Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Everyone's favorite archeologist adventurer dusts off his hat and trusty whip for yet another globetrotting trek as Indiana Jones returns to the big screen nearly 20 years after racing for the Holy Grail alongside his father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Harrison Ford reprises his role as the iconic, snake-loathing screen hero in a sequel that also finds Karen Allen returning to the series for the first time since 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, and Shia LaBeouf round out a cast that also features Cate Blanchett in the role of villainous Russian operative Agent Irina Spalko. Steven Spielberg calls the shots on a script penned by David Koepp (and adapted from the screen story by executive producer George Lucas). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 2
• Screen: Color
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Features:
  • Disc 1 - Feature film
  • Pre-Production Featurette HD
  • Indiana Jones Timelines
  • Trailers HD
  • The Return of a Legend Featurette HD
  • Disc 2 - Production Diary: Making Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
  • -Shooting Begins: New Mexico HD
  • Back to School: New Haven, Connecticut HD
  • Welcome to the Jungle: Hilo, Hawaii HD
  • On-Set Action HD
  • Exploring Akator HD
  • Wrapping Up! HD
  • The Crystal Skulls HD
  • Iconic Props HD
  • Adventures in Post Production HD
  • The Effects of Indy HD
  • Closing: Team Indy HD
  • Pre-Visualization Sequences
  • Area 51 Escape
  • Jungle Chase HD
  • Ants Attack HD
  • Galleries: The Art Department
  • The Adventure Begins: Cemetery and Jungle - Akator
  • Stan Winston Studio
  • Corpses, Skeletons & Mummies - Aliens & Crystal Skulls
  • Production Photographs
  • Portraits
  • Behind-the-Scenes Photographs

AWARDS

• Alliance of Women Film Journalists

•     Won Sequel that Shouldn't Have Been Made Award - 2008

• Art Directors Guild

•     Nominated Best Art Direction in a Fantasy Film - 2008 (Guy H. Dyas)

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Nominated Best Visual Effects - 2008 (Pablo Helman)

• Broadcast Film Critics Association

•     Nominated Best Action Movie - 2008

• Cannes Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2008

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
       Cate Blanchett - Irina Spalko
       Karen Allen - Marion Ravenwood
       Ray Winstone - George "Mac" McHale
       John Hurt - Professor Oxley
       Jim Broadbent - Dean Charles Stanforth
       Shia LaBeouf - Mutt Williams
       Igor Jijikine - Col. Dovchenko

• Director:

  Steven Spielberg

• Producer:

  Frank Marshall

• Screenwriter:

  David Koepp

• Screen Story:

  George Lucas, Jeff Nathanson

• Cinematographer:

  Janusz Kaminski

• Composer (Music Score):

  John Williams

• Editor:

  Michael Kahn

• Production Designer:

  Guy H. Dyas

• Co-producer:

  Denis L. Stewart

• Executive Producer:

  Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas

• Costume Designer:

  Mary Zophres

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Ben Burtt

• First Assistant Director:

  Adam Somner

• Casting:

  Debra Zane

• Visual Effects:

  Industrial Light & Magic

• Visual Effects Supervisor:

  Pablo Helman

REVIEW:

• It's not easy for one of the most beloved film series of its time to return after a 19-year absence, though Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull manages to do a serviceable job of recapturing what audiences have come to equate with their favorite fearless archeologist. Indeed, Harrison Ford is back again, this time a tad wiser and a lot more grey, yet still packing that familiar quick wit, trusty whip, and mean punch to get him out of tough spots. Along for the ride are a slew of new cohorts (including Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt) and a few new delicious baddies (Cate Blanchett, Igor Jijikine) to add to his roster of villains. Of course, it's the inclusion of Karen Allen as Marion that truly makes this outing special. But what of the excitement, the humor, and the old Spielberg fun that people of all ages have come to love from this fabled franchise? Inklings of them are there, even if the sands of time have eroded the filmmaker's potency for delivering the magic of yesteryear.
  
  Just as Ford had much to prove, so did the movie's helmer. Spielberg's recent efforts had given rise to the idea that a sweet slice of cinema pie was once again in his recipe book. Resoundingly, he shows that his classic camera chops have gone nowhere, although his work with actors leaves a bit to be desired. In fact, Kingdom's stumbling blocks aren't in its presentation but in its execution. Much of the blame has been thrown screenwriter David Koepp's way, somewhat deservedly. Yet the fact is that the production is plagued by an underlying awkwardness that goes beyond Koepp's wordy approach and half-cooked character work. Performance-wise, viewers are delivered a hodgepodge of misses and knockouts, lending credence to the growing mistrust surrounding co-creator George Lucas' touch - especially given his fondness for stiff acting. The modern age can also be seen rearing its head, thanks to the overall lack of stunts and overuse of computer effects, which create a great lack of tension in much of the overly spectacular proceedings.
  
  That said, there's still some stuff to love in this fourth outing. For instance, the action scenes are still superbly staged, with an early motorcycle chase standing out as a highlight. Also, as if it wasn't good enough to be able to see Indy doing his thing again, there are moments of brilliance between Marion and him, even if they leave one yearning for more. The same goes for the musical maestro behind the series, John Williams, who laces in the Raiders theme with ample glee, transporting his audience to a familiar and welcome place throughout the movie. Yet there is a desire to hear something beyond the subtle B-movie/sci-fi throwback score he delivers. If anything, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might have the power to shine if viewed merely as escapism entertainment. However, it seems evident that the mileage has not only taken a toll on the character, but the series as well. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi