Even Indiana ages

Get over it. People age. Even Indiana Jones. So in the almost 20 years since he last donned the fedora, the archaeologist has begun to run a little slower, jump a little less, and look a little more like one of those mummified bodies he's always digging up.

But time hasn’t eroded the mischievous smile, dried up the deadpan wisecracks, or lessened the thrill of seeing the man punch, whip and (almost) leap his way to the treasure, leaving a trail of kicked baddie ass behind him.

Simply, Harrison Ford's still got it — or, at least, most of it. The 65-year-old actor quite literally throws himself back into the iconic role — you can see the whites of his eyes in the midst of the most outlandish stunt sequences — without ignoring the passing of time. Ford's insistence on wearing that stupid black earring is the only indication he's still clinging to his youth, but otherwise there's been no trip to Paul McCartney's hair colourist, and a self deprecating comment about his age is never far from the actors' lips.

It’s something the filmmakers have wisely embraced — David Koepp's screenplay calls Indy everything from "grandpa" to "80 years old" — by setting the latest adventure some two decades after his last outing. They've freshened up the franchise in the process. In 1957 he's still a seemingly dull university professor, hopelessly inept at lecturing, still scared of snakes; but the new decade allows series masterminds George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to explore a whole new world. So, Jones and young sidekick Mutt Williams seek their lost mutual friend Professor Oxley (John Hurt) against the disturbing backdrop of Roswell, Area 51, the atomic bomb, mind control, and the Cold War. No Nazi's then. But their replacements, the Russians led by a seductively menacing Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), are no less vigilant in their quest for ancient artefacts, and no less restrained when it comes to pursuing our kind doctor.

Those pursuits, as with previous adventures, provide most of the action in 'Crystal Skull'. And there are plenty of them, wisely created with minimal use of CGI they clearly evoke the heart-stopping chases of years gone by. But there's something missing. 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' had the giant rolling rock. 'The Last Crusade' had the epic punch-up on horses and tanks. Even the otherwise rubbish 'Temple of Doom' had the high-speed rollercoaster in the mines. This one has nothing quite so iconic.

Still Lucas' tale features enough excitement, intrigue and betrayal to ensure that the two hours pass in the crack of a whip. Even the trademark finale in the depths of some long-hidden tomb passes without a hitch — despite the huge potential for embarrassment. But that’s more testament to the thrill-ride storytelling skills of Spielberg than Koepp's script. With the input of several big names from M Night 'The Sixth Sense' Shymalan to Frank 'Shawshank Redemption' Darabont rejected over the past decade, you’d have expected perfection. Instead the occasionally creaky plot is in periodic need of a Zimmer frame and has the tendency to repeat explanations — not unlike a doddering old man who's forgotten he's already told you a story. Quite appropriate then...

Senior moments aside, 'Crystal Skull' is that rare blockbuster with real spirit, charm and character — you can almost see the sweat that went into making it. From the irresistible score to Shia LeBeouf's hands-on turn as Mutt, there's a genuine sense of joy and adventure. But that's what we've come to expect from Dr Jones — no matter how old...