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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Time Out rating

Average user rating

121 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Dr Indiana Jones: a hokey, old-fashioned movie action-hero from the childhood of many film-goers who was based, back in the burgeoning summer blockbuster days of the early 1980s, on a hokey, old-fashioned movie action-hero from the childhood of director Steven Spielberg.

Yes, in case you haven’t realised, Harrison Ford is back as the university professor with a sideline in battling bad guys in a strictly archaeological context and a skill for dodging bullets and boulders in comic book fashion – without suffering a graze. Other pop-iconic inventions, like Batman, have since enjoyed the post-modern treatment at the hands of younger filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, but Spielberg avoids any nod-and-a-wink approach. There’s the odd self-referential moment that points to Indy’s age and to past plots but mostly this is played as straight as the fringe on Cate Blanchett as the villain of the piece.

It’s 1957, Jones has a good war record behind him, the Cold War is in full thrust, and fetish fans can rest easy in the knowledge that Indy has kept that hat, whip and leather jacket from his younger days. He digs them out when Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), a young lad who rides into the movie in a nod to Brando in ‘The Wild One’ – all leathers and attitude – offers Indy the challenge of hunting down the Crystal Skull of Akator.

Of course, Indy’s not alone in the search. There are Soviet agents on his trail, led by Blanchett. These are the same agents, all with that glassy stare that American movies often attribute to commies, who we’ve already seen Indy battle with on an American air field in the film’s first action set-piece. For this episode, he narrowly escapes from a nuclear test-bomb that’s detonated on a mock-up of the typical ’50s town. This is surprisingly chilling in tone and slightly recalls the creepy suburban set-up of the early scenes of Spielberg’s ‘AI’. But only Spielberg would puncture this nod at nuclear horror with a quick cut to an anodyne shot of fluffy desert animals.

The rest is familiar. There are car chases, quick sand, river pursuits, poison darts, and exotic locations from the Nevada desert to the jungles of Peru and the Amazon. The only real additions to the mix are some new characters, including Shia LaBoeuf as Indy’s younger sidekick and Ray Winstone as a companion closer to his own age, and a recourse to computer imagery that becomes less and less hidden as the film unfolds. There’s a nod to alien involvement towards the end of the film that feels out of place, and the more the film relies on spectacle, both from special effects and from production design, the more it segues from what audiences really want: human stunts and up-close combat. It’s all perfectly acceptable as a minor thrill ride – nothing more. The film doesn’t feel as punchy, amusing or as fast-paced as the best of the other three films, but it’s passable both as nostalgia and old-fashioned action-adventure that favours impossible leaps from waterfalls over psychological insights and anything in the realm of plot that you could possibly need to believe.

It’s John Hurt as an old academic buddy of Mr Jones who utters a significant line as this fourth adventure, 21 years since the last, comes to a close in a scene that’s so sentimental – even by Spielberg’s standards – that you might be shoving your fist down your throat at the very sight of it. He ponders ‘How much of human life is lost in waiting.’ Is that Mr Spielberg suggesting we shouldn’t get our hopes up over these silly things? If so, he’s definitely right. Expect little, remember that the first three films were all basic affairs, and you might just – just – avoid disappointment.

Author: Dave Calhoun 2008-05-18 19:44:54

Time Out London Issue 1970, May 21 - 27, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Ben said...

Posted on Jun 03 2008 11:14 This film is pure action adventure entertainment for the family and we dont get a lot of films like this nowadays. Harrison Ford is back to his best and stills fits the Indiana Jones role like a glove. I love the opening 20 minutes or so, pure class. This is a must see twice movie. After seein it the first time i was impressed and enjoyed it very much but after the second time i loved it. Bring on Indiana Jones 5.

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pac-man said...

Posted on Jun 02 2008 19:56 Went to see it last night. Was very excited as I loved the first few films. It was OK. Disappointed. Didn't get the whole sci-fi thing. Other half enjoyed it and told me that the other films were just as far fetched.........but somehow I found them more believeable.

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andy said...

Posted on Jun 02 2008 09:10 A fantastic film. Worth the 19 years wait, this proves that film series can be brought back and still be great. I went in expecting it to be not as good as the origonal but was extremlly impressed when it finished.
It had amazing special effects and a good story to back it up.
Shila la bouf was great casting as Mutt and the banter between him and Harrison was funny.
Overall i was extremlly impressed with the movie and would definetly see it again.

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Rene Belloq said...

Posted on Jun 02 2008 06:09 I am a huge indy fan, but this film was the let down of let downs. I would pay more for a Blu Ray box set that just had the first three films and excluded this one. Harrison was great, everything else wasn't. Too much CG, too much bad plot, too much XFILES and expositional talk and not enough 'indy moments', stunts, wisecracks and having a plot we can buy into. Now Lucas' destruction of his own legacy is complete.

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Addzi said...

Posted on Jun 01 2008 12:44 Let's face it, guys and gals, Indiana Jones was never intended to have 'deep' storylines. Everyone says "ooh, I loved the first three films, but this one has lost the plot". I don't know whether these people are aware at just how far-fetched the other films were. Finding the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant? Come on, people! This is meant to be fun. You're not supposed to sit there tweaking your chin considering the depth of the plot. Get some popcorn, and watch the film knowing that it's not educational, it's not realistic and it's certainly not American Beauty. It's fun, like films used to be. One of the main reasons Spielberg and Lucas made this is because of the high demand from fans of the series. Now it seems all the fans are complaining. Next time you want a sequel, folks, try considering that the actors are a lot older than they were, original storylines are harder to conceive and CGI is going to play a part in any action film going forward. Lighten up, for God's sake!

