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

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Blu-ray]
by Steven Spielberg

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

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Cate Blanchett, Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, Shia LaBeouf
Director: Steven Spielberg
Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
Writer: David Koepp
Writer: George Lucas
Writer: Jeff Nathanson
Writer: Philip Kaufman
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 122 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-10-14
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount

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

Movie Review: This is definately the 2nd best in Indiana Jones series
Summary: 5 Stars

"How much of a man's life is lost in waiting." laments one of the key characters in the return of Dr. Henry ("I named the dog Indiana") Jones Jr. For the record, it's been nearly a decade since Messrs. Lucas, Spielberg and Ford rode Indiana Jones into the sunset for his (next-to) Last Crusade. So, does the latest installment featuring our favorite near- indestructible professor of archeology make the grade? - For every minute of its all-too-short 123 minute run time -- trust me.

Seconds after the Paramount Logo once again morphs into scenery (in this case, the mound over a prairie dog's burrow), you know you are entering Dr. Jones' territory. In this case, nuclear-test-site Nevada in 1957 - a time when America was an I-like-Ike, I-hate-commies, Howdy-Doody watching, Elvis is here-to-stay kind of place. Our first glimpse of our hero shows us a man already in trouble. The Soviet bad boys outnumber him about fifty to one, and for a twist, the baddest red boy is a red girl - Colonel Irina Spalko. Indy's unique skills are forcibly put to use to find an artifact (of sorts) that will lead both good and bad (a few of which are ugly) on a quest for more than fortune and glory that ends at a place where living Mayan folklore forces the science out of archeology and makes fiction fact.

Sound familiar? - You bet it does. In fact, this film goes out of its way to make the viewer feel comfortable with not only the present characters and quest - but also gives more than a passing nod to characters and quests that have already been. During the film's opening encounter in a top-secret army hangar where the government crates its most valuable secrets, we conveniently catch a glimpse of Indiana's prize from his first great adventure. Photographs, both of Marcus Brody, Indy's museum curator associate and father Henry Jones Sr. are framed on his desk at home. During a moment when Dr. Jones first meets young Mutt Williams, who looks to him to help a mutual friend, Sean Connery's Oscar-winning take from The Untouchables, finds itself nicely rescripted, "Looks like you've brought a knife to a gun fight". Better yet, Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones quotes Harrison Ford as Han Solo! - "I've got a bad feeling about this." - during one of the film's several exciting set pieces.

Talking about excitement, this film should leave no doubt as to Stephen Spielberg's unparalleled brilliance in staging action sequences. I'm not going to nit-pick about when and where the digital world begins and whether it was under or over used - but I will say that the cliché "edge-of-your-seat" is exactly what an elaborate chase through the South American jungle generates. This nearly twenty minute thrill-ride is packed with moments that bring us the best of no less than three actioners - Zorro, Tarzan and the Great Escape - all for the price of one ticket to the Amazon.

To its credit the film takes none of the magic away from Indiana Jones while keeping him almost as mythic as the antiquities he seeks. Yet, the film does not try to overlook the nature of growing old. "We've reached an age where life stops giving you things and starts taking them away" remarks a colleague to Dr. Jones early in the film. Lucky for us, Harrison Ford breathes new life into Indy and he is no less than equally supported by the skill of all the film's key players. Cate Blanchett's take on Russian-spy-nastiness never goes over-the-top to "Boris and Natasha" parody. Shia LaBeouf is more than adequate as Mutt - in fact, he's good - there, I said it. Ray Winstone plays a fellow relic-hunter with enough mystery that keeps us guessing as to his character's loyalties almost until the film's end. Unfortunately I thought that both John Hurt and Jim Broadbent - although well-cast were much underused in the proceedings. Then there is the return of Karen Allen - More than twenty five years since her first appearance as Marion have done nothing to diminish the twinkle in her eye and the sincerity of her smile. Her performance once again puts the chemistry ahead of the archeology in Marion's screen time with Indy.

This chapter in the saga of Indiana Jones series secures 2nd best. Youll enjoy it to bits with more action than ever good humour and good ending with good use of the new age and times eg fords age and the cold war. It does act as a tribute and youll only moan at it if your a really annoying picky critic admittedly a bit much cgi.

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

Synopsis:
Item Type: BLU-RAY DVD Movie
Item Rating: PG13
Street Date: 10/14/08
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: yes
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
Nearly 20 years after riding his last Crusade, Harrison Ford makes a welcome return as archaeologist/relic hunter Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, an action-packed fourth installment that's, in a nutshell, less memorable than the first three but great nostalgia for fans of the series. Producer George Lucas and screenwriter David Koepp (War of the Worlds) set the film during the cold war, as the Soviets--replacing Nazis as Indy's villains of choice and led by a sword-wielding Cate Blanchett with black bob and sunglasses--are in pursuit of a crystal skull, which has mystical powers related to a city of gold. After escaping from them in a spectacular opening action sequence, Indy is coerced to head to Peru at the behest of a young greaser (Shia LaBeouf) whose friend--and Indy's colleague--Professor Oxley (John Hurt) has been captured for his knowledge of the skull's whereabouts. Whatever secrets the skull holds are tertiary; its reveal is the weakest part of the movie, as the CGI effects that inevitably accompany it feel jarring next to the boulder-rolling world of Indy audiences knew and loved. There's plenty of comedy, delightful stunts--ants play a deadly role here--and the return of Raiders love interest Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, once shrill but now softened, giving her ex-love bemused glances and eye-rolls as he huffs his way to save the day. Which brings us to Ford: bullwhip still in hand, he's a little creakier, a lot grayer, but still twice the action hero of anyone in film today. With all the anticipation and hype leading up to the film's release, perhaps no reunion is sweeter than that of Ford with the role that fits him as snugly as that fedora hat. --Ellen A. Kim

Stills from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Click for larger image)

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