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Film Title: Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

 (Gift Wrapped DVD)

 Best for ages: 11 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 2008

Rated: PG-13 (US)

SYNOPSIS

   Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull takes place years after the first three films, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is teaching at the university part time and is pretty much world renounced as one of the best archeologist to ever live. So much so that he knows half of the artifact he's found are being stored in Area 51. And that's where the story begins; with Indy being kidnapped by a group of Russians headed by a women named Col. Dr. Irina Spalko (Kate Blanchett).  Spalko is after one thing that Indy knows about; the crystal skull, and in order to find the lost temple of the crystals skulls she first needs certain artifacts to help her with her mission. This of course does not go over well with Indiana and as always he escapes.  Now back at his school he soon learns that the Russians are still hot on his tail. He runs into a kid named Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) who was sent by his mother Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) to get a hold of Indy to help her and Professor Oxley out  with a problem they are having in South America, which obviously has something to do with the Crystal Skull. So Along with Mutt, Indy travels to South America in search of his friends, but little does he know that the Russians are right there at his heels looking for the same thing Indy and his friends are looking for; The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

THE REVIEW

     Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a movie that plays more like a campy b-movie with cartoon elements. If you look back at the previous three films, all of them didn't rely on computer generated images to move the film along. the technology that's used in movies now was not available back them. But still looking back you noticed that most of the action, violence and graphic content was a bit out of this world per say. Sure you had your shootings and sword fights and violence of that nature, but the content always had a campy element. Crystal Skull is a lot more campy and cartoon like than the other three films. Sure it has twice the adventure and violence as the the other films, but it's all done in a very adventurous way. I think some younger kids can handle the violence and graphic content in this film, while others might be scared of some of the more graphic scenes which involve scary looking tribesmen and killer ants.  I think that kids over the age of ten can handle it. Not to sure if you want any child younger than that to watch the movie unless you think they are mature enough to handle it.

   On a personal level this is not the Indiana Jones film we all grew up on. This one is packed with effects and has some very bizarre plot points and even a bizarre story. But it's that bizarre story that makes this film a lot more entertaining than the previous three movies.  There is a lot more action and a lot more excitement. It may not be as good and the original three films, but it still has that Indiana Jones sprit to it.

   As far as the performances go, everyone in the film was good. Harrison Ford after taking almost a twenty year vacation since returning to the role of Indiana Jones takes the character once again and gives us a great performance. Kate Blanchett once again proves that she's a great actor by taking on the sinister role of the evil Col. Dr. Irina Spalko, and Shia LaBeouf shines as the new fresh faced sidekick to Indiana.  It was also good to see Karen Allen back as Marion, and one thing the film provides is a back story on what happened to her and Indiana. John Hurt was fabulous as the ever likable Oxley and Ray Winstone was great as the greedy character of Mac McHale.

   The films production value was pretty decent as well. You have your normal great costume and set designs which are almost expected to be perfect and eye catching, which they were.  Yet what I think might of been the downfall for many fans of the original films was the fact that the visual effects in this new installment were all computer generated. People fail to remember that the first three films were made during the nineteen eighties, with LAST CRUSADE being that last of the films was made in 1989. A time where CGI was just being developed. So many of the effects used then were with stop motion or make-up effects. CRYSTAL SKULL has a lot of CGI, and it while some of the stuff does seem a bit out there for the most part it does look pretty good. I would say the only thing that looks a bit out of place are the monkeys and the fire ants which look very cartoon like. But other than those few things the overall production value of the film is very good.  

  This DVD is perfect for a Christmas gift for anyone who you know who loves the Indiana Jones movies.. Paramount has done all the work for you by wrapping it up and putting a cool looking Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull sleeve over it. The DVD is the single disc version presented in widescreen format with Dolby Digital format. There are two featurettes on the DVD "The Return of the Legend Featurette, which talks about everyone involved in the previous films getting together for the first time in twenty years; and a Pre-Production Featurette about the conception of the film.  Overall it makes a great gift for someone special in your life who loves their movies, and this is one movie that they'll be sure to love.

What makes this film PG-13.

Violence:

Fighting: YES

Killing: YES

Guns: YES

Gun Fights: YES

People/Animals being shot (by gun ,arrow or other projectile weapons): YES

Stabbing/Strangling: YES

Bombings: YES

Women harmed/killed: YES

Children harmed/killed: NO

Domestic Violence: NO

Animated Violence: (Cartoon Violence similar to Looney Toons) YES

Graphic Content:

Sex: NO (Non-Graphic)

Nudity: NO

Partial Nudity (Underwear/bra/bikini): NO

Revealing Clothes (Cleavage/low cut shorts/pants): NO

Blood: YES (Very Limited)

Shootings: YES

Gore: YES (Some animated gore, but no blood involved)

Sickness: NO

Death: YES

People Dying: YES

Drowning: NO (But our lead characters do come close)

Suicide: NO

Police Brutality: NO

Corruption: YES

Drug Use: NO

Alcohol Use: YES

Smoking: YES

Greed: YES

Gambling: NO

Language:

Insults (Jerk, Idiots etc..) YES

Cursing: YES (Very Mild)

Crude Language: NO

Sexual Innuendos: YES

Sexual Insults: NO

Sexual Come-ons: NO

Adult Conversations: YES

BUY THIS MOVIE.