Holy Crusaders

Rating: 10/10 (5 March 2020)

This is one of my favorite films of all time and it's my second favorite in the Indiana Jones franchise.
I really like the plotline which makes sense just as the Ark of the Covenant was a lost holy relic it makes sense that the Holy Grail would be next. This one is a little different because it's not just a matter of finding it but it's a race against evil, as they want the grail for nefarious purposes. The fact this evil force are the greatest scumbags in history the Nazis just more makes us want Indy and his fellow crusaders to win.
The music is great, of course the score is by John Williams one of my favorite composers, this sequel has the usual trademark theme, but I like thought the film there are lots of memorable and beautiful scores. From the usual theme to certain other tracks like when the bad guys show up in the action and suspense sequences.
The action is great there are a lot of fun memorable sequences. One of my favorites are the tank which to me is one of my favorite battles of all time. I really like how it's divided into steps almost like a level in a video game where in step one, Indiana has to find a way to get close and board the tank while trying not to get blown away, step two it becomes a moving platform battle as Indiana fights of some of the Nazi that board to get him off, and step three Indiana has to fight off the Nazi Colonel whom is like the boss of the level.
But I also really love most of the suspenseful moments, from one really good sequence which was both suspenseful and funny where both Indy and his father Henry are in a stick situation that just goes from bad to worse as both are tied up on chairs and their trying to free themselves and get the heck out.
Even the three challenges is great which is one of the most suspense sequences ever, I remember literally being on the edge of my seat and actually worrying for Indy's life as he is forced to go thought the deadly gauntlet of traps, with the three clues in the journal as his only defense. Like in one sequence when it got to the second challenge which is sort of like the board game "Password" only you can die if God Forbid you step on a wrong letter. Once I saw Indiana Jones about to make a mistake I remember yelling "Noooo!"
But also, what really powers the film are both Indiana Jones and his father Henry. This really makes this film different from the other Indy films because this plays out a bit like a buddy cop film, which makes sense as the 80's were big with that subgenre with "Lethal Weapon" and others. Its kind of cool and fitting that Sean Connery plays Indy's dad as the actor is well known for playing the Iconic pulp hero James Bond, so James Bond is Indiana Jones dad, well sort of. However we don't see Sean doing any fighting, which makes sense story wise as Henry is an archaeologist but not a trained fighter like his son, but I like despite being an ordinary guy with ordinary powers he does hold his own against danger and helps his son out anyway he can, like any good father should.
I really love the back and forth between both, it's sort of a bronze and brains relationship as Indiana is the one that does the most ass kick while Henry does the most thinking along the way. Really like seeing both clash with one another as both give each other grief intentionally though most of the time unintentionally, but also get along and work well with one another, much like the relations with our own parents. I also like how we see slight differences and similarities between both of them, which is true with all of us that have grown up with some similarities and traits of our parents but we significant differences which make both them and ourselves our own people.
From the fact that both have a fascination with archaeology but Indiana's despite his knowledge in archelogy his approach is more direct, on the field and learning more along the way. Henry is a more laid-back approach as he knows more thoroughly he's a guy that sits down and takes his time researching and thinking before applying. I can emphasize with both these things as I feel I do a little of both.
But what I really love about his film is it has heart; the film is sort of a Christian movie which is fitting as they are finding a lost artifact from the Christian faith. But it has some theme like in faith not so much in God but in yourself. Really like that we get a little of Indiana's stance in the Christian faith; he is a Christian but not a highly practiced one which is understandable as he's invested most of his time in his field of science Archaeology and with his expeditions it's not like he has time to go to church, let alone the fact wherever he goes it's not like there is a Church around.
But also, about family as we see Indy throughout the adventure at the same time is mending his relationship with his father. Both have a bit of a strained relationship, most of this caused by Indy's father's lifelong pursuit of the grail which may have caused a certain amount of dissonance. We see some of that in the beginning of the film of a young Indy played well by the late River Phenix, that sequence was fun on it's own as it was way before the notion of prequels and was a bit of a set up for that TV series "Young Indiana Jones" which I feel is an under the radar gem.
It's really touching as both throughout the adventure we see both actually growing closer, which makes us all the more care for both characters and hope both will succeed in both their mission and relationship with each other.
Sometimes real treasure is closer than we think.
Rating: 4 stars