Movie Review: INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

2008

PG-13

"How much of human life is lost in waiting?"

-- Professor 'Ox' Oxley

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a 2008 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg that serves as the fourth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. Released nineteen years after The Last Crusade, this new adventure with Indiana Jones took a very different turn than its predecessors. The film opens on the 1950s, where an aged Indiana (Harrison Ford) has been taken captive by a group of Russian KGB operatives led by a Dr. Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). At gunpoint, Indiana helps the Russians steal a classified box from a secret warehouse, but he does not know exactly what the box's contents contain. After being returned home, he thinks himself done with the situation until a young man named Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) seeks him out to tell him that a mutual friend named Professor 'Ox' Oxley (John Hurt) has been captured by the same Russians in connection with the box they stole. The two make their way to South America to find Ox, and it is there that they learn that their friend had found himself caught in a plot to find a legendary city called Akator by using an equally legendary artifact known as the crystal skull. Indiana and Mutt start to piece together the puzzle that Ox has left for them, but the Russians are soon on their tail once again, eager to find Akator first.

I would like to start this post by telling you a story. I was a sophomore in college in Santa Cruz when Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hit theaters, and like most other Indy fans, I was rather excited to see it. So excited, in fact, that I made the trek down to the local theater for the midnight screening on opening night. The theater was sold out, and fans were lined up around the block to see Ford don the fedora for the fourth time, so you can imagine our audience's anticipation as we sat impatiently waiting for the opening credits to roll.

Fast forward to a little over two hours later, and you would have found me walking out of the theater talking nothing but trash about this film. After that first go-around, I hated it. I despised it. I though that Spielberg had found a way to destroy one of my childhood cinematic heroes. And for that, I was rightfully angry. It took me a few days, but after I thought about the film for a while, I started to come around and think that maybe it wasn't as horrendous as I had originally thought. I soon came home for the summer, and I had the chance to view the film again per my father's request, and seeing Kingdom of the Crystal Skull actually helped to open my eyes to its concepts and themes a little bit more.

I always hear quite a bit of opposition towards this film when I talk about it amongst my friends and my readers, and I can somewhat see their point. I am in now way going to spend hours here trying to convince you of why this film fits into the Indiana Jones canon - although I may save that project for a later date - but I think that I should at least tell you why I happen to enjoy the film. Because so many people did not like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, many actually forget that it managed to secure relatively positive reviews amongst the critical community. On Rottentomatoes.com, the film holds a seventy-seven percent approval rating and holds the following critical consensus:

Though the plot elements are certainly familiar, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still delivers the thrills, and Harrison Ford's return to the title role is more than welcome.

Even more indicating of the critical response is the film's score of sixty-five on Metacritic.com, which correlates to "generally favorable reviews." Still, so many of the fans have yet to come around, and I'm sure I know why.

Ultimately, it all boils down to the fact that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull does not measure up to its predecessors. Because those films set such a lofty bar, it would have been nearly impossible to reach that particular goal. Still, fans were deservedly spoiled by the first three installments, so why shouldn't they expect something the same, right? But enough of this vagueness. Let's talk about why I like this film.

For starters, I like the story. I think it's an original tale of something that an over-the-top archaeologist like Indiana Jones might actually find himself looking for. Sure, there are some snags here and there, but to be fair, none of the Indiana Jones flicks are perfect. They all have flaws here and there, and Kingdom just has a few more that it couldn't quite work out. But the storyline works well and flows incredibly well, and it manages to keep you wondering where it might actually be going. Let's be honest - did any of us really expect those climactic scenes in Akator? I think not, and I think that's why so many people have spoken out against it. But the story itself works and proves to be entertaining.

I also thought the cast proved to be effective as well. Ford does a fine job reprising his role from nearly twenty years earlier, and he plays the part to a tee considering how much he's aged. I also think that Blanchett was a good addition to the cast list, and her star power alone makes this one worth a gander. Some of my readers will know that I'm not much of a Shia LaBeouf fan, but after re-watching this today, I have to say that I'm not entirely turned off by his performance. It works well with the context of the story, and he's really not as central as I had remembered. John Hurt gives a fine performance in a supporting role, but it's so out there that I think most people overlooked it. Also be on the watch for decent supporting roles from the likes of Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent and Karen Allen, who returns as Marion Ravenwood.

