Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Blu-ray

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

 (2008)

Action | Adventure



Indiana Jones' (Harrison Ford) newest adventure begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 — the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have barely escaped a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield. Now, Professor Jones has returned home to Marshall College — only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy's recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him. On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries both a grudge and a proposition for the adventurous archaeologist: If he'll help Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Indy could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history — the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear.

For more details about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on Blu-ray, see the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Blu-ray Review

Starring: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt
Director: Steven Spielberg

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull marks the first of Steven Spielberg's Indiana films to arrive on Blu-ray high definition, and the series' debut on the high definition format is a visual sensation. Featuring standout color reproduction, fine attention to detail, and depth, the film never offers a dull visual moment. From the bright courtyards of Marshall College to the dark, cavernous chambers the adventurers find themselves in later in the film, the image never falters in reproducing excellent results for every frame. The film often features a yellow-gold color palette; overhead lighting often places above character's heads and objects a distinctive sheen. Likewise, many sets feature a strong yellow or golden color scheme. Indiana's home features golden curtains and similarly-colored walls that offer a warm, inviting feel, and the effect is emphasized by light pouring in through the windows. The tables at Arnie's Diner are of a similar color, and much of what we see in the desert nuclear test facility's 1950s neighborhood mockup also sports a similar look and feel. Flesh tones sometimes take a turn toward this shade as well, and they range from normal to golden to red, though the effect seems more a result of lighting and makeup rather than being any fault of the transfer; Cate Blanchett's character, Dr. Spalko, almost always appears ghostly white, while Ray Winstone's character, Mac, generally appears beat red. As noted above, detail and depth are tremendous. This transfer offers quite a bit of pop, and viewers will appreciate the strong clarity and definition. The hazy interior of the Area 51 warehouse holds up very well, and adds to the wonderful depth of the image that is noted throughout, again ranging from the brightest exteriors to the most dimly lit, nighttime and interior sets. Indy's home features striking detail across the image; the trinkets and treasures and 1950s design are sharp and lush, and the scene is a treasure trove of fine detail for viewers to absorb. Detail is strong across the board; close-ups of actors, particularly of Harrison Ford, reveal every age line, gray facial hair, and the famous chin scar. Inanimate objects, such as a piece of paper revealing clues about the whereabouts of the Crystal Skull, or the walls inside Ox's former asylum room inside a Peruvian church, offer eye-catching imagery. Black levels are excellent with no apparent crushing. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull offers viewers wonderful imagery that revels in the fine attention to detail the filmmakers incorporated into the picture, and it comes to remarkably vivid life on this Blu-ray disc.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull adventures onto Blu-ray with an exciting Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This mix is neither needlessly over-the-top nor pitiful; it never features unnecessarily powerful, foundation-shaking bass or overly loud effects at reference volume. It finds a happy medium, one that lets the music and effects loose when necessary through a balanced, focused soundtrack. Action sequences are immersive but not monumentally loud, complete but not overdone. The track always seems to be at just the right volume with nothing going overboard for the sake of pumping out extraneous sounds. Bass is here in abundance, but it is always tight and precise; a waterfall sequence in chapter 13 is as good as it gets. The bass is strong and realistic, but not superfluous or pumped up for greater effect. Small details, such as the rumbling of a motorcycle's engine, or the cries of a warning klaxon that signal the immanent explosion of a nuclear weapon, are never overbearing but play perfectly with the soundtrack. The subsequent blast itself is impressive, with powerful and clean lows and nice imagining, as the ultimate in manmade destructive power tosses objects to and fro. Likewise, the film's first action sequence in the Area 51 warehouse where discrete effects are found aplenty and gunfire is heard coming from all around the soundstage is as exciting sonically as it is visually. The film's other action sequences, the climax included, simply excel. The track often creates a fine atmosphere of subtle environmental nuances, much like what we hear in chapter 6 as Indy and Mutt begin their search for the Crystal Skull in Peru. A subtle breeze blows around the soundstage, leaves rustle about, and music melds into the back. The effects are what we expect from good surround use: atmospherics, subtleties, and the like, create a seamless environment. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of a diner scene earlier in the film featuring the first conversation between Mutt and Indy. The sound design doesn't create such a robust, realistic atmosphere. Background ambience is dim at best, and the sound doesn't match the bustling visuals we see in the background. Nevertheless, listeners will often find themselves enthralled at the precision of the soundtrack. Dialogue is undoubtedly strong and robust, clean and precise with nary a hiccup as it flows through the center channel. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull's lossless soundtrack ranks as one of the finest available on Blu-ray, and if for nothing else, hearing John Williams' always entertaining score in full lossless glory is reason enough to add this disc to your Blu-ray collection.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - October 14th - October 14, 2008


• Indiana Jones Comes to Blu-ray in October (Updated) - August 12, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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