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Adam said...

Posted on Jun 01 2008 12:37 Never trust a review from someone who can't punctuate properly.

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Dean Benson said...

Posted on May 31 2008 22:31 I am a big indy fan and loved this film. It was a fitting addition to the indy collection.
I almost never went to see this film after reading all of the reviews, I would have been gutted if I had missed it.
Let that be a lesson to you not to believe everything that you read, and remember that it is just one persons point of view.
I also think that some people read too deep into these films. JUST SIT BACK and enjoy the ride.

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footballer13 said...

Posted on May 31 2008 14:37 ok.but its not like these kind of movies havent been made before.Nothing specia and as a Indiana Jones fan I am disappointed with the movie.

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kay_n_sez said...

Posted on May 31 2008 10:01 what a let down!!! Yes there was plenty of action, which was great but its not like we havn't seen it all before. As a true Indie fan i feel completely let down, " if it isn't broken, don't fix it". And its this that i am unable to understand, Indiana Jones is about treasuring hunting,not running after and trying to return a crystal skull that looked more like it had been made from plastic and aluminium foil for a student project. The plot was a complete joke,evey part appeared to have been taken from other films, including kate blanchetts pulp finction wig! talking about her, did the film actually have a baddie? im confused..... NO all we got was bad acting ( except Harrison), bad accents, Bad wigs, a terrible plot and ET's brothers.
I hope they do not attempt another ( im sure they will)...

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Ben Hensby said...

Posted on May 30 2008 19:02 Steven and George were obviously high when they conceived this movie. What a shame, because it initially had a pretty good story that fits around the 1950s - Russians, cold war, crystal skull of alien origin and also 19 years have past since the last crusade back in 1938.
The first 20 minutes starts off reasonably well with good old fashion Indy action and only a smidge of CGI used for certain elements. Then first sign of things going bad is having Indy escape a nuclear blast by...hiding in a fridge! WTF! Yes, he's a hero...he is also a human being, not superman. I tried to brush that incident aside and blame Lucas. Story furthers along with good exposition of the plot resulting in a mediocre action scene with Harrison and Shia escaping the KGB via motorcycle; a chase with a lot left desire in my opinion. Then the story drags us into beautiful, but laborious set pieces that only work for Indy to solve the riddles and ultimately get captured by super bitch and her soviet minions.
In comes Marion (nice to see her back) who smiles just a bit too much for someone who's life is being threatened, and the discovery that Mutt (Shia) is Indy's father which is dealt with rather flimsy and comes across unconvincing and implausible.
All becomes rather laughable when Indy & co try to escape the Russians and are recaptured again in a comical scene of stuck in quick sand, yet not adding anything to move the story's pace.
John Hurt's talent is wasted by playing a annoying character who has ridiculously lost his memory after staring at the crystal skull. As with casting, all are acceptable and of what you expect from a film of this tailor, except a minority. Ray Winston, I don't think should have been in this. Ray's talent does not suit this type of genre and Hollywood hero, and I cannot buy the fact he's a double agent...or triple agent, as the end proves. He just seems out of place in the whole film. Major miscast.
One action sequence that does stand-out, but not for all the right reasons is the jungle chase. Very fun and exciting action that unfortunately has suffered the CGI-syndrome. Not only can Indy's kid ride a motorcycle, he can swing like a tarzen on vines and fence like the 3 musketeers. The sword fight between vehicles is cringable, and sadly most of the fight scenes seem cartoony and lack the resonance, realism and tricks that remind of an Indy movie.
After the big action sequence, the film rushes to a conclusion that is something out of X-Files and the worst Mummy sequel. Everything falls apart - no, I'm not talking about the pyramid. The film ends with the close encounters flying away and Indy getting married in a cheesy way. The film did hurt, (we didn't even get a good villain death scene) but I don't think it's hurt the franchise. The only thing holding the film together was Harrison, who is always great, special effects and the story that was plausible that swiftly decided "Anything goes", as Kate once sang.
Indiana Jones will always be a trilogy to me, and in a way Indy was inspired by the '1930s' serials, therefore that's where he should stay.

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Indiana Rape Face said...

Posted on May 30 2008 17:21 The film was total entertainment from start to finish! The alien presence was obvious from the start so it didn't ruin the film at all. If you went in there expecting Shindlers List then you're an idiot. You critics are clearly boring old men sitting at a desk all day with no sense of fun. I dont understand anybody who can say that this film was rubbish. Totally ridiculous throughout, yes...but flipping great fun!! Case closed.

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evan said...

Posted on May 30 2008 17:15 I think a lot of people thought harrison ford was to old but just as in the other three films he was great. I think with all the advances in technology it was great

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Benrai said...

Posted on May 30 2008 10:39 Been a fan since the originals, Indiana has reached the 50s, the time of the UFO scare - it is Indiana Jones still, but with a B Sci-Fi movie "vibe" - done this way on purpose. A couple of scenes could have been left out, a few exras could have been added. I think it is a great film, but sadly, a lot of people don't seem to "get it". AN alien does not mean X-files - people. There is plenty of action and small references to the original, and a lot of complainers forget the originals were made for a young audiences. Be a child or young person and heart and enjoy the film!

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rob moss said...

Posted on May 30 2008 10:07 This is a really good film but the ending total ruines the film I wont give it away but it is absolutly stupid plot didnt really make much sence again at the end but over all a really good film

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Heather's Cool :) said...

Posted on May 30 2008 08:52 Now going to see it today. . my friend says its GREAT and she loves it so..
Haha
Ill comment back when i see it
Heather xXx

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