1. I'm a huge Indiana Jones nerd, since 1981. I loved Raiders and it instantly became one of my top ten films of all time as soon as it was released. I thought Temple & Crusade were ok.
2. As you guys know by now, I'm not someone - even if the first film becomes a top ten for me - who blindly follows sequels and franchises no matter what is released. More often than not, the opposite is true.
I point those two things out so you'll understand my review and know that my thoughts on Crystal Skull could have very easily gone either way. I went in knowing the background of what it took to get the film made and a rough idea of what the story was. I went to see it Friday after work.
No spoilers below.
I really liked it. I thought they did a great job of re-introducing us to the character after two decades had passed. I'm a big fan of the quieter, more cerebral aspects of all the films - the character interaction, the dialogue scenes, etc. The action is always exciting, but never what I ponder when I think about the films. Crystal Skull had plenty of both. To me, the dialogue\cerebral moments seemed deeper and more realistic than the last two films.
It's Indiana Jones many years later and they address it both seriously and occasionally with humor. I enjoyed the story, the locations, the music, etc. It was fun to see an old friend again. I thought Shia also did a good job and it was great to see that big, honest, wonderful smile of Karen Allen again. I particularly dug the opening title sequence. I thought it was a neat way to show that it wasn't the 30s anymore.
There are the occasional silly and\or impossible moments, but they are small and don't detract from the narrative too much. I went in knowing I'd have to suspend belief at times. After all, this is an Indiana Jones adventure, not a History Channel documentary. It was what they all have been. Two hours of adventure escapism.
Overall, I don't know where I place it in the franchise, but I'm leaning toward putting it as my second favorite of the four. Hard to tell because I haven't fully absorbed it yet. However, all three will always be a very distant second to Raiders. This summer will definitely have an Indiana Jones feel - and for me, that's a great thing.
Oh, and it was even better when I went to see it again on Sunday morning.
Spoilers and more specific points if we have a thread discussing them later, after most people have seen it.