Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
At the height of the Cold War in 1957, the now quiet archaeologist Henry Jones Jr. (a.k.a. Indiana) is thrust back into danger. The signature dotted red line tracing across the map will take him to New Mexico, Connecticut, Mexico City and the jungles of Peru on a quest for a South American relic with supernatural powers – the Crystal Skull.
He’s racing alongside young rebel Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) and former flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) for the prize against operatives from the Soviet Union, including Cate Blanchett as the seductive Agent Spalko, and Ray Winstone as an unethical rival archaeologist. Some say the skulls themselves are shaped by extraterrestrial powers.
- Director:
- Steven Spielberg ('Raiders Of The Lost Ark', 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind', 'Jaws', 'Schindler's List', 'Catch Me If You Can' etc)
- Writer:
- David Koepp
- Cast:
- Harrison FordShia LaBeoufCate BlanchettRay WinstoneJim BroadbentKaren AllenJohn Hurt
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Andrew Hedley
flicksThe first time I had contact with Indiana Jones was in 1993 when I taped the Friday Night Movie on TV2 and watched it first thing on Saturday morning. It was The Last Crusade, and I loved it. I immediately became interested in archaeology, or at least the idea of archaeology. I went to my school library, got out a book on ancient treasures and read it from cover to cover. Later that year I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It was creepy, with all that ripping out of hearts. I loved the minecart chase and the rope-bridge climax. Raiders of the Lost Ark came soon after that, capping the trilogy for me in reverse order. And there was even the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series.
People need to just like it.
Sure it make have a bit unrealistic parts in it, but he is INDIANA JONES, hes an action hero, basically invincible. To understand the ending, you need to think about it. Most people just go, What? Thats a bloody stupid ending then forget about it, however, since when would a Crystal Skull NOT be alien-like? I think people just need to stop going on about...
People need to just like it.
Sure it make have a bit unrealistic parts in it, but he is INDIANA JONES, hes an action hero, basically invincible. To understand the ending, you need to think about it. Most people just go, What? Thats a bloody stupid ending then forget about it, however, since when would a Crystal Skull NOT be alien-like? I think people just need to stop going on about...
Another Lucas-Spielberg tradition is CGI-tooned
The first half of the fourth instalment is quite good. The typical deepening mystery is handled well, as is the snappy dialogue between the two rough-edged leads. Then we descend into morbid cartoon nonsense as poor over-the-top CGI (I swear that technology has only worsened since Spielberg gave us the solid effort of Jurassic Park a dozen or so years...
Not bad and the kids loved it
I for one enjoyed it especially watching it with my kids. Whats all this fuss about disbelief, for Pete's sake its an Indiana Jones movie, its supposed to have a air of disbelief in it. What about the others - ark of the covenant, holy grail, pulling hearts from peoples chests etc etc. Its good escapism and a good action adventure romp, your not going to...
Satisfying preposterous
Just OK
The big problem with movie watching these days, is the budgets some movies have for advertising. This is one of them, it was not really as good as the talk. There are a lot of low budget movies that you don't hear about, with a lot less special effects that are a far better watch. Harrison Ford was good, but Indy should go into retirement.
Urban Cinefile
pressIndiana Jones' fourth adventure is as rip roaring as we would expect, dotted with little jokey bits and a dash of Close Encounters of the Third Kind kind of thing... The first two Indiana Jones films are still the best, but Spielberg meets most of our expectations.
New Zealand Herald
pressAs it turns out, it's not whether Harrison Ford is too old to be cracking the whip.
Playing the movies' greatest archaeologist-adventurer 19 years after his supposed "Last" Crusade, Ford might be ancient. But he's hardly a ruin. Sure his timing on the occasional punchline might be off but the hat still fits.
Newshub
pressA wee flat patch in the middle, and a Tarzan moment best left on the editing room floor took the shine off it a little, but otherwise, welcome back Indy.
Hollywood Reporter
pressDirector Steven Spielberg seems intent on celebrating his entire early career here. Whatever the story there is, a vague journey to return a spectacular archeological find to its rightful home -- an unusual goal of the old grave-robber, you must admit -- gets swamped in a sea of stunts and CGI that are relentless as the scenes and character relationships are charmless.
Empire Magazine
pressA slick, fun film that has by no means sacrificed the fast action beats of the first three.
Christchurch Press
pressIt's not a great movie, but it ticks all the boxes for Indy fans. It's one last chance to enjoy the world's favourite relic-seeking archaeologist before he, himself, becomes a relic.
Flicks, Andrew Hedley
flicksThe first time I had contact with Indiana Jones was in 1993 when I taped the Friday Night Movie on TV2 and watched it first thing on Saturday morning. It was The Last Crusade, and I loved it. I immediately became interested in archaeology, or at least the idea of archaeology. I went to my school library, got out a book on ancient treasures and read it from cover to cover. Later that year I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It was creepy, with all that ripping out of hearts. I loved the minecart chase and the rope-bridge climax. Raiders of the Lost Ark came soon after that, capping the trilogy for me in reverse order. And there was even the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series.
Urban Cinefile
pressIndiana Jones' fourth adventure is as rip roaring as we would expect, dotted with little jokey bits and a dash of Close Encounters of the Third Kind kind of thing... The first two Indiana Jones films are still the best, but Spielberg meets most of our expectations.
New Zealand Herald
pressAs it turns out, it's not whether Harrison Ford is too old to be cracking the whip.
Playing the movies' greatest archaeologist-adventurer 19 years after his supposed "Last" Crusade, Ford might be ancient. But he's hardly a ruin. Sure his timing on the occasional punchline might be off but the hat still fits.
Newshub
pressA wee flat patch in the middle, and a Tarzan moment best left on the editing room floor took the shine off it a little, but otherwise, welcome back Indy.
Hollywood Reporter
pressDirector Steven Spielberg seems intent on celebrating his entire early career here. Whatever the story there is, a vague journey to return a spectacular archeological find to its rightful home -- an unusual goal of the old grave-robber, you must admit -- gets swamped in a sea of stunts and CGI that are relentless as the scenes and character relationships are charmless.
Empire Magazine
pressA slick, fun film that has by no means sacrificed the fast action beats of the first three.
Christchurch Press
pressIt's not a great movie, but it ticks all the boxes for Indy fans. It's one last chance to enjoy the world's favourite relic-seeking archaeologist before he, himself, becomes a relic.
People need to just like it.
Sure it make have a bit unrealistic parts in it, but he is INDIANA JONES, hes an action hero, basically invincible. To understand the ending, you need to think about it. Most people just go, What? Thats a bloody stupid ending then forget about it, however, since when would a Crystal Skull NOT be alien-like? I think people just need to stop going on about...
People need to just like it.
Sure it make have a bit unrealistic parts in it, but he is INDIANA JONES, hes an action hero, basically invincible. To understand the ending, you need to think about it. Most people just go, What? Thats a bloody stupid ending then forget about it, however, since when would a Crystal Skull NOT be alien-like? I think people just need to stop going on about...
Another Lucas-Spielberg tradition is CGI-tooned
The first half of the fourth instalment is quite good. The typical deepening mystery is handled well, as is the snappy dialogue between the two rough-edged leads. Then we descend into morbid cartoon nonsense as poor over-the-top CGI (I swear that technology has only worsened since Spielberg gave us the solid effort of Jurassic Park a dozen or so years...
Not bad and the kids loved it
I for one enjoyed it especially watching it with my kids. Whats all this fuss about disbelief, for Pete's sake its an Indiana Jones movie, its supposed to have a air of disbelief in it. What about the others - ark of the covenant, holy grail, pulling hearts from peoples chests etc etc. Its good escapism and a good action adventure romp, your not going...
Satisfying preposterous
Just OK
The big problem with movie watching these days, is the budgets some movies have for advertising. This is one of them, it was not really as good as the talk. There are a lot of low budget movies that you don't hear about, with a lot less special effects that are a far better watch. Harrison Ford was good, but Indy should go into retirement.
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