Critics divided at 'Indiana Jones' premiere

Thousands of fans wearing fedoras lined the red carpet at Cannes for one of the most hotly-anticipated movie premieres of the year.

'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' was unveiled yesterday, ending a 19-year wait for the fourth part in the series.

Ageing star Harrison Ford insisted he was not concerned about the critical reaction to his latest adventure, saying the only people who mattered were the fans, but the critics were divided.

Some praised the comic book adventure, while others were distinctly underwhelmed.

The overall impression was of a film that was not truly bad, but failed to be brilliant.

Baz Bamigboye set the tone when he wrote in the Daily Mail: “Some of the blows hit their target – but unfortunately there’s no knock-out killer punch.”

Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian says there is “plenty going on the movie” including “one or two tremendous stunts and some very nasty giant ants”.

He gives the film just two stars however, writing that “despite some good-natured fun and one blinding flash of the old genius, this new Jones film looks like it’s going through the motions”.

David Gritten in the Telegraph was another who was less than impressed.

He writes: “He doesn’t wear the fedora with quite the same jaunty angle, his bullwhip doesn’t crack as smartly – and Harrison Ford looks all of his 65 years.

“It’s not that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, exhumed after 19 years to be the fourth in this series, is bad, exactly. But it’s undeniably creaky.”

James Christopher in the Times, however, was full of praise, giving the film four stars, saying this “fantastic Steven Spielberg adventure is a marvellous return to form for Professor Henry Jones Jr”.

He continued: “The curl of the top lip is unmistakable, and the humour is as pin-sharp as ever. But it needs to be, because Indy is punched and battered from one end of this rollicking film to the other.”

The Sun Online was also delighted with the result, saying: “If you are a genuine fan of Indiana Jones you are going to love the fourth instalment of what was the most popular movie franchise in the 80s.”

Although it felt the “spectacular sci-fi ending feels out of place with Indy’s earthy scepticism” the website was “glad that Spielberg and writer George Lucas have not massively altered a winning formula”.

The Daily Express calls it a “cracker”, with Allan Hunter writing that it “did not disappoint” and giving the film four stars.

Despite a “flat beginning” and first half that is all “dull story and cardboard machinations” Hunter says the film moves into top gear when it moves to Peru, with the highlight a “spectacular helter skelter chase through the jungle”.

Writing in the Daily Mirror, Joe Utichi warned “this isn’t quite the Indy we remember”, with the “human elements that made Indiana Jones the trilogy it was taking a back seat to today’s blockbuster demands”.

In the Independent, Kaleem Aftab said the answer to the big question of whether a 65-year-old Ford could still do the business was a “qualified yes”.

However, giving it just two stars, he writes: “Director Steven Spielberg’s penchant for schmaltz and the supernatural leaves a permanent scar on the franchise.”

'Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull' is released in Ireland on Thursday, May 22.