Above you will find the latest Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer. While it looks kinda like the last one, it's easy to spot a whole bunch of new scenes and dialogue. Anyone else notice how all these trailers and TV spots have been very light on Marion Ravenwood's scenes? They've included her in this jungle car chase scene, and she's had a line or two, but that's it. Part of me wonders how much she's in the actually movie? Then again, perhaps they'd rather play up the Shia LeBeouf and Cate Blanchett roles over Karen Allen, who, while very well known to all of us movie buffs, isn't exactly a household name across the globe. Kinda diggin' LaBeouf's character more and more each day; he's a fun guy to watch on screen and my fingers are crossed he does a good job here. Reviews thus far have been iffy ... but I'd rather wait to see for myself.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives on May 22. Check out our enormous (and fairly awesome) gallery of images from the film below.

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!

Paramount has sent over a handful of new photos from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Above, you can see the adorable smile of Karen Allen, who's reprising the role of Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark for this film -- and I couldn't be happier about it. She was always my favorite Indy gal, and I'm itching to see what they've done with her character; how they've aged her, who she is, what she's been up to. I gather Indy won't find her throwing down shots in a remote bar in Nepal this time around. Can she still drink any man under the table? And, seeing as the Russians are the new enemies, will Marion get to go one on one with a big Russian and a bottle of vodka? Ya know, everyone talks about Indy and Mutt and the evil Spalko -- am I wrong for anticipating the return of Marion's character more than anything else? Check out the gallery below for the new images ...

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives in theaters on May 22.

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.

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.

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.

What is it with Agent Spalko and pointing? We've already seen pictures of her brandishing her sword at Indy, at Mutt and now here comes a new picture of her pointing her finger directly in Indy's face, or else just past his line of sight towards something off in the distance -- to be fair, I think it's the latter. That's just one of three new pictures from the forthcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that have popped up in an Italian magazine, L'espresso. Another of the pics is intriguing because it seems to show us Indy with a giant sword tucked into his trousers -- has he vanquished Spalko and taken her pointy stick by this point in the film? Will Indy have a sword battle in this film? Boy, I hope not. Also, we get our first look at the much talked-about 'quicksand' scene, although it's too much of a close up to give any real detail. We see Indy coming face to face with a snake just as he's seemingly about to sink into the sand. I think I get the idea here -- he'll have to grab onto the snake in order to get out of the sand, so it's a bad choice either way.

I can't imagine I'll be up early enough tomorrow to catch the premiere of the trailer on Good Morning America, but on the subject of 'Indy and publicity',' producer Kathleen Kennedy recently made the rather eyebrow-raising statement that the film would hit theaters in May without the accompaniment of a press junket -- what's that all about? I know The Beard is prickly when it comes to interviews, but as Jeff Wells pointed out, how hard could it possibly be to get Karen Allen and Shia LaBeouf to free up some time to actually do some press for their movie? I'm thinking Kennedy was probably speaking without thinking, since Paramount probably wouldn't stand for such a thing.

Additionally, after the jump check out another, more revealing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull cover for the upcoming Dark Horse comic due out this May. This will be part of a two-issue comic book adaptation, and the second issue reveals a bit more ... skull on its cover.

Empire has snagged this new photo from Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which I believe is the first to show the entire dysfunctional Jones family (minus Papa Jones, of course) heading out for battle together. Holding a bazooka in the middle is our old pal Indy (Harrison Ford), with Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) to his right and Mutt Williams, aka Indy Jr. (Shia LaBeouf) to his left. The photo comes as part of Empire's latest issue, which also features a pretty badass pic of Hellboy (there's a sequel for that coming too!) on its cover.

Empire spoke with producer Frank Marshall, who told them Spielberg is "pretty much done with editing" and that they're now entering "the phase with John Williams where he starts scoring the movie. He's really writing now and then we'll start scoring in February." Additionally, they also asked Marshall where this installment fits in to the rest of the series, to which he replied: "I would say it's closest to the third one (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). It's all adults. I mean, you have the sidekick in Shia (LaBeouf), but you don't have a Short Round and I think the banter between the characters is as fun as it was in the third movie." Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives in theaters on May 22.

A brand new poster for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has arrived online (click on the image for a larger version), and for the first time we catch a glimpse of a poster that definitely brings us back to the look and feel of the first three films. There's Indy (Harrison Ford) in his classic outfit with fedora hat and whip in hand, standing in front of a burning skull that looks pretty damn evil. Underneath you get the film's title in classic Indy font, as well as the release date: May 22. A little older, wiser, this time around Indiana Jones is on the hunt for a mysterious crystal skull, which, when in ones possession, creates great powers. He'll be reuniting with his old Raiders flame, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), as well as getting to know his son, as played by Shia LaBeouf. Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent will show up playing a fellow archaeologist and fellow professor, respectively, while Cate Blanchett is said to be playing an evil Russian. Additionally, John Hurt will be playing the long-lost (and thought-to-be-dead) Abner Ravenwood. So, does this poster pump you up ... or not so much?

[via IndianaJones.com]

Three brand new images from the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull have arrived online, courtesy of AICN. There's no word on where they came from (hopefully it's not from that stolen batch), but the pics show us a nice image of Indiana Jones wearing his classic fedora hat and holding his trusty whip and gun. Another image shows Indy and son (played by Shia LaBeouf) in some sort of cave examining an object with a flashlight. Man, I am so iffy on LaBeouf -- I seriously hope he pulls this one off. Seeing him all crouched down in his greaser jacket next to the big-screen icon that is Indiana Jones sends mild shivers down my spine.

