Indiana Jones -- The Adventure Collection
... or any of the three special editions -- Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade

We're just over a week and a half away from seeing Harrison Ford run around as Indiana Jones for the first time in almost twenty years in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and hopefully not collapse in an arthritic fit. Of course, that means putting out a collection for Indy buffs to buy -- just in time for a late-night triple feature before the big release. However, unlike the Die Hard re-do, which stripped tons of extras away, and other releases that just fill up landfill space, there is a perk in this whole money-grab: aside from getting them as a collection, you can pick them up for the first time separately.

That's music to my ears, since I detest Temple of Doom, and would be happy not to see it again. Pick up one, pick up a few, or pick them all up in the Adventure Collection, which is just the three special editions in a fancy cardboard box. Each disc has a bunch of extras -- intros, interviews, special effects, storyboards, and more. Some is old footage, but there's lots of new bits as well -- including a look at Skull on the Last Crusade DVD.

Buy the Collection | Buy Raiders | Buy Doom | Buy Crusade

Now that George Lucas and his crew are preparing to launch the first big-screen Star Wars flick in all CGI, some folks are wondering whether that means he'd be down to eventually continue the saga where Return of the Jedi left off -- especially since it wouldn't be hard to bring back original actors like Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher to do the voice work. Fans, of course, would publicly bash such a move ... even if they'd secretly been wishing for the return of Luke, Leia and Han for years. So, would Lucas do it? Is he considering it?

In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Sith King himself claims there will be no such film from him. Lucas says, "There really isn't any story to tell there. It's been covered in the books and video games and comic books, which are things I think are incredibly creative but that I don't really have anything to do with other than being the person who built the sandbox they're playing in." He continues, "I get asked all the time, 'What happens after "Return of the Jedi"?,' and there really is no answer for that. The movies were the story of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, and when Luke saves the galaxy and redeems his father, that's where that story ends." Star Wars: The Clone Wars arrives in theaters on August 15, then heads to Cartoon Network and TNT for a weekly series.

Would you rather see a CGI Star Wars flick that takes place during The Clone Wars or after Return of the Jedi?

Who cares about mythical cities, ancient secrets, and unlimited power? As much as those things need to be there for the plot of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it's the man and the music that really counts. And of course, this new television spot for the film has both of those, but that's not all. There's Cate Blanchett's Agent Spalko, with a strategically placed black bar that is Hitleriffic, but the gem is in the slapping. There's nothing quite like seeing slaps in tune to Indie's classic theme, and for this spot, it's just like a Sissy-Boy Slap-Party.

This is a short television spot, so there's not much more to see, but luckily we don't have much longer to wait. After all this time, the film is almost here, itching to pop up in theaters on May 22. Harrison Ford, Karen Allen ... this is sure to be a fun blast from the past. Or at least, I hope!

Why We Can't Wait to See It: Well, it's Indy. That alone is pretty much all you have to say, isn't it? Harrison Ford is back as Dr. Jones, and while some of the folks around for the ride are new (Cate Blanchett, Shia LeBouf and others), the return of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood is reason enough for old-school fans to be excited.

Why It Might Do Well: Again, it's Indy -- and a long-anticipated return to the big screen for one of the most beloved movie franchises of modern times. Plus, the only big opener the week before is Prince Caspian -- which, while anticipated, probably won't pull people from the ticket lines opening week.

Why It Might Not Do Well: The question's less if it will do well than if it will be good; interviews have suggested that George Lucas has taken a heavy hand in the writing this time around -- which, frankly, hasn't been a good sign in recent years. Plus there's that disturbing gimmick in the trailer with Indy saying "I thought that was closer ..."; back in the day, Spielberg, Lucas and Ford would have let that go unsaid. ...

Fun Fact: Crystal Skull takes place 19 years after the events of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade -- the same amount of time it's been since we've seen Indy on-screen.

Trivia:


Answer Key

Take from this what you will, but Jeff Wells over at Hollywood Elsewhere claims to have heard from a "guy who knows a guy on the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull team" that Ferris passed out at 31 flavors last night. Okay, actually, this person claims to have watched a cut of the new film and Wells is flying with a bunch of quotes this morning that he's not "100% comfortable running," but knows they'll bring in about 100% more traffic for his site. Among the non-spoilerish highlights:

• Crystal Skull is "the best of the Indy sequels." "Steven Spielberg's helming puts the imitators (The Mummy, National Treasure) to shame. There are many breakneck set pieces, with a protracted jungle chase being particularly memorable. As well as being evocative of the truck chase from the first movie."
• Harrison Ford "gives his best performance in the role, not only physically belying his age but layering in welcome poignancy. More than before, audiences will be rooting for Indy."
  
