It did not disappoint.

Harrison Ford may be eligible for a bus pass these days but he remains incredibly nimble and charismatic as his indestructible adventurer enters the paranoia of 1950s America.

He tackles steely Soviet baddie Cate Blanchett, discovers he has a son and even faces his worst fear – a huge snake that may be his only chance of cheating death.

Crystal Skull does nothing to tamper with what has been a winning formula, but it is definitely a film of two halves.

The first half is all dull story and cardboard machinations.

A flat beginning doesn’t match the sheer adrenaline rush that has become a signature of the series and you start to fear that reviving “Indy” wasn’t such a clever idea.

But once we head to Peru and the treasure hunt begins, then the whole film moves into top gear.

The highlight is a spectacular, helter-skelter chase through the jungle.

It involves a sword fight conducted between moving cars, the crystal skull changing hands at breakneck speed, machine-gun fire, fisticuffs, a Tarzan-style swing through jungle vines by co-star Shia La Boeuf, killer ants – and that’s before they arrive at the vertigo-inducing rapids.

This one lengthy sequence justifies the price of admission and illustrates that Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg has not lost his touch.

The great bonus for Indy fans is the re-appearance of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, Indy’s feisty lost love from Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Time has been kind to Allen and she remains the best female character from any of the Indiana Jones films.

She is also a perfect sparring partner for Harrison Ford.

Their reunion and enduring rapport provides the human element to balance the spectacle.

It also provides a happy-ever-after finale that brings the series to a satisfying conclusion.

Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg and the whole Indiana Jones team arrived in Cannes knowing that they were facing the toughest audience in the world – jaded critics sharpening their knives and hoping for the worst.

From the opening cheers to the final applause, they now know there is nothing to fear.

Heading up the red carpet stairs for the official glittering premiere last night they already know that their mission was accomplished.