At the end of the day, there's no way that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull can ever be compared to the rest of the Indiana Jones franchise. However, that does not make it a terrible film. I think it's a movie that polarized a lot of viewers at the time of its release, but by giving it another chance now, I think many of them might be able to see past their original insecurities. Ultimately, it's an entertaining romp through the Indy universe, and for that, I think we should all be glad.

Movie Review Summary

Grade: B

Should You Watch It? Yes

Movie Review: INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE

INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE

1989

PG-13

"You call this archaeology?"

-- Professor Henry Jones

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg that serves as the third installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. This film once again sees our hero, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) doing battle against the Nazis, who are once again on a quest to find a a famous Christian artifact: the Holy Grail. Indy is brought into the chase after wealthy artifact collector Walter Donovan (Julian Glover), who is funding an expedition for the Grail, tells him that his father, Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery), has gone missing whilst researching the Grail's whereabouts. Indiana immediately flies to Venice, Italy to pick up the trail where his father left off. He's joined by his close friend Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), and the two join forces with the young Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody), who had been assisting the elder Jones in his search. As the three dig deeper into the Grail legend, it becomes increasingly clear that there are many sides to the tale, both of the Grail and of the people on the journey.

Fans of the Indiana Jones franchise had to wait five years after Temple of Doom for The Last Crusade to hit theaters, but many of them found it to be quite the return to form. It definitely feels a lot more like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and many a fan greatly appreciated the switch back to that particular feel. I've always found to be The Last Crusade my personal favorite in the series, even if it's not necessarily the best of the bunch. There's something incredibly endearing about it as a movie, and it's entertainment factor is only matched by the franchise's first installment.

Part of the reason this film proves to be so good is the fact that we're getting what might arguably be the best screenplay in the franchise. On the one hand, we're getting a clever tale that rivals the quest for the Ark of the Covenant from Raiders, and the twists and turns with that part of the story make this one engaging and entertaining by themselves. It's some of the other facets, however, that push The Last Crusade over the top. The characterization provided by this particular screenplay is the best of the series by far, and for the first time since Raiders, we're given a true sense of being from the Indiana character. We're seeing multiple dimensions added to the character throughout the film, and by film's end, the audience can clearly see that he has changed. And he's not the only character who offers quite a spectacle. By introducing Indy's father into the series, we finally get to see the relationship between Henry Jones Sr. and Henry Jones Jr. We could've made a movie solely centered around that particular relationship, and it probably would've proved to be incredibly insightful and clever, but there's something even deeper going on here.

Although there's always been a facet of either religion or magic or mysticism or what have you in each of the Indiana Jones films, we never really get the sense that Indiana himself is starting to buy into all the hoopla. In Raiders, he merely understands the power of the Ark, but it's not as though he truly comes to respect it. In Temple of Doom, we get a look at an older, more pagan religion, so there wasn't really any sense of conversion on Indy's part. In The Last Crusade, however, there's a definite change in beliefs and ideas on the part of our hero. In order to complete his journey, he's almost required to go through a spiritual conversion, and that bit of personal growth is what makes this film all the more powerful. I know that I only hours ago stated that Temple of Doom was easily the most emotionally powerful of the Indiana Jones films, but after re-watching The Last Crusade, I think I have to change my opinion. With the spiritual change and the relationship between Indy and his father, there's no doubt in my mind that the screenplay allows for this one to take the emotional cake.

The strong characterization in the screenplay also allows for the actors to bring forth some fantastic performances. Of all the Indiana Jones films, I'd have to rank this as the best-acted by Harrison Ford, and a lot of it has to do with the aforementioned points of the script. It gave him the opportunity to flesh out Indy a little bit more than he had been able to do in the previous films, and for that, I think he owes the screenplay a debt of gratitude. It's also a pleasure to see the great Sean Connery on-screen, especially in what might be his most iconic role aside from his numerous portrayals of James Bond. The chemistry between Ford and Connery is so authentic that you'd even start to believe that they could be real-life father and son. They just work that well together. It's astounding, really. We're also getting some good performances from the likes of Doody and Donovan, who's more René Belloq than Mola Ram, and I think that works for the better. Also be on the watch for a short cameo from River Phoenix as a young Indiana Jones that proves to be rather entertaining. The only issue that I had with the acting was the performances by Denholm Elliott and John Rhys-Davies, who both reprise their roles from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Whereas they were both relatively serious characters in the first film, they seem to be more caricatures of themselves this time around. Now, this might be what the screenplay calls for, but it was just a little bit off-putting for me.

