What we flagged
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Our take
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull follows Indy as he races Soviet agents to a mysterious relic. Chases, fights, and gunfire are frequent but mostly bloodless. Insects, strange creatures, and supernatural moments may unsettle younger children, while language is mild and romance ends with a wedding kiss. We put it at around M and up for confident adventure fans.
Uplifting themes
Loyalty, curiosity and standing up to bullies run through the story, along with a warm thread about family and doing the right thing under pressure. There is plenty here to enjoy and talk over together Indy is brave, quick-thinking and principled, using his brains as much as his fists and looking out for the people around him. He makes an easy hero for older children to root for The adventure is laced with history and curiosity, touching on Cold War tensions, ancient cultures and archaeology, even as it bends them into fantasy. It may spark a few questions worth following up afterward
Story (may spoil tone)
Set during the Cold War, the Soviets—led by sword-wielding Irina Spalko—are in search of a crystal skull which has supernatural powers related to a mystical Lost City of Gold. Indy is coerced to head to Peru at the behest of a young man whose friend—and Indy's colleague—Professor Oxley has been captured for his knowledge of the skull's whereabouts.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Indy and friends face gunfights, fist fights, vehicle chases and a swor…
Indy and friends face gunfights, fist fights, vehicle chases and a sword duel, with plenty of henchmen taken out along the way. The action is busy and sometimes rough, but it stays bloodless and firmly in old-fashioned adventure territory
Language Hell, damn, b-word insults, and an occasional stronger word appear. The…
Hell, damn, b-word insults, and an occasional stronger word appear. The swearing is scattered through the adventure
Sex / nudity Romance is gentle and old-fashioned, building to a wedding and a kiss a…
Romance is gentle and old-fashioned, building to a wedding and a kiss at the close. There is nothing beyond that on screen, and the story keeps its mind on the adventure
Frightening Flesh-eating ants, snakes, shadowy tombs, and supernatural shocks make…
Flesh-eating ants, snakes, shadowy tombs, and supernatural shocks make some scenes creepy. The tension comes in bursts rather than lasting throughout
Gore / death / weapons Guns are used throughout and characters die, but injuries are kept clea…
Guns are used throughout and characters die, but injuries are kept clean with very little blood shown. A couple of eerie moments involve skeletons and a strange decaying effect
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- Indy relies on his knowledge and quick thinking as much as his fists. How does that make him different from a lot of action heroes?
- The film mixes real history with pure fantasy. How can you tell which parts are made up?
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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
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