New 'Indiana Jones 4' Video -- Reuniting the Family

Other than ComicCon stuff, it has been awhile since we got a new video from LucasFilm at IndianaJones.com. The last one, right before the Con was a really disappointing look at the international buzz for Indiana Jones IV. Then, of course, we got the confirmation that Karen Allen would be returning as Marion Ravenwood. In her introduction at ComicCon, there was mention of the family being reunited -- I took this to mean it was official that Indiana (Harrison Ford), Marion and Indy Jr. (Shia LaBeouf) were a family in the sequel. So, I saw the title of LucasFilm's latest video, "Reuniting the Family," and figured it would give further proof that the Joneses would be a happy unit. That was obviously stupid of me. How could I believe they'd give any story info away that easily?

The video is actually a montage of scenes from Raiders, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade, inter-cut with interviews about the reunion of the family behind the camera. Featured is Ford, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. And as if to really annoy me, the video features too much Kate Capshaw and Alison Doody and not enough Allen. It even starts off with a tease of Marion saying, "Indiana Jones. Always knew someday you'd come walking back through my door." Then Spielberg comes on and says, "I'm excited about making Indy 4, if for no other reason than to get a reunion with our original family." Another thing that made me sad: all the footage of John Rhys-Davies (nothing against Ray Winstone, but I'm really going to miss Sallah).

Maybe one day -- before Memorial Day, 2008, perhaps? -- we will find out the whole deal behind Marion's return to the franchise. By then we will hopefully also have a real title and maybe some confirmation that this movie is indeed a full-circle-back to the plot of Raiders of the Lost Ark. But in the meantime, let's keep watching these hype-making videos that give us nothing new. It's better than twiddling our thumbs for the next nine and a half months, I guess.