It’s unfortunate when you read and hear so many reviews of a film before you see it and gain a dissatisfied opinion before even reaching the drive-in. However, I do prefer my own opinion and the chance to view the delivery with my own my eyes. So I paid my dollars and settled in to at least give it a chance that so many appeared to failed to have done, looking around the half empty location.

My good lady and I exchanged a few ‘well it appears okay to me’ views during the initial fifteen minutes, so it looked like we were set to stay. Others had different ideas and unless it wasn’t other ideas taking people home, several cars left before the end so they’ll never know what happened, unless of course, they guessed, which was perfectly easy. There was just the one twist which almost twisted back, but stayed where it was. Otherwise, it was pretty much as we’d expected from an Indy film.

For those not in the know: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a new adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. Now there are two names to ensure people park their rears in the cinema. Set in 1957, the fourth film in the Indiana Jones film series pits an older Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in opposition to the KGB of the Soviet Union, led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), in the search for a crystal skull. Indy is helped by his former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), the greaser “Mutt” Williams (Shia LaBeouf), and fellow adventurer Mac (Ray Winstone). John Hurt and Jim Broadbent also play fellow academics.

Harrison Ford plays the role just as we’d all expect, no more, no less; a highly competent delivery. A few jokes, but not so many about his age as other reviewers had stated. Those same reviewers also reflected upon Cate Blanchett’s performance, but I thought she again played it exactly as expected; if she’d been in an older Bond film, people would have said the girl had prepared and played it well.

A special word for Ray Winstone; he’s reached the select category now that if he’s in a film, you must get to see it, it’ll probably be good. Here he continues his fine acting performances with yet another on target role, most suited for him.

Here’s the rub; the film is okay, just okay. The action scenes don’t have you out of your seat. The long intervals between action scenes (commonly known as the dialogue that links one set of action to the next) are too long and leave you waiting. The script is okay, but the story lacks any real bite, but that’s okay; it’s an Indy film and we know what to expect.

If they make a Lethal Weapon 5, I won’t bother after almost falling asleep through 4, but if the Indy team go for number 5, I’ll give it a try, but it might be my last one.

It lacks the punch of the first three and maybe they’ve made one too many.

4 stars****

Jodie Foster just has to be one the best actors currently working. I may have to add the word ‘ever’ to that phrase soon, or perhaps I should already before she’s even reached fifty. She works in an elite group, along with Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine; you know their performance on screen will be completely incredible, at worst.

Foster brings another side of her acting quality to this film; comedy, which she doesn’t get to use very often in her high drama movies.

Abilgail Breslin marks a brilliant position in taking the lead role in this film. She has already turned over the ten film mark before reaching her teens, and will be pleased to observe that Ms Foster’s movie making route took a similar course.

Nim, looks for assistance from the author of her favourite adventure book series when her father, a scientist, goes missing. Nim lives on an island in the South Pacific. Alexandra Rover, the author (as in Alex Rover whom Nim thinks is a man) is living in San Francisco and suffers from agoraphobia. The writer overcomes her fears and sets out to look for Nim while Nim attempts to overcome her fear of losing her father. It’s a film for all ages so everything will be okay in the end. It’s a Hollywood movie!

The film is suitable for all ages; my 5 year old enjoyed it and while she wasn’t scared, she was slightly worried at some parts of the film.

It moves along at a good pace; the animals are marvelous in their co-staring appeal. They’re particularly helpful when a ship full of tourists try to borrow the private island.

Nicely photographed throughout, the editing is excellent as is the script which brings the package together nicely for the marketing people.

The only reason it gains just three stars is because it tries to appeal too much to all ages. The end comes too quickly and too easily. We almost missed the formulaic ‘ooh-er’ moment just before the end. However, Jodie Foster is wonderful, in case you didn’t get that first time.

The update is here

4 stars****

I missed this at the cinema, but I wish I hadn’t. It was on my long list to see, but time beat me so it was handy winning this DVD in a movie competition.This is a brilliant mix of assassin and comedy; a blend not usually brought together so effectively.Ben Kingsley stars as the assassin with a problem – he’s an alcoholic. He goes to AA meetings and tells the assembly that he’s Frank, an alcoholic and he kills people. Only his drinking is getting in the way of his performance so his bosses have sent him for treatment so he can turn himself around and get back to the killing.

Sir Ben turns in an extremely comic role mixed with the audience’s belief that he could very well be an assassin. He’s returned to his skills from the outstanding Sexy Beast.

The second star of the show is Téa Leoni. Her role lulls you into a sense of a tough woman who accepts being the girlfriend of a paid killer far too easily – can’t she find a normal boyfriend? However, her acting skills gradually turn her around to be a loving partner, supporting Kingsley as he goes through his drinking problems, while she finally helps him on one of his murder missions.

Of course it’s too unbelievable; it’s meant to be, but underneath there’s always the sneaky feeling that it just might be based on a real story and some hearsay.

Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have squeezed a quality result into their 89 minutes of screenplay. They have managed several successes here; to keep the movie flowing along, no breaks for being bored and gaining sympathy with a killer, for the audience. They’ve created marvellous dialogue for those of us who haven’t yet been assassins; this is probably what we’d expect to have to say if we take up that occupation. No doubt a full time assassin can tell us with their comments on this movie review.

I’m told that the AA meetings are extremely realistic as are the hilarious scenes in the mortuary (they’re not to be missed) where Frank works. When you mix the two we see the writers have prepared their research well and turned in a very good creation.

We all know Sir Ben Kingsley’s first class acting past, however; I must source some more Téa Leoni movies as she’s punched above the level with this film so must see what else she’s completed.

Great fun in the dark side of life.

3 stars***

Been to the drive in.

Watched it.

Entertained reasonably. I wasn’t bored, but I wasn’t absorbed.

Well acted.

Well filmed and edited.

It was satisfactory. I wouldn’t rush to see it again, on television or on DVD.

I can’t see why it scores so highly elsewhere. It must be my personal opinion, then.

I preferred it to the last Spiderman and the last Fantastic Four, but I did enjoy the last Die Hard and the last Bourne.