Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Soundtrack) by John Williams - Review

It's Not the Years. It's the Mileage.
Review by Christopher Coleman

Director Steven Spielberg was somewhat nervous in showing INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008...and with good reason. Indiana Jones has become an undeniable, cinematic, icon. The films of the original trilogy are among the most beloved films of the 80s and remain so to this day. Bringing the franchise back some 20 years later was a risky venture. Would an aging Indy still appeal to the generation who first fell for him? Would bringing a feisty-son-sidekick, attract the generation born since RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK first thrilled audiences in 1981? Valid questions. Now, for the film music community, another equally valid question has been whether composer John Williams could recapture the adventurous magic he helped to create decades ago.

JOHN WILLIAMS still is, and will likely ever be, "the maestro," but there's no denying his style has continued to evolve since his classic, symphonic scores from late-seventies and early-eighties. For myself, and perhaps a few others who were raised on Williams and his unforgettable works for Steven Spielberg and George Lucas might agree, it's hard to say that the latter-day-Williams is as "fun" to listen to. When it came to the prequel trilogy of the STAR WARS saga, those expecting the same musical magic found in the original trilogy, were, to varying degrees, let down. The same magic just wasn't there. It may be that it was an impossible, self-created, standard for John Williams to live up to. Whether it was by Williams' choice, Lucas', or some combination,...the musical experience of the Star Wars prequel trilogy just didn't live up to first three. Now, with this INDIANA JONES revival, we are faced with the same issue. There's no question as to whether Williams would be able deliver a decent score for THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, but rather would he rise up to the level of quality and deliver flat-out, iconic, film music once again.


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