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This third film in the
Indiana Jones adventure trilogy, starts in the past, taking a
look at Indiana Jones as a teenager, and gives us a peek into
the differences and barriers that have long existed between Prof.
Henry Indiana Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) and his father, Professor
Henry Jones (Sean Connery). While young Indiana (the late River
Phoenix), is exploring Utah rock formations and caves with the
boy scouts around 1910, he and his portly friend stumble on some
rogue archeologist and his motley crew digging up the famous "Cross
of Coronado," for a private collector. Young Indiana stealthily
takes the cross, after hissing to his friend, "The Cross
should be in a museum!"
An exciting chase ensues, via through a circus
train, with the startled diggers hot on his tail, ending in his
father's private office. As Professor Henry Jones was deeply engrossed
in his life -long research on "The Holy Grail," he makes
his excited son count in Greek, but never does get to hear about
the cross crisis, being too absorbed in scribbling his findings
into his little research book. The sheriff arrives, who then makes
the younger Jones give the valuable cross back. But, for his trouble,
Indiana receives a bullwhip, and a hat from the archeologist,
Fedora (Richard Young) who was chasing him. "You lost today,
kid, but you don't have to like it."
We then jump ahead to the pre-World War 2 era,
and find Indiana once again in an exciting tussle over this same
cross, which he finally gets in the end of this fight, even if
he winds up in the drink, still wearing his hat of course. When
he returns to the university to teach his classes, and to give
Dr. Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), the Cross of Coronado, for
the museum, he is approached by a collector, Julian Glover (Walter
Donovan), asking him to continue in the search for not only The
Holy Grail, but his missing father, Dr. Jones Sr. who had gone
to Italy, financed by Glover, to pursue The Holy Grail. After
Indiana discovers that his father had secretly sent him his little
study research book, Indiana, and Dr. Brody, head off for Venice,
Italy, which was the last known place that Dr. Jones Sr. had been
working. They meet up with Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody),
a German archeologist also working for Glover, and had been the
last one to see Dr. Jones Sr.
From this point, we are off to a high flying adventure,
nicely blended with action, lots of humor, witty banter, investigative
work, and poignant moments. Between action sequences and humorous
quips between the Joneses, father and son slowly begin to understand
each other, and heal the rift between them, as they learn from
each other's quite different ways of looking at life. It takes
both Dr. Joneses to find The Holy Grail, which further helps their
relationship.
The direction, by Steven Spielberg, is up to his
usual high standards, and he and Lucas once again offer a very
entertaining action adventure / comedic movie that is extremely
well done, and makes a glorious final third adventure movie for
the trilogy series, that details the adventures of Indiana Jones.
Harrison Ford and Sean Connery have excellent
screen chemistry together, and have perfect comic timing and delivery
of the comical, witty quips shot back and forth, provided in the
screenplay by the talented writer, the late Jeffrey Boam, who
knows how to make a great action flick fun and entertaining. They
seem to have a lot of fun together as well.
Joining the hero team are the rather comically
clumsy, yet well-meaning Dr. Marcus Brody (the late Denholm Elliott),
& resourceful Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), who are fun characters
from the first Indiana movie.
Denholm Elliott, a well-loved character actor,
is at his best, and adds a lot to the comic relief of the film.
John Rhys-Davies once again recreates his popular
role of Sallah, and is convincing once again as a resourceful
helper backing his friend, Indiana.
As our heroes soon find out, both Dr. Elsa Schneider
and Julian Glover suffer from rather large character weaknesses,
like greed, self-centeredness and the willingness to resort to
traitorous, down right mean behavior and will even associate with
evil people to get what they want; The Holy Grail. Also known
as The Cup of Christ, it was said to have magical powers that
can give one eternal life, and perform healing miracles. Dr. Jones
Senior was on a life-long quest for The Holy Grail for its spiritual
significance, while these two seeked its promise of eternal life,
like the fountain of youth, and its power as well.
Alison Doody and Walter Donovan portray their
dubious characters convincingly, giving the audience no clue to
their true selves, as they masquerade as trustworthy, up front
people.
The Nazis are truly dastardly, with no redeeming
values at all. Michael Byrne did a great job playing the fanatically
nasty, merciless Colonel Vogel, the head Nazi who relentlessly
chases both the Senior and Junior Dr. Jones all the way through
the film. Being a big bully with a truck load of bad attitudes,
he's determined to do anything to learn the secrets of Jones's
notebook, and to get the coveted prize for Hitler.
It is hard to choose favorite scenes, but one
of my favorite parts is when Indiana and Dr. Elsa Schneider figure
out how to reach the catacombs under the Venice Cathedral library,
by following the clues found in Dr. Jones Sr.'s Holy Grail notebook,
and go exploring amongst the bones, rats, and oily water to find
a vital clue to the whereabouts of the Holy Grail. Things get
hot and ratty when the secret society members who protect The
Holy Grail set the oily water on fire. This episode naturally
evolves into an exciting motorboat chase that ends with Indiana
receiving information as to who had kidnapped his father, and
where he was being held captive.
Equally exciting is how Indiana and Dr. Jones
Senior escape the clutches of the Nazis, when Indiana is betrayed
and held captive along with his father. Lots of humorous, witty
lines between the two are sandwiched in this high action sequence.
The last 30 minutes of the movie, however, are
really a grand example of the perfect action adventure movie,
with a spiritual twist for good measure. What a terrific ending!
Rated PG-13, mainly because of the action scenes,
which would not be appropriate for children under 13, due to their
intensity, suspenseful element and are a bit violent for children.
Directed by: Steven Spielberg. Screenplay: by
Jeffrey Boam, based on the story and characters by George Lucas,
and Phillip Kaufman. Music: by John Williams. Executive Producer:
George Lucas. Editor: Michael Kahn and George Lucas; (not given
screen credit).
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