FAQ for
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. It is assumed that no one who is diligently avoiding spoilers will be visiting this page in the first place.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDbs Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367882/parentalguide.

MPAA mandated Trailer alterations aside... 10.10.07 "...the effects work was approximately seventy percent practical and thirty percent CGI, although the computer-generated work will be obvious."- Steven Spielberg http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=6127&count=0

In an interview with producer Frank Marshall, we learned that "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might not be very reliant on CGI magic. Here's what Frank Marshall had to say:

"Steven Spielberg is very aware of the process and we're not cheating with CG (computer graphics) at all," Frank Marshall said. "It keeps the B movie feel."

This would also include the nasty CGI whip insurance mandate rumour started by British tabloids.

Apparently there were some minor adjustments that they made, for the MPAA approved US general trailer viewing audiences, to remove some weapons.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3825/cgipants1la6.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1336/cgipants2cj6.jpg

This French video describes all the differences between the US and International versions as well. http://www.dailymotion.com/Rialeb/video/7386668

Yes, they are the traditional Rosswell/Area 51 elongated skull, saucer spaceship Aliens; but in an attempt to be original they are not from outer space. They are aliens 'from another dimension'. In the film, Professor Oxley corrects Mutt, when asked if they are aliens by saying, "Interdimensional beings, in point of fact." He also tells Indy that the portal leads to another dimension, not to outer space.

There is nothing in the film concerning the Fountain of Youth, although the fabled "City of Gold" plays a major role in the film, as it is the location where the titular crystal skull must be returned. Although the gold is not actual gold. As Indy states at the end of the film, the word for "gold" also translates as "treasure," that treasure being the knowledge the inter-dimensional beings collected.

The crystal skulls in the film are the skulls of inter-dimensional beings that came to Earth to learn about its culture and peoples. There were thirteen such beings, which were worshipped as gods by the ancient Mayans, centered in the mythical city of El Dorado (aka, the City of Gold).

Years ago, one of the skulls was taken from the city by an explorer, only to be discovered by Professor Oxley during the time period of the film. A team of KGB agents, led by Irina Spalko, are trying to take the skull back to its original source in the ancient city.

The skull, it is learned, isn't inactive, and can create psychic connections to certain people who stare into its eyes. Indiana Jones, upon staring into its eyes, learns that he must return it to the ancient city.

Indy and crew return the skull, only to discover the skeletons of the twelve other beings. Upon being placed upon the spine of its rightful owner, the twelve skeletons merge together into a single entity.

George Lucas talks about the Crystal Skull relic 06/10/07, 7:40pm EST

Filmmaker George Lucas recently admitted in a video clip by http://www.mtv.com/ that he has been obsessed with these antique crystal skulls ever since he began doing research for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV-series that premiered in 1992. Here follows an excerpt from the http://www.mtv.com/ article:

"We did The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and in the process of that, one of the scripts we were working on was about a crystal skull. I became fascinated with it there," George Lucas revealed Wednesday on the red carpet for the American Film Institute's 40th anniversary at the ArcLight. "We've been through lots of different versions the last 14 years, with five different writers. There's just a lot of aspects that seem to fit into our kind of a movie."

"I think this is actually better, it's up there with the Ark of the Covenant," he declared of the fourth film's "McGuffin" (a term coined by Alfred Hitchcock to describe an object which drives a film's plot). "Sankara Stones and the Holy Grail were a little tough, but I think this time we've really got a great one."

George Lucas emphasized that "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is shaping up to be the best Indy flick since the first one, even going so far as to call "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" tonally most like "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Believers of the "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" attribute all sorts of abilities to them; ranging from the skulls being psychic amplifiers to tools of death to repositories of ancient knowledge.

http://www.theraider.net/news/fullstory_indy4.php?id=335

Even though this doesn't seem to be an established lore or myth type artifact; such as the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail-There has been literature written on the subject and actual Mayan/Aztec artifacts of this nature found. Which also explains why Aztec/Mayan pyramids have been placed at Indiana Jones fan conventions, Comic-Con, etc. This is an interesting documentary on the subject, which also mentions Atlantis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwrGQuFyRDQ Also these reports: http://skepdic.com/crystalskull.html

This is an amateur video of the ride in Disney Tokyo of the same name. Take this interpretation of with a grain of salt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDuasAQMynQ

George Lucas told Empire in August 2006: "I discovered a MacGuffin. I told the guys about it and they were a little dubious about it, but it's the best one we've ever found. ... Unfortunately, it was a little too 'connected' for the others. They were afraid of what the critics would think. They said, 'Can't we do it with a different MacGuffin? Can't we do this?' and I said 'No.' So we pottered around with that for a couple of years. And then Harrison Ford really wanted to do it and Steven Spielberg said, 'Okay.' I said, 'We'll have to go back to that original MacGuffin and take out the offending parts of it and we'll still use that area of the supernatural to deal with it.'"

