Review of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) by Jaime R — 07 Jun 2014

After revisiting all the films, it seems undeniable that Last Crusade is the best of the franchise, slightly surpassing Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's a more mature effort all around in a sense, with fully refined characters, consistent humor, and just the right balance between story and action. It has a stronger narrative than either Raiders and, certianly, Temple, while not sacraficing any of the trailblazing, swushbuckling, action/adventure sense of the first two. Despite having Nazi villians again, it doesn't feel stale, it feels fresher. The way the clues are laid out, the way the story unfolds, hooks the audience in more than the previous two. The other noticable aspect that distinguishes Last Crusade is the dynamic between both Ford and Connery, who have a fantastic chemistry, and represent what feels that an authentic relationshiop. That, and the more complicated character of Alison Doody, give the film both a lighter tone than Temple, yet a more nuanced air than Raiders.

The action, the characters, the writing, the direction, everything is exactly pitch perfect. A brilliant effort and a masterpiece almost-capstone.

5/5 Stars.