Directed by: Steven Spielburg
Written by: Jeffrey Boam
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) returns once again on a new mission. He has acquired a diary from his father Dr. Henry Jones (Sean Connery) that holds clues and a mysterious map that may lead to the most sought out artifact in mans existence: The Holy Grail. Walter Donavan (Julian Glover), a private collector, suggested that the disappearance of Jones’ father was connected to the mission to find the Grail going off the wire. Jones and museum curator Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot) travel to Italy in the hopes of discovering the whereabouts of his father. Before Jones knows it, while following his father’s clues, he finds himself being held captive by Nazi’s in the company of his father. In a magnificent escape they rush to find the Grail before the Nazi’s do and exploit it’s power for their own world domination. Together, father and son find themselves together in an exciting adventure.
This appendix to the adventures of Indiana Jones takes on a lighter feel than Temple of Doom and goes back to the timeline after Raiders of the Lost Ark. While George Lucas did create the story for this addition, the screenplay itself was written by Jeffrey Boam, and his obvious input gives The Last Crusade a completely different feel for the character’s that the first two films did not have. Jones’ father joining the cast, and taking a gander into “Juniors” give us the first understanding of how Jones came to be the intellectual adventurer he is. It goes even further into psyche of his character and even light heartily pokes fun at it.
The common characteristic’s of father and son, and the well shrouded affection each have for the other is what really makes this film good entertainment. The likeness of each other almost gives the viewer the feeling they are part of an inside joke. When the adventure turns back on a serious note, and when the dark enemy of Hitler and his Nazi’s return, the story turns to it’s famed action and the viewer gets all the trademark Indiana Jones moments they have been waiting for. The hat, the whip, the crazy mishaps, and a double a whammy of Jones sarcasm makes this a predictable, but excellent addition to the Indiana Jones trilogy.
With an object of affection as deep as the Holy Grail being sought out in this tale, the light hearted fun mixed with genius action, and an in depth storyline supported by two incredibly complex character’s, The Last Crusade is a brilliant way to halt the trilogy for twenty years. It’s left the world salivating, wishing and hoping for the next Spielburg-Lucas creation gone perfect. I, for one, am waiting and hoping that next month my anticipation is confirmed and yet another great Indiana Jones story is told. The Last Crusade is another example of genius gone perfect. Four out of Four stars.