And, once again, we're getting a fantastic score from John Williams, who brings a lot of new pieces for this particular film to accentuate the march he established in the first film. One of my favorite pieces from this film is the score he gave to the Grail, which proves to be rather powerful and beautiful, in my opinion. Here's a snippet for your listening pleasure:

At the end of the day, I'd have to say that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is probably my favorite film in the franchise. Although it's not quite as good as the original Raiders of the Lost Ark, the characterization and spirituality of this film pushes it over the top in terms of personal preference. Ultimately, it's one of my go-to films whenever I need a pick-me-up because it just manages to blend all of its themes and tones together so perfectly. It's just a beautifully-made film, and I have to tip my hat to Spielberg for having the guts to give the Christianity bit another go-around. Kudos, good sir.

Movie Review Summary

Grade: A

Should You Watch It? Yes

Movie Review: INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM

INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM

1984

PG

"Fortune and glory, kid. Fortune and glory."

-- Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg that serves as the second installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. Although the film was released after Raiders of the Lost Ark, it actually serves as a chronological prequel to the original Indy adventure. After narrowly escaping a nightclub battle in Shanghai followed by a crash landing in the Himalayas, Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) finds himself stranded in India with his young partner Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan) and nightclub performer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw). They soon find themselves in a small Indian village that has become barren and destitute. Indy learns that the village has lost a sacred stone that kept life amongst the people and their crops and livestock. As Indy listens to the village leader's story, he learns that a group of people known as the Thuggee may have risen from the ashes and has come to inhabit Pankot Palace. These people worship an evil god called Kali-ma, and if they can find all five of the sacred stones, they will be able to unleash Kali-ma's wrath upon the world. Spurred by the thought of profiting from finding the stones, Indy takes Shorty and Willie to Pankot, where the three become more and more entangled in the dark and evil plot.

When one thinks of Temple of Doom, they usually think about how it's often considered the darkest of the Indiana Jones saga. While the first film managed to maintain a seeming lightheartedness throughout its run-time, Temple of Doom never shies away from the fact that we're being taken to a much darker place on this particular adventure. It takes a little while for us to reach the evil that will encircle our heroes, but once we reach it, it's an almost steady stream of pain and suffering.

The film's screenplay works on a couple different levels. It starts out in a seemingly similar fashion as the first film, giving us a little bit of a prelude to the action of the film's main story. This time, however, this little situation leads directly into the rest of the film's storyline, and in a way, the film's prologue sends Indy and his friends on their journey. From there, we get our adventure, but there's a very different feel to this one's storyline. While Raiders presented a screenplay that blended the drama, action and comedy together, Temple of Doom offers a story that presents each of those elements in a more choppy manner. In one scene, we'll be getting a bit of drama; in another, it'll be straight comedy; and in yet another scene, we'll be getting our action sequences, which are just as good - if not better - than those in Raiders. On occasion, the film offers scenes that intertwine drama and comedy well, but for the most part, we're only getting one or the other, and I think that hurts the film a little bit. There was one scene that I thought worked particularly well with combining drama and comedy, in that it keeps things lighthearted while still managing to further the storyline. Here's that clip, for your viewing pleasure:

That being said, when Temple of Doom manages to delve into its darkness, you can be sure that you'll be going as deep into the depths as you can possibly imagine. Although the movie manages to remain fun, we definitely have a bit of an emotional ride to take to reach the film's finale. Another difference between this film and Raiders is that we don't meet our central villain until halfway through the flick. In the first Indy film, we meet our villain at the outset, and we're able to form our feelings against him right away. Here, we have to wait it out, but the screenplay manages to create such a vile human being in Mola Ram that we almost instantly have to root against him. In this, I think Temple of Doom is just as effective as Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Part of the reason we're getting such a disparity between the different genres in the film is the cast the filmmakers chose for the film. We're getting our same Indy as in Raiders, as Harrison Ford isn't necessarily bringing anything terribly different to the table. Aside from what the screenplay calls for, it's the same man we grew to know and love in the franchise's first installment. The biggest changes are the additions of Ke Quan and Capshaw, who both provide a strong level of comic relief. As Indy's partner and romantic interest respectively, there's plenty of opportunity for each of them to shine opposite Ford, and they definitely take advantage of those moments. This film served as Jonathan Ke Quan's first film role, and he definitely stepped up to the challenge of appearing alongside such a big-time star as Harrison Ford. Also worth mention is Amrish Puri, who brings life to the villainous Mola Ram. With a significant lack of screen-time, Puri manages to create a character that's so terrible that, as I previously said, we instantly hate. That takes quite a bit of work, if I must say so myself. All in all, the cast works well.

