Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

After years of hype, expectation, and building excitement the world was collectively let down. "Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace"...well I think we all died inside a little bit that day. Thankfully the return of Indiana Jones is far more enjoyable.
Nineteen years after Indy's last adventure, he's cracking the whip once again, having traded Nazis for commies. "Crystal Skull," set in 1957, is honest about the passage of time. For Indy it's now the years and the mileage. But the man has aged gracefully, still finding a way to make it up as he goes.
Soviet villain Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) wants Indy to help her find a legendary crystal skull and unlock its secrets. After a wild escape, Indy's back in the classroom, but like always, this never lasts long. Young greaser Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) finds Indy, in hopes of helping him seek treasure and his kidnapped mother. "She said you'd help me," Mutt tells him. With that the adventure kicks into gear, with Indy and Mutt heading to South America.
The question most have regarding "Crystal Skull" is not if it stands up to "Raiders." Of course not. That's the greatest action adventure film ever made. The questions are can Harrison Ford still hack it and does it stand up to "Temple of Doom" and "Last Crusade." I can answer a definite yes to the first question. Keep in mind though that this is not the same Indy. He's aged appropriately and believably. Ford shows sides of the character not previously seen. As for how it ranks with the sequels, I wouldn't rate it as high as "Last Crusade" but it's better than "Temple" if only because of the lack of Kate Capshaw.
It's nice to see a Steven Spielberg action sequence again and we get plenty of them. In the era of jump cutting and fight scenes that are difficult to follow, Spielberg's "old school" film making is most welcome. We can always clearly see what's going on and the level of fun and invention is high.
From the old Paramount logo to the first appearance of the fedora and beyond, "Crystal Skull" made me smile again and again. That's all I wanted from this movie and the crew delivered. I could have done without the CG animals and a few elements here and there didn't quite click, but I have no serious complaints. Blanchett's Spalko is a menacing villain and Karen Allen's return as Marion is a treat for all of us who missed her in the other sequels. There are also wonderful nods to Sean Connery and the late Denholm Elliot's Marcus Brody. I missed Sallah though.
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is a thoroughly enjoyable movie and one I think I will like more with repeat viewings. Just remind yourself it's not going to be "Raiders" and you'll have a great time too. 7.5/10.