The plot of the film has been kept hidden from us for quite some time, though small nuggets of info have leaked out. We know that Karen Allen will reprise the role of Marion Ravenwood, and that LaBeouf is Indy's kid. Cate Blanchett reportedly plays a Russian bad girl, while Indy will be off in search of the elusive crystal skulls. Some folks claim the film will return to the warehouse seen at the end of Raiders -- the one that holds the Ark of the Covenant -- though we still don't know for sure. Either way, I must say old Harrison Ford looks pretty good for his age. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives in theaters on May 22. Check out the other two images after the jump.

Updated to include new hi-res versions found on the IMDb message boards.

Just prior to its DVD release on September 18, Warner Bros. will re-release William Friedkin's Cruising (1980) in selected theaters across the country, including the Castro in San Francisco. If it plays well there, the film will have come full circle, having begun its life sputtering amidst howling controversy. Few films have been as reviled; the gay community protested it during its production, critics hated it and audiences stayed away. I first looked at Cruising back in the 1980s on VHS and likewise found it repulsive. But looking at it again years later in a cleaned-up transfer, with some big city experience and some knowledge of Friedkin's work gave me a whole new perspective. Not to mention that just about every Friedkin film except The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973) has been misunderstood in its own time. And, ironically, Friedkin insists that even The Exorcist has been misunderstood, since he never considered it a horror film.

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.

Before I begin, I do need to give Kevin Kelly major props for live-blogging the hell out of yesterday's Paramount panel at ComicCon. Trust me (as someone who has live-blogged a number of awards shows), it ain't that easy. When news broke that Karen Allen was officially reprising her role as Marion Ravenwood, Kevin threw up pictures from the video that was shown to the audience. Since then, a new photo has arrived (one that shows director Steven Spielberg clowning around with Allen), which you can see to the right of your screen. While we weren't totally blown away by the announcement (it had been rumored for quite awhile now), it helped solidify my anticipation for this project.

Additionally, IndianaJones.com has re-launched with a whole new look and opening theme music. Can you guess which music it is? I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot of that music in the coming months, but it won't quite hit me until I watch Indiana Jones (all 65 years of him) grace the screen with his theme slowly rising in the background. Then I'll know he's truly back. Of course Shia LaBeouf will probably ruin the moment by popping in with a one-liner or two, but it's okay. I can handle Shia if it means I get to see Indy and Marion reunite on screen for the first time since 1981. And she still looks pretty damn good, huh? I'm not sure if she'll be throwing back shots in this film like she did back in the day, but she has a smile that always brightens up the room. Now if we can just get Sean Connery to admit he's secretly going to film a cameo, we'll be good to go. Memorial Day 2008. Mark your calendar.

The best part of this 32-second clip of Indiana Jones and the City of Gods footage being filmed by a secondary cameraperson comes at the very end, when the person in question (or someone standing close to them) goes "that was great!" even though they've seen nothing but a vintage car come around a corner at a moderate level of speed. The clip comes to us courtesy of IESB, and is one of the first moving images I've seen from the set so far, and it doesn't seem to be shot from inside of a van or anything. Didn't the production notice someone standing there with a camera, filming their stunt work? Guess not. Based on everything I've read so far, I think I can piece together exactly what is going on in this opening scene from the film, but since we seem to have the spoiler police monitoring us very closely lately, I'll refrain. I'll just say that I think it's going to make for a pretty good, old-school Indiana Jones sequence, as opposed to something with CGI and explosions.

As far Indy 4's presence at ComicCon this year, it's still up in the air. At first glance, I didn't notice any mention of the film in the just-released ComicCon schedule, and I've heard nothing about what, if anything, will be emerging from the production in time for the big show. Perhaps Paramount wants Indy 4 to give way to Star Trek, which is more primed for announcements, surprises, and convention-friendly things like that? Or maybe it's simply too early to expect anything other than perhaps a teaser poster or something like that. Probably the latter.

Ever since it was announced that Shia LaBeouf would be playing Indy's son in the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise (due out next summer), rumors began popping up everywhere alluding to the fact that Karen Allen was asked to reprise the role of Marion Ravenwood (Indy's girl pal in Raiders of the Lost Ark) in the next film; that she would be Shia's mom. Just recently, two different websites apparently confirmed this rumor to be true after speaking with who, I assume, is the equivalent to some babbling production assistant. However, according to Allen, she hasn't spoken to anyone about anything. In an interview with the Dutch website Studio64, Allen notes (regarding whether or not she's been contacted about appearing in the film): "Yeah, I have heard those rumors too. I haven't been contacted or anything, but I would be interested in playing the role of Marion again. Of course!"

If you ask me, I think she's full of it. You might remember back when it was announced that Shia LaBeouf had landed the role as Indy's son, and all the dude did was deny deny deny. "I haven't talked to anyone. Spielberg? Lucas? Who are those guys? Who am I?" Seeing as both Spielberg and Lucas are instructing their actors (as well as anyone within striking distance) to remain hush hush, it wouldn't surprise me if Allen was told to keep quiet about her appearance in the film. Then again, the interview itself seems to have been conducted awhile ago. When they mention Indy 4 to Allen, they do so by saying "there are rumors Indy will have a son in this movie." And, as we all know by now, we're long past the rumor stage. Who knows. What we do know is that Indy 4 starts shooting next week, and that the production will eventually make its way to New Haven, Connecticut at the end of June. I imagine at that time we'll hopefully receive some spy pics of the 60 year-old Harrison Ford in action. Until then ...

[via The Raider.Net]