The third and what was thought to be the last of the Indiana Jones series, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, actually rounds out the whole trilogy and is the best filmed and scripted one of them all. Now I’ll admit despite my better judgment that LAST CRUSADE is probably the better film of the trilogy, but the young kid in me still thinks that TEMPLE OF DOOM is the best one of the trilogy simply because of the fact that it is a fun film. LAST CRUSADE however is a more in-depth adventure that deals with the location of the Holly Grail, The cup Jesus was believed to have had his last drink from during the last supper.
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE begins with Dr. Jones as a young boy played by the late River Phoenix. As a young kid and a boy scout Indiana while exploring a cave with a friend stumbles across an archeological dig, where a sacred cross has been unearthed by a bunch of treasure hunters. Believing that the cross should be put in a museum somewhere, young Indiana decides to take the cross, as he does so he is pressured by the treasure hunters who eventually track young Indiana down. Years later Indy is still hunting down the cross only to get it this time. His life seems to be back to normal, teaching at the University. But on his way out he is approached by a few men who bring him to meet with a collector named Walter Donovin (Julian Glover) who has a tablet that claims to hold the secret to the location of the Holly Grail. Indy agrees to help him find it, but then finds out that Walter has already hired his father, Professor Henry Jones (Sean Connery) to find the grail, but he was kidnapped by the Nazi’s. Indiana then realizes that he has a package from his father which contains a diary which hold all his father findings. Now Indy must go to Europe to find his father and yet go on another adventure, while battling evil on a quest to find the Holly Grail.
I can’t say anything that I haven’t already said about the Indiana Jones movies as a whole. I think all three films are perfectly made, and I feel the same way as LAST CRUSADE as I do about the other two. LAST CRUSADE is a lot more serious than the first two films, and does pack a lot more adventure than the first two films. But besides more stunt works and great effects, the film does have a better storyline than the first two films and a much more seasoned cast with Sean Connery as Indy’s father and Julian Glover as Walter Donovin. Of course Harrison Ford is better than he ever was as Indiana Jones and we also see the return of John Rhys-Davies as Indy’s Egyptian friend Sallah.
Overall, I’m a big fan of the trilogy and honestly can’t want for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to hit theaters. the dvd includes many special features such as a new introduction by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, as well as the basic Photo Galleries and a demo of the Indiana Jones Lego Game. Two features about the friends and enemies of Indiana Jones, and the women in Indy’s life, as well as The Birth of an Action Hero which is a storyboard sequence of the opening scene. I recommend buying this new DVD box set when it hit store shelves. Even if you have the old DVD box set that came out a few years back, this box set is a must own just on the new features alone. Well worth the buy especially if your a big fan of Indiana Jones.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
