On I List of Movie Reviews

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Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade (1989)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 12/03, 5/06, 3/16, 4/22

IndLast
5/06: Hands down, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade beats Raiders of the Lost Ark in all categories (okay, maybe not the introduction).

So, think of the original picture as the beginning of the archeological action-adventure genre. Then, think of the second part as special effects wizardry. Finally, think of the third as the most complete film of the trilogy.

Sean Connery didn't deserve the Academy Award, let alone a nomination, for The Untouchables, but he was worthy of it here. For the third straight time, Harrison Ford is marvelous as the famed Indiana Jones who's an irreplaceable movie icon. His meeting with Adolf Hitler is a priceless moment. Denholm Elliott is fun as the bumbling idiot. Everybody else is excellent as well.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a perfect mix of everything: dialogue, story, subplots, characters, and cinematography. It takes talent to make a movie like that, even on the neo-noir level. Hence, I'm hard-pressed to find an equivalent film that works charmingly well for people of all ages.

All in all, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the most complete and satisfying picture of the franchise.

3/16: I've now decided that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is no longer a perfect film and that Raiders of the Lost Ark is the best film of the franchise.

I think it's because I got bored of some parts and the movie dragged in spots. Nevertheless, it's a great sequel, and I've enjoyed the show. Petra, which is located in Jordan, is an amazing sight. Before the movie came out, a few thousand people would visit there annually; afterwards, it had shot up to a million.

All in all, Indiana Jones still rules.

4/22: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a much better movie than the previous sequel by going back to the same mood as felt in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

However, it's not a masterpiece like the original because there are situations which are simply impossible. Sometimes, there's a bit lull. Yet I like the adventure in search of the Holy Grail. Hence, it's so much better than The Da Vinci Code with many great-looking exteriors.

River Phoenix does look like Harrison Ford while the famed actor is outstanding once again. I like Sean Connery as his father, but it's not a super strong performance. At best, he's memorable and has nice moments. Oddly, both of their characters slept with the same woman. On the other hand, the Cross of Coronado seems to be something that might have existed, but there's no such thing.

All in all, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a fitting capper for the trilogy.