May 18, 2008 (Cannes)
May 22, 2008 (United States)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a 2008 American action adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by David Koepp, based on a story by George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson. It is the fourth installment in the Indiana Jones film series and a sequel to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Set in 1957, it pits Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) against Soviet KGB agents led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) searching for a telepathic crystal skull located in Peru. Jones is aided by his former lover, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), and their son, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf). Ray Winstone, John Hurt, and Jim Broadbent are also part of the supporting cast.
Screenwriters Jeb Stuart, Jeffrey Boam, Frank Darabont, Lucas, and Nathanson wrote drafts before Koepp's script satisfied the producers. The filmmakers intended to pay tribute to the science fiction B movies in the 1950s. Shooting began on June 18, 2007, at various locations in New Mexico, New Haven, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Fresno, California, as well as on sound stages in Los Angeles. To maintain aesthetic continuity with the previous films, the crew relied on traditional stunt work instead of computer-generated stunt doubles, and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński studied Douglas Slocombe's style from the previous films.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull had its premiere at the 61st Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2008, and was released in the United States on May 22, by Paramount Pictures. It received generally positive reviews from critics but mixed responses from audiences. Critics praised the film for its cast, action sequences, and pulpy tone, but criticized aspects of the plot and overuse of CGI. The film was also a financial success, grossing over $790 million worldwide and becoming the franchise's highest-grossing film (when not adjusted for inflation) as well as the second-highest-grossing film of 2008.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the last film in the Indiana Jones franchise to be distributed by Paramount, as the Walt Disney Studios acquired rights to future films following the parent company's acquisition of Lucasfilm in October 2012, with Paramount still retaining the rights to the original four films and receiving "financial participation" from any additional properties. It is also the last film in the series written by series creator George Lucas. A sequel, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, was released in June 2023.
Storyline[]
Indiana Jones, a renowned archaeologist and explorer, teams up with a young man, Mutt Williams, in order to unearth the mystery behind the legendary crystal skulls.
Also See[]
- Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Sound Effects Used[]
- Ben Burtt Punching Sounds
- Famous Studios Cartoon Fall Sound
- Hollywoodedge, Chimpanzee Screams AT050201/Sound Ideas, APES, CHIMP - SCREAM, TYPICAL CHIMP SCREAM, ANIMAL, CHIMPANZEE
- Hollywoodedge, Coyote Howl Single Me AT026401
- Hollywoodedge, Explosion Incoming EXP022901
- Hollywoodedge, Lightning 08 CloseG SIG012601
- Hollywoodedge, Large Ceramic Pot Bre TE023001/Pottery Drop Break PE112401
- Hollywoodedge, Thunder Crack Impac PE1006401
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Hits Crashes Hea FS022901
- Machine Gun Sound 1
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - CANNON BLAST AND CANNONBALL WHOOSH, GUN (Blast part only.)
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - SHORT TRACER WHIZ BY AND AWAY (Heard once in a low pitch.)
- SKYWALKER, CAR - BRAKES SQUEAL, LONG 02 (very low pitched)
- SKYWALKER, CAR - IGNITION START; REVERTING ENGINE; RUN
- SKYWALKER, CAR - TUCKER ARMORED CAR: PASS BY
- SKYWALKER, CAR - VARIOUS TIRE SCREECHING
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 01
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 07
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 15 (muffled)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - AT-AT STOMP
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - BIG CRUNCH (lower pitched)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - MASSIVE INFERNO ROARING (higher pitched)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - SMALL EXPLOSION
- SKYWALKER, HUMAN - BUZZ DROIDS' DEMENTED LAUGHS (Used once for metal squeaking.)
- SKYWALKER, HUMAN - YELL, SHORT, MALE 02 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, HUMAN - YELL, SHORT, MALE 03 (Used once for Soviet soldiers screaming.)
- SKYWALKER, JET - ARTOO'S ROCKET THRUSTERS
- SKYWALKER, JET - FAST PASS BY 01
- SKYWALKER LASER BLAST SOUND
- SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER SOUND (One of the versions is used for steam hissing.)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - HUMAN BODY IMPACT ON METAL
- SKYWALKER, METAL - MEDIUM SIZE DOUBLE CLANK 02
- SKYWALKER METAL, SQUEAK - BIG METAL SQUEAK WITH HINGE
- SKYWALKER MICROPHONE FEEDBACK SOUND
- SKYWALKER, MUSIC - DOLBY SYNTH SAMPLE
- SKYWALKER PUNCHING SOUNDS
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - ION CANNON GUN
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - TIE FIGHTER GUN (Heard once in a low pitch.)
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - WESTAR-34 BLASTER PISTOL FIRE
- SKYWALKER SPOTLIGHT FLASHING SOUND
- SKYWALKER, THUNDER - LOUD CRACKLING IN A DARK NIGHT
- SKYWALKER, WATER - SINGLE SPLASH
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - ARTILLERY FALL 01
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - INDY'S WHIP CRACKS
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - METALLIC PIECES FLY BY
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SINGLE SWISH
- SKYWALKER, WIND - HEAVY WIND WHISTLING
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, MONKEY - VARIOUS SCREAMS, APE
- Sound Ideas, APES, MONKEY - FIGHT, GROWLING & SCREAMS, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, INSECT, GRASSHOPPER - MEADOW GRASSHOPPER W/ONE BG CRICKET, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, MONKEY SCREAM PANT BREATH
- Sound Ideas, MUD, SPLASH - GIANT GLOP & BUBBLE BLAST
- Sound Ideas, REPTILE, SNAKE - HISSES, 8 VARIOUS LENGTHS-& INTENSITIES, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 03 (-12 pitched)
- Sound Ideas, ROCKS, LANDSLIDE - SHORT, LONG, BOULDER & MIXED, AVALANCHE
- Sound Ideas, SCI FI - ROCKET BY, FAST 01 (very high pitched)
- Sound Ideas, WATER, SPLASH - BIG, 3 GIANT SPLASHES, WAVES
- Sound Ideas, WATER, SPLASH - LARGER, BIG THUMP & BIG WAVE
- Sound Ideas, WIND - FOREST WIND, LEAVES STIR, WEATHER
- WB CARTOON, AIRPLANE - JET: PASS BY 02 (Heard once in a lower pitch for the rocket.)
- Wilhelm Scream (4th scream only; cut-off)