Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Blu-ray] [2008]

It's 1957 and part-time teacher/archaeologist/action hero Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is now a veteran of the second world war. After an initial run-in with murderous Russkies in the Nevada desert it's back to college for the ageing professor until youngster Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) approaches him with an intriguing tale. Mutt's mother and Ox (John Hurt) a friend of Indy's, have been captured in South America apparently searching for Eldorado, the lost city of gold. Armed with a Mayan parchment, his fedora and bullwhip, Indy is soon on a plane flying over a map of the world with the young hell-raiser in tow. Throw into the mix a legend of 13 crystal skulls, several car chases and a vicious femme fatale (Cate Blanchett) and you have a worthy addition to the Indiana Jones saga.

After Aliens, Predator and the Star Wars franchises were all ruined in the name of profit, I avoided Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for as long as I could bear to. I knew I'd see it eventually, it IS Indy after all. Fearing another Phantom Menace sized disappointment I sat down to watch it with an open mind, not expecting it to live up to the originals. So does it? Yes and no. The familiar template is here. A first act run in with some baddies, a trip back to college where Indy teaches part time and then an adventure presents itself leading to a trek across the world and a frantic final act. Harrison Ford is 65 now but he can definitely still cut it. It takes him about 20 minutes to get back into the wise cracking role but it has been almost twenty years since he last cracked the bull whip which shows at times as you would expect. The cast of Indy 4 is very impressive, Shia LeBeouf is excellent as Mutt and Cate Blanchett convincing as a villain. The trouble is that talented actors John Hurt and Ray Winstone are overlooked and underused as it is very much Harrison Ford's film. The film looks great with a very authentic 1950's hue and stunning locations.

That's the good points, now here's the bad:

CGI is once again used (Star War Episodes I, II & IIIs) to add totally unnecessary elements to films that didn't rely on CGI in the first place. Gophers with human facial expressions, monkeys that accompany LeBeouf through the jungle and a ridiculous alien all remove plausibility from an already far fetched tale. Don't even get me started on the ants that can form a tower to reach someone hiding up a tree. Another problem is that Indy and pals are completely indestructible. Indy survives a nuclear blast (yes I know) by hiding in a fridge which is sent flying 4 miles into the desert and emerges with barely a scratch. The waterfall sequence is unbelievable, no-one would survive a 200 ft drop three times and certainly not still with a hat on their head. It all just lends to the implausibility of the tale and then come the aliens. The ending is ridiculous and a another CGI cop out. How no-one involved managed to stop the flying saucer bit is beyond me.

Still, as a massive fan of the originals, I still managed to enjoy this despite it's obvious flaws. It's definitely the worst of the bunch but still has enough going for it to go and see.

Like this? Try: Indiana Jones: The original trilogy.

I had this film on DVD and quite recently upgraded into Blu ray.

First I made comparison in picture quality. Though DVD looked pretty good, this Blu ray version is clearly better. PQ has more depth and warmth and it looks like it was made for blu ray. Film looks better than it did in theater. Sound quality is also very good. So if you're fan of the film, Blu ray is highly recommended. I'm glad I bought it.

The movie itself has been received with mixed reaction around the world. I myself can say, that I have never had expectation so high regarding to any film -ever and I went to see this film the opening night 4minutes after midnight. My first reaction to this film was dissapointment. I knew the film might not meet my expectations but still I thought the film should have been better even in a worst case scenario. But I gave it another try, some how I had to, I just couldn't believe that film was so "bad". I went to the cinema's couple of days later and watched it again. Experience was much much better and I was able to enjoy the film more. Still I had my doubts. Then I bought the dvd because it was still INDY movie and watched TKOTCS for the third time and then the fourth and now the fifth time on blu ray. Well, the film just keeps getting better everytime I watch it. I find more and more elements and moments in the film that I really like. Still, it's the least spectacular film of the series and it's a film that has many faults. but I would say that TKOTCS is still far better than most of the films that are made today and I really enjoy watching Harrison Ford in his Indy outfit. His not too old, his just older. I hope they make the fifth one if it is as good as this. And I didn't mind the aliens at all.

After much waiting and hype the film turned into a real computer generated turkey , Ford is good as usuall but the age old kid and chick sidekick routine is tired and done , the story is as transparent as a pint glass , the effects are far too much and the whole thing leaves you cold and bored. Remember the films you loved as they were not as tired sequel's which have run out of plot.