Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ( * * * * )

A serviceable capper to the trilogy, but somehow they think they can get money by beating a dead horse and doing a fourth one. I don't see how unless Indy's son is in it and he grows a beard and plays the kick-ass old man role Sean Connery perfects in this film, which comes across as an ironic send-up of his James Bond persona as much as anything else. Excuse me while I shake my fist as Hollywood. Okay, I feel better.

The Acting: What a great father-son duo, brought to life by the inimitable Jeffrey Boam's script. There's a fantastic cameo by Admiral Ozzel as Hitler and Denholm Elliot and John Rhys-Davies reprise roles from the first movie. Julian Glover is the villain, and he played one of my favorite characters in The Empire Strikes Back--the no-nonsense General Veers. Alison Doody is easily the hottest and most treacherous Indy chick.

The Story: Indy must team up with and tolerate his father to find the Holy Grail of artifacts...the Holy Grail. Once you've done the Ark and the Grail, there's nowhere to go but down. What're they gonna do, Spear of Destiny? Boooring. Atlantis? Lame. Shangri-la? Boring and lame. They're best bet? Don't even call it Indiana Jones 4--just call it Raiders of the Lost Ark 2 and bring the fucking Ark back. Last I heard it was in the hands of top men. Who? Top...men.

The Direction: Speilberg knows how to stage a horse and tank chase across the desert as well as anyone. Nice job.

Overall: Nice...job.

Tredekka Rules:

• Rule 6: Over The Top Acting Award--I never really liked Sean Connery pre-Hunt for Red October, mainly because I hate old James Bond shit. This is my favorite role he's done. That one word, "Junior!" sums up an entire father-son relationship and makes an iconic character--Indy--even better. +1 star. Also, +1 star goes to River Phoenix, who does the most dead-on impression of another actor I've ever seen as the scowling, deadly-serious and seriously earnest boy scout persona of Henry Jones Jr.
• Rule 22: The Great Entrance Award--when we first meet Henry Jones, he's busting a vase over his son's head, then lamenting the fact that the vase appears to be from the Ming Dynasty. That's class. +1 star.
• Rule 40: I Love It When Americans Mouth Off To Nazis. When Dr. Jones senior scolds the "goose-stepping morons" about buring books instead of reading them, I had to laugh. You-ess-ay! +1 star.

Tredekka Score: ( * * * * )