The Last Crusade

Writing: 10/10

Direction: 10/10

Cinematography: 9/10

Acting: 10/10

Editing: 9/10

Sound: 10/10

Score: 10/10

Prod design: 10/10

Casting: 10/10

Effects: 9/10

Overall Score: 9.2/10

The Last Crusade is an effective counterpoint to the original with its emotional vulnerability. It's got clear stakes, meaningful plot devices, detective work, twists, gravitas, and character-driven relationships, as a great sendoff to Indy. It conveys themes of masculinity, family, approval, morality and acceptance. It's a retread of Raiders but its flawless execution with a great arc to Indy and its family relationships saves it from being a rehash. The cast is perfect with Harrison Ford and Sean Connery giving it the emotional core and Alison Doody being a great twist on the Indy Girl formula.

On a technical level The Last Crusade knocks it out of the park. It has exciting set pieces with dynamic camera movement and precise editing with match cuts, montages and inserts. It's imagery uses framing, lighting, composition for creating colorful environments. It's music blends new motifs and different tones. The production design is globetrotting and detailed. The effects offer stunts, composites, miniatures, prosthetics, makeup, CGI and iffy green screens. Hence The Last Crusade is the pinnacle of blockbuster cinema and action filmmaking.