Our Dear Dr Jones

As an avid Indiana Jones lover, I wasn't really willing to say that I "loved" the new film. I could barely eek out a "like."I could, however say that I enjoyed it. 

The more I thought about it, thought, the more I did like it. Like the old films, the fight sequences were exuberant, the chase scenes long and mind-bending, and the ending, as always, over the top. 

And more importantly, the movie was about Indy, not just his adventures. Indy's getting older. His father and Marcus have both died, and he's lost his job (don't worry - its nowhere near a big spoiler). He's lonely.

It's fun to see him take on some of the calmer character traits of his father, while still holding onto the fire and tenacity we love about him. His actions, while still lightning fast, tend to be more often thought through. But not entirely, of course. He's still Indy.

Shia is great as a 50's greaser, who gets thrown out of his surroundings, but still shows the same guts and quick thinking on his feet as a young Indy did.

(Don't click on the links if you don't want to know) A new time period brings on new styles and new myths, both in the public and the archeological realm. There have been speculations about Crystal skulls and the Mayans for decades. There is even an religion called Mayanism related to the theories in this movie. I do recall a Johnny Quest episode that dealt with similar ideas, but dealing with the Anasazi instead of the Mayans. A book by Louis L'Amour that deals with these concepts a different way, also involving the Anasazi. It makes sense that Indy would run into experiences like this. And he is skeptical the entire time. "I've heard this bedtime story before." Almost an exact quote from The Last Crusade.

Most importantly. This is what we have, and all we have. Indy fans have been very lucky. Books, TV shows, rides, live shows and four feature films. But these four are the only ones with our Classic Indy; the one we love MOST. As a fan of the short lived Firefly, I've gotten used to cherishing every moment of the single season we were given. Every minute - funny, heart rending and cheesy. 

It's the same way with Indy.