Another popular rumour: "The crystal skulls turn out to be alien skulls, underneath a Mayan or Aztec pyramid that takes off and thus reveals itself to be a mothership of sorts." http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3221&Itemid=99

Most recently Frank Marshall mentioned this concerning the Crystal Skulls: ""The theory is they are shaped by higher powers or alien powers or came from another world, or an ancient Mayan civilization had the powers."

LEGO has decided to represent them in this strange manner. http://toyfair08.asmzine.com/gallery/lego/indiana-jones/slides/IMG_9366.html

The crystal skulls have also appeared in several other movies; including "The Phantom," "House II: The Second Story" and "The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines."

Watch "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" again. The Knight told Indy after he drank from the Grail in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." "...the Grail cannot pass beyond the Great Seal. That is the boundary and the price of immortality." The old Knight that they encountered had obviously been granted immortality only by staying put.

So short answer, no.

More needless discussion has been debated about the story of the other two Knights that walked into the desert, "after dying of extreme old age." whereas this is still irrelevant to immortality, it could be noted that the Grail could merely grant good health and also grant some measure of lasting healing power once you leave the area pass the seal; noticed in the disappearing bullet wound of Sr.

But, will Indy be in good health and up to his death defying adventurous acts in this film? Yes.

Early on in the film we discover Henry Jones Sr (played by Sean Connery in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" has actually died, proving himself not to be immortal.

It is from the soundtrack to 'Children of Dune' by Brian Tyler, and it is track number 4, called 'The Revolution'.

http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2007/09/indiana_jones_secrecy_foiled_b.php http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/studio_film/indiana_jones_spoilers_leaked_67724.asp

Short and simple, he was an extra that broke his NDC (non-disclosure contract).

Although, since he never had a copy of the script, and the fact that the only plot points he overheard were: "Shia is Ford's son", "Karen Allen is in the film", "Russians capture Indy and dance around the fire, and they interrogate him (tying him to a chair) and ask him about a Crucifix Skull"... basically the leak consisted of elements that were already known and elements that aren't true.

A spokesman for Steven Spielberg has been quoted in saying that "he (Tyler) will never work in this town again." The natural consequence of breaking a NDC.

The lawsuit against Nelson has been settled.

George Lucas came up with the McGuffin (the crystal skull), and is credited with writing the story. He also served as Executive Producer. According to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas was on set for a total of nine days. Although George Lucas suggested Steven Spielberg shoot the movie with digital, Steven Spielberg used film, as he has on all of his previous movies. http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=6127&count=0

There are also a few nods to the George Lucas created television series Young Indiana Jones.

They filmed in the US, most filming was shot in Hawaii. Here are some revealing set pictures. http://www.hfm2.com/photopost1/showgallery.php/cat/932

This translates in the film as: New Mexico, Connecticut, Mexico City and the jungles of Peru. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-12-09-indiana-jones_N.htm

IESB posted a report that talked about both Shia LaBeouf and Harrison Ford signing on for more "Indiana Jones" films. In fact, Shia LaBeouf was rumored to be under contract for three more, while Harrison Ford was set to do two more, to round off the trilogy.

Now, http://www.mtv.com/ News has checked in with John Singh, director of publicity for Lucasfilm, who explained that "That's purely a rumor. Idle chatter among Internet fans."

Most are not convinced that John Singh is being completely truthful. There was the sound of finality in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." Even though it sounds a bit ridiculous for Harrison Ford to keep making Indy films at the age of 65, studios are notorious for locking in their actors, just in case the film is a big success. http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=4908

Most recently in a Vanity Fair interview Steven Spielberg had this to say:

Q: Is that leaving room open for another one? A: Oh, I don't know. I haven't even thought about that. I'm still in the cutting room. I can't even think beyond the next cut. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/02/spielberg_qanda200802?currentPage=3

In an interview recently in Entertainment Weekly George Lucas does not rule out a fifth Indy film...

