Unadulterated fun that thrives on a born-for-the-role Ford, an adorable and lovable Ke Huy Quan, and action that's a pure, cinematic marvel
There's never just an action sequence for the sake of action as spectacle. There's always layers that add to the sense of danger, and Spielberg is able to block it all out in a way that adds the perfect amount of dread and suspense
In the opening fight, there's a scramble for the antidote. As the spiked ceiling nearly crushes our heroes, there's thousands of bugs. Atop a rickety bridge, there's hungry crocodiles waiting below. Time and time again, this film manages to one up itself with just pure madness
Sure, it slows down a bit more in a way the predecessor rarely does, but each sequence is jam packed with beauty and thrills
When Indy is being tortured and he emerges from the shadows into the fiery light? That is that GOOD shit
The orchestral chants as Indy grabs the Sankara stones for the first time? THAT GOOD SHIT
Some not very good shit is the fact Karen Allen was replaced with Willie, who merely serves as a character to be rescued constantly, but hey, you can't win them all
Still, it's an adventure with Indiana Jones, and it doesn't really get much better than that