About This Movie: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

PARAMOUNT PICTURES Presents
A Lucasfilm Ltd. Production
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
WRITERS: David Koepp; from a story by George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson
PRODUCER:  Frank Marshall
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Janusz Kaminski (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Michael Kahn, A.C.E.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Guy Hendrix Dyas
COSTUME DESIGNER: Mary Zophres
COMPOSER: John Williams

Starring:  Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, and Shia LaBeouf

Opening date:  Thursday, May 22, 2008
Rating:  MPAA – PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images
Running time:  126 minutes

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is back on the big screen for the first time in 19 years in his new globe-trotting adventure, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The whip-toting, punch-packing, snake-hating, globe-trotting archaeologist with a fedora is back in an adventure that begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 at the height of the Cold War.  Indy and his sidekick George “Mac” McHale (Ray Winstone) barely escape a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield.

A family affair?

After returning to Marshall College, where he is known as Professor Jones,” Indy finds things have gone from bad to worse.  His close friend and dean of the college, Dean Charles Stanforth (Jim Broadbent), informs Indy that his recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government is pressuring the university to fire him.

Later, Indy meets the rebellious young Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) who carries both a grudge and a proposition for Indiana Jones.  If Jones helps Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Jones could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history – the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear.

The villainess

However, As Indy and Mutt set out for the most remote corners of Peru – a land of ancient tombs, forgotten explorers, and a rumored city of gold – they quickly realize they are not alone in their search.  The Soviet agents are also hot on the trail of the Crystal Skull.  They are led by the icy cold, devastating beauty Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), whose elite military unit is scouring the globe for the eerie Crystal Skull, which they believe can help the Soviets dominate the world, if they can unlock its secrets.

Indy and Mutt must find a way to evade the ruthless Soviets, follow an impenetrable trail of mystery, grapple with enemies and friends with questionable motives, and above all, stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into the deadliest of hands.

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