At the end of the day, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom still manages to be quite the exciting adventure, and it fits well with the rest of the Indy franchise. Yes, it delves into some darker themes here and there, but at its base, it still manages to follow the very distinct Indiana Jones format. If anything, I think there's more emotion to this film than any of the other films in the franchise, and that says quite a bit for this one's accolades. Does it measure up to Raiders of the Lost Ark? Not quite, but it's pretty darn close.

Movie Review Summary

Grade: A

Should You Watch It? Yes

Movie Review: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

1981

PG

"I'm going after a find of incredible historical significance, you're talking about the boogie man. Besides, you know what a cautious fellow I am."
-- Indiana Jones

Raiders of the Lost Ark is an Academy Award-winning 1981 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg that serves as the first installment in the ever-popular Indiana Jones franchise. Renowned archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is approached by United States Army Intelligence after they intercept Nazi transmissions about an excavation in Cairo that may be digging in the lost city of Tanis in the hopes of finding the Ark of the Covenant. Because Jones has a penchant for acquiring rare artifacts and antiquities, the Army wants him to take possession of the Ark before Hitler and the Nazis can wield it as a weapon at the front of their own armies. To help in his quest, Jones makes his way to Nepal to find his old professor Abner Ravenwood, who is an expert on the city of Tanis. Instead of finding his mentor, however, Indy finds his daughter Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), with whom he had had a past romance. With the Nazis nipping at their heels, the two take one of Abner's Tanis artifacts and make their way to Cairo in the hopes of beating the Germans to the prize. Little do they know that the Nazis have enlisted the aid of one of Indiana's chief competitors in the French archaeologist Dr. René Belloq (Paul Freeman).

Ever since I was a child, I have been a bit of a fan of the Indiana Jones series, and to have the opportunity to review the original Indiana Jones adventure is quite a treat for me. It's going to be a little difficult not to be biased about reviewing this film because it has become so ingrained into my own consciousness; however, I think that so many people out there can probably say the same thing about this particular film franchise.

Let's start by taking a look at the cinematic landscape in which Raiders of the Lost Ark was released. By this time, Spielberg had made quite a name for himself with films like 1975's Jaws and 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Although both of those films had managed to garner both critical and audience endorsement, Raiders proved to be a different kind of film altogether. It marked Spielberg's first real foray into the action-adventure genre as he tried to bring to life a type of 1930s serial, and boy did he do it successfully. But more on that in a moment. We also need to understand the star-power of Harrison Ford in making Raiders a success. By this time, he had appeared as Han Solo in both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, so it goes without saying that he had become quite the household name. He had even had a bit of a cameo in 1979's Apocalypse Now. But it was the high-profile inclusions of Spielberg and Ford that made this film a must-see for many a film-goer back in 1981.

Raiders of the Lost Ark manages to succeed on a number of levels. First, we're getting a clever and original story that effectively keeps the audience engaged from the opening scene. By taking the Ark of the Covenent, a familiar artifact from the Bible, I think that a lot of people were able to relate with the story. This film proves to be very Christian-based in its mythology and storytelling, and because the Christian population (at least in the United States) is relatively high, you can be sure that many a viewer had some sort of previous knowledge of the Ark going into the film. Another reason the film works so well is that we're getting a very clear sense of good versus evil. Much in the way that Star Wars was able to establish the good guys and the bad guys quickly and clearly, Raiders manages to do the same with Indy and his adversaries. You can easily see the enemy in the form of the German Nazis, who have become almost synonymous with evil in the seventy years since World War II; however, I think the better differentiation between good and evil occurs in the opening scenes when we meet both Indiana and Belloq. It's immediately made clear as to which man has the higher moral fiber, and from that moment, we know for whom we should root. I also thought the dialogue was very well-written, and the characters are incredibly well-crafted. We easily get a sense of each character after only a few moments with them, and this ability to relate to the personalities on-screen only helps to bring the viewer in further.

