Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

It's something of a cliché to say that any novel is better than the movie made from it. However, when you consider that this Audio CD is really a novelization based on the script of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, then how good the movie could've been really jumps out at you.Living in Southern California, I spend a lot of time sitting on freeways. (Notice I didn't say "driving" on freeways.) To make the time lost in rush hour traffic more palatable, I've got a ton of Audio CD's that save me from boredom or the horrors of talk radio.One of my latest acquisitions was James Rollins' adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Read by L.J. Ganser, I almost liked it more than the movie.As with any book, you get more of the "back story" usually based on the internal monologue of the characters. Here you get a lot more. While the movie starts with the break-in at Area 51, Rollins starts his book by answering the question, "how exactly did Indy end up in that trunk?"In addition you learn what the relationship between Oxley and Marion is and why it estranged Indy from both of them for years. It makes the story of Mutt's relationship with "Ox" more believable. And it even explains why Oxley would retrieve the skull, go all the way to Akator, then turn right around and put it back where he found it, something that was just a little bit vague to me after only having seen the movie.There's also a chapter in the book where Irina Spalko performs an autopsy on the Roswell alien stolen from Hanger 51 and she discovers that the alien's have a crystalline skeletal structure. It sounds like it could've been a scene in an early draft of the script and goes a long way in explaining the Soviet Union's interest in the subject.As for the tale itself, Rollins' takes Spielberg's wild tale and keeps you engrossed enough that you don't have time think to yourself "ya gotta be kidding me." Unfortunately, the same wasn't true of the movie.Spielberg's on-screen fascination with aliens started with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, followed by the Sci-Fi Channel mini-series Taken and, unfortunately, ended up as the main plot-point in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I don't have a problem with alien movies, per se, but there were so many tortured premises in the movie that I personally felt that it detracted from what could've been a much more successful (certainly more easily understood) tale.Given Lucas' penchant for making movies in threes, I'd hoped for at least one more Indiana Jones movie. But given the relatively lukewarm response, even from die-hard Indy fans, I'll be surprised if another script is green-lighted (as they say in Variety-speak.) Hopefully, I'm wrong. The movie came in with so much build-up, and so much anticipation, that perhaps nothing could've lived up to the expectations of the fans.Back to the Audio CD, there was one reference to "retinal scans" that was so out of period that I noticed it. Sure the idea was around in 1935, but the first actual device wasn't invented until 1975.But I'm nit-picking. Science Fiction, whether read, heard on an Audio CD, or seen in a movie requires a suspension of disbelief; at least if you're going to do more than just roll your eyes and groan, "ya gotta be kidding me!"Rollins tells a good tale and L.J. Ganser does an excellent job performing all of the spoken parts. It's a great way to pass the time stuck in gridlock. Personally, I'd much rather be following Dr. Jones' latest adventure, instead of worrying about getting to that meeting on time.

Indiana Jones has become a larger than life hero in terms of American films. He's been missed for a long time. I know they were waiting for just the right version of the script, and then when announcements were made about the film, most of us couldn't wait -When I saw that the novelization of the movie was being co-launched at the time of movie opening, I did a WOW - when I saw it was James Rollins, I knew it was going to be great, and in my opinion, this book delivers everything an Indy fan could ask for.I am going to see the movie tomorrow, but the book was written in such detail it was like a movie in your mind. James Rollins, whose Sigma Force is a wonderful book series, knows how to make magic and adventure. George Lucas selected well by Rollins.The reunion between Indiana and Marian from the 1st and the best of the series was great and believeably handled...as far as a situation dealing with Indiana Jones is concerned. Mutt, a young man, Marian's son, soon proves himself to be quite the adventurer.They deal with Communists who are trying to control ancient crystal skulls, and the plot deals with the conflict and mistrust of persons in the 1950's where Communists were being looked for all over - even in the entertainment industry, and all walks of life.I found this novelization to be a wonderful addition to the Indiana Jones legend. I look forward to the next Sigma Force book, as one of my favorite character's life is up in the air -There are some folks who are not into Indiana Jones, and don't like that he has aged - but the fact that a lot of us care for the character and will have a lot of fun with this installment.Well written and I put the cart before the horse and read the book before seeing the movie, but feel it will be a great accompanyment to the experience.James Rollins did a great job. Think you will enjoy the book too.

I read the book for myself

I showed my 10 year old son the Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie. He LOVED it. So I went out and bought almost all of the Indiana Jones books. He's read through all of them in just 2 short weeks...He loves them. Now he wants to buy a bull whip (still too young :) and wants an Indiana Jones hat ! :). I love his enthusiasm for reading...

Fast paced and true to movie. Better than many movie novellations.

Like most stories, the book is better than the move. While they are very close, the book explains things more clearly. More things are revealed as the story moves along that were missing in the movie. You won't be disappointed in the movie by reading the book. You'll just have a more complete story.

This book is just the coolest thing ever! James Rollins is a great writer and his stories are really griping. I love the extra scenes added in that weren't in the movie. A MUST BUY NOW BOOK.

James Rollins is a fantastic author. He takes you through a mind boggling, intricate web of suspense and then he throws in a supernatural element that makes it feel real. Then, you are left sitting on the edge of your seat until you finish the book. I rate him #1 in my favorites starting with his very first book, Subterranean.

Arrived fast and in mint condition

Very enjoyable and rare audiobook. If you have the chance to get one of these audiobooks I recommend you snatch it up straight away. The story follows the film closely and is produced in connection with George Lucus Industries so it has the same excitement but perhaps a little more grown-up than the Star Wars audiobooks which have more of John Williams music included. Recommended.

Great writing fast moving

The book is OK, however the print is extremely small.

A light adventure story, but not as good as the other Indy books I have (except