$2000? That's it? Damn all criminals ARE dumb! I'd be asking 100K plus.

"Fifty-thousand. No less."

I offer the sum of thirty-five....and I do suggest you take it.

Interview with Lucas on the crystal skulls, similarities to Raiders ("the idea is exactly the same but completely different") and some other stuff. Highly illuminating. (mtv.com)


[spoil]
[hr]
[align=left]Oct 5 2007 12:23 PM EDT
George Lucas Promises 'Crystal Skull' Will Be As Good As First Indiana Jones Flick
Director says the mythology of the new flick is 'up there with the Ark of the Covenant.'

By Shawn Adler

LOS ANGELES — Ever since Shia LaBeouf announced the title of the next "Indiana Jones" adventure at the MTV Video Music Awards, everyone from ordinary movie fans to Harvard archeologists have obsessed themselves with the meaning behind crystal skulls, the legendary artifacts Indy will search for in his fourth big-screen journey.

But that's nothing compared to how long George Lucas himself has been obsessed with these antique crystals, the legendary director recently admitted to MTV News.

"We did 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles' [TV show in 1992], 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," 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 [of 'Indy 4'] the last 14 years, with five different writers. [But with crystal skulls] there's just a lot of aspects that seem to fit into our kind of a movie."

While Indy's Holy Grail "Crusade" gave him a taste of immortality, and his "Temple" quest for Sankara Stones brought him a glimpse of "fortune and glory," those relics are stuffy museum pieces compared to the power of the crystal skulls, Lucas asserted.

"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.

"The skulls themselves are real and a lot of the stuff in the movie is real, just like in the other movies," Lucas continued. "We don't base it on a lot of phony-baloney stuff. It's all based on at least true mythology that exists today that ... a certain amount of the population actually believes in."

Lucas emphasized that "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 "Skulls" tonally most like "Raiders." But whereas the Ark of the Covenant has very few historically ascribed powers, true believers attribute all sorts of abilities to the crystal skulls, ranging from the skulls being psychic amplifiers to tools of death to repositories of ancient knowledge (something like an Atlantian supercomputer).

So which theory will be in the film?

"There's several different kinds of skulls, several different kinds of theories, several myths that are surrounding them," Lucas said, clearly delighted by his secret knowledge. "So, you just have to put all the pieces together, look it up and figure out which one it is. Or just wait until the movie comes out, which is so much easier."

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" opens May 22. [/align]
[/spoil]

Speilberg speaks about Indy IV Production winding down.

source: IGN

[hr]
October 9, 2007 - On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, IGN visited Universal Studios in Hollywood, Calif. for a conversation with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull director Steven Spielberg. The filmmaker spoke briefly to journalists about the production, which he said was two days away from completion, and offered a few insights about the methods by which the film was shot.

According to Spielberg, he is shooting Indy IV on film instead of using digital video, despite producer George Lucas' encouragement to use the newer technology. The reason for this, Spielberg said, was because he wanted the film to remain true not only to its predecessors in the series but also to the original serials which inspired Indiana Jones' initial creation. Additionally, he said that the effects work was approximately 70 percent practical and 30 percent CGI, although the computer-generated work will be obvious (presumably backdrops and large set pieces).

Spielberg also confirmed that the Russians are the villains in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which he said is accurate given the film's 1950s time period. He said that from the film's opening shot you can immediately tell who these villains are and why.

When asked about actor Shia LaBeouf taking over the mantle of action hero from his co-star Harrison Ford, Spielberg coyly said that LaBeouf has a lot of big things in his future. At the same time, he indicated that LaBeouf has to make multiple Tranformers movies before he can move over and take on the fedora and bullwhip of Indiana Jones.

Stay tuned to IGN for more news and updates about Indy IV and other exciting new projects!

[hr]

New pic doing the rounds:

breasts. So I guess no CGI whip after all.

How can you tell it's not CGI? I say, they still have to prove it.

His pants look like they were just cleaned and pressed. Otherwise just an awesome photo.

[flash width=425 height=355]http://www.youtube.com/v/McmogV7EZjY[/flash]





lateupdate.com /new-indiana-jones-movie-being-shot-in-fresno.php
brodiemash.blogspot.com it-belongs-in-museum.htm

new set photos, video of Indiana Jones passing The Hat to George Lucas, pic of Indiana Jones promoting smoking (and they didn't even use photoshop)

George Lucas looks like a grandmother.

http://www.indianajones.com/site/index.html

Official site updated with a video of the principal photography wrap-ups for all 4 Indy films.

Are we ever going to see a trailer for this thing? It's almost December.

Principal photography wrapped on Oct. 10th so I don't know if that's enough time to have put together a trailer or not. It would be cool if there could be one during the Super Bowl but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The Super Bowl?

This thing opens in May. Do they think one trailer is enough to sell this thing?

Two words will sell this movie. Indiana. Jones.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/34908
BELOW: AICN has some embiggenable stills obtained from the IMDB boards so click to embiggen.

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[spoil]
[align=left]
[hr]
http://www.movieweb.com/news/17/24617.php

Spoiler Warning! You are not going to want to read this! You will be mad at yourself all day long. For various reasons. But it's solid information from a solid source!

Ready? Richard Dryfuss does not, I repeat, does not have a cameo in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull... But a couple of his friends do!



Loose lips are flapping all over the place about the upcoming fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series. Everyone involved with the production signed confidentiality agreements, down to those people in Chinatown that chopped the catering truck's vegetables. Lucasfilm has been quite vigilant in reprimanding anyone that has gone against those agreements. We've already seen one actor get fired for spouting dubious information about the film. And a man was arrested after trying to sell stolen computer artifacts that gave away some of the film's bigger secrets. Thing is, I keep bumping into acquaintances that were either on the set or somehow involved in the production (I swear, it seems like everyone in Los Angeles had some sort of involvement in the making of this film). And they've all remained quiet on the subject matter.

Until now.

Now that shooting is over, it seems various individuals are no longer worried about losing their jobs. They have no jobs to lose. And they are talking. A lot. Which kind of pisses me off. I'd like to remain spoiler free. I don't want to know everything about a film before I even get a chance to see it. I know other websites have been sitting on quite a bit of crucial plot elements. And we don't usually delve too deep into scoop territory here.

But I have to share this.

What I saw this weekend was just too weird. The fact that it is true has crippled my anticipation towards seeing Indy 4. On the one hand, it's sort of cool. In a George Lucas Star Wars Holiday Special sort of way. If you can call Bea Arthur dancing with Walrusman cool. Most can't. So, you best turn away now if you don't want to be privy to this information.

To celebrate Close Encounters of the Third Kind's 30th anniversary, Spielberg has gone into the storage warehouse and dusted off those rubber Extraterrestrial dummies for a cameo appearance in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. You are probably wishing that I made that up. But, no, I am not.



Original CEOTTK Alien from the Kobal Collection

The one thing everybody knows about the new Indiana Jones adventure is that it deals with aliens. Of some kind. There is a really cool article over at MTV that gives you all the information you'd ever want to know about the emergence of the Crystal Skull in our culture. How they came to be, what they are, and what many believe they are used for. These artificial artifacts make for the perfect Indiana Jones treasure. Read the article and it will all make sense to you. It's cool.

One of the things that Spielberg has gone on record as saying is that most of the special effects in the film are practical. Now that appears to be true. The aliens in the film are puppets. There are three of them, seated on thrones in The Kingdom (an Aztec structure that turns out to be a spaceship). And, guess what? They bare a striking resemblance to the little naked bald headed midgets that were seen running around at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. They are indeed supposed to be the ascendants of the Extraterrestrials seen in that film. They are related. Though the film doesn't come right out and say that. A lot of kids haven't even seen Close Encounters. They aren't going to get the joke.

This makes sense. Editor Michael Kahn and Steve Spielberg first worked together on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Kahn has been with Spielberg ever since, and is also editing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Plus, this isn't the first time that there have been crossovers in the Spielberg-Lucas Universe. Star Wars figures are prominently featured in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. E.T. and his army of alien friends then showed up in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. "THX-1138" shows up on the wing of a plane in Raiders Of The Lost Ark. In Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom, the cafe at the beginning of the film bares Obi-Wan Kenobi's name. This type of self-referential "humor" is expected at this point.

The puppets have been updated slightly, and I have no idea if they will be modified digitally. But next summer, I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be saying, "Oh, shit...It's the aliens from Close Encounters!" When they see the finished project.

