It's been 19 years since Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) quite literally rode off into the sunset after he and his father beat the Nazis to the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This May 22, Indiana -- better known as Indy in the movies -- is dusting off his fedora and leather jacket and picking up his whip to set out for another grand adventure.
With the gargantuan title of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (alas, IJATKOTCS is an ugly acronym so it won't be used again here), the new movie is prompting intense fan speculation and some derision.
Why? The usual reasons: no-one knows too much about the production but everyone is willing to go out on a limb with their take on things. Here's another article for the mix, ahead of what is rumored to be a Feb. 14 release of the first Indy 4 trailer at the front of Paramount's next big release The Spiderwick Chronicles.
What's it all about, Indy?
Set in 1957, the next chapter in the Indiana Jones saga will pit the teacher/archaeologist/adventurer against the evil Russians led by Agent Spalko (Cate Blanchett) as they race to the titular Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
What's a crystal skull? It's a fabled human skull made of quartz crystal that some people say have awesome powers including seeing into the future, resurrecting dead beings, or making the one wielding the skull loaded with psychic abilities. Seems the Russians are rather keen on harnessing the mighty force of the skulls and set about trying to locate them -- and the kingdom they came from -- in South America.
Of course, it isn't long before Jones is roped into fighting the Russians over the skulls. Internet scuttle says that the Russians need Jones' help in locating the crystal skull kingdom and to secure this they kidnap Indy's old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Just to complicate matters even further, Indy will be joined by a host of new characters -- a potentially double-crossing treasure hunter named Mac (Ray Winstone), a rebellious young kid named Mutt (Shia La Beouf) who may or may not be Indy's son with Marion, and John Hurt in an as-yet unnamed role that some people believe may be the long thought dead Abner Ravenwood, Marion's father.
Hey Dr. Jones, no time for love!
While the setup makes the movie seem like another exciting trip for Indiana Jones, the Debbie Downers of the Internet are already saying this production is doomed.
The crystal skulls may have connections to aliens, which is upsetting those who think Jones' adventures should stay earthly bound. These same people must be forgetting the Ark of the Covenant that destroyed a Nazi army with the power of God, or the Holy Grail that can grant immortality -- not exactly run-of-the-mill stuff.
Producer George Lucas has also promised the movie will have more of a 1950s sci-fi B-movie feel than the 1930s adventure serial feel of the first three movies, something getting some fanboys irate. But with director Steven Spielberg behind the lens, this promises to be a great addition to the Indiana Jones canon. All the elements are there -- familiar faces, mystical objects of awesome power, evil foreigners -- and Spielberg knows what he's doing.
Will this movie be a thumbs-up or thumbs-down? It's obvious advice, but wait and see.
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