Movie of the Week: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

What a valentines treat! My wife was willing to watch this, one of my favorite films of all time, with me as our Valentine's activity.
It's hard to say that that this is Spielberg's finest, because he has directed such a fine array of films over the years. But, because of the content of the story, this remains my favorite of his. It's spiritual, heartfelt, family oriented, action-packed, and hilarious!
There are three scenes/sequences that really define the heart of the this movie and show why I love it so much.
First, there's the beginning scene where young Indy (wonderfully played by the tragically deceased River Phoenix) finds a group of tomb raiders and self-righteously takes it upon himself to make sure the Cross they are stealing gets to a museum. The most fascinating part of this 'ride' that Spielberg takes us on is the character actor they get to play the head tomb raider: he is wearing the exact fedora and bomber jacket that Indy himself wears later in life. The fellow even tries to act and nuance like Mr. Harrison Ford! This shows such a great contrast to his father who is nothing like the adventure-driven archaeologist we have come to know and love. It's as if we are being told that Indy got the brilliant bookworm knowledge from his father, but his swashbuckling attitude/thirst from somewhere else.
Second is the scene where Indy and his father are about to go to Berlin to get the diary. At this point Indy takes our Lord's name in vain, and his father slaps him followed soon thereafter with the phrase: "That's for blasphemy." The ensuing conversation about why they need to find the Grail shows that it IS much more black and white than any other adventure they have been on before. This really hits home for me, because at this point Indy starts taking things much more seriously. This is no longer a random adventure like a James Bond movie: It's for keeps. This scene and along with the book burning in the next scene touched emotions in me so (both good and ill).
The final scene that defines the picture was when Indiana was about to fall to his death, trying to reach the Grail. At this point his father is trying to pull him up, and without success. Finally his father calls him, for the first time, "Indiana." This gets his attention and seals their rocky relationship with a bond of love that even the life-long obsession of Henry Sr. (The Holy Grail) cannot get in the way.

Overall I really do have to give this a perfect 5/5 stars. It still remains at the top of my list with The Two Towers and Miracle.