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Modern day swashbuckler/archeologist/serial film character, Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., makes an attempt at a valiant return to the silver screen nearly two decades after the world was left with the filmic masterpiece, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). With so many expectations to live up to and obstacles to overcome [the amount of time that has passed since the last installment, George Lucas’ freakish obsession with computer graphic special effects and referencing his own films, and Shia LaBeouf whom everyone seems to hate as Jone’s bastard child], it is then understandable why the new Indiana Jones offering seems to fail at topping the classic Last Crusade. I will say this, however as a film among every other film out there today (especially this summer of ‘08) this film is pretty good. As an Indiana Jones installment, it seems lacking.

Harrison Ford seems a bit slower in comedic timing and hitting his lines this time around as Jones; it’s as if he was reluctant to reprise his role. At points in the film it seems like he phones in his lines from a status of “I’ve already done this and don’t really need to try harder”. At other times, Ford as Jones is stellar and we feel that warm fuzzy feeling toward our favorite part time college professor. Ford really seems to shine in the quiet down time of the film including a sad monologue about losing his father Henry senior (played in the last film by the brilliant Sean Connery) and his friend Adrian Brody (masterfully crafted by the late Denholm Elliott). Another notable moment for Ford is a humorous and heartfelt scene in a malt shop where Indiana Jones’ first converses with his son, Henry “Mutt” Williams played quite well and with great respect by Shia LaBeouf.

Ah, Shia LaBeouf. No matter what any fan boys have to say, this kid can put on a good show. I got your back, Shia. It is apparent that this newjack does try to -- and often succeeds at -- stealing scenes, but it seems like he has great respect for the filmic institution that is Indiana Jones. He treads lightly against Ford but also carves a name out for himself. And as to not disappoint fans, when it appears at the film’s end that Shia’s character will be taking over for Indiana Jones, Ford is there to symbolically put him back in his place.

Despite the skilled performances turned out by Ford and LeBeouf, many heavyweights turn out some poor performances as the Indiana Jones side characters. No longer are we graced with the days of the warm and sincere John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, the adorable and valiant Jonathan Ke Quan as Short Round or Ronald Lacey as the evil-incarnate Nazi henchman Major Arnold Toht. This time around we have Cate Blanchett half-assing a heartless performance as a could-have-been-so-cool Soviet super villain Irina Spalko. The film also wastes the talent of British actor and mega gangsta John Hurt as Indy’s old college friend Professor Oxley. Hurt spends his time on screen randomly mumbling incoherently in a half trying-to-be-comedic, half trying-to-be-spooky manner. What a waste.

The story, like the acting, starts out promising and then fizzles in the end. David Koepp wrote the winning script that sets Indy in South America trying to race against the Soviets in the late 1950s. Both Indy and the Soviets seek out a mysterious crystal skull that looks like an alien skull; and when the movie starts out in a hangar resembling Area 51 you get where this is going. And even though the punches of the plot are telegraphed so far ahead that a 7 year-old could figure them out, the film still works because of its stellar visuals, director Steven Spielberg and the decent acting from Ford and LeBeouf. What kills the plot is George Lucas -- plain and simple. I will interject and say this: George you killed this movie: shame on you. I knew something was amidst when the film starts with a CGI mole hill and a hot rod race ala American Graffiti; I could smell the stench of Lucas all over the theater.

Despite the fight of Spielberg to stay true to the amazing stunt men and women that made the first Jones films and moments of this Jones film so incredible, Lucas has to come in and try to make this film a CGI disaster like all of his latter filmic efforts. I just want to say this, and I know I am breaking my critical standpoint:

George, we get it, you did American Graffiti and Star Wars. We don’t need tributes to them in everything you touch. Stop It! Also, your CGI is getting out of control. It’s like a coke habit. This is an intervention and you need to stop. With that being said the end of the film is so CGI polluted it feels completely out of place from the rest of the film as well as being a complete rip off of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But, and this is a big but, the new Indiana Jones despite its many indiscretions is quite a good film and I’m sure it will endure. Go check it out and leave your expectations at home.