I also thought that the cast performed rather well throughout the film. As one can imagine, this is Ford's show all the way, but he has some rather deft supporting actors that complement him quite well. I think Allen manages to keep pace with Ford's Indy, even if she goes a little over-the-top here and there. Freeman proves to be a fine central villain, bringing a little bit of brains to the antagonists side. He's not likely to be remembered as one of the better villains in cinematic history, but his Belloq is definitely worthy of at least an honorable mention. From there, we move onto some of the minor - albeit important - characters. We're getting a fun turn from John Rhys-Davies as Indy's friend Sallah as well as a pitch-perfect turn from Denholm Elliott as Marcus Brody, Indy's friend and boss. On the villainous side, I have to take the time to mention Ronald Lacey, whose creepy performance might be the most memorable in the film. Overall, however, the entire cast brings forth their A-game, making this quite the ensemble performance.

Raiders of the Lost Ark would go on to be nominated for eight Academy Awards, and it ultimately took home four Oscars: Best Art Direction; Best Visual Effects; Best Editing; and Best Sound. One of the categories it lost in, however, was for Best Original Score. Now, those of you who have been reading me for a while know that I will skip out on an opportunity to mention the great John Williams, and seeing as he composed the score for this film, I have to bring him up yet again. It's one of his better scores, and as with most of his work, it manages to fit the film perfectly. Here's the theme, for your listening pleasure:

At the end of the day, Raiders of the Lost Ark has become one of the most well-received and most-beloved films ever to be released. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb), which allows its followers to score the films they've seen, currently ranks Raiders as the 23rd greatest film of all time. The American Film Institute (AFI) currently lists it as the 66th greatest film. And Rottentomatoes.com currently gives the film a 94% approval rating based off critical reviews, and I will leave you with the site's critical consensus, which sums up my own thoughts on this brilliant piece:

Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.

Movie Review Summary

Grade: A+

Should You Watch It? Yes 

Happy Birthday, John Williams!

Today, we are celebrating the 80th birthday of five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams. Lauded as one of the greatest cinematic composers of all time, Williams has found a way to enter the collective public consciousness more often than any of his peers. While I could easily go through his list of work, I'd rather make this a more personal post. I've grown up listening to John Williams, and his work became a part of my life at an early age. I can remember listening to one of his "Greatest Hits" albums on family road trips, and it was from this particular CD that I garnered my initial appreciation for Williams's exceptional talent. My dad is just as taken by each John Williams score, so much so that he has associated a score with each of his three children. In his mind, I was given the score to the 1978 film, Superman, which has become one of my all-time favorites. The fact that this man has scored such iconic films as Jaws, Star Wars, the Indiana Jones series and, more recently, the start of the Harry Potter saga goes to show that he has quite a bit of range, and he is extremely well-respected throughout the Hollywood community. I mean, the man has nabbed a whopping forty-seven Oscar nominations in his career, bringing home the aforementioned five statuettes. There must be something brilliant about him, right? Most recently, we've heard his work in the 2011 films War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin, for both of which he received Oscar nominations. We'll next hear his work in the 2012 film, Lincoln. So, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my ten favorite of John Williams's film scores, and I've provided a snippet of each for your listening pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Mr. Williams. I look forward to hearing more of your work in the coming years.

10. War Horse
2011


*****

9. Schindler's List
1993


*****

8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2001


*****

7. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
1982


*****

6. Superman
1978


*****

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977


*****

4. Jurassic Park
1993


*****

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981


*****

2. Star Wars
1977


*****

1. Jaws
1975


*****

And now, for your added viewing pleasure, I've included a fan video entitled "Star Wars (John Williams Is the Man)" by Corey Vidal that became an overnight Internet sensation a few years back. I just love this video, and it truly serves as a real tribute to John Williams's composing prowess. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Steven Spielberg!

Today we're celebrating the 65th birthday of three-time Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg. After creating a number of short and made-for-TV films, Spielberg got his first hit with the smash box-office success Jaws in 1975. He immediately followed that film with his 1977 critical sensation, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In 1981, he introduced the world to Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, a film that has since spawned three sequels. He also brought forth other films in the 1980s like 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and 1985's The Color Purple. The early 1990s saw him bring the world Jurassic Park and Schindler's List, for which he won his first two Academy Awards. Five years later, he nabbed another Oscar for Best Director for 1998's Saving Private Ryan. His work has been a little more sparse since the turn of the millennium, and the last time audiences witnessed his directorial efforts was in the 2008 film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; however, he has two films debuting this month: The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse, both of which are sure to make a splash at the next Academy Awards. So, to celebrate this twelve-time Academy Award-nominee's birthday, I've created a list of my ten favorite Spielberg films. I hope you enjoy the videos! Once again, happy birthday, Steven!