EW: Are you going to do another Indy film after this one? GL: "That I don't know. We do these one at a time and we do it purely for the fun of it, which means if we have too many things going on - Steven Spielberg has a couple of movies going on, he's got Chicago Seven, he's got all this stuff backed up for years- who knows?

Harrison Ford tells USA Today that "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might not be the character's final film appearance - if George Lucas and Harrison Ford can get get their asses in gear and have a fifth "Indiana Jones" film ready soon - rather than in another twenty years - Harrison Ford says he'd consider playing the Man in the Hat again. http://mymoviesdatabase.blogspot.com/2008/04/ford-would-consider-fifth -indiana-jones.html

George Lucas has revealed to FoxNews that there is more than a strong possibility that there will be a fifth "Indiana Jones" movie. Apparently, Steven Spielberg has left the door open for a sequel to "Indiana Jones 4."

"I haven't even told Steven or Harrison [Ford] this," he said. "But I have an idea to make Shia [LaBeouf] the lead character next time and have Harrison come back like Sean Connery did in the last movie. I can see it working out."

"And it's not like Harrison is even old. I mean, he's 65 and he did everything in this movie," Lucas continued. "The old chemistry is there, and it's not like he's an old man. He's incredibly agile; he looks even better than he did 20 years ago, if you ask me."

In the film, Indy states that Marcus, like his father, died years prior.

The actor (Denholm Elliott) who portrayed him is deceased. However, most likely as a reference to Marcus, "Brody's Barbershop" has been identified in a production shot of a set for the fourth film. Additionally, a portrait of Brody will hang in the hall of the archeology department at Marshall College.

There is also a large statue in the university grounds of Marcus Brody, which is consequently rammed into and unfortunately beheaded by the Soviets.

No. John Rhys-Davies will not return as Sallah.

John Rhys-Davies was quoted as saying that he would've loved to return, but was informed by George Lucas that as the adventure does not see Jones go to the Middle East, Sallah isn't needed in this film.

1957, nineteen years after the events in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," acknowledging the real-life time span between the two movies.

Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) makes her return in this film, revealing that Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) is Indy's son. The film ends with the marriage of Indy and Marion.

Most notably, there are, as Indy puts it, "big damn ants", which chase the heroes and villains as they fight one another through the jungle.

It should be noted that the ants Indy identifies - "siafu" - are actually native to Africa, and can't travel at those speeds in the film.

Mutt has a run-in with scorpions--a possible nod to what his "feared" critter might be.

And of course, there is a snake.

The answer is yes according to this Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Spoilers. Before clicking through, do know it's a "Spoiler Page."

http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/movieblog/more/indiana_jones_and_the_kingdom_of_the_crystal_skull_spoilers/

No.

They are people who worship the aliens and protect the crystal skulls.

No; he never really gets the chance. The only time is when he's outside the tomb with the blow-dart assailants, but they are too agile and run away. He is never really in a fight where it is economic to use his gun as a weapon, he's almost always held at gunpoint or in a close-quarters fight using fists/a shovel.

Presumably to have Mutt have a piece of evidence that Ox was still alive, enough to make sure Mutt would lead them to Indy. Their motives were almost identical to those of why they 'let' Marion call Mutt, as explained below.

Indy teaches at the fictional Marshall College, named after one of the film's producers, Frank Marshall.

This is called Fourth Dimension.

Definition in American Heritage dictionary:

"Time regarded as a coordinate dimension and required by relativity theory, along with three spatial dimensions, to specify completely the location of any event."

There is a plausible theory in astrophysics that fourth dimension may exist, which is utilized by the UFOs as the propellant engine to travel through time and space continuum, as Nobel Prize winner in Physics Albert Einstein, who developed the theory of relativity, summarily explains:

"An attempt at visualizing the Fourth Dimension: Take a point, stretch it into a line, curl it into a circle, twist it into a sphere, and punch through the sphere."

For more information on how physics scientists are attempting to discover Fourth Dimension by complex mathematical investigation, read Science Daily article "Scientists Predict How To Detect A Fourth Dimension Of Space" at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060525120118.htm

At the climax of the film Irina asks the aliens to give her knowledge of all things, and is subsequently destroyed. There are two possible reasons this occured:

1. The aliens, being psychic, sensed Irina's evil intentions and destroyed her for them. This theory is supported by the malevolent look on the alien's face as she disintegrates.

