The hat and whip are back!, Indiana Jones delivers!

Somewhere in the Nevada desert a brown fedora hat rocks on the dry ground. A familiar figure scoops it up and slides it onto his head.

It’s the long-awaited return of Indiana Jones. Nineteen years have passed since the last “Indy” movie was made, but “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” fits like a familiar shoe.

Harrison Ford, at 65, is hale and hearty. As Indy, he does an amazing job of jumping from jeep-like vehicles to trucks to amphibious cars and back again. He climbs piles of crates, fights with his fists and executes all the hazardous and brave things for which Indiana Jones became an icon. Harrison Ford makes you believe in Indiana Jones.

“Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” delivers the same flavor of action and character interaction as “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

Also, watch for the classic silhouette – a hatted Indiana Jones snapping his whip. Close-ups of the scarred chin and half-grin further endear.

Joining Indy as the core cast of the film are Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who is still delightfully bright and feisty, and a newcomer, Ravenwood’s son, who calls himself “Mutt” (Shia LaBeouf). Mutt is able to swing adeptly from jungle vines and outrun cars with his motorcycle.

John Hurt plays Professor Oxley, whose half-mad character is of invaluable assistance on the search for the crystal skull. Ray Winston is “Mac,” a former colleague of Indy’s who is really on the side of whoever pays better. He owes allegiance to riches rather than to a country or a friend.

The Communists have replaced the Nazis as the perpetrators of evil and the lead Communist, Irnia Spalko (Cate Blanchett), is motivated by her thirst for power.

Indy and crew are searching for the mysterious crystal skull and racing Spalko and her cohorts. After the skull is found, the battle continues for its possession.

Indy’s tattered band of adventurers makes its way to the Amazon jungle. Sooner or later there had to be a jungle or it wouldn’t have seemed right. Oh, and spider webs – lots of them, hanging loose in dark corridors of ruins or wrapped tightly around mummies. Poison darts abound. When Indy cleverly shoots a dart back at his aggressor, Mutt asks in amazement, “You’re a teacher?”

A lot of cliff hanging and cliff diving goes on as the Communists try to rappel their way to the bottom and Marion Ravenwood simply drives the vehicle over the cliff, down to the rapids below.

The cinematography is amazing, capturing shafts of light through vine-draped jungle trees which illuminate the jeep-like vehicles in a good vs. evil car chase. Fenders scrape and tires waver on the edge of cliffs.

The tinny rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns echoes throughout the jungle. Then, bring on dripping caverns and underground temples and it’s about time for the conclusion.

The movie rings with familiar tones, but that is much of the charm. However, the adventure’s theme is fresh with several surprises along the way. It’s enough to make you crack your whip, slap on your fedora and get to the nearest cinema. Once, twice, even three times.