The third installment of Indiana Jones on the big screen strives to return from the darkness of Temple of Doom
The story begins with a young Indiana Jones (played by River Phoenix) as a boy scout in 1912. The (mis)adventure that follows is light-hearted and fun as we learn the origins of Indy’s scar, the fedora, his fear of snakes, the bullwhip, and even a hint as to where his nickname comes from. This sequence reminds me of Hardy Boys novel (and Indy’s chubby friend looks like a Rockwell painting). It may be goofy and silly, but it depicts a certain kind of idealized early 20th century Americana
When this sequence ends, we flash forward to 1938, shortly before the outbreak of war in Europe . We return to the classroom to find a bespectacled Professor Jones lecturing on archeology – again, a welcomed return to Raiders. Moments later, we are whisked away to the start of Indy’s next adventure- the quest for the Holy Grail. The exposition in setting up this task is similar to Raiders- rather than use a chalkboard and a heavy tome, there is a stone tablet, some champagne, and a different heavy tome. Perhaps not the most original method for storytelling in an Indy adventure, but it is direct and to the point- if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Crusade also returns to the globetrotting element of Raiders, taking us from the Western US to the North East US to Venice to the Austrian border, then to Berlin
The supporting cast also strives to recreate the feel of Raiders, with a few key differences. It is great to see Denholm Elliott and John Rhys-Davies return as Marcus Brody and Sallah, but the two are somewhat sidelined as figures of comic relief. The new leading lady is the mysterious and seductive Elsa Schneider (played by 22 year old Alison Doody). She is no Marion Ravenwood, but she holds her own well enough.
The addition of Sean Connery as Indy’s father, Henry Jones Sr., is the difference maker that carries the film. From the moment he appears on screen – about 45 minutes in – the movie really takes flight. Ford and Connery have excellent comedic timing together and seem to enhance one another’s performance. The presence of a father figure goes a long way to flesh out the Indiana Jones character and the fact that both actors seem to be having fun with their parts adds tremendously to the entertainment value of the film. The decision to make the film a father/son adventure – especially given the existing tension in the relationship- is a win all around.
Like the previous two movies, Last Crusade is clearly from the pre-CGI era and the picture is dominated by gritty earth tones – lots of browns and tans. Each action sequence – particularly the battle on the tank (my favorite in the franchise) – is acted, shot, and edited masterfully. The audience feels every blow as Indy gets beat up and is on the ropes. This makes it all the more gratifying when he digs deep, pulls himself together, and comes through with the knock out in the end. These moments make you want to cheer, which is what adventure cinema SHOULD be.
The finale of the film takes us to the “Canyon of the Crescent Moon”, shot at Petra in Jordan
While Crusade may have increased the quantity of campy humor just a tad much for my taste, this does not detract from what otherwise is a great piece of adventure cinema. Fortunately, most of this humor is actually quite funny and the addition of Sean Connery to the cast of colorful characters in the Indy universe is a homerun. In starting with the adventures of a young Indy and following through with a father/son redemption story, this film is in many ways the most epic in the series. Closing with the classic ride into the sunset, this marks the perfect ending to this journey, as well as the series of films.
Indy Rating: 9.5/10
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