Sepia Skies

 My home state is on fire, and we’re feeling the effects here in Oregon. Even being in the news business, I never get used to hearing about wildfires.

 I grew up in Southern California where brush fires are a part of the yearly cycle. Everything is green and beautiful in the Spring, it dries out in the Summer, and burns in the Fall. Fire season usually starts in October with Santa Ana Winds.

 Since the mid-90s it seems as though fire season has become less of a “season” and more of an unpredictable and catastrophic event. In the mid-90s, my college boyfriend’s home burned to the ground. He and his family had built the house themselves on a beautiful, mountainous parcel of land in the hills outside Malibu, CA. His parents collected masks from all over the globe, and the house was filled with museum quality pieces. They had some acreage with avocado and fruit trees, a creek, and a beautiful sparkling pool. Despite their best efforts it was all lost, and they’ve never rebuilt.

 Another close call came with friends in San Diego, twice. One friend was evacuated from his home in 2000. The other, a family of four, evacuated just last year when fires began taking out portions of their neighborhood. Both wound up spending a few days out of their homes and wondering if they were still standing. They were, luckily.

 So it’s with those personal stories that I can sympathize with those affected by the current round of fires throughout California. And of course our sepia-toned skies and particle-filled air are having an affect on us, too. Those with upper respiratory issues and allergies are certainly feeling it. If you just look around, you can see the quality of our sunshine has been limited too, giving us that brownish-gold color.

 But what of those who’ve already lost so much again to this latest round of wrath? People are again displaced, again without physical memories. Fourth of July is a time to celebrate our Nation’s beginning, but let’s hope that all those to our south find a way to begin again. For now, we can consider ourselves lucky that all we’re dealing with is some bad air or a marred view.

  So many people have been waiting for the return of the fedora and bull whip, and now the time is finally here.

  "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" finds us in the Nevada desert in 1957. A group of teenagers in a hotrod are racing several military vehicles heading to a remote outpost. After breaking through the gates, we realize quickly that these are not American soldiers. The vehicles drive up to a warehouse labeled "51" (are you following this yet?), and we see a shadow of a man yanked out of a car's trunk. He quickly dons the famous fedora, and just that fast, Indiana Jones is back on screen and entering the Atomic Age. Where the movie goes from here, is all over the place, but the ride is still quite fun for fans. This adventure has been quite a few years in the making, and yes, Harrison Ford looks his age (65).

  Who cares? We're immediately thrust into a mystery as the "soldiers" turn out to be Russian in search of some object stored in the vast warehouse that we've seen before. Cate Blanchett is the sword carrying Dr. Irina Spalko who, on pain of death, convinces Indy that he better find this particular object. A big chase through the warehouse ensues, and Indy is outta there. There's more to his fantastic escape method, but I don't want to be a total spoiler.

  Back on campus, Dr. Jones, finds out he's being fired, but before he can get too far, he's stopped by "Mutt". Shia LaBeouf plays the Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront" greaser. After a brief explanation of who his mother is, and that she's in trouble, we're off on another chase. This time on Mutt's motorcycle through the campus with more Russians in pursuit.

  Pretty soon we discover more of the mystery and what the Russians might be after. The search for answers, and another long lost friend of Indy's takes Mutt and Indy to South America. Like I mentioned, the story is all over the place.

  Arriving in South America they try to solve the mystery surrounding the word "return." What they find are clues to a search gone wrong for the lost city of El Dorado.

  So far we've gone from Russians to Area 51 to the Atomic Age, lost legends and foreign countries. But wait, there's more! Captured by the Russians again, Indy and Mutt find Mutt's mother and Indy's pal, Oxley captured as well. It turns out that Dr. Spalko (Blanchett) is interested in psychic warfare and desperate to possess a crystal skull that holds some kind of power.

  So really, I'm trying not to spoil the whole thing, but it's complicated!

Eventually we wind up in a secret temple with the Russians hot on the heels of Indy and his bunch. What we find there is a bit over the top, but again, who cares! It's fun! And let me just give you another hint, it's what happens when you bring together Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

  The ending will satisfy fans, and does not really leave the door open for another sequel. That may be a relief because after this one, what else can Indiana Jones get into?

  Bottom line, this is for fans who've been craving more Indiana Jones after a 19 year absence. Is it worth it? Sure, go see it, it's pure entertainment!

  "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is rated PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images.