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

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

RELEASED IN 2008 and directed by Steven Spielberg, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" takes place in 1957 when Jones (Harrison Ford) teams-up with a greaser teen (Shia LaBeouf) to thwart a Soviet plot to unearth the secret behind alien-looking artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls. Cate Blanchett plays the staunch Russian leader while Ray Winstone appears as Indiana's dubious partner. John Hurt plays a demented professor while Karen Allen returns as Marion from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981).While none of the three sequels (including the 1984 prequel "Temple of Doom") match the greatness of "Raiders," this is easily the best of 'em. "Last Crusade" (1989) was decent, but it borrowed too heavily from "Raiders" and was unable to match it, let alone improve upon it; not to mention it included the cartoonish-ness of "Temple." "Crystal Skull" blazes its own path, taking place 19 years after the events in the previous movie. Everything reflects the time period of the mid-to-late 50s: nuclear bomb testing, greasers, Elvis-inspired rock 'n' roll and the obsession with extraterrestrial visitation.The globetrotting spans from the wastelands of Nevada to the Northeast USA to Peru and, lastly, the jungles of the Amazon. The first half is the best part while the last hour is overblown with overkill CGI, but still more entertaining than the climaxes of "Temple" and "Last Crusade." The film bends over backward to entertain. Jones & Mutt (Labeouf) make a capable & amusing team and it's great to see the spry Marion again (Karen has maintained her sweet figure). As the story progresses, the relationships of the three are heartwarming.THE MOVIE RUNS 122 minutes and was shot in S. Cal.; New Mexico; Connecticut; Hawaii; Iguazú Waterfalls, Argentina; and Iguaçu Falls, Brazil. WRITERS: David Koepp wrote the script based on the story by George Lucas & Jeff Nathanson.GRADE: B

Though these thoughts are nothing relating to this laugh of a film. I fully attribute this movie to be so damn boring that it caused me to have and existential realization I am a lesbian and that the guy I was with was absolutely of zero interest to me and the thought of the whole date movie moves were making me nervous. Thankfully he didn't so much as even want to hold hands, let alone kiss like the idiot teens we were so clichély do. I also think it was boring enough to let everyone have their minds wander and have realizations like I did. I sure know the guy I was with did, he's gay now too. So thanks to the absolute absurdity and mind-numbing moments of my life this movie took away I can say I at least came out with a new understanding of myself. That I'm gay and this movie sucks more than my ex now. Good day.

The movie was okay until about halfway through, but it became progressively more stupid by the scene until, finally, it really jumped the shark at the end. Who could possibly have thought this movie was worth a rating above "5"? Maybe 12-year olds will like it, or people with the intelligence of a 12- year old.

I finally decided to watch an Indiana Jones movie. What a disappointment. I seen snippets of the first one and that seemed fine, so i bought this DVD looking for something fun. All I got was cheese. Why do these same two directors seem to be good at making technically good movies then blow it with the cheesy goofball kids stuff. It started off okay,, but quickly descended into a child's movie. The seen where the monkeys join in and attack the Russians...seriously? Indiana Jones finds out he has a 20 year old son and suddenly is saying things like 'you're going back to school" as if a 20 year old guy is excited to find out his mother lied to him all those years. And the Shia Labouf character,, seriously,, he arrives wearing the same hat as and motorcycle as a 1950s James Dean movie AND he carries a switchblade? Wow, The whole scene of the fighting in the jungle between two vehicles the sword fight was unbelievably bad.. bad... bad. These guys really need to hire some GOOD screen writers who can write a script for people - not children. They have no sense of humor. I watched a few of Spielbergs' early movies which were well done,,same with Lucas,, but this thing were they have a kid all the time and children's humor is just too much. I'm not usually the guy who writes negative reviews. I like most films,, but seriously,, it's like the movie was done from the mind of a 12 year old.!