I have mixed feelings on it. On one hand, I think its sort of cool. On the other hand, I think its sort of dumb. At least its not E.T. that has a run in with Henry Jones Junior. For that, we can be grateful. You know it was probably Lucas that suggested it in the first place

[hr]
[/align]
[/spoil]
ABOVE: MovieWeb's Indiana Jones 4 spoiler report about cameos.
http://www.movieweb.com/news/17/24617.php

Fuckin' awesome.

I have no comment. That middle photo says it all.

Looks like young-ish Indy in the first pic, middle aged Indy in the second, and...like they shaved the Last Crusade grail knight in the third.

If that spoiler is true, I will freakin' disown this film.

Awesome pictures! Shia is going to be a good element in the film I think. I'm not too enamored with those spoilers though, aliens & spaceships in Indiana Jones? No thanks.

Man, Harrison looks so OLD in that middle picture.....the other 2 he looks at least 50+ but that middle one, he looks almost 70 or more....

I'm a marginal Shia fan, I like his stuff in Disturbia and Transformers, the latter being his better work...I dunno if I like his look in Indy, or him being part of that perfect Trilogy of movies. I've also avoided the majority of the spoilers for this thing as well.

I dunno, I get good vibes...and then bad vibes from this thing...

I can't help but feel it's a "Phantom Menace" all over again, (does anyone else?) but I'm holding out hope that Speilberg & Co know what they're doing...

I think it's too much a project of heart to be bad.

At the very LEAST it will be entertaining, at its best it will be a terrific film that will make you feel young again. Anyone who thinks it's going to top the trilogy is kidding themselves. Harrison isn't 40, he's 65.

The spaceship referenced by the the EmpireOnline report is the Temple or entire village. Not unlike those who view Earth as the "mothership". Many Native American cultures think of themselves as coming from the stars and believe in vistors also.

The only thing that gets me down is that the third image really shows Ford's age

So far, I think verything works and falls into place:

• Aliens, Aztecs, and Crystal Skulls.
• 1950's era Russians and UFOS.
• Marion and Mutt Ravenwood.

it's all good


apart from Shia's Fonzie style blow wave.

Aliens & UFOs fit pretty well into a 50s-based story. I like it. Seems a natural progression to me. As for any TPM similarities, all I can say is that the director is Spielberg, not Lucas. Spielberg isn't perfect, obviously, but I seriously doubt he'd make the same mistakes with Indy IV that Lucas made with TPM.

It looks offical on two fronts, folks...

1.) Indy's packing heat.
2.) He's wearing the bag strap on the outside of the jacket.

Cool, and odd. But, okay...The new picks look great.

Over at TheRaider.net forums, someone linked to these Amazon Crystal Skull books with spoilers in the descriptions.

[hr]
Meet Indy: I Can Read ("Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull") (Paperback)

"Meet Indiana Jones. Archeology professor at the prestigious Marshall College, adventurer and hero. This easy to follow book is perfect for young readers, just starting to read alone and packed full of photos from the new Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Indiana Jones has been all over the world, on exciting quests for missing artifacts but now he has settled down, as a college professor. But when a young man called Mutt thunders into his life with a cryptic letter from his old pal Ox, Indy is drawn out into the adventure of his life. Follow Indy and Mutt on their fun adventure in this easy to read story, full of cool new photos from Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."


Meet Mutt: I Can Read ("Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull") (Paperback)

"Meet Mutt Williams. Wily rebel about town and new sidekick to none other than Indiana Jones. This easy to follow book is perfect for young readers, just starting to read alone and packed full of photos from the new Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Mutt Williams is a real rebel, dropping out of prep school after prep school and spending more time working on his motorbike than his school books. But when his mother and their old friend Ox go missing, Mutt turns to the one person who can help him, Indiana Jones. Follow Indy and Mutt on their fun adventure in this easy to read story, full of cool new photos from Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

[hr]

New poster from the Official Site:
[align=center]www.indianajones.com


[/align]

http://www.indianajones.com/site/media/downloads/posters/IJ4-Poster01.zip

That's

Pretty awesome, indeed. I love how it has the nostalgic ToD feel, with equal pose, lightning and composition. Only dear old Mr. Ford's face looks a bit odd on the drawing.

I love it.

Sweet! Hopefully a teaser trailer will be following this up soon.

That fits in perfectly with the rest of Struzan's work.

Perfect!

Wow. That's effectively knocked off a few of my doubts...amazing what a good piece of art can do. Drew totally knocked that one out of the park, more-so than the StarWars stuff he dide (especially the god awful AOTC one-sheet). It's a GREAT teaser poster...really well done. Harrison looks old enough there, but I fear he'll still look aged in the film....

