Bayside resident Mark Metcalf is an actor who has worked in movies, TV and on the stage. He is best known for his work in "Animal House," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Seinfeld."
In addition to his work on screen, Metcalf is involved with the Milwaukee International Film Festival, First Stage Children's Theater and a number of other projects.
He also finds time to write about movies for OnMilwaukee.com. This week, Metcalf weighs in on "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which opens in theaters today and is expected to be a major summer blockbuster.
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
I thought that was a rather clunky title. First of all, it has too many words to it. In addition, it reminds me of the title of the second Indiana Jones movie, "The Temple of Doom," which didn't work at all well. Finally, the repeated "k" sounds put me off because they are so hard and aggressive.
It turns out that the title is perfect. This is a great, rollicking, comic book of a movie and the purity of that title -- as big, awkward and cumbersome as it first appears -- is that it is the perfect entry ramp to this ride of a lifetime.
And, it is about a lifetime; Indiana Jones' lifetime of service to the truth, and to honor, and to doing it the hard way; which is often the way of the United States of America.
It has been 19 years since Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford got together to make an Indiana Jones film and in those years, Indy has had many adventures that are explained in the first part of the film.
They are adventures that I wish I had gotten to see. Indy was a spy for the U.S. government with the OSS during WWII. He worked for the government bringing back artifacts and evidence from around the world -- evidence that the powers that be do not want the public to know about. That is how he ends up in a pickle at the very beginning of the movie.
It's 1957, and the Russians are the Red Menace at home and soon to be the Evil Empire abroad. There is much to be feared and only knowledge can protect us and Indiana Jones has the knowledge, and the fearlessness, and the good old American gumption to get us through the rough patches. Even though he is a whole lot creakier in the joints and longer in the tooth than he once was.
Every moment and every inch of every frame in this movie is packed with very funny and affectionately pointed references to the 1950s in America, to cryptic knowledge of the spiritual and paranormal and to the previous three films. The thing that has made every one of the "Indiana Jones" films work is self-knowledge. They are always aware, and make sure that we are aware that they are aware, that they not only know what they are doing but that they are having a great, fun time doing it.
American movies are popular entertainment. And "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is the quintessence of entertainment. There are constant surprises. The action never stops moving forward. A universe is created where, as we have always believed in this country, anything is possible and then every mind blowing, jaw-dropping thing proceeds to happen.
The hero's motives are as pure as they can be, yet he is enough of a realist, or perhaps cynic, to understand that everyone else's probably aren't; but he isn't righteous about it.
And boy, oh boy, can he take a beatin'.
Even the villain's motives have a certain purity about them. She seeks only knowledge. But she gets a little too greedy and the means to her end are too messy. Indy seeks a simpler life and in the end he gets exactly what we all seek ... but that would be giving away too much.
And the answer we get to the really big questions about this universe, this constantly moving, abruptly changing, seemingly out of control, adrenaline pumping, free fall of a universe, is what it has always been in the best of Steven Spielberg's films. The heart and imagination of a child will lead you through, will carry you through, of a child or of those we sometimes, out of fear of the unknown, think of as mad.
And, thankfully, blessedly, we are not alone.
Mark Metcalf is an actor and owner of Libby Montana restaurant in Mequon. Still active in Milwaukee theater, he's best known for his roles as Neidermeyer in "Animal House" and as The Maestro on "Seinfeld."
Originally from New Jersey, Metcalf now lives in Bayside.
