The Indy trailer's here! The Indy trailer's here!

Did I mention the Indy trailer is here?

You can catch at the official site. And if you go there, make sure you're not at the office with the speakers turned up, because you WILL get hit with some very familiar John Williams music. And if you're a child of the 80s, like me, it will give you chills, raise your spirits, and take you back to a simpler, more magical time in your life. And it will feel fantastic.

I still feel that "Raiders of the Lost Ark" stands as one of the greatest films ever made. It somehow combined all the perfect elements...character, setting, adventure, action, chills, awe, humor...and made something that still, in my opinion, has not been replicated. I remember seeing that movie in the theater when I was visiting my father for the summer down in L.A., and we went with the woman he was dating at the time. For them...probably just another movie. For me? It was a life-changing moment. I think it was right then when I truly realized the power of film, and its ability to transport you to another time and place and take you on the ride of your life. Not dissing Star Wars here, but I think in 1981 I was just old enough to truly appreciate it.

I am a fan. I'm also a realist. As much as I love that film, I am not Kool-Aid drinker. It stands on its own. Its sequels? Uh... Not so thrilled. "Temple of Doom" was pretty much crap, in my opinion. While "Last Crusade" was definitely an improvement, it just didn't do it for me. It was all about gags. It wasn't REAL. I have this grand theory about story-telling where I think creators (writers, directors, producers) are either telling you the truth...or they're lying to you. "Raiders" was truth. It was real to me. I believed that character. I believed the settings, I believed the story. The next two? Not so truthful. Too much cheese. Too much pandering. Too wacky. Didn't work for me.

So, do I think this latest (and certainly the last...at least for Ford) attempt will be any different? I've decided to stop trying to second-guess it and just hope so. I may be on here in late May bitching about it and lamenting the loss of a franchise (that was really lost after the credits rolled on the first one). Or maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe they'll give us a real story. Maybe they won't drown us in C.G.I. Maybe there will be just the right dose of comedy instead of one sight-gag after the next, or "clever" reference to the previous films. Maybe Indiana Jones will, finally, live again, even if for only two more hours. I'll take that. If I can get it.

So I'll wait the three months, try to avoid any more trailers (and hence, spoilers), and will try to go in with an open mind and just try to enjoy myself and relive those feelings I had back when the world was still so full of mystery and possibility. I'll throw you my money, Spielberg. All I ask is that you throw me the whip.