Kingdom of the Cracked Skulls
What can one say about Harrison Ford — apart from the fact that he’s the only actor to appear in Star Wars and not have it ruin his career. Personally, I like the guy. He was building movie sets, and only working part-time in the acting game, when George Lucas stuck him in American Graffiti and then into Star Wars… and then (because Ford had so demonstrably stamped his star quality) into the Indiana Jones trilogy. And what a great franchise it was…
       Having seen the fourth, and one hopes final installment, I can confidently say it was a great trilogy. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull conjures up all sorts of thoughts and imagery; but ahead of this it sums up that old expression: “quit while you’re ahead.”
       Does director Steven Spielberg have any more to prove? Does producer/writer George Lucas have any more to prove? Does Harrison Ford really need to prove anything by making another Jones flick? The answer to all these questions is: no. On the other hand, I’m still not convinced by Cate Blanchett so maybe this is the perfect vehicle for her to prove something… then again, maybe not.
     Blanchett overplays a maniacal KGB agent and, just like her acting skills, her character is no foil for Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones.
      Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull — hereafter referred to as I.J.A.T.K.O.T.C.S (perhaps not as great a movie acronym as, ET, M*A*S*H or M.I.B but give it time, it grows on you) — is not a bad film. By modern standards, I.J.A.T.K.O.T.C.S is fairly well written, well produced, well directed, well filmed, well edited and…. well… not as good as the first three.
     The concept and execution of the opening scene was good, the idea of getting Indiana Jones to prove that he’s still got what it takes to be an action star is a great place to begin. Somewhere along the way it all just got lost, because it ends up being the only scene where the 65 year old is clearly too old and slow to keep up. For the rest of the film — from fights to chases — he acquits himself well in the role of an ‘aging’ action hero. But does he really need to be doing that stuff?
     Here’s my theory…
     George Lucas, who is as close to a filmmaking genius as anybody going around Hollywood today, proved he can successfully ‘re-birth’ a movie franchise decades after it's been laid to rest (creativity aside, the Star Wars prequels were commercial successes). So now he wants to revive the Indiana Jones franchise, only problem, Star Wars was built on story and Indiana Jones was built on an actor. Whether he’s 25, 45, 65 or even 85, Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones; but, to use a well worn expression “he’s getting too old for this shit!”
     Clearly Ford’s (only just) not too old for one more leading action role. At 24 years of age, Shia LaBeouf may not have looks and talent on his side but at least he’s got youth. LeBeouf’s character in I.J.A.T.K.O.T.C.S is revealed as the son Dr Jones has never met — so it’s the old ‘like father like son’ thing: you get it.    Having said that, Sean Connery makes a better father than Shia LeBeouf does a son (see this movie sequel business is not that easy).
     LaBeouf was once quoted as saying Dumb and Dumber was his favorite movie; though he could have just as easily been misquoted, as far as I’m concerned that’s not a good start.
      LeBeouf’s big break was snagging a lead role in 2007’s, unexpected worldwide hit, Transformers. Having seen him in both I can confidently state I.J.A.T.K.O.T.C.S is the best film he’s been in. He was, by his own mediocre standards, pretty good in I.J.A.T.K.O.T.C.S; but  he was being directed by Spielberg and carried by Ford: How much more help could he have got?
      But, and this is the big but, has George Lucas ever been wrong (apart from Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher) when it comes to identifying acting talent?
     So has he got it wrong with the new Indy Jones? I’m guessing he has. But I’m also guessing this won’t be the last Indiana Jones movie and I’m guessing Harrison Ford will be in the next one but won’t be in too many of the action scenes, those will be taken over by his son — whoever that is?