INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL 

Posted by: Tara W aka Galaadriel

Cast: Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone

Director: Steven Spielberg, screen writers David Koepp, Jeff Nathanson

Synopsis: Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) races the Soviets -- led by agent Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) -- to a lost city called Akakor in the Peruvian forest, in pursuit of a mystical crystal skull. Along for the adventure are old flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), long-time friend and competitor Mac (Ray Winstone) and new sidekick Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf).

Rating: PG-13 (for adventure violence and scary images)

Running Time: 2 hr. 4 minutes

User Rating/Grade: Excellent B+

My Review: It's been 27 years since Indiana Jones first cracked his whip onscreen in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and nearly two decades since the last installment of the franchise, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

The latest Indiana Jones adventure begins in the desert in 1957, at the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac have barely escaped the grasp of Soviet agents on a somewhat familiar airfield.

Professor Indiana Jones returns home to his part-time teaching job at Marshall College only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend, co-worker and dean of the college explains to Indy that whatever he has been doing has made him the object of suspicion and that the government wants to fire Indy from the university. Indy decides to head out of town on a break when he is sought out by cocky young Mutt (very cute): If he'll help Mutt on a mission that is highly important to him, Indy could make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history,  the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of curiosity, fascination, superstition and fear.

But as Indiana and Mutt set out for Peru, a land of ancient tombs, long forgotten explorers and a mythical 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. The Chief among them is icily evil, devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko, whose elite military unit is scouring the globe for the 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 dodge the cold and cruel Soviets, follow an impenetrable trail of mystery, endure constant enemies run-ins, discover  friends with questionable motives and most importantly, stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into the deadliest of hands.

Indiana Jones is the embodiment of adventure and there’s plenty of that, discovery and this movie definitely delivered in my opinion. There's the kewl Indiana Jones, Mutt, Indy's feisty former love interest Marion Ravenwood, Indy's crazy former mentor, various villains, double agents, monkeys (although brains are intact), tribal dewds, creepy skeletons that glow, voracious ants, and of course, a snake or two (why did it have to be snakes? J). Indy discovers new ground as he always does in his adventures. Over all the movie was nostalgic, enjoyable and definitely worth seeing.

In addition to seeing the newest installment of Indiana Jones adventures, I recommend that you should see the previous awesome Indy movies which includes Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Special Edition),  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Special Edition) & Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Special Edition).

Get your copy of  The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Full Screen Edition) at BuyMovies.com today!