10. Munich
2005


*****

9. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984


*****

8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1989


*****

7. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982


*****

6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977


*****

5. Schindler's List
1993


*****

4. Jurassic Park
1993


*****

3. Saving Private Ryan
1998


*****

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981


*****

1. Jaws
1975

Happy Birthday, Harrison Ford!

It's birthday time again, and this time, we've got a superstar on our hands. Harrison Ford turns 69 today, so I figured I'd give him the star treatment by making this post. Although I don't necessarily consider him one of the greatest actors of all-time, Ford has certainly stamped his place in cinematic history with continued roles like Indiana Jones and Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise. There was a period of time where one could argue that he was one of the most prolific actors on-screen, churning out movie after movie. During that time, he was definitely consistent, and although I think his level of acting has dropped a tad in recent years, he's still a pleasure to watch on-screen. As I normally do, I'm counting down my five favorite Ford roles in honor of his birthday. I hope you enjoy the list!

5. Bob Falfa
American Graffiti (1973)


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4. President James Marshall
Air Force One (1997)


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3. Dr. Richard Kimble
The Fugitive (1993)


----------

2. Han Solo
Star Wars (1977)


----------

1. Indiana Jones
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)


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You can next seen Harrison Ford in this summer's Cowboys & Aliens, which opens in the U.S. on July 29.

Favorites: ROLES PORTRAYED BY YOUNG ACTORS

As I'm sure you've all noticed that I have a little bit of an affinity towards making "favorites" lists, and I've broken down another for you all. This one's delving into my favorite performances by child actors. To make this list, an actor or actress had to be eighteen or younger at the time of the film's theatrical release. The age range on this list goes from a low of six years old all the way to seventeen years old. I've given my reasoning behind each pick, so hopefully that'll give a little more insight into my decisions. I hope you all enjoy this list!

25. Lydia Deetz
Played by: Winona Ryder
Beetle Juice (1988)
Age at Release: 16
Lydia is the only person in her family that's able to see a married pair of recently-deceased ghosts (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis), but that doesn't even begin to scare her off. Instead, she befriends the couple and helps them re-gain part of what was once rightfully theirs: their home. It's a little strange to see Ryder as such a young individual, but she brings a legitimate level of sass to the role, and that makes her character all the more charmingly hilarious despite her obsession with death.

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24. Enola
Played by: Tina Majorino
Waterworld (1995)
Age at Release: 10
Like the inclusion of the Mariner (Kevin Costner) on my favorite movie heroes post, I'm sure the use of Waterworld here will also spark some debate and criticism. It would take Majorino another nine years to return to the public's collective consciousness (she starred in the 2004 film, Napoleon Dynamite), but she does very well in a big-budget flick like Waterworld. Having to stand next to the likes of Costner and Dennis Hopper is no small assignment, but she holds her own against these two acting giants.

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23. Toby
Played by: Ed Sanders
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Age at Release: 14
When you've got a film that stars the likes of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen, you'd be hard-pressed to make any time for an unknown child actor, but Ed Sanders demands the forefront of the stage every time he steps on-screen. He gives little bits and pieces of his vocal chops early in the film, but he completely blew me away with his near-solo ("Not While I'm Around") - it's the first thing I think of when I think of him in this film. I just hope to see more of him in the future.

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22. Kenny
Played by: Cody Lightning
Manic (2003)
Age at Release: 16
When you've got a name like Cody Lightning, I would think that a lot might be expected of you, especially in the acting world. In Manic, he doesn't really give much of a spark (pun intended) to his character Kenny; instead, he draws it back and portrays a severely-depressed and traumatized teenager. It's hard not to fall in love with him from the first instant you see him - he's just that good.

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21. Carol Anne Freeling
Played by: Heather O'Rourke
Poltergeist (1982)
Age at Release: 6
I'd have to place Heather O'Rourke on the short-list for the "Creepiest Movie Child" award, considering her portrayal of Carol Anne in the family-friendly horror movie, Poltergeist. Something about her appearance and her voice has stuck with me since I saw the film, and the words "They're here" ring in the collective subconscious of many a soul. Sadly, this delightful young actress was taken from this world only a few years after the release of this film; she is sorely missed.

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20. Mattie Ross
Played by: Hailee Steinfeld
True Grit (2010)
Age at Release: 13
Stepping into Kim Darby's shoes couldn't have been easy, especially as your first on-screen role, but Steinfeld found a way to power through her performance as the tough-as-nails Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' remake of True Grit. I'm not the only one who took notice - she garnered an Academy Award nomination for her effort, and I personally had picked her to win the Oscar. She eventually lost the race, but I think we can all expect fantastic things from this one in the future.

