Every generation has it’s heroes. Each generation has had people, both real and fictional, to look up to and to emulate.
Some of these heroes have even managed to cross generations and have been around for many, many years. Superman comes to mind in that case. He’s one of the most recognizable names in the world today.
Growing up, some of my personal heroes will not be a surprise to anyone reading this. Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Batman, Spider-man, Superman.
Indiana Jones…
It has been nineteen years since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade… Nineteen years since we last watched Indy, his father, Marcus and Brody ride off into the sunset. And, at that time, I was saddened, because deep down, I knew that was probably the last time I’d ever see one of my biggest childhood heroes ever again.
So, it was something else when I sat down in the theatre tonight to watch the return of one of my personal favourites.
Of course, I had mixed feelings. The pleasure of seeing someone I admired greatly growing up, who had all the attributes of the perfect hero to me, and yet seeing how much he’s aged, it was quite sad as well.
That’s the problem with heroes. And of course the problem with the actors that made them famous.
Unlike literary heroes who are in effect, immortal, those who portray them on both the big and little screen are only human and will eventually age to the point that they’ll no longer be able to portray the roles that defined them.
At least with Indiana Jones, they had nineteen years pass between The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and the Last Crusade.
So, yes, Indy is in his sixties and is still having adventures, but father time has caught up with him.
He’s older, wiser, but he’s also slower. He’s not a young man any longer.
Ok, enough sappy sentimentality.
Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the movie. It had all the trademarks that we’ve come to expect with Indiana Jones. The humour, the elaborate chases, the fisticuffs… Everything.
Yes, it even had the gross-out factor that has been in EVERY movie. Without spoiling anything, its bugs yet again, just like it was in the Temple of Doom.
Oh, and lets not forget the ever present cadavers, or the beautiful women.
One thing that really separated this film from its beloved predecessors (even though I personally never cared too much for the Temple of Doom), is the addition of modern special effects.
With the exception of Raiders, the effects weren’t all that great in some cases. Thanks to computers, the effects were really great this time around.
Anyone who has seen the trailers or read anything about the movie knows the basic premise… long gone are the German Nazi’s. This time Indy is going up against the Russians.
Like Hitler, Stalin had his fingers in the unknown. He was obsessed with a potential weapon of war that could reshape the entire planet into a communst dream.
And, like Hitler again, he was determined to achieve this goal by hunting down certain archaeological artifacts that could help him achieve his dream.
And, once again for the final time (I promise!), like Hitler, his agents had to face off against Indiana Jones.
Too bad for them.
I didn’t mind the story at all, although for me, and I would assume for many of the viewers who participated in the screening tonight, it didn’t really feel like an Indiana Jones style plot.
Each of the original movies in the trilogy dealt with the supernatural. Twice the plot revolved around religious artifacts, with the divine.
But, anyone who’s seen the trailer knows that instead of dealing with the supernatural, we’re dealing with stuff that came right out of the headlines and the X-files.
Oh, one thing, again without giving away any spoilers, this movie had a very strong similarity to The Last Crusade. You’ll understand what I mean once you’ve seen it.
In closing, it was great to see a childhood hero of mine once again. It was a real treat, especially to sit in the theatre with my own son, and let him witness a hero of his father on the big screen.
A real father / son moment.
It’s worth seeing!
3.5 out of 5