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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

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2008 · 122 min · Adventure
6.7 Modest
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Adventure Action

Set during the Cold War, the Soviets—led by sword-wielding Irina Spalko—are in search of a crystal skull which has supernatural powers related to a mystical Lost City of Gold. Indy is coerced to head to Peru at the behest of a young man whose friend—and Indy's colleague—Professor Oxley has been captured for his knowledge of the skull's whereabouts.

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
2008
Studio
Paramount Pictures · Lucasfilm Ltd.

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

Lucas conceived the idea of an older Indiana Jones set in the 1950s after directing Harrison Ford's cameo for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in December 1992, realizing it opened up possibilities for a sequel.

Origins

Multiple screenwriters worked on drafts over more than a decade, including Jeb Stuart, Jeffrey Boam, M. Night Shyamalan, Stephen Gaghan, Tom Stoppard, Frank Darabont, Jeff Nathanson, and finally David Koepp, before the producers were satisfied.

Origins

Frank Darabont's earlier draft, titled 'Indiana Jones and the City of Gods,' featured ex-Nazis as villains, but Lucas rewrote it with Soviets instead, feeling the Cold War setting made them more plausible antagonists, while Spielberg felt he could not satirize Nazis again after directing Schindler's List.

Origins

Lucas convinced a reluctant Spielberg to include aliens by describing them as 'interdimensional' rather than 'extraterrestrial,' drawing inspiration from superstring theory.

Casting

Sean Connery turned down a cameo as Henry Jones Sr., later admitting the part was too small to justify coming out of retirement, and he had actually suggested the character be killed off in the story.

Casting

Shia LaBeouf's character Mutt was originally written as a 13-year-old daughter of Indiana and Marion in Frank Darabont's draft, but Spielberg changed it to a son because the idea felt too similar to The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Casting

LaBeouf signed on to the film without reading the script or knowing what character he would play, simply excited to be part of an Indiana Jones movie, and gained 15 pounds of muscle for the role.

Casting

Ray Winstone and John Hurt both insisted on reading the script before committing, and due to strict secrecy, a courier delivered the script and waited while each actor read it before flying back to Los Angeles the same day.

Filming

During a truck stunt scene, a timed explosive failed to detonate and landed in the seat next to Harrison Ford, but it did not go off and he was uninjured.

Filming

Ray Winstone tore his hamstring and Shia LaBeouf pulled his rotator cuff and later his groin during filming of action sequences.

Effects

Because an approaching hurricane prevented filming a waterfall fight scene in Hawaii, the second unit filmed footage at Brazil's and Argentina's Iguazu Falls, which was then digitally combined with footage shot at the Universal backlot.

Effects

The same Ark of the Covenant prop from Raiders of the Lost Ark was reused for the Hangar 51 scene, and guards were hired to protect it during filming due to its value as memorabilia.

Music

John Williams reused the Raiders March and Marion's theme from the original film, while composing five new musical motifs for Mutt, Spalko, and the crystal skull, and slipped in a brief homage to Brahms' 'Academic Festival Overture' during a library crash scene.

References

The film pays tribute to the late actor Denholm Elliott, who played Marcus Brody, by including a portrait and statue of his character at the Marshall College set, implying he died shortly after Henry Jones Sr.

Trivia

To protect the film's secrecy, five fake titles were registered with the Motion Picture Association of America, and an extra who violated his nondisclosure agreement by giving an interview was taken to court, while stolen production photos led to the arrest of a suspect who was sentenced to over two years in prison.

Memorable quotes

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[After Irina asks him if he had any last words] I like Ike.

Indiana Jones Answering Irina when asked for last words before a nuclear blast

I have a bad feeling about this. (reference from Star Wars)

Indiana Jones Sensing danger, nod to Star Wars

This is intolerable. (reference from his father)

Indiana Jones Complaining, echoing his father's line

[on his motorcycle, to Indiana] Get on, Gramps.

Mutt Williams Inviting Indy onto his motorcycle

Don't call me son! [reference to Indy telling his own father not to call him "Junior"]

Mutt Williams Reacting after being called son, mirroring Indy's own past line

If you want to be a good archaeologist, you gotta get out of the library!

Indiana Jones Lecturing about fieldwork over books

I think you just brought a knife to a gunfight.

Indiana Jones Facing an opponent with a sword during a fight

[After he slams into a pursuing truck while pursuing Irina Spalko.] Damn, I thought that was closer!

Indiana Jones After crashing into a truck during a chase

[to the Russians searching for him as they leave him at a nuclear test site] Sure, great! Don't wait for me!

Indiana Jones Left behind by the Russians at a nuclear test site

[Right before trying to push his truck off a cliff] Do svidaniya, Dr. Jones.

Irina Spalko About to push Indy's truck off a cliff

[Right before she gets consumed by the knowledge] I want to know.

Irina Spalko Confronting the alien knowledge at the climax

So we will do this- what is expression? Old-fashion way. You will tell us.

Irina Spalko Threatening to extract information the old way

[To Mutt while they are dueling] You fight like a young man; eager to begin, quick to finish!

Irina Spalko Dueling with Mutt

Mac: Don't get clever Boris. You don't know him.(Boris has a crazed look in his eyes and drives faster) Mac: Know him, KNOW HIM! You don't know him! YOU DON'T KNOW HIM! YOU DON'T KNOW HIM! YOU DON'T KNOW- [the cars crash into each other]

Mac Warning during a wild car chase

Dovchenko: POMOGI MNE!!! (HELP ME!!!)

Dovchenko Crying for help during a chase

Oxley: [repeated line] Henry Jones Jr.!

Oxley Repeatedly calling out to Indy

[to a crazy Harold Oxley who is speaking apparent gibberish] We went to the University of Chicago together, and you were never this interesting. My name is Ind... [quietly] My name is Henry Jones Jr.

Indiana Jones Reintroducing himself to a delirious Oxley

[to Indiana] For an old man, you're not bad in a fight. What're you like - 80?

Mutt Williams Teasing Indy about his age during a fight

[To Indy] What are you looking at, Daddy-o! She's getting away!

Mutt Williams Urging Indy to focus on the chase

[combs his hair while telling Indy and Marion] I can't concentrate with you two fighting all the time!

Mutt Williams Annoyed while Indy and Marion argue

How the community felt

😵 Shocked 40%
😆 Amused 40%
🤩 Amazed 60%

What people are saying (1)

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Lucía Prada ★ 5

3 weeks ago

Cate Blanchett comunista, con acento extravagante y espada… estamos ante mi gay awakening de chikita. Más agujeros de guion que ladrones en el psoe pero bien disfrutona. Marion te amo.

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