Gotham Guerrilla is is a new indie filmmakers blog, correct…but what is a film makers blog without proper film reviews. I have been currently seeking a new Film critic for the Gotham Guerrilla to makes things a tad bit more official around here. Looking for, male/female…who likes to go to movies, who speaks the truth. What are the perks to being a movie critic for Gotham Guerrilla you may ask? Tickets on the house and maybe even a pass to the early bird press screenings! About time Gotham Guerrilla staffs up bit.

After 20 years the good doctor is back, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is everything you’d hope it would be and much more. I was 8 years old when I 1st saw Indiana on his Last Crusade and have been hooked ever since so as you can imagine I have had high expectations in this 4th installment of Steven Spielberg’s series. I wont spoil anything but even from the trailer you can tell there are certain choices that were made in the development by Spielberg in regards to making sure the look and feel of the “kingdom of the Crystal Skull” pertained to the aesthetics of the originals. Sure the picture was woven with very impressive visual effects as you can expect from this kind summer blockbuster, some of which were simply jaw dropping but for me it was not the FX but the color treatment, the textures, the photography, art and direction, and the comic performances that overwhelmed me with nostalgia for my experience I had watching the original trilogy.

Harrison Ford returns 20 years later and still hunting treasures, raiding tombs, teaching part time, dodging bullets, and some hoe always under the red tape of the KGB and now CIA. Although a slightly older and more rusty Doctor Jones, Harrison Ford was spot on, the gloves certainly still fit. Shia LaBeouf enters the picture as…well Shia LaBeouf, expect pretty much the same performance he plays in most of his recent roles except this time he is a 1950s punk greaser type, Indiana’s sidekick a little tougher…but tough enough to be the next Indiana Jones? I have mixed feelings about the speculation of Shia taking over in the franchise, those are some big shoes to fill Shia. I felt the two had a decent on screen chemistry overall. Cate Blanchett plays the sexy soviet villain, and plays it well she does. Her character is dark and sinister as you would expect but thankfully she does not play it off as comical as most the cast.

Simply put, this is a 124 minutes of pure Indiana Jones action packed joy. You are in for a ride from the moment the picture starts to the very end. I will say there were times I would have appreciated a moment to breath, Spielberg definitely did not hold back but the story manages to balance some of the over the top chaos with intertwined comic relief, did I mention it’s over the top? Many of the action sequences are just far-fetched enough to make you laugh. I am trying not to spoil anything but I will just say the end was a little unusual and somewhat anticlimactic with not whole lot of pay off, and leaves you asking, “What next”?

If you have not seen the original installment of Indiana Jones then now is a good time to (re)visit them…there is some back story that will help tie things together but overall will not effect the experience of new comers. In a nutshell…If you like Indian Jones at all then you will most likely love the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Enjoy.