Buddy of mine and I were chatting last week when Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was brought up. We both liked it despite its many flaws and what not. Then, he quips, “Yeah, they’ll definitely do another one…”

That remark threw me back a bit. “Really? You think?” I replied. He went on to say that “it’s all about money, Jamie!” Well…he’s not wrong.

Indy IV has made well over $215 million domestically and just under $500 million worldwide in its first two weeks in theatres.

When everything’s said and done, whether you loved or hated it, the film stands to earn around $600-$700 million worldwide give or take.

I’m not big on reporting box office numbers here at Screen Rant, but I found this comparison pretty interesting: Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull barely beat Iron Man opening weekend for opening weekend.

I really thought that Indy would smoke the armored one as far as opening weekend box office - Indiana Jones has huge name recognition, anticipation over being a return to the series after 19 years, big name star Harrison Ford, current flavor of the month Shia Lebouf and an outstanding legacy behind it.

On the other hand Iron Man was a relatively unknown Marvel Comics character being played by Robert Downey Jr, not exactly known as a big box office draw.

So how do they compare?

Short version: While very enjoyable overall, there are some things about it that are incredibly annoying and could have been easily corrected.

I’m going to presume that you have already seen this film before you read this review. It’s pretty filled with spoliers, so be warned!

I don’t think that I have to talk about how much I love Indiana Jones, or how much I’ve been looking forward to this fourth instalment in the franchise. You all ready know, and if you don’t - then why haven’t you been reading Screen Rant before this?

George Lucas is a personal hero of mine, the man comes under a lot of fire from movie fans, but I have stood firmly beside the quiffed, plaid shirted wonder for years, and I can even defend the Star Wars prequels. If it’s possible I’ve been looking forward to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull more than the last three Star Wars movies - mainly because I didn’t feel that they’d have the same magic as the originals because Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher wouldn’t be on the cast list. I had no such worries with Indiana Jones - Ford would be back, and to me, that made me want to see this new movie.

Screen Rant writer Jamie Williams came up with a great and timely idea. With all of us here being hard core movie fanatics and a new Indiana Jones movie debuting this week - he suggested that we each share our most significant memories related to the Indiana Jones movies.

This is going to be a long one because I couldn’t bring myself to edit any of my guys’ memories.

First, from our most ardent supporter of the upcoming Indy movie, Niall Browne:

“Growing up I always knew that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were friends. I don’t know where I learned this fact – but I always knew it. I probably figured it out from the credits of the Indiana Jones movies, after all this was a time before the internet and media based television shows. Lucas has always been one of my heroes – and despite what a lot of people think - I have a tremendous amount of respect for the man.”

“To people of a certain age – men of a certain age, Harrison Ford is an icon. He is Indiana Jones, he is Han Solo – these legendary roles made him a role model to boys around my age. I don’t remember the first time that I saw an Indiana Jones film, but the earliest memory that I have about Indiana Jones is from around the time Temple of Doom was released – that would be 1984 – I was four years old. I saw the film at the cinema, and although I have a very fuzzy recollection of the events, my parents tell me that I loved the experience.”

“The strongest memory that I have of the franchise is of the Last Crusade, being a huge James Bond fan – it was a nine year old’s dream to have Ford and Sean Connery in one film. Even today Last Crusade is my favorite film in the series – from the religious artifact to the relationship with his father, the Jones boys remind me very much of my dad and me. Sentimental I know, but that’s the power of cinema.”

“Over the years there have been hundreds of Indiana Jones rumors, one that I always hoped for was that Kevin Costner would play Indy’s evil younger brother. This was never to be, a shame but the reality of things. I got to the point where I honestly never believed that they would make a fourth Indiana Jones film. I couldn’t see it happening, I thought that they would talk about it and write numerous scripts, but that I would never see a new movie. Man, I’m glad that I’m wrong!”