2. The aliens do exactly as she asks, but her primitive human brain is ill-equipped to handle the sudden surge of cosmic knowledge, causing her brain and (as a result) her body to spontaneously combust. This theory is supported by her yelling out "It's too much!" during the info-absorbing process.

3. It was actually both. The alien was willing to grant whoever returned the 13th skull 'a gift'. Sensing that Irina's intentions were both for greed and evil, he gave her exactly what she wanted, knowledge of all things. Even though it killed her, which is why of course all our heroes make it out alive. They were respectful of the alien's powers and chose to leave with their lives instead of being granted any form of powers.

The likely explanation is that the extraterrestrial beings traveled through the time-space continuum to acquire the "priceless" artifacts comprised of widely diverse statues, jewelery, pottery and structure artworks ranging from Sumerian to Early Egyptian to Roman to Early Chinese, etc. as "time-traveling archaeologists" for deposit in the basement of the pyramid to build the repository of knowledge that last "forever".

Extraterrestrial beings are presumed to be always curious, hence visiting the living planet Earth to investigate organic life and gain knowledge by contact with the human race in ancient times and acquisition of artifacts as gifts or by theft.

In chronological order of the following films - Temple of Doom, 1935; Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1936; The Last Crusade, 1938; The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, 1957.

The character Mutt Williams was probably conceived in intimate union between Marion and Henry Jones II in 1936 after Raiders of the Lost Ark movie ends and born in 1937, (or possibly on the ship) which makes him 19 or 20 years old when Mutt and Indiana unexpectedly reunite in 1957. Marion and Indy might have stayed together for a few years: Mutt could have been born as late as the early 1940s (making him as young as 15 or 16), given that Indy introduced Marion to Mutt's future stepfather, who was a RAF pilot killed in WWII shortly after they were married.

There is a scene with Marion and Indiana arguing over Mutt on fatherly absence, paternity and step-parenthood in the fourth Indiana Jones film. It is likely Marion's pregnancy was unplanned and she discovered pregnancy well after Indiana's abandonment in departure was established soon after the union, typical of Indy's personality as an adventurous yet emotionally distant person.

Marion named her new-born son Henry Jones III after her lover despite the tumultuous relationship they had off and on over the years. It's not surprising to see Indiana Jones insist "high school dropout" Mutt Williams complete education and call Mutt "son", just like Indiana's father insist on rigorous discipline in academic pursuits and his constant unintentional condescension of calling Henry Jones II "Junior" (a name that Indy also gives Mutt once).

Although, this element of the film might be awkward to some, the film tries to explain the 'reasons' in this manner:

Mac claims he defected to Soviet side for the handsomely lucrative sum as an asset in the search for invaluable treasure that the Soviets pursue in hope of consolidating great power to dominate the world in Stalinist Communism onslaught.

As the fight continues in a particular sequence, Mac tries to mend the fence by claiming he is a CIA agent as a "double agent" to gain Indiana's trust, perhaps to exploit Indiana's gullibility.

Mac once again betrays Indiana by dropping the tracking devices while following Indy's team in service of the pursuing Soviets. When Mac found what he was looking for -- pure gold -- for instant wealth acquisition in self-enrichment, greed is the motivating factor that define Mac's personality as a self-serving traitor.

It is a fitting end to Mac's life as the result of avaricious appetite when he became trapped in the vacuum because he spent inordinate time searching for gold necklaces to grab instead of escaping with haste.

Mac and Indiana may have been friends as traveling archaeologists, but the fact remains Mac was not interested in discovery of artifacts for preservation and "right of return" but contrive to become rich by looting to sell the 'priceless' artifacts to the wealthy collectors willing to pay a large sum of money. He had sided with the Soviets as an eager person to find instant wealth the easy way and still retain Soviets' trust as a cleverly deceitful agent.

Some critical viewers of the film consider the scene that depicts Indy surviving a nuclear explosion by hiding inside a refrigerator to be a cheap sell-out, or proof that the franchise has run out of good ideas. "Nuke the fridge" is synonymous with "jump the shark," a popular phrase based on an implausible incident in a late season of Happy Days.