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19. Hermione Granger
Played by: Emma Watson
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Age at Release: 11
I had my pick of the litter when choosing a young star from the Harry Potter franchise, but the sass and screen presence that Emma Watson brings to the screen is unmatched by anyone else in the series. I feel as though her character lost a little bit of that likability as the franchise continued onward, but she's so good in the first film that she's worth mentioning here.

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18. Rebecca 'Newt' Jorden
Played by: Carrie Henn
Aliens (1986)
Age at Release: 10
It took me a while to kick back and watch the sequel to Alien, and although I didn't nearly like this one as much as the first, there's definitely some strong points, one of which is Newt. She brings a fresh dose of much-needed comedy to a rather serious sci-fi action flick, all the while remaining a little mysterious and very creepy. Some of her lines will echo with you for a while, but just remember: "They mostly come at night... mostly."

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17. Juliet
Played by: Claire Danes
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Age at Release: 17
It's hard to imagine that Claire Danes was only seventeen when she went around chasing her own Romeo (in the form of Leonardo DiCaprio), but it's the truth. She exudes such an adult aura throughout the film that you forget that she's really still just a child. But that doesn't take away from her fantastic performance. It's easily one of her best to date.

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16. Olive Hoover
Played by: Abigail Breslin
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Age at Release: 10
You know you've got something special when a ten-year-old is landing an Academy Award nomination. Olive is just a little girl who isn't necessarily "beautiful" but beauty pageant standards, but she easily makes up for it with her spirit, her persistence and her undeniable love. Abigail Breslin is a true revelation in the role that put her on the map.

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15. Sheryl Yoast
Played by: Hayden Panettiere
Remember the Titans (2000)
Age at Release: 11
I know that Miss Panettiere has grown up into an incredibly beautiful young woman, but whenever I hear her name, I can't help but think about that sassy, football-loving tomboy in Remember the Titans (one of my personal favorite films, by the way). She kept everyone on her toes, and when you can match wits with the likes of Denzel Washington, you know you're doing something right.

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14. Mindy Macready / Hit-Girl
Played by: Chloë Grace Moretz
Kick-Ass (2010)
Age at Release: 13
There probably hasn't been another child actor so profane and bad-ass as Chloe Moretz's character in Kick-Ass, so she definitely needed to find a place on this particular list. It takes a little while to get used to her personality, but once it all sinks in, Hit-Girl takes the audience on a fast-paced, foul-mouthed ride.

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13. Lawrence 'Chunk' Cohen
Played by: Jeff Cohen
The Goonies (1985)
Age at Release: 10
Like the Harry Potter films, The Goonies also presented a slew of potential finalists for this particular list. However, I simply could not choose anyone over the lovable Chunk, if only for his magnificent Truffle Shuffle (partially pictured above). He's a little bit on the lame side, but he has a huge heart - and a huge appetite, for that matter - that helps his group of friends succeed in their quest towards finding One-Eyed Willie's treasure.

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12. Cole Sear
Played by: Haley Joel Osment
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Age at Release: 11
Another brilliant performance, another Academy Award nomination. No, Osment didn't take home the statuette, but he was up against the likes of Jude Law, Tom Cruise and eventual winner Michael Caine. His ever-creepy portrayal of a boy who sees dead people has lasted in my mind, and some of his lines - such as the aforementioned reference to seeing dead people - should live on in the public consciousness for quite a while.

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11. Ray Boyd
Played by: Jonathan Lipnicki
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Age at Release: 6
I know that he hasn't really been in very good films since his role in Jerry Maguire, but seriously, Jonathan Lipnicki is like the cutest little kid I've ever seen. I mean, he's smart and he's funny... What's not to love about little Ray? I can guarantee you'll fall in love with him from the second he comes on-screen. Guaranteed.

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10. Billy Maplewood
Played by: Rufus Read
Happiness (1998)
Age at Release: Unknown
I actually couldn't find any real information on Rufus Read, including his age at the time of this film's release. He only has one other credited feature film role (2000's Double Parked), which looks to be rather... okay, at best. But Read is damn-near brilliant in Todd Solondz's rather disturbing comedy. He portrays a young boy striving to gain his pedophile father's attention which, as you can imagine, ultimately proves a little too difficult.
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9. Ronnie
Played by: Bobb'e J. Thompson
Role Models (2008)
Age at Release: 12
I know I already talked about one child star who turned up the profanity for her role, but Role Models's Ronnie uses it a tad more effectively and maintains that childish charm about him. He's not as over-the-top as the aforementioned Hit-Girl, but his comedic timing allows him to stand toe-to-toe with comic icons Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott. Kudos, Mr. Thompson.

