Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Shia LaBeouf
Rating: PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images.
By Gregg Tubbs
(UMC.org)—Some say that when it comes to age, 60 is the new 40. If so, it’s a good thing for the aging archaeologist Indiana Jones since his latest adventure in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull really puts him through his paces. With almost twenty years having passed since his last appearance, the big question is whether the elder statesman of action heroes can still thrill audiences with the crack of his whip and the tilt of his battered fedora. Another important question is whether Christians will enjoy another dose of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s typical goulash of mysticism and jumbled religiosity. I guess it all depends on how seriously you take it. But since when did we ever take Indiana Jones seriously?
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Harrison Ford has never seemed more comfortable in his signature role as Indy, and his return alone is worth the price of a ticket. Copyright © 2008 Paramount Pictures.
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Set in 1957 at the height of the Cold War,
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull finds Indy (Harrison Ford), the WWII war hero, fighting Communists rather than Nazis. Ford has never seemed more comfortable in his signature role, and his return alone is worth the price of a ticket. From the very opening, Indy—older but still game—grapples with KGB agents led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) who are searching for the ancient, legendary Crystal Skull of Akator. The skull is believed to wield the power to control the human mind. With the power of the skull, Spalko, a specialist in the paranormal, plans to brainwash all of America and tip the Cold War scales in favor of the Soviets. But if anyone thinks her plan stands a ghost of a chance, they don’t know Professor Henry Jones, Jr.!
Along the way, Indy picks up a rebellious young sidekick Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), rekindles his old romance with Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and shows that he’s still got what it takes to save the USA—all without losing his famous hat. What’s surprising is that while making sly reference to the passage of time, Crystal Skull effortlessly shakes off the series’ rust and takes us on a satisfying thrill ride that includes daring swordplay, swarming flesh-eating ants, brilliantly staged car chases and steaming jungles on the quest to return the skull to Akator, Peru’s lost City of Gold (better known as El Dorado).
Much like the series’ last outing, the superior Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this film leavens the action with humor and adds a dose of heart through the depiction of Indy's familial relationships. Indy's reunion with estranged loved ones is one of the highlights of the film, just as it was when Indy reunited with his estranged father in Last Crusade. Watching the swash-buckling he-man struggle and fumble through love and relationships has always been part of what makes Indiana Jones both endearing and enduring.
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Indy (Harrison Ford) picks up a rebellious young sidekick Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), rekindles an old romance (Karen Allen) and shows that he’s still got what it takes to save the USA—all without losing his famous hat. Copyright © 2008 Paramount Pictures.
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Less endearing, perhaps, is the strange turn into the paranormal the film takes. The previous films took inspiration from biblical elements. The Ark of the Covenant and the cup of Christ (Holy Grail) all seemed to root Indy in the Judeo-Christian world. I, for one, still get a lump in my throat when I see the power of the Ark unleashed and the miraculous healing of Indy’s father by Christ’s cup from the Last Supper. But
Crystal Skull seems to take its inspiration from “The Chariots of the Gods” or the supermarket tabloids. The idea of aliens as gods is not only uninspiring, but feels older and more tired than Indy himself.
Does this mean Christians can’t enjoy the film? Certainly not. I enjoyed it immensely. But it must be taken with a grain of salt and seen for what it is: a piece of pure escapism served up in breath-taking fashion. And the crystal skull itself is what Alfred Hitchcock called a “MacGuffin”—a silly plot device that gives our hero an excuse to travel the globe and fight the bad guys. Among the films strengths are the ideas that heroism has no age limit, that love and family endure, that greed and power-lust are self destructive, and of course, that good still prevails over evil.
Even though the secret of the skull is itself a bit of a letdown, this film has plenty of appealing surprises to compensate for its failings. If Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not a great film, it's still more than good enough. Most importantly, it brings us the welcome return of an endearingly human, fallible hero who just might be getting better with age.
Study Questions
- In earlier films, Indiana Jones seems to be a man of at least minimal Christian faith. Does he seem that way in this film?
- What character traits do you find admirable in Indiana Jones? Do you see him as a flawed hero? If so, how is he flawed?
- Could the crystal skull be seen as an idol? What does the Bible tell us about idols? (See Ex. 20:4.)
- Are there idols in modern life? What might they be?
- What was your reaction to the secret of the crystal skull? Does the concept of “alien gods” disturb you?
- If you could return Indy to his “biblical” roots, what sacred artifact would you have him search for? A piece of the cross? Noah’s ark? The staff of Moses?
- What does the film have to say about the lust for power? Which character personifies this?
- What did the film have to say about greed? Which character most personified greed?
- How would you rank this film with the other Indiana Jones movies? Why?
- What role does the concept of family play in the film? How does it change Indy?
Resources
Official Indiana Jones site
Theatrical Trailer
