by Sun Meilan

Created on: October 27, 2009

In 1957, after being kidnapped by the Soviets who force him to search for evidence of an extra-terrestrial and then double-crossed by his old partner, Professor Indiana Jones then discovers he has to take a leave of absence from his University job if he wants to keep it. Then he is stopped at a train station by someone called Mutt, who explains that Jones' former colleague, Harold Oxley, was kidnapped in Peru after having found 'the crystal skull'. Apparently, whomever returned the skull to its proper home would be given supernatural powers. Mutt is interested in the case because his mother, who, unbeknown to Jones, is his former lover, was also kidnapped. Together, they follow clues left by Oxley and hunt for the skull. The Soviets are soon behind them. Will Jones and Mutt find what they are looking for? Will they survive to tell the tale?

I have to admit to not really being an Indiana Jones' fan. I've seen at least two of the previous films, so had an idea of what this one would be like, but didn't have the highest of expectations. Then again, I do appreciate Harrison Ford as an actor. And I think he does a good job here. He doesn't really look his age (nearly 70!) - I'd say he looks nearer 50, but the writers have based the film twenty years after the last one, so he is convincing enough as a physically very fit man in the film. The character is already well established by this film, so there isn't much in the way of character development for Ford to play with; nevertheless he is generally entertaining enough. I particularly liked his sparring with Mutt's mother.

I've not yet seen Shia LaBeouf in a film, so didn't know really what to expect from him. I was totally underwhelmed. I didn't feel anything for his character at all - he is clearly meant to be the entertaining sidekick, but must have forgotten about the entertaining bit. To be fair, this is mainly an action role, but I would have liked a little more substance than I was given. Karen Allen was much better as Marion Ravenwood, Mutt's mother and Indy's former lover. I enjoyed her performance. It was perhaps a little over the top at times, but I did enjoy watching her with Indy and she had some of the best lines in the film. The sudden transformation of their relationship towards the end is perhaps a little hard to take, but it is all a bit of fun after all.

Cate Blanchett is good as Dr Irina Spalko. It is clearly supposed to be a comic role, which I wouldn't have picked Cate for, but she does it

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