When I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in the theater I went in, like the rest of humanity, with the weight of 19 years of expectations and baggage weighing me down. This would be, after all, the first time in almost two decades that a new adventure of Indiana Jones would be experienced and so there was a lot of anticipation over how it would live up and fit in with the rest of the series that I’d loved as a kid and still appreciated to this day through various home video incarnations.
Under that sort of weight it’s hard to know how any movie could prove to be fulfilling and so it’s not surprising it disappointed to some extent. I still liked it and certainly didn’t feel cheated by it, but the reality is that it felt off, something that likely had more to do with my advanced years than with any problems with the film itself.
That’s why watching it again on DVD turned out to be so refreshing. Free of all that baggage, and having a few months in which to process the movie from a logical, non-emotional point of view, it turns out to be every bit as enjoyable as the first three entries in the series.
By now you likely know the story of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Indy finds himself caught up in the hunt for a mysterious crystal skull after he’s sought out by both operatives of the Soviet Union and a young man who says his mother sent him to enlist his help. As he seeks to outsmart the Communists and come to terms with outcome of past actions, Jones winds up running, jumping and falling down amidst the jungles of South America.
Watching it again allows for a better look at what works in the movie. Chief among these is Harrison Ford, who shows more vim and vigor by once again grabbing the fedora than he has in years. In fact most of the performances improve upon repeated viewing, even that of Shia LaBeouf, though his probably least among the leads.
The two-disc DVD of the movie is filled with some good stuff. It contains features on the return of the filmmakers and talent to the franchise, detailed looks at pre-production and the creation of everything in the film, including an interesting look at the process behind making the titular skulls. There are also galleries, trailers and more.
If you’re a fan of the movie already this is definitely going to be on the list of things you have to pick up. And if you missed it in theaters it’s well worth checking out, assuming you can go in with an open mind.
And don’t forget - We’re giving away a copy of the DVD each day over at Spout. Click here to find out how to win your own.
