Indiana Jones And The...Ravages of Time
by Iain McKenzie

HE'S back.

After a screen absence of 19 years and apparently some war heroics off screen, Henry Jones Jr returns in his fourth big screen adventure - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

This movie has been in the offing from time immemorial; and after countless script rewrites and problems securing financial backing, the Lucas/Spielberg 'dreamteam' have finally brought the now 65 year old Jones back to delight audiences.

It all sounds too good to be true.

And to a certain extent, it is. This film isn't a patch on its three predecessors and alot of that is down to the use of CGI. Much like Star Wars before it, the Indiana Jones saga has suffered somewhat under the guidance of Lucas and Spielberg as they adapt to 21st Century special effects.

There is still plenty of the relentless action and fight sequences that made the series so entertaining, but now they are 'spolied' by CGI and bluescreen. Give me stuntmen and real action anyday.

The plot is (relatively) basic, with those darned Commie Russians providing the villians of the piece this time around, under the leadership of main antagonist Cate Blanchett.

She is searching for the Crystal Skull and a lost city in Peru so she can harness an unprecidented and altogether out-of-this-world psychic power - and thus, wipe out the evils of Western Capitalism forever.

The source of these Crystal Skulls is also something that jars slightly with the feel of the Jones series, and you may have to put your beliefs about aliens to one side if you're going to enjoy this.

Harrison Ford however, really does look impressive for what should be a pensioner. Tales of him performing all his own stunts have greatly hightened my appreciation of the man.

Shia LaBeouf is really enjoyable as Jones' 50s greaser sidekick but John Hurt is totally wasted as a poetry-rambling madman.

The explinations of the important points were a little rushed and I found myself not 100% sure where they were going and why at times.

Fans of the series will no doubt find something of merit in this latest instalment, but I feel this was made for the sake of nostalgia. Indiana Jones' previous crusade, really should've been his last.

5 out of 10...



Indiana Jones And The...Mildly Entertaining Two Hours
by Niall Kerr

19 YEARS in the making, Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull had enough promise about it to ensure that cinemas would be tightly packed even if barely enthused.

Sadly the double decade hiatus has done nothing more than excite people about something that should have been left as dead and buried as Indy's father.

The plot was promising. Our hero gets thrust back into the limelight when the Russkis come a-knocking with a lot more on their minds than vodka.

Their search for a box in that warehouse begins an international game of cat and mouse espionage which sees our hero joined along the way by the king in waiting, Shia LeBeouf as well as past archaeological/luminary comrades.

While all this to-ing and fro-ing makes for exciting shots and expansive locations, the repetitive we're winning, now you're winning, now it's us again as they trudge towards the film's predictably happy ending, is both tedious and concludingly disappointing.

That's not to fault Spielberg's efforts on every level however; he does get the most out of his cast and the work of Cate Blanchett and Shia LeBeouf adds something new to the melting pot.

Sadly any preconceptions you may have had of this movie are all likely to be true - including those that were glaringly obvious from the accompanying trailers.

How, or why for that matter, secrets were being guarded like the Holy Grail reamin a mystery. It just serves as an anti-climax when you find out what you thought you knew in the first place.

But while the negatives far outweigh the positives in a film that risks over-running, there's solace to be found in the plot. Leave it to Indiana Jones to uncover a world of paranormal/other-worldly activity and you're in for a treat.

But in a film that many anticipated would hark back to the glory days of live action stunts, there's more cgi in an average 15 minute spell of the Crystal Skull than in the entire length of most modern sci-fi movies.

Rumours are already bouncing round that Indy could be making a fifth globe trotting outing. In my opinion, another 19 year absence still wouldn't justify it.

4 out of 10