Rating of
4/4
Masterfully Done in Every Way
Franz Patrick - wrote on 05/27/08
This installment of the "Indiana Jones" franchise is crucial because it contains most of the series' heart. The audiences get to know more about Indiana Jones by seeing how he was like when he was a teenager, briefly but brilliantly played by the forever talented River Phoenix. Not only that, Indiana's father is introduced, hilariously and wisely played by the great Sean Connery. Despite the amusing bickering between the two Dr. Jones, there are moments in the film--may they be a specific glance, a sensitive camera angle, or an expert delivery of silence--when the viewers get to truly feel the strained relationship between father and son. It is often touching, if not relatable. The plot is more similar to "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" because the characters jump from one country to another. It is definitely less darker than "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," which is a good thing because this installment found an excellent balance regarding its tone, which the second one lacks. Action scenes are found everywhere: land, sea, sky, underground... I'm surprised they did not go to outer space. Still, it's extremely difficult to pick out the best scene because each one is special and engrossing. So, if I were to pick a favourite emotional scene that does not have anything to do with guns and explosions, I would say the best would be the chilling few seconds when Indiana Jones is a few inches away from one of the most evil men that has walked to Earth. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps. I think this is arguably the most fun out of the three because the main villain are the Nazis. And who doesn't enjoy watching Nazis getting kicked, flattened, chopped, and shot? The "Indiana Jones" franchise is one of the most consistent and masterfully done serials along with "The Bourne" series.
