Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (DVD, 2008, Widescreen)

Harrison Ford dusts off his infamous brown fedora for another Indiana Jones film, which is once again made by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. The year is 1957, and Indy is on the run from a team of Russian spies led by a rapier-wielding Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). The Russians want Indy to help them locate an ancient artifact that they believe can be used as the ultimate military weapon. Indy manages a narrow escape, and tries to return to his life as a professor of archaeology, but he soon bumps into a '50s greaser named Mutt (Shia LeBeouf). Mutt's mother as well as one of Indy's longtime friends have been captured somewhere in Peru. Mutt and Indy hop a plane, where they manage to track down both Mutt's mother, Marian (Karen Allen), and Professor Oxley (John Hurt), but they also find themselves surrounded by the same scheming Russians. The Russians have found the artifact they were seeking, but Indy now knows its secret and dangerous powers. With the help of Mutt, Marian, and Oxley, he races to return it to its rightful resting place. While a bit more grizzled than the last time we saw him cracking his whip, Ford still manages to bring the right mix of humor and swagger to Indy. Longtime fans are sure to love the many inside jokes and nods to the previous films, as well as the reappearance of some favorite old characters. While CRYSTAL SKULL has the same exotic locales and wild chases of the earlier movies, it definitely sets itself apart with its heavy use of CGI. The visuals are indeed impressive, but some might feel something is lost when Indy can outrun an atomic bomb just as easily as he can a swarm of carnivorous ants. This modern-day Indy is easy entertainment with some fun surprises, but it will likely divide diehard fans right down the middle

The year is 1957 and Indiana Jones ( Harrison Ford)is living his life by himself.Brining him out of his usual routine are the Russian soldiers who want Indy to uncover and figure out the so called myth of the crystal skull.Led by a Russian psychic Irina Spalco (Cate Blanchett). Jones is sought after by Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) who is in need of Indy's help to find & rescue his mom, Marion (Karen Allen) who has been captured by the Russians, and also Indy's old friend Oxley (John Hurt).Mutt is a young greaser who rides a motorcycle.While talking in a resturant two Russians agent spies follow them.To create a diversion to get away from them they start a fight.Indy & Mutt manage to slip away from the spies and are off to South America to try to find clues to lead them to the Temple of Akator to find the mysterious meaning of the crystal skull.Indy & Mutt are soon captured by the Russians who have been tracking them.Once brought back to the Russians location they are reunited with Marion. Indy fights to get out of the Grip of Spalco, and manages to slip away from her.Along the way to trying to uncover the truth Indy has to decipher old text and solve the puzziling riddles along the way, trying to stay on step ahead of the Russians who are tailing them.It's a race to the end,full of chase scenes and traps, atomic bombs & Elvis tunes, it's a race with the Russians & Indy & his new gang, to bring the crystal skull back to the location it was taken from.A good movie, I rented this and will probably buy it to watch all the action again!

I have been an Indiana Jones movie fan since I saw the first one many years ago. The adventure as well as the comic timing are what makes the Indiana Jones series so endearing for young and old. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will make you say “I remember that!” or “I remember them!” Which is fun because you will find yourself talking about the old movies for a few seconds and realize “Oh yeah, the movie is on.” Yes, this Indiana Jones movie is good but I was actually kind of disappointed overall. Remember when the first one came out and you were so excited about what a great movie it was and then they announced the Temple of Doom? While good, Temple of Doom wasn’t as great as the original and I kind of had that Temple of Doom feeling all over again after watching the new Indiana Jones. It seems as though Indiana Jones has that “every other generation” disease because the third Indiana Jones movie with Sean Connery was great but the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a bit of a let down. Don’t get me wrong, I liked this new Indiana Jones movie, but it didn’t have that lasting feeling like the first and third one did. First of all it is too predictable. I won’t spoil it for you but if you want this movie to be total surprise I will tell you this…DO NOT LOOK AT THE COVER CLOSELY OR READ THE BACK OF IT AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES. I did this and said to myself “Oh my gosh, look at that…oh, I bet I know what is going to happen.” Sure enough without even watching the movie I guessed one of the “surprises” and was actually disappointed that I wasn’t surprised. You will be able to do this too if you’ve seen the older movies and accidently recognize a certain someone on the cover. Also the plot of the movie was way too linear for me. In past movies I loved it when Indiana went from one place to another gathering clues and solving the puzzle, but in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull when Indiana goes somewhere, he always finds exactly what he is looking for instead of being puzzled by what he finds. I guess Indiana is old and wise at this point to where he doesn’t have to look as hard anymore. Instead of puzzles, you have action scenes which are numerous from the moment you hit play. Yes this new movie does have its flaws but it is a great movie none-the-less. It is not as great as the original but then again, what movie ever is other than the Godfather 2. The predictability and somewhat action heavy plot keep this from being a classic. This is a must own for Indiana fans but for the rest of us that don’t have to own it…I’d say it’s a rental.

After a long absence, it's great to see Indiana Jones again like a long lost friend. Like all of us, he's a little older, slower, and the edge is off his once sparkling repartee, but there's still plenty of action, and the two hours running time goes by quickly. The 1950's Cold War Russians (exemplified by Cate Blanchett) don't seem as truely villainous as Indy's previous adversaries, but keep the action going. It is great to see Karen Allen again! Lucas and Spielberg give you your money's worth with superior special effects that stand up through several viewings. I'd rate this in third place behind RAIDERS and LAST CRUSADE and worth adding to your DVD collection.

I wanted to complete the series of Indiana Jones movies with Harrison Ford, and this is a good climax to the Indy movies. Harrison Ford, though 20 years older than he was in the last Indy movie, did a great job. The use of look a likes and green screen stunt scenes was not noticeable and did not distract from the continuity of the film. The parts of Jr. and the mad Russian scientist were well acted and added significantly to the drama and action.

Good to see Karen Allen back playing her usual salty self opposite Indy. The end of the movie intimates that there might be a new younger Indy, in the character of Harrison Ford's illegitimate son by Karen Allen.

The movie was fun to watch, one that can be watched over again, and the profanity and sex were minimal.

Recommend a purchase of this for any Indy or Harrison Ford fan.