• "The film has the strongest supporting cast of the sequels."
• Apparently, the film also includes an "ending that any longtime diehard fan of the films could only dream about."

Really? Dream about? I can dream about a lot of things. Once again, we have no idea who this person is and whether or not they have an "agenda,", but here's hoping they're 100% right on the money. A few new photos from the film have also hit the internets (via Slashfilm via some foreign mag), so check those out in the gallery below. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives on May 22.

Say it ain't so, Dr. Jones! Entertainment Weekly continues their coverage of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with a very in-depth four-page spread on the film; including interviews with most of the cast, as well as this little nugget from Harrison Ford with regards to the death of Indiana Jones: "A death scene for Dr. Jones? That would never happen, Harrison Ford assures us. He remembers trying to persuade Lucas to kill off his Han Solo character in the second or third initial Star Wars movie, insisting it'd make for a better story. ''You don't need him,'' says Ford. ''He's got no mama, got no papa - out there all by himself. He's a piece you can move around or get rid of. But I couldn't get George to go along with that. He didn't want to stop making the toys.''

George didn't want to stop making the toys. I love it! In addition to fun little facts like that, EW has revealed two new photos from the film (included in the gallery below). The entire article is definitely worth a read, though Lucas still sounds like an old bitter dude when it comes to films that are overly-hyped: "All I'm saying is, I have been there, and I have walked through the valley of death on highly anticipated sequels." Always the negative one ...

May 22. Indiana Jones. Are you there opening night ... or what?

With a little over a month left before Indiana Jones hits theaters for a fourth time, it's time to hear from its creators. First up, USA Today revealed a new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull photo (see above) along with their interview with Harrison Ford. An interesting note from that interview is Ford does not rule out an Indiana Jones 5, except he'd prefer that it not take another 20 years to come together. On the character, Ford says, "He's a guy who is pretty clear from the beginning. He has not changed so much between films. But we've learned more about him, through various plot devices, such as the introduction of his father. And we'll learn something more about him in this film. I think it's required. If you're going to bring back a character, you'll have to supply the audience with something more and different. The adventure is very, very important. But it's interesting to discover a facet of the character that perhaps you hadn't explored before."

Additionally, Entertainment Weekly sat down for a very informative interview with both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Their talk is extensive and very fun to read (if you're a fan of either man or both); topics covered include, of course, the entire Indiana Jones series. On the Russian villainess Irina Spalko (as played by Cate Blanchett), Lucas calls her an "uber-villain," while Spielberg says, "Of all the villains I've been able to work with in the Indiana Jones movies, I can say she's my favorite. And I think Cate made her that way."

As the release date for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull draws near, the worried rumblings begin. First, there's insider talk that Indiana Jones is only going to screen for the press a day or two before its premiere. To quote CHUD's Devin Faraci, "I was told a long time ago - when the movie was still filming - to not expect to see Crystal Skull until maybe a day or two before domestic release. According to some insiders, this policy was a smart one, as the movie may not have turned out to be what people in the industry call 'good.' I'm hoping for the best, of course." Aren't we all. This is being whispered elsewhere, so don't shoot this messenger or Faraci.

Second, Crystal Skull is going to have a run time of rather epic proportions. Jeff Wells reports that the final cut runs two hours and twenty odd minutes, longer than any previous Indy installment. There was a great deal of groaning last summer over needlessly long blockbusters -- I rather think Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was the most guilty. There are some movies that scream for 2+ hours, like anything with hobbits or scantily clad Spartans (ok, that one is just me) but there are others that are just fine clocking in at 90 minutes or so. That's where Indiana Jones belongs -- he's the man who never overstays his welcome and makes a graceful exit, leaving you wanting more. Don't read too much into that.

What happens when men in blue, sworn to protect and to serve, fly out of control? If we're lucky, we get a good movie out of it. If we're really lucky, we get a larger than life character to cheer and to fear. Are you feeling lucky, punk?

Keanu Reaves, of all people, will follow in the steel-toed shoes of some of cinema's finest as a cop who goes on an avenging rampage in David Ayer's Street Kings, which opens tomorrow. That made me reflect on my favorite out of control cinematic cops, men in blue who break free from the laws of god and man. Let us know who we missed in the comments section. But be nice, or we'll track you down and crack you over the head with a night stick.

1. Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry

Clint is so cool as Harry Callahan that he can just glare at bad guys and they give themselves up. Dirty Harry never met a criminal he couldn't beat up, a sergeant he couldn't hate, or a partner he couldn't get killed. He can't help it: he married justice a long time ago and the blind old bat won't leave him alone until he takes out the garbage. Don't even think about getting in his way: he solved the Zodiac killings in 102 minutes! Dirty Harry paved the way for several sequels and countless gruff, lone wolf outlaw police detectives.

Maybe the most irritating thing about Roland Emmerich's generally unwatchable 10,000 BC was leading man Steven Strait's bizarre accent. Totally indeterminate -- he trilled his r's and drawled occasionally -- it was clearly meant to indicate in some uncertain way that what we're watching takes place a Very Long Time Ago. Hello? The movie is called 10,000 BC and the characters are already speaking English. Making them speak weird English isn't exactly adding verisimilitude. I don't know who Emmerich thought he was fooling.

I always find this sort of thing annoying, and sometimes vaguely insulting. I'm perfectly fine with characters who speak English even though they're not supposed to -- it's easier that way, and I can suspend disbelief. But if you're going to go that route, why add constant, pointless reminders of the very fact you're trying to dodge? Part of the reason I admire The Hunt for Red October is that John McTiernan said "screw it" and let Sean Connery keep his Scottish brogue as a Soviet submarine captain.*

While it would certainly appear that we're not going to get a new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer this week, we have been given a new featurette starring that kid who smokes where he shouldn't, Shia LaBeouf (who plays some dude named Mutt in the film). You can check it out over on the film's official website, and what we basically have are a bunch of snippets of Shia in action, with voiceover from the actor. There's Shia riding a motorcycle with Harrison Ford, there's Shia practicing his sword fighting and there's Shia fooling around with a switchblade.

An interesting note about that switchblade, as brought up by Shia in the featurette: They didn't have time to bring someone on set to teach him how to use it, so he taught himself and became kinda addicted to the thing. He calls it his "Tetris" -- named, of course, after the highly-addictive Nintendo game. Not much in the way of actual footage here, save for a bit from that motorcycle chase. Am I the only one itching to see that scene already? The first images we saw from this set were of this chase scene, and they keep teasing the damn thing over ... and over ... and over again. For almost a year now!

Keep a look out for the new Indy trailer, which should hit at some point before the film is released (in glorious widget form!). Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives in theaters on May 22.

Entertainment Weekly has got their hands on an Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull exclusive. (It's flash, so we can't post it here -- plus they probably would be annoyed. Sorry!) It's a big action shot, with all the usual suspects. Marion is driving, Indy is about to go punch some Soviets, and his son is right behind him. I hope he has a good reason for trying to jump into the other vehicle so lightly armed.

Entertainment Weekly is being very polite and buying into the Lucas-Spielberg pretense that we don't already know who Shia LaBeouf is the genetic combination of. So they call "[the] new character" by his name.

I am bewildered as to how I missed the name of Shia LaBeouf's character. Mutt? Mutt Williams? I thought I had stayed on top of this, but that slipped right by.

"No, son. We called the dog Mutt!!"
"I've got a lot of fond memories of that dog!"

Anyway, enjoy the picture. I think it's very evocative of Raiders.

Since the arrival of the Official Indiana Jones Bullwhip, every time the UPS or DHL truck pulls up to our house my kids are all in a tizzy to see what's been delivered. This morning, when a big box was dropped off, they knew it was more than just another "boring grown-up movie," and they anxiously crowded around for me to open the box. My suggestion that I might wait until I finished my coffee was met with wails of "Mooooooommmmmm!", so I gamely ripped into the box and lifted the contents from the wads of brown paper wrapping:

A new trend seems to find these big summer blockbusters premiering at the early summer film festivals. Last year, Spider-Man 3 took over Tribeca (and I'd expect the Tribeca folks to try to woo Iron Man to premiere this year), and films like Ocean's 13 premiered at the Cannes Film Festival a couple weeks later. Now, Fox News says folks from the Cannes festival are in talks with Steven Spielberg's reps in an attempt to premiere Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at the festival this May. While it will debut only a week or so prior to the official release here in the states, it will give those attending Cannes the jump on getting the first reviews out there.

Cinematical will hopefully be at Cannes again this year, though accreditation is always tight and always up in the air. If Indy does premiere at Cannes, it will likely be the talk of the festival and we assume folks like Spielberg, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf and Karen Allen will be on hand to walk the red carpet. I imagine those peeps heading to Cannes in May just found a new reason to get excited. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull officially arrives in theaters on May 22.