Indiana Jones franchise (Raiders, Temple, Crusade, & Skull)

The action film harkens back to the early days of film making, and some of the best stories were done in the serial format, where each week there would be another chapter in an ongoing story. Even though over the years there had been attempts to bring back the feel and energy of those films, it wasn't until George Lucas created the Indiana Jones series of films, with the help of Steven Spielberg directing, that a more modern generation could experience the thrill and excitement of those yesteryears.
The Raiders of the Lost Ark - Forced into a race against time, Indiana Jones must battle Nazis and their minions in order to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. This film has the true feel of the old chapter serials that were made in the 30s and 40s, and with the way that Spielberg shot the whole thing you could almost break it up into smaller bits for a serial. Harrison Ford in the lead role shows again why he is such the lead actor in action films, even in that unassuming way he commands the screen and the action going on around him.
The Temple of Doom - Indiana Jones finds himself in India fighting to save a local village and the world from the evil Thuggee cult of Kali. Not as strong as the first film this story gives the audience the chance to see the scope of Jones' background. Since this story is suppose to take place before Raiders some of the visual jokes that are used really have no meaning without the set up in the first film. Case in point, when Jones is stopped at the bridge and the two men flash their swords at him and he reaches for his gun and its not there, that joke only works if you see the set up in Raiders. But all in all it's a good film and it keeps the action at a level that the audience can be happy with.
The Last Crusade - Indiana must search for his father who disappeared while looking for the Holy Grail, and in the process find the goblet before the Nazis do. Bringing the character of Jones back to the basis of the first film is a happy relief, the Nazis worked so well in Raiders as the enemy that they were truly missed in the second film. The introduction of a younger Indiana for the opening sequence was a nice added dimension to the story, but with this introduction we are lightly exposed to his father and the strained relationship that they had years ago. When Sean Connery comes on the screen and you see the two lead actors together you believe that they are father and son, with all of their likes and dislikes carried around for baggage.
The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Indiana Jones battles against the Russians, old loves and new family in order to save the world from destruction. Considering all the time that's past and the fact that Ford has more gray hair than dark this story is still enjoyable. With the introduction of new and old characters the audience leaves with a feeling that they've just seen another chapter in the life of a friend. The missing characters of Marcus Brody and Dr. Henry Jones, Sr., who were a large part of Indiana's life, are nicely explained and it also lends to the sense of loneliness that the character is facing. Ford looks naturally aged and weathered for the kind of life this character has lead, but he's still able to pull off the action sequences as a man who has lived a rough and tumble life style.
After 27 years of being a part of the American culture and having the Indiana Jones universe expanded through comic books, novels and a short lived TV series, Young Indiana Jones, this has become one of the more enduring characters created for the cinema. Back in the early 80s when the first film was released there hadn't been anything like this character, or story, on the screen in years and with a strong actor in the role of Jones, and a strong story to match, the audience was propelled into a world that everyone wanted to be a part of. With the four storylines exposed you can see that there is a common tread between them, and I'm not talking about characters or action, I'm talking about religion. From he first film to the fourth the story touches on four religions of the ancient world, and brings them into light so that the audience can see that there is more to the religion than just words. All four films are worth watching and even the last one with an aged Ford, the character is still believable and your still left with the feeling of wanting to jump up into the screen to join in the adventure.
One final footnote, its not really important since it was so long ago and most people know about, but there is no way that this franchise would have worked, as good or for as long, if Tom Selleck had gotten the job as Indiana instead of Harrison Ford. I just wanted to throw that out there.