It has nothing to do with the rest of the film, but I love the opening sequence -- a group of fast-car giddy greasers in a hotrod challenge one of the soldiers in a military convoy to a little race amidst pastel mountains somewhere in the Nevada desert. Well shot and full of a dangerous/fun energy.

Though long, and at times, juicy action scenes (usually chase scenes) punctuate this picture, none of them succeeds like that opening shot. Perhaps, the second opening scene with the cliché bad guys (Russians) spoils us. Indy, against all odds, gets away too easy. Older crowds will remember that this professor/adventurer handled himself well against plenty of sticky situations in the past, but his real age is no secret, we expect that to slow him down a bit in fun humorous ways – but it doesn't really. Nor does it…

…help that Cate Blanchett doesn't sell the fearsome villain role. She's not fearsome, but it's not all her fault – the part is thinly written. All of this we learn in the first fifteen minutes. Filmmakers chose to create action in the genre of the amusement park ride. It's kind of fun, but we know there's no real danger. Hence, the film never has an edge (save that hotrod scene).

Adults won't be blown away, but I honestly think this is a better kid's film than Narnia . The action isn't that scary, there's very little blood, we know the dangers aren't real – simply safe action. And it glorifies teachers. It glorifies learning and real word applications of school knowledge.

The story itself isn't all that special; it's the adventure, the fun, and the smug humor that keeps Crystal Skull charming despite its short comings.

I interviewed Harrison Ford way back in 2000, click here to read that Ford interview.

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