It’s been highly anticipated for years and more so in the last few weeks, but Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is finally in theaters today! Before heading out to see this fourth installment directed by Steven Spielberg, check out here below what the Geeks of Doom staff expects of the film.

Crystal Skull sees the return of Harrison Ford as the title character, along with his Raiders of the Lost Ark lady love Marion Ravenwood (played by Karen Allen). It’s 20 years later, and Indy finds himself face to face with the Soviet Army, led by the villainous Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), in a race to find the mysterious Crystal Skull. Shia LaBeouf and Ray Winstone join the cast as Indy’s new sidekicks, while John Hurt and Jim Broadbent also appear as Indy’s long-time friends and colleagues.

Bad Monkey
Am I looking forward to Indy 4? It has Indiana Jones in it (one of my favorite movie characters of all time) so how could I not be looking forward to it? And yet… I was also looking forward to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace before it was released. And I think we all know what an epic boat-load of suck THAT turned out to be. So maybe I shouldn’t be looking forward to Indy 4 after all. Do I dare risk getting my hopes up again? As always, I defer to the illuminating wisdom of Jar Jar Binks: “Mesa haten crunchen. Dats da las ting mesa wanten.” Well said, Jar Jar… mesa haten crunchen, too! Unfortunately, I’ve been crunchened by George Lucas “story-writing” more often than not, so I honestly think I am dreading Indy 4 more than any other film released in my lifetime. Da las ting mesa wanten is to be walking out of the theater saying “remember when Indiana Jones movies didn’t suck?”

The Movie God
We’ve waited a long, long, long time for this. We were all petrified about it, we thought there was no way that it could work, and we dreaded what might happen. But here it is; we’ve seen pictures and trailers galore and they showed us that not only do we not have to be afraid, but that’s it’s OK to be really excited; this could and WILL work! Will it be the best Indy movie we’ve ever seen? No, probably not for everyone. But it will absolutely be a great time and a great ride, this I’m sure of! It’s on our doorstep now, ladies and gentleman, let go of your worries and anxieties and embrace Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull like a long lost child. It has indeed been 19 years after all.

Henchman21
So, I’ve been going back and forth on my excitement for this movie since the moment it was announced that it was actually going to happen. Like most people I was pretty excited, but I didn’t follow the production too hard, and was pleasantly surprised when I heard the first preview was coming. Then I saw that preview, and was strangely unaffected by it. Then I saw the second preview, and found myself getting a bit more excited for it. I love the first three films, I can still remember wearing out the VHS copy of Raiders, I remember sneaking downstairs to see the scary parts of Temple of Doom that my parents wouldn’t let me watch when I was a wee lad, and I remember being excited to see Last Crusade in the theaters. I wasn’t too be excited for Crystal Skull, but I, like so many of us, have been burned by recent films that attempt to recapture the magic of series that are better left in the past, and I don’t want to see it happen to another series. That said, I’m praying for the best, and if it’s not as good as the first three, as long as it’s a fun movie, I’ll be happy. I guess that’s all I can ask for anyway.

Dr. Royce Clemens
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull “¦ is probably gonna suck. Read more at The Doom Dispatch: Indiana Jones And The Broken Hip.

Movies at Midnight
Come May 22nd, the world will discover all at once whether there is still room in the multiplex for the adventures of an archeologist who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Despite Spielberg’s desire to use stuntmen, minimal CGI, and (I believe) even camera equipment from the eighties, many remain fearful of a redux of The Phantom Menace. The addition of Shia “friend of the Transformers” LaBeouf and Lucas stating “The fans think it’s gonna be the Second Coming. And it’s not the Second Coming” do little to alleviate those fears. But any time those worries pop in my head, I just repeat two words over and over again: Cate Blanchett. As Irina Spalko, Blanchett may just be the best baddie that Dr. Jones has ever faced. Plus, she looks damn good as a Soviet officer. This time, there will be no “Ahhh, Venice,” just a gutteral cough as the heel of the Spalko’s boot comes down on the throats of those who oppose Mother Russia.

Meegatron
I must see this movie for nostalgia’s sake. I loved Raiders of the Lost Ark particularly and actually contemplated in my youth History and/or Anthropology as a career because of this franchise. If any movie can move you to do that it must be watched and it must be enjoyed!

The EnviroGeek
I am looking forward to this movie because the Indiana Jones movies were always high on my list of favorites (especially Raiders of the Lost Ark). Indy is one of Harrison Ford’s classic roles and I am glad to see him back. It just wouldn’t be the same if someone else took over the role. I am also looking forward to the movie because I believe it has the potential to be a quality sequel in this day of old-movie, last-hurrah resurrections. Hopefully this will be a quality sequel and today’s younger generation can experience the Indiana Jones legacy first hand. If not, at least we have a category to put it in.

Empress Eve
I was really looking forward to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and loved the idea that the franchise was being restarted. I had no problem whatsoever with Harrison Ford’s age and had faith in his ability to continue to be an action hero — and I still feel that way. But, I’ve seen the film already and it just didn’t live up to my expectations (see my movie review). I plan to see it again this weekend with my niece and nephews in tow, so that maybe I can appreciate it through their eyes.

T. E. Pouncey
My biggest problem with Indiana Jones 4 is the ending of Indiana Jones 3, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.

At the end of the original “trilogy” Indiana Jones and his companions were seen happily riding into the sunset like the heroes in old western movies. They had conquered evil, saved the world, and were now riding away into gathering dusk of legend. It was a PERFECT way to end the series. The ending of the “final” Indiana Jones movie was optimistic, dignified, and respectful to the characters.

It was a more satisfying conclusion than the end of the Matrix trilogy and MUCH better than just cranking out sequels until they ran out of ideas and the franchise went bust — like filmakers did with the first four Christopher Reeve Superman movies and the abomination that was the final Joel Schmacher Batman movie with George Clooney.

Salvador Dali once said: “The most important part of being an artist is knowing when to take the brush away.” In the third Indiana Jones movie, they took the brush away before painting themselves into a corner.

But the new Indiana Jones movie reeks of desperation — Did Harrison For really need a hit movie badly enough to return as a character he is getting too old to play? Didn’t Hollywood learn anything from Sly Stallone’s last Rambo debacle? What happened to actors like Clint Eastwood who knew he was getting too old to play Dirty Harry or Sean Connery who knew when he was past-his-prime as James Bond? At what point do you say: “We’ve taken this idea as far as it can go,” and move on to other things?

Fixing the problem of dwindling movie audiences and increasing movie industry desperation for $200 million opening weekend box office revenues is a task that may be too difficult for even Indiana Jones.

Dee J
[Ed’s note: In what’s probably the coolest way to gear up for any movie, Friend of Doom Dee J whipped up a batch of “Staff of Ra” cookies! Click image at right for larger view. To her credit, she also attempted the Cupcake of the Crystal Skull but was semi-defeated by the powerful forces of hot sugar. Still quite yummy, I’m sure.]

In preparation for opening day of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Jones-4, as I like to call it) I made Headpiece to the Staff of Ra cookies! Coconut sugar cookies with carmelized sugar “gems” slightly off center.