PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images
Directed by Steven Spielberg (War of the Worlds, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark )
Starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, and Shia LaBeouf
The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is classic Indiana Jones…and I loved it.
Everyone's favorite full-time archeologist and part-time teacher dusts off his hat and trusty whip for yet another adventure. It’s been almost 20 years since Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) has been on the big screen searching for the Holy Grail alongside his father in The Last Crusade. This time he is searching for the Crystal Skull with Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Shia LaBeouf and Karen Allen returns for the first time since 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cate Blanchett rounds out the cast as the villainous Russian operative Agent Irina Spalko.
I need you to know that on its own, this film would be a “skip it” – maybe a “rental,” but because of its history and my love for the character, it earned a “Theater Worthy.” It compliments and actually adds to one of the most successful movie franchise ever, unlike recent films like Rocky Balboa and Rambo.
All of the humor and cheese that are Indiana Jones’ trademarks are back in full force. The adventure, while typical, is still edge-of-your-seat excitement and the jokes, while fairly cliché, are still entertaining and I did laugh out loud a few times. The story itself is pretty clever even though it is not entirely new. And finally the score and scenery shots are what makes the movie experience magical.
On the other hand, not even movie magic could make Harrison Ford look younger. The fight scenes were painful to watch. Not Fight Club painful, more like he’s-way-too-old-to-be-fighting painful. Then there is Cate Blanchett who turns out to be the most non-threatening villain I have seen in a long time…and I’m including all Disney movies.
All in all it was a fun two hours, and if you have seen (and loved) Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade, definitely check out The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
I wouldn’t let my 10 and 7 year-olds see it in the theater…maybe on DVD. Some of the scenes are a little too intense, but there is no sex/nudity and the language is definitely on the clean side.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
