HELPING YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR FIGURE(S)!

Do You Know Indiana Jones's Middle Name?

Indiana Jones was born on July 1, 1899, and his middle name is Walton, which coincidentally is Lucas's middle name also.

Very people realise that he also had a sister called Suzie but she died as an infant from a fever.

Indiana Jones was created by George Lucas as a tribute to the heroes of 1930s serial films that he so enjoyed watching as a kid.

He first appeared in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark and after its huge success at the box office it was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles from 1992 to 1996, and now Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which opened earlier this year ( 2008 ).

In addition to his film and television appearances, he has been featured in novels, comics, video games, and other media.

He is even featured in a theme park attraction, the Indiana Jones Adventure, which exists in similar forms at Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

In the latest movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a great deal is being made about Harrison Ford’s advanced age and how there is less of a swagger in his walk and the stunts appear to be limited stunts (for him), but the magic of yesteryear does not wear off easily. Professor Jones is as convincing as ever, even though one just has to suspect, he may be playing a role similar to that of Sean Connery in the last Indy.

It’s been 19 years since the last movie ‘The Last Crusade’ but Indiana still remains as entertaining a movie as ever, wrinkles and all.

A movie where two of cinema most respected and successful forces collaborate, i.e. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, could never be just a mediocre film.

In this latest Indiana Jones adventure, Professor Jones (Harrison Ford) faces the old Soviet Secret Service and its formidable face in the person of Irina Spalko (Kate Blanchet).

The movie takes place during the cold war in the 1950’s, where they compete in a journey across South America (Peru and the Amazon area) in search for a legendary city of gold and priceless treasure.

The key to this treasure is a crystal skull that another academic by the name of Professor Oxley (John Hurt) has come across but in the process he has also lost his mind.

Indiana is initially approached by a Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf), an adventurous young biker who could be right out of ‘Happy Days’ (Do you remember the Fonz?).

The 1984 prequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, set in 1935, took the character into a more horror-oriented story, skipping his legitimate teaching job and globe trotting, and taking place almost entirely in India. This time, Jones attempts to recover children and a Sankara stone from the bloodthirsty Thuggee cult.

The third film, 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, set in 1938, returned to the formula of the original, reintroducing characters such as Sarah and Marcus Brody, a scene from Professor Jones's classroom (he now teaches at Barnett College), the globe trotting element of multiple locations, and the return of the infamous Nazi mystics, this time trying to find the Holy Grail.

The film's introduction, set in 1912, provided some back story to the character, specifically his fear of snakes, his use of a bullwhip, the origin of the scar on his chin, and the source of his fedora hat, as well as his father.

Although Lucas intended at the time to do five films, this ended up being the last for over eighteen years, as Lucas could not think of a good MacGuffin to drive the next installment.

The secret to the success of the Indiana Jones series of movies or continued sequels lies in their high energy action and their pure entertainment value.

There are no complicated plots and no preconceptions. You can put your brain in park, get a soft drink and popcorn and let the movie absorb you.

So what if it is unbelievable? It is pure fantasy and its entertainment potential is crystal clear, (sorry, couldn’t resist that).

I, for one, am fed up with critics who slice and dice every minute of a movie as many have done with this. My retort to them is “Get a life! It’s a Goddam movie not a thesis!”

I want something unbelievable, something fun and exciting, something that will let me escape for a few hours. And that’s why this, and the other Indiana Jones movies are so successful.

They deliver what people want.

From 1992 to 1996, George Lucas executively produced a television series named The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles designed as an educational program for children.

The series spotlighted historical figures and important events, using the concept of a prequel to the films as a draw.

The show featured a standard formula of a 93-year-old Jones (George Hall), wearing an eye patch, introducing a story, and then an adventure with either a 17-year-old Jones (Sean Patrick Flanery) or a 10-year-old Jones (Corey Carrier). Historical figures featured on the show include Leo Tolstoy, Pancho Villa, Charles de Gaulle, and John Ford, in such diverse locations as Egypt, Austria-Hungary, India, China, and the whole of Europe.

One episode, "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues", is bookended by Harrison Ford, reprising his role as the character. Indiana loses one of his eyes sometime between this episode and when the "Old Indy" segments take place.

The show provided some back story to the films, as well as new information regarding the character.

His relationship with his father, first introduced in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, was further fleshed out with stories about his travels with his father as a young boy.

Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull Premium Format Action Figure

This special limited edition action figure has over 30 points of articulation and is...read more

Indiana Jones Premium Format Figure

Sideshow Collectibles Raiders Of The Lost Ark Dr Rene Belloq Premium Format Action Figure