Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Theatrical Release Date: 2008 05 22 (USA)

UPC: 097363418641

Studio: Paramount

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:null

Summary: Everyone's favorite archeologist adventurer dusts off his hat and trusty whip for yet another globetrotting trek as Indiana Jones returns to the big screen nearly 20 years after racing for the Holy Grail alongside his father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Harrison Ford reprises his role as the iconic, snake-loathing screen hero in a sequel that also finds Karen Allen returning to the series for the first time since 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, and Shia LaBeouf round out a cast that also features Cate Blanchett in the role of villainous Russian operative Agent Irina Spalko. Steven Spielberg calls the shots on a script penned by David Koepp (and adapted from the screen story by executive producer George Lucas). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Action

Awards: Film Presented – Cannes Film Festival Sequel that Shouldn't Have Been Made Award – Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Action Movie – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Art Direction in a Fantasy Film – Art Directors Guild Best Visual Effects – British Academy of Film and Television Arts

Features: The Return Of a Legend Featurette
Pre-Production Featurette

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Format: DVD

Release Date: 10/14/2008

Audio: DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 122 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
1. Nevada, 1957 [7:20]
2. The Warehouse [5:49]
3. I Like Ike [8:31]
4. Of Interest To The Bureau [:10]
5. Mutt Williams [5:44]
6. Nazca, Peru [:31]
7. Orellana's Resting Place [6:58]
8. Old Friends & Enemies [1:48]
9. A Truth Revealed [5:03]
10. Family Squabble [4:32]
11. Big Damn Ants [2:37]
12. Three Times It Drops [6:24]
13. City Of Gold [:50]
14. A Hive Mind [4:47]
15. Finding the Real Treasure [4:30]
16. End Credits [:26]

Jeremy Wheeler

It's not easy for one of the most beloved film series of its time to return after a 19-year absence, though Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull manages to do a serviceable job of recapturing what audiences have come to equate with their favorite fearless archeologist. Indeed, Harrison Ford is back again, this time a tad wiser and a lot more grey, yet still packing that familiar quick wit, trusty whip, and mean punch to get him out of tough spots. Along for the ride are a slew of new cohorts (including Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt) and a few new delicious baddies (Cate Blanchett, Igor Jijikine) to add to his roster of villains. Of course, it's the inclusion of Karen Allen as Marion that truly makes this outing special. But what of the excitement, the humor, and the old Spielberg fun that people of all ages have come to love from this fabled franchise? Inklings of them are there, even if the sands of time have eroded the filmmaker's potency for delivering the magic of yesteryear. Just as Ford had much to prove, so did the movie's helmer. Spielberg's recent efforts had given rise to the idea that a sweet slice of cinema pie was once again in his recipe book. Resoundingly, he shows that his classic camera chops have gone nowhere, although his work with actors leaves a bit to be desired. In fact, Kingdom's stumbling blocks aren't in its presentation but in its execution. Much of the blame has been thrown screenwriter David Koepp's way, somewhat deservedly. Yet the fact is that the production is plagued by an underlying awkwardness that goes beyond Koepp's wordy approach and half-cooked character work. Performance-wise, viewers are delivered a hodgepodge of misses and knockouts, lending credence to the growing mistrust surrounding co-creator George Lucas' touch - especially given his fondness for stiff acting. The modern age can also be seen rearing its head, thanks to the overall lack of stunts and overuse of computer effects, which create a great lack of tension in much of the overly spectacular proceedings. That said, there's still some stuff to love in this fourth outing. For instance, the action scenes are still superbly staged, with an early motorcycle chase standing out as a highlight. Also, as if it wasn't good enough to be able to see Indy doing his thing again, there are moments of brilliance between Marion and him, even if they leave one yearning for more. The same goes for the musical maestro behind the series, John Williams, who laces in the Raiders theme with ample glee, transporting his audience to a familiar and welcome place throughout the movie. Yet there is a desire to hear something beyond the subtle B-movie/sci-fi throwback score he delivers. If anything, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might have the power to shine if viewed merely as escapism entertainment. However, it seems evident that the mileage has not only taken a toll on the character, but the series as well. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Kathleen Kennedy  Executive Producer 
David Koepp  Screenwriter 
George Lucas  Executive Producer 
Frank Marshall  Producer 
Steven Spielberg  Director 
John Williams  Composer (Music Score) 
Harrison Ford  Actor 
Cate Blanchett  Actor 
Karen Allen  Actor 
Ray Winstone  Actor 
John Hurt  Actor 
Jim Broadbent  Actor 
Shia LaBeouf  Actor 
Igor Jijikine  Actor 

Country: USA