Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 18 > Entry
Indy’s ‘Crystal Skull’ full of bugs, fist fights and an A-bomb
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The fourth Indiana Jones movie features lots of the familiar — the brown hat, the whip and having to make one’s way with a lighted torch through creepy tunnels full of cobwebs and muck. But it’s also full of things even Indy’s never seen before. Like an exploding atomic bomb.
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” among this summer’s most anticipated movies, debuted Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival and was also screened for the media in Atlanta and other U.S. cities. It opens in theaters on Thursday.
Rated PG-13, the film is full of bugs and fist fights, totes a little blood and delivers at least one well-placed, nighttime boo scare. Parents can expect the same level of violence, intensity and frights found in the first three Indy movies.
A stalwart Harrison Ford, packing his trademark smirk, returns in the title role in a story set in 1957, some 20 years after the third film. He fights plenty of Russians and the occasional South American native while hunting for a crystal skull that could open the door to otherworldly answers to mystic questions.
The action scenes are plentiful and involve multiple truck wars (remember “Raiders of the Lost Ark”?), a big-city motorcycle chase and a good, old-school fist fight.
Here’s what fans will likely be talking about after “Skull” opens on Thursday:
CATE BLANCHETT: Sounding a little like a female Boris Badenov, the multiple scene stealer dons a pageboy haircut and swaggers her way through the movie as Irina Spalko, the evil Russian psychic/scientist and Indy’s main nemesis. She spouts Communism and mind-control ideals as though she’s a pod-person in one of the “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” movies.
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Karen Allen returns from the first film as Indy’s love interest, Marion. Shia LaBeouf enters all cocky and full of himself as though he’s Marlon Brando in “The Wild One.” Later on in the film, he softens his character.
THE WEAPONS: More than one rapier, poison darts, machine guns, bolos, a switchblade and a tree limb.
THE PESTS: Scorpions, a long, long rat snake and what looks like hundreds of thousands of army ants.
THE HOMAGES: There are tips of the hat to Sean Connery (Indy’s dad in “The Last Crusade”) and the late Denholm Elliott (he played Dr. Marcus Brody in the first and third films). Those who keep their eyes glued to the screen will also get a glimpse at a very familiar treasure.
Are you looking forward to seeing the new Indiana Jones movie?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Bob Longino
Comments
By Ryncockle
May 19, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
CAN’T WAIT!
By ad-hoc
May 19, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Counting down the days for this and X-Files movie. My summer just got better!
By KatyWatts
May 20, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
I’m not usually keen on going to the theatre. I usually wait until I can rent. But this one - opening weekend I’m there!
By Tiki
May 20, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
YES! Can’t w8. Just wish I still lived in L.A. so that I could see it at the Chinese Theater like I did the 1st one. The only way to truly view cinema. These cookie cutter centiplexs…yuck!..you might as well be sitting in a crowded living room!
By Ole Man Bourbon
May 20, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Lol, nice spoiler, Bob.
Oh well I’m sure there is more to see. Trailer looks kinda weak but I won’t miss Indiana Jones.
By sam
May 20, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
I’ll check it out when it hits the dollar rental box at Kroger.
By cutiepie
May 20, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Can’t wait to see it!
By Tyler Durdin
May 20, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
I hear Jar Jar Binks is playing a grown-up Shortround.