Still, I can't help but feel a little better about this thing...

Bravo.

[align=center][/align]

I love this poster...it sure excites the hell out of me.

Okay, my two cents...

The poster is fucking great. Totally has the familiar Indy vibe. The skull(s) in the background...Yeah, they look very "Alien" to me around the almond shaped eyes. Which leads me to believe, along with Marshal's tid bits, that the paranormal take this time will in fact be alien artifact related. And you know, frankly, it doesn't seem to bother me anymore. The whole film is starting to really get comfy for me. Even the title is working a little better.

God, though, I really hope they pull it off to a legitimate 4th installment that we can include in the already nearly perfect trilogy, rather than an excuse to go see Harrison in the hat and it be a "sort of Indy" film.

Now, here's my other two cents. The Hat. I know Indy's older now, and times have changed and all, but the brim in this poster looks awful. It's got no curl in the blocking and is really small. It doesn't quite feel like Indy's hat. That having been said, the film hats are many, all blocked in different shapes for different scenes. From the stills I've seen, they hold up more or less there. But here, it looks too genereic.

But I love this poster nonetheless. Indy is apparently back.

i'm luvin' it!

USA Today article reveals name of Cate Blanchett's character plus some other tidbits:

[hr]
Now that the poster for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has been revealed, some details from the super-secret plot also can be officially exposed.
Indiana Jones co-producer Frank Marshall is authorized to confirm some rumors and detail some of the story, about a quest for South American relics with supernatural powers.

When last we saw Indy, he was riding off into the sunset in 1989's The Last Crusade, set in 1938 near the start of World War II. The new movie, due this spring, is set at the height of the Cold War in 1957, so the character has aged in real time — 19 years.

"He's teaching and having kind of a quiet life," the producer says. Once the archaeologist is thrust back into danger, [b]the signature Indiana Jones red line tracing across the map will take him to New Mexico, Connecticut, Mexico City and the jungles of Peru.

Despite all the gray-hair jokes (Harrison Ford is 65), Indy is still swinging from dangerous precipices and absorbing punches.

"Indy's a fallible character. He makes mistakes and gets hurt. He has a few more aches and pains now," Marshall says. "That's the other thing people like: He's a real character, not a character with superpowers."

The Nazis are no longer Indy's chief foe — he's racing for the Crystal Skull against operatives from the Soviet Union, including Oscar winner Cate Blanchett as the seductive Agent Spalko. "Indy always has a love-hate relationship with every woman he ever comes in contact with," Marshall says.

Ray Winstone, currently the star of Beowulf, co-stars as an unethical rival archaeologist. Transformers star Shia LaBeouf sports greaser hair and rides a motorcycle as the hero's sidekick.

The Last Crusade concluded without a cliffhanger, but Crystal Skull will revisit bits from other films, including Karen Allen's feisty Marion Ravenwood from 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The artifact of the title is inspired by real quartz sculptures of disputed origins that are carved in a way that defies the natural structure of the crystal.

"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," Marshall says.

[hr]

Is there no word or speculation on when the first trailer is expected to come out?

I read January with Cloverfield.

I was fired from the onsite agency at Dr Pepper back in May, right before they started this promotion. Looking at this makes me want to vomit blood and shit bile. I could have designed this launch kit from a fan's perspective had they kept me around. They're in the habit of letting designers who have no idea or passion about the subject matter (in this case, Indiana Jones/Crystal Skulls) design and direct their promotions, so if you're wondering why it looks like shit, that's why. And yes, I am still bitter.

http://www.throwmetheidol.com/drpepper.html

Sweet poster!

Can't wait to see Cate in this movie, though.

So judging from these KOTCS Lego sets, the new phobia will possibly be...giant ants?

Those Lego sets look shit. LOL

Shite they may well be but without pointing them out there seems to be some fairly decent sized spoilers in those last 3 pics. I'm kinda out now, I dont want to know everything thats coming in this movie and the Russian technology plus Marion plus those other spoilers up there make me want to know less between now and release day.

Have to say tho, for a movie I never wanted to see made I'm uber excited to see how this all plays out....roll on that trailer!!

Theatre Promotional Displays @ JoBlo.com

man, i didnt realize till now how much i miss seeing that fedora