Movie Review # 608: Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989)

Well, everyone, today, we review what ended up being the last Indiana Jones movie for the next almost two decades until 2008’s Indiana Jones: Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Not only do we have actors like Harrison Ford, and John Rhys-Davies returning this time around, but we get to see Sean Connery appear as Henry/Indiana Jones Jr.’s father, Henry Jones, Sr. So now, let’s discuss Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade.

Plot: When Henry/Indiana Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford), and his long lost father, Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery), are informed by their old colleague, Walter Donovan (Julian Glover) that a legendary cup called the Holy Grail may exist, they seek help from Henry Jones, Sr.’ current colleague, Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody). But the Nazis are hot on their tail to have the Grail as well. Now, can Henry/Indy Jr., Henry Sr., Elsa Schneider, and Walter Donovan beat the Nazis to the legendary cup?

So now, the question remains, did this film help the Indiana Jones franchise go out with a bang, at least for the next almost twenty years? As a matter of fact, yes, very much so. First of all, the scenery is amazing, especially when some of the characters are in the state of Utah? Honestly, after comparing scenery in older films like this one to the cinematography, it’s definitely safe to say that movie makers nowadays need to up their game in that area of filmmaking. Why? Well, let’s just say that filmmakers in today’s day and age need to take notes form older films like this, Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, and more. Now, Asmara I saying that cinematography in films nowadays has been all around horrible? No, absolutely not. Am I saying that movie makers need to go back to the old quality style of filmmaking as far as picture quality goes? Again, no, definitely not! Here’s what I am saying. When it comes to filmmaking, visuals have really been good. However, that’s usually been for mythical outer space scenes, and things like that. It would sheen that when characters are on land, filmmakers should somehow capture the audience with how great cinematography can be as well, you know? Anyway, now that that’s all out of the way, what else makes this film really good? Well, John Williams score. Okay, yes, his score in the other two films before this was good too. Still, it would seem as if he really upped his game to help make this movie even more epic than either Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom, or Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark. If he didn’t get an Oscar for Best Original Score for this installment, then I’d be curious to know what other film the Academy thought was more worthy of such an Oscar. And then, there’s the characters. Wow, even if quite a few of them are memorable in the other two films prior to this one, it really seems to be the ones in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade that stand out the most. I mean not just Indiana Jones, Sallah, and Marcus Brody, but there’s of course Walter Donovan, Elsa Schneider, and, of course, Henry Jones, Sr. I’m not sure if it’s the acting that makes them standout, or most, if not all, of them seem to be the most well-written characters of the bunch, or something else. Or maybe it’s the better pacing of this Indiana Jones film? One way, or the other, this film seems to have better well-crafted characters this time around. Sure, there were times when Elsa’s character development at least was a little over complicated at times, but a little more on that later. And, of course, there’s the acting. While Harrison Ford did great as Indiana Jones, actors like John Rhys-Davies, and Sean Connery seemed to steal more of the show this time around, especially the latter as Henry Jones, Sr. I mean with John Rhys-Davies, this franchise is pre Lord Of The Rings for crying out loud, and he still has the humor for the role of Sallah that he carried over with the dwarf character, Gimli in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. And Sean Connery, need I say more besides the fact that he has basically done phenomenal in any role of his, be it this film, older films like when he played James Bond a few times, First Knight, you name it. Finally, there are some moments, especially near the end that, let’s just say have deeper meaning to them. I won’t say what happens during these scenes near the end. However, let’s just say that when it comes to those symbolic moments of the film, you’d be surprised by how much conversation could potentially spark after you watch them. Not only are these scenes around the climax, and near the end rather symbolic, but it’s also amazing how much deeper meaning there is behinds those moments.

But is this the best of the Indiana Jones film franchise? Well, let me put it to you all this way. That would be the case if it weren’t for a couple flaws. What kind, you may ask? Well, for one, Elsa Schneider, while her character was mostly good, there were times during this movie when her character was a little too over complicated at times, especially around the middle of the film. The other thing is that there were some scenes that, while they were probably meant to be funny, still felt rather unnecessary in the end.

And that’s my review for Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade. Had it not been for the couple flaws that I mentioned, we might have had a film that would have not only been perfect, but temporarily ended the franchise on a slightly better note. Still, for what we got, it’s still worth seeing. The action is great, the acting is superb, most of the characters are likable, or, at least interesting, the score is great, maybe even the best of John Williams’ scores with this film series, and has some really good symbolic scenes with deeper meaning to them. I would say that if you’re going to at least watch the older Indiana Jones films, definitely save this one for after watching Temple Of Doom, and Raiders Of The Lost Ark. You’ll be amazed by how mostly great of a film it is in the end. So, again, see Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, and see what you think!

Final Grade: A-