Never mind what the naysayer highbrow critics had to say about it during its theatrical run: "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is one of the year's most thrilling adventures that was well-worth the 19-year wait. Sure, it's not as good as the original Indy adventure, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," but it measures up to the second-best film in the series, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

Taking place in 1957 -- appropriately 19 years after "The Last Crusade" -- "The Crystal Skull" finds Indy (Ford) and his new sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) as they are pulled out of a trunk of an Army transport car (driven by Russians in disguise) at the Area 51 secret holding facility in New Mexico -- the long-rumored holding place of such government artifacts including an alien corpse from the infamous Roswell spaceship crash of 1947.

As it turns out, the alien rumors were true and the Russians want to use the mind powers of the extraterrestrial to win its Cold War battle, headed by a psychic officer named Dr. Irena Spalko (Cate Blanchett).

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Escaping the bad guys and returning to his college professor gig, Indy is encountered by a young, motorcycle greaser with an attitude named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), who has information about Indy's imprisoned former colleague, Professor Oxley (John Hurt). Mutt learned of Ox from his adventurer mom, Marion (Karen Allen, in a wonderful reprisal of her role in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), who along with the professor were snatched in Central America while looking for a mystical crystal skull that is said to possess otherworldly powers. But there are other surprises in store for Indy, including the revelation that he and Marion have a lovechild together.

This fourth "Indiana Jones" installment has everything an Indy fan could hope for: It's fast-paced, funny and smart, and is brimming with energy and loaded with cliffhanger action. In addition to the action and a smart script, the new characters mesh well into the storyline, the settings are breathtaking, and the Mayan temple and pyramid sets are awe-inspiring.

With so much going on, "The Crystal Skull" inevitably has its faults. For the most part it's easy to get caught up in the action, except for the occasional waterfall dive that would be impossible to survive. Character-wise, Ford looks like he's having the most fun he's had his years as Indy, and he and Allen's rocky romance hasn't missed a beat in the 27 years that have passed between "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Crystal Skull."

As for the new characters, LaBeouf fits the bill well as Mutt, but Blanchett can be too over-the-top at times as the diabolical handlebar-mustache twitching turn as the main villain.

Although 19 years have passed, it's also refreshing to see that Spielberg hasn't forgotten the practical sensibilities that made the first three Indiana Jones films the classics that they are. He avoids using computer-generated effects whenever he can, giving a classic look to "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." But there's more to the film's look, there's the feel, and that's why Indy No. 4 has earned its place as a classic alongside the others. Let's hope that if there's another Indy adventure, it won't take 19 years to make.

DVD Features: The two-disc DVD set includes production diaries, multiple production featurettes and more. Noticeably absent is a commentary track by the filmmakers and/or the actors. (Paramount Home Entertainment)