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8. Cherie Currie
Played by: Dakota Fanning
The Runaways (2010)
Age at Release: 16
There's no way that Dakota Fanning wasn't going to make it onto this list at some point - it was more a matter of choosing which role I should feature. Before 2010, I would have had a tough time choosing, but after her knockout role as Cherie Currie, there's absolutely no question in my mind. She provided her own vocals for the film, just adding to her overall list of talents. Watch for Oscars nods in the future for this one.

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7. Dorothy Gale
Played by: Judy Garland
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Age at Release: 17
I know what you're thinking: Judy Garland was only seventeen in The Wizard of Oz? I know she's supposed to be playing something close to that age in the film, but I always assumed she was little bit older. The fact that she was so young when she portrayed such an iconic role (and landed atop my list of favorite cinematic songs) makes her all the more impressive in my book.

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6. Paikea
Played by: Keisha Castle-Hughes
Whale Rider (2003)
Age at Release: 13
As far as childhood Academy Award nominees go, there's really none better than Keisha Castle-Hughes, who scored a Best Actress nomination for her role in the independent film, Whale Rider. Of all the Oscar nominees on this list, she's the only one who managed to nab one for a leading role, and she definitely deserved it. The weight of the film is placed upon her shoulders, and Castle-Hughes responded to the challenge and delivered a subtly brilliant performance that everyone should see at some point in their life.

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5. Eli
Played by: Lina Leandersson
Let the Right One In (2008)
Age at Release: 13
If you want to talk about being blown away by a character, you need not look further than the Swedish vampire flick, Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in). Of our two main leads, Leandersson truly steals the show, bringing a very quiet performance to the screen that goes against every other portrayal of a vampire I've ever seen. Perhaps that's what makes her so good in the film - she had the ability to take a character that breaks stereotypes and make it brutally beautiful.

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4. John Connor
Played by: Edward Furlong
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Age at Release: 13
How could I ever leave John Connor off this list? In his first ever screen role, Edward Furlong stood alongside the likes of Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger and proved that he was a force with which to be reckoned. I've only seen him in two other films since - 1998's American History X and 2011's The Green Hornet - but his role in the Terminator saga will always hold true as my favorite Furlong appearance.

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3. Wan 'Short Round' Li
Played by: Jonathan Ke Quan
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Age at Release: 12
In terms of outright comedy, you'd be hard-pressed to find a young actor who's funnier than Jonathan Ke Quan's "Short Round" in the second installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. In his first ever role - this seems to be slightly recurring, at the moment - he partners with Harrison Ford, arguably one of the biggest film stars in history, and keeps him honest throughout. That's tough to do as an adult actor, but for a rookie child actor to come in and do it so seemingly seamlessly is all the more impressive.

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2. Phoebe Lichten
Played by: Elle Fanning
Phoebe in Wonderland (2009)
Age at Release: 10
For those of you who didn't already know, Dakota Fanning has a younger sister named Elle who just might be a better overall actress. The reason I would even go out on that limb is because of her performance in Phoebe in Wonderland, where she portrays a little girl who suffers from a type of Tourette syndrome. At her very worst, she's fantastic in the role, and she even reaches brilliance in a number of scenes. I was completely blown away by Elle's disappearance into the character - it's rare to see a child actor go that far into a role, but she completely nailed it.

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1. Antoine Doinel
Played by: Jean-Pierre Léaud
The 400 Blows (1959)
Age at Release: 15
When a film ranks as highly as The 400 Blows (Les quatre cents coup) does on my list of greatest films of all time (it currently sits at #4), then there must be some reason for its incredible ranking. The movie has a brilliant screenplay, but none of it would matter if our lead didn't deliver. Considering our lead is a young teenager, I'm sure you could think of numerous causes of concern. However, Jean-Pierre Léaud, in only his second on-screen role, delivers the most brilliant performance by a child actor I've ever seen. It's subtle but truly inspiring. The fact that a few of his scenes were actually ad-libbed on the spot makes it all the more impressive. Léaud would go on to portray Antoine Doinel five more times, but I doubt he ever reached the level of brilliance he did the first time around.