Every Indiana Jones Movie Ranked Worst To Best (Including Dial Of Destiny)
3. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Released in 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade marked a return to the formula of Raiders of the Lost Ark after the controversial Temple of Doom, bringing back the original's globetrotting vibes, Nazi bad guys, and powerful Judeo-Christian artifact for Jones to battle for. While its reiterative qualities are mildly disappointing, The Last Crusade boasts a secret weapon that near-enough dispels any doubts over its direction: Sean Connery, who was cast perfectly against type as the bookish and distant Dr. Henry Jones Sr - Indiana's father.
Mythic dad movie cinema, The Last Crusade is the safest and most indulgent of Spielberg and Lucas' original trilogy, but it also boasts a strong emotional core, the best action set-pieces in the series, Williams' most enchanting compositions, and one of the hardest match cuts ever - where young River Phoenix Indy transitions into a bloodied but defiant Harrison Ford.
Along with Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade is a wonderful film, and for the longest time was my favourite of the series. It remains the most rewatchable, I think, due to its easy-going approach and the Ford-Connery dynamic, but there is a part of me that wonders what it may have looked like had Temple been looked upon more kindly when it released.
The Last Crusade is still highly entertaining - in many ways the pinnacle of Spielberg's blockbuster abilities alongside Jurassic Park - and I would dread to lose the beautiful father-son story it gave us, but it feels safe in a way the previous two Indiana Jones films did not.
Nothing beats that tank sequence, though.