Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones has returned.

More than 30 years after George Lucas and Steve Spielberg created Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the pair has joined forces once again. And they’ve brought Harrison Ford along for the ride.

Only this time, the tale isn’t of Nazis or evil cult leaders from India. This time, Indiana Jones has his hands full with the Russians, the atomic bomb, aliens from outer space, and some very nasty bugs.

Like his previous adventures, Indy stumbles through the world of the past trying to find what so many others can’t. Along the way, he blows stuff up, shoots several dozen bad guys, and locates yet another artifact for the museum.

Inspired by the old Hollywood serial films of the '30s, '40s, and '50s, Lucas and Spielberg have created more than just a whip-toting character in a fedora. Since he was introduced in the film Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones has become the world’s best known archaeologist — and, in the process, a major Hollywood icon.

Starring Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Blade Runner, American Graffiti) as Jones, Karen Allen (Animal House, The Sandlot) as Marion Ravenwood, and Shia LaBeouf (Transformers, Holes) as Mutt, the fourth installment of Indy’s adventures begins in 1957, during the Cold War.

Indy and his sidekick, Mac (well played by Ray Winstone), set the tone for the film when they escape a group of Soviet agents who have infiltrated a federal airbase. Jones beats the Soviets, avoids an atomic death (by hiding in a refrigerator), and returns home to Marshall College — where he teaches archaeology. But the government wants him unemployed.

So he decides to leave town; it’s just that his exit isn’t easy. He meets Mutt, gets in yet another fight, and winds up in Peru searching for the Crystal Skull of Akator. Of course, no adventure involving Dr. Jones is without its share of bad guys, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has plenty.

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2

Article tags

Spread the word
Bookmark and Share
Profile image for m-scott-carter

Article Author: M. Scott Carter

M. Scott Carter is an Oklahoma City-based writer who understands the value of wind, rain and red dirt.

Visit M. Scott Carter's author pageM. Scott Carter's Blog

Read comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own

Article comments

Add your comment, speak your mind

Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
Please read our comment policy.
Please preview your comment.

blogcritics lists for Nov 08, 2009

fresh articles Most recent articles site-wide

fresh comments Most recent comments site-wide

most comments Most comments in 24hrs

top writers Most prolific Blogcritics for October

top commenters Most prolific Commenters in 24 hrs