Gateway

Issue date: 6/17/08 Section: Culture

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With his signature fedora, adventurous demeanor and dry wit, Indiana Jones swept through movie theaters with unwavering doubt that his return to the big screen would be as smooth and successful as his last. Indy and his cast mates once again deliver an epic story that adds to this classic tale.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls" reappears 19 years after the last installment. Jones, played by Harrison Ford, is still an adrenaline junkie thirsty for truth, but his character has made somewhat of a transition from young thrill-seeker to a spy professor on the verge of retirement.

Several gray hairs and wrinkles later, I would have liked to see his budding co-star Shia LaBeouf take more of the lead this time around. It would have made for more of a believable tale, but on that note, who goes to see Indy for a plausible storyline?

The movie starts out in 1957 with Indy being forced to help Soviet villains find a South American artifact: an odd-shaped skull made entirely out of crystal. Several scenes play out with the two groups playing tug-of-war with the treasure and even pit LaBeouf's character in a truly amazing swordfight against a Soviet leader, played by Cate Blanchett.

Love interest Karen Allen reprises her role from 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and lends great sexual chemistry for the film.

While I'm not much for action-packed adventure films, I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed this one. My eyes were glued to the screen except during a very graphic bug scene where I thought I might get sick and was forced to turn away.

But with humor, thrills and love, it's easy to see why this film has already made $215 million and counting.

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