It's not bad, exactly. It's not a desecration of the franchise. It's just . . . tired.
2 Comments
05/22/08
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
77
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:248
Fresh:190
Rotten:58
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: Though the plot elements are certainly familiar, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still delivers the thrills and Harrison Ford's return in the title role is more than welcome.
Theatrical Release:22-05-2008
Synopsis: When we last saw Indiana Jones on screen, it was 1938, and the world stood on the brink of war as Dr. Jones chased down evildoers to find the Holy Grail. Nineteen years later, he’s cracking his... [More]
Starring: Harrison Ford, Ray Winstone, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett
Director: Steven Spielberg
Reviews for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
101 - 120 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Once again, the Indiana Jones series is the rare franchise that treasures knowledge and embraces the unknown.
05/22/08
Nearly two decades after the last appearance, Indiana Jones is back, along with its diminishing returns and its aging principals and their trademark tools.
05/22/08
Ultimately, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is instant artifact. It's a vessel with a great deal of pictorial images on its surface. But its contents are long gone.
05/22/08
The good news is that Harrison has aged gracefully and is up to the challenge of his physically-demanding role.
05/22/08
The character and plot contrivances are dumber than ever, but this is basically vaudeville, not narrative, and the thrills keep coming.
05/22/08
It's romantic manliness at its purest, almost but not quite schmaltz, ideally calculated to please true believers and ironic snorters at once.
05/22/08
Self-aware in the best possible way, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull cultivates a collective sense of nostalgia that carries it past mumbo-jumbo story developments and action scenes that could have used less CGI.
05/22/08
I like things with moving parts. There are plenty of ancient temples with moving contraptions in this one.
05/22/08
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is probably the worst of the Indiana Jones movies, but it's still pretty much a delight, from the beginning almost until the end.
05/22/08
We’re also (relievedly) a long way away here from the strenuous self-importance of the Bruckheimer-era blockbuster, and one should never look even such modest gift horses in the mouth.
05/22/08
This time, as Spielberg dips into other parts of his canon, the supernatural answer falls maddeningly short of the divine.
05/22/08
Spielberg and Lucas give fans exactly what they'd given them before and this time it's jumbo size.
05/22/08
...exactly what you expect from a summer blockbuster: a thrilling amusement park ride.
05/22/08
With moviegoers facing a grim season of pallid CGI battle-toons ... even the problematic adventures of one Indiana Jones can feel like a rich banquet in comparison.
05/22/08
Impresses with its ability to revive our fondness for this hero and his improvised way of handling all the dangers, challenges, and surprises that come his way.
05/22/08
You could smack 'I want to believe' on the poster and it would sum up the theme nicely. Unfortunately, this is just an OK film with a few standout scenes and a terrific ending. It's not an instant classic by any stretch.
05/22/08
Fourth Indy isn't perfect, but it's tons of fun.
05/22/08
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is clearly a movie geared toward anyone under the age of 30 who memorized every moment of their Raiders VHS.
05/22/08
Indiana Jones offers solid summer entertainment, but where's the laughter, romance and soul that made the original trilogy so memorable?
05/22/08
Latest News for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the...
September 15, 2009:
Harrison Ford Waiting on Indy 5 Script 
Waiting for another Indiana Jones movie? Well, cross your fingers -- Harrison Ford says he's ready and waiting for the script for a fifth installment. More...
June 16, 2009:
Has Spielberg 'cracked' the story for Indy 5?
Talking with the BBC for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Shia LaBeouf -- aka Mutt Williams, heir to the Indy franchise -- said that director Steven Spielberg has "cracked"... More...
June 10, 2009:
Harrison Ford Tops Forbes' Highest Earning Actors
Thanks to the deal he shared with producers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Harrison Ford emerged from the wilderness to... More...
January 21, 2009:
Razzies Name 2008's Worst Movie Nominees
No awards season would be complete without the Golden Raspberry Awards (AKA The Razzies), awarded each year to the very worst movies to hit Hollywood. This year's winners will... More...
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