“Indiana Jones has influenced me directly and indirectly throughout my life, even at University I studied archeology. It was however for a very brief moment as it clashed with my film classes. I had to decide that I could either become Indiana Jones or watch him. I made a choice for the latter. I could never be that cool! I even studied Medieval literature at College - Arthurian legend, the Holy Grail - a nod to Sean Connery’s character from The Last Crusade - a Medieval Literature Professor. Heck, even in my day job – I teach! If only it were - ‘Part Time.’”

“Now on the dawn of Indy’s return I’m excited. I’m as excited today writing this as I was nine years ago before the release of Star Wars: Episode I, I’m older now - but I still have that excited feeling that only George Lucas knows how to unleash. Will this fourth Indy adventure be as good as the previous efforts? I don’t think for a second that it will, but it’s making me feel nineteen years younger – and that is a miracle in itself.”

“Indiana Jones, I salute you.”

Short version: While it definitely had its moments and plenty of nods to the fans, there was also more ridiculousness than we’ve ever seen in an Indiana Jones film.

Ok, I’d really like an easy movie to review for a change…

Reviewing the first Indiana Jones movie to be released in 20 years and directed by Steven Spielberg is not something I take lightly. It’s no secret that I haven’t exactly been fired up for this film or a big cheerleader for it (our writer Niall has taken that upon himself here at Screen Rant), but I truly hoped it would be great even if I didn’t think it would be.

So was it awful? Of course not. But was it great? Unfortunately, no.

What it was is pretty ridiculous in more than a couple of places - but oh, how it tried to be awesome… (BTW, I tried to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.)

Next week there’s a little film called Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull .

You may have heard of it.

If not you’re either just back from Mars or you’ve just woken up from a fifteen year coma.

Well we are almost there folks and I can’t wait - however I won’t be there on opening night - I’m checking out a screening of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist. I know, I know I should be at Indy - but that’s life!

However, you can bet your backside that I’ll be there on Friday night, popcorn in hand just like I was in 1989 when I watched The Last Crusade but enough about me - you want to know about Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jones is going to be a hit, we all know that. It won’t be a hit like Speed Racer was going to be a hit, it will be a solid gold hit - a “blockbuster” in the true sense of the word.

In case you don’t know, before it became corrupted by the studio marketing folks the term “blockbuster” was a film that had people literally queued around the block - it was therefore busting the block. These days films are pitched as being blockbusters before they are filmed - they are just big budget films that the studios hope will be hits.

Anyway, how big a hit will Indy 4 be?

Some are saying “Star Wars” big!

At the Iron Man screening(s) I attended the new (and presumably, final) trailer for Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull was shown, and I have to admit that I’m finally getting excited about this film. I just really hope that Spielberg and Lucas manage to re-capture the spirit of the original. The trailer at least, seems to do so.

Check out the brand new trailer below and see for yourself.

While it’s hardly a barrage of publicity, there has been some movement on the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull publicity front.

The most important news is that Hollywood Elsewhere has allegedly discovered that the film’s running time will be 140 minutes (2 hours 20 minutes) - that’s a whole lot of Indy action.

The site also states that the film will be shown “internally” next week. I presume that internally will be Lucasfilm rather than Paramount Pictures (but, heck it could be both), also that the film will be going to the printers so that the final print can be ready for the Cannes launch.

USA Today has also published an interview with the world’s second most famous carpenter (the first being Jesus Christ, the third being Tim Allen in Home Improvement, but let’s not go there).

To find out more and see a larger version of that picture you’re going to have to keep reading. You knew that of course…

There is an R.Dean Taylor song called Indiana Wants Me, well I want Indiana!

We are just over a month away from the movie event of the year- no- not Iron Man- we’re talking Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

It could well be the highest grossing film of the year as it pretty much ticks the box on every demographic, however the hype machine seems non-existent considering that the film opens on May 22.

It looked like the marketing machine had kicked into gear earlier in the week when Collider got its hands on what was believed to be a new teaser poster for the Harrison Ford starrer. However the poster tuned out to be a fan made fake.

However, Amazon now have the soundtrack available for pre-order, and guess what?

They published the spoiler filled tracklisting on the site. Whoops.

Continue reading for my analysis of the lack of hype and the soundtrack listing.

Be warned though, spoilers!