motherhood is of course familiar territory for Cate, who

Jonah Hill in early talks for 'Transformers 2'
Jonah Hill is in early negotiations to costar opposite Shia LaBeouf in Transformers 2 for DreamWorks and Paramount. Hill (Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) will provide the comic relief as a sidekick to Shia's Sam Witwicky. (A source tells EW.com that he'll play Sam's college roommate, but DreamWorks won't confirm.) The sequel is set to begin shooting this summer.

Thomas Sangster to play Tintin?
Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson might have found their Tintin, the young Belgian reporter who is the hero of Georges Remi's comic books, which Spielberg and Jackson are adapting into a performance-capture-based film trilogy. London's Daily Mail reported that the lucky lad is 17-year-old British actor Thomas Sangster, who has appeared in "Love, Actually" and "Nanny McPhee" and has a role in Jane Campion's "Bright Star," which is about to begin filming. A DreamWorks spokesman declined comment durin

Spielberg’s dislike for garlic cost him romance with Valerie Bertinelli
Oscar wining director Steven Spielberg’s hatred for garlic cost him his relationship with TV actress Valerie Bertinelli. The pair dated for three months after she auditioned for Raiders Of The Lost Ark, directed by Spielberg. But the relationship broke off when the 19-year-old actress realised that Spielberg didnt like garlic. “I was making dinner for him one evening and I was getting ready to chop up the garlic and he saw it. He said, ‘No, no, no, no garlic!’ I went, ‘Really? OK,’” C

Richest Celeb Divorces: How Heather's $50 Mil Measures Up
Yes, the nearly $50 million Paul McCartney is paying ex-wife Heather Mills is a lot of money, but it's no record-breaker as far as celebrity divorce settlements are concerned. That crown still gets shared among basketball great Michael Jordan, musician Neil Diamond and box-office champ Steven Spielberg and their exes. After nearly 18 years together, Juanita Jordan walked away from her marriage to the hoop star in 2006 with a $150 million parting gift, just like onetime TV production assistant Marcia

Lindsay Lohan Tops 'Dumbest People' List
Poor movie decisions, delinquent behavior and bad taste in men, all these factors have landed Lindsay Lohan a title the Dumbest Person in Hollywood. Following her is model turned reality show star Kim Kardashian, and Spencer Pratt at second and third places, respectively. Jeff Kwatinetz, manager of the Firm and the Transformer star Shia LaBeouf, grabbed the fourth and fifth spot in the Top 50 Dumbest People in Hollywood. No, the list is not based on a low IQ, the results are based on the poor li





© Copyright Celebrifi 2009