I sneaked an early peek at Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last night...

Go see it. Yes, you were were already going to do that, but I wanted to cast off those last few doubts you might have about enduring an older, slower Geriatra Jones. He didn't show up.

The man that showed up had a whip, a gun, a fedora, an encyclopedic melon and plenty of attitude. He's agile, he cracks wise, he's tanned, he's rested, he's ready, and he'll pop you in the grill for looking at him sideways.

Remember him?

Han Solo ain't old just because of a few wrinkles around the edges, and neither is Indy. Harrison Ford made a great show of it. The action sequences were completely up to par, and inventive. That same sweeping, falling-down-a-mine-shaft pace we've loved in every Indiana Jones flick was fully engaged in this one.

And Shia Lebouf keeps up with his whip-wielding senior and adds a dab o' James Dean. Together, it's Indiana Jones meets Amerian Graffiti. It's the best of Lucas and Spielberg, in other words. There might have been a couple of spots in the movie when I leaned over to my pals and whispered my prediction for the next twist, but it didn't bother me any, and they didn't see it coming. I only saw it coming because hey, I, like you, have my Indy movies inches away from my Star Wars saga on DVD. So we know some of the original formula. But I was still surprised as the movie snaked it's way (yes, there were snakes. I hate snakes!) through to its oh-so-Indy conclusion.

There were plenty of allusions to the earlier films and one really well-thought out twist regarding the government wharehouse where we last saw the Ark of the Covenent. Will you see it again? hmmm...dunno kid.

There was even a few Star Wars cracks. Look for that famous line in every SW flick we all know and love. There was even a veiled tribute to a whiney Luke in ANH.

So, you heard it here. I've seen, well heard of, a review that retreated from fully enjoying the movie for all of its charms, most notable for the many references to the earlier three movies. But the majority will agree with me - its got the authentic stuff. Me, I wanted those allusions, I wanted those inside jokes - jokes that our former teenage selves got the drift of right away. I even saw the movie in the same theater I saw Return of the Jedi in when I was 14. Nice touch, Dark Self :0)

Go see it. Don't wait. You'll see what I mean. Indy is still there, waiting for you to go on the next adventure.

DM out