Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
This is the second film released in the Indy series, but it was the FIRST film chronologically. It takes place in 1935 while "Raiders" occurs in 1936. So, it was a prequel.

Like other famous prequels, it left you with more questions than answers. For example, what happened to Short Round? Indiana seems to have adopted (albeit unofficially) the Chinese orphan, but we never see or hear of him again in the later installments (of which there are now technically three). Perhaps Willie Scott, the "famous American performer" took him back with her to Missouri. It seems unlikely that he would have wanted to go with her. Maybe his parents weren't actually killed and Indiana was able to reunite the boy with his family. It seems that we will never know.

Like "The Empire Strikes Back", "Temple of Doom" differs greatly from the two Indy films that were made before and after it. The film is darker and is stylistic different. For example, we do not see Indiana at the college in this film. It seems the professor gives way completely to the adventurer in this installment. He does not set foot in America for the entire film.

As a young child (10-years-old) when I first saw the movie I caught none of the homages to the 1930's and 40's adventure films, at a more recent viewing, they weren't lost on me at all. This is not a movie for the person who says "Wait a minute! He couldn't have done that!" It is a film for the individual who has a free evening, orders a pizza, and enjoys a good laugh, scream, and heart throb (within reasoning; remembering that I am a heart patient).

Raiders of the Lost Ark
The first installment of the Indy series did not originally bare his name and, as stated previously, it actually comes AFTER "Temple of Doom".

In 1936 the Nazis are looking for the Ark of the Covenant (not to be confused with Noah's Ark). The Ark of the Covenant was carried by Hebrew priests into battle and was constructed with a blueprint from God. Although the Nazis had no love for the Hebrew God, they believed its powers would make them powerful (seemingly not realizing that the power came from the same God they loathed).

Indiana goes after the Ark to keep it from the Nazis, but is disappointed when US officials place it in an undisclosed warehouse.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Set two years after "Raiders of the Lost Ark" the Indiana Jones series takes a turn from suspense to humor. From the opening of Indiana as a 14-year-old to the quips exchanged between he and his Dad the movie is often too funny for its own good.

The story is the search for the Holy Grail. Once again, the Nazis are after an item they truly no nothing about, but desire what they perceive will bring them power. The grail is the cup Christ drank from at the last supper and extra-biblical stories claim it caught the blood of Jesus as he was suffering on the cross for the sin of mankind. The high point of the film comes when Indiana selects the most humble cup, realizing that "this is the grail of a carpenter", as Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, his grail would not be the usual fancy of earthly kings.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Perhaps the longest film title in history (there was a TV show entitled "Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down?" which had as many words in it).

It's 1957 and Indiana Jones has aged significantly. Portions of this film remind me of the latest "Rocky" installment. Who would have ever dreamed of an Indiana Jones movie that begins with Indy being kidnapped?

The story runs similar to "Raiders" and "Crusade", only this time it is not the Nazis, but the Soviets, who want a supernatural artifact for their own power.

It is unfortunate that here the film veers from simply science fiction to cultish beliefs; especially since Indy stated early in the film, "There are always other possibilities" (or something to that effect). I was hoping those might be explored.

I was looking forward to the return of Marion Ravenwood, but like Indy we meet her kidnapped and the pace of the story keeps them from really reuniting.

The ending seems to tie things up (no pun intended), or does it? Exactly what did it signify that Indiana's hat was ALMOST worn by Mutt? Will the next generation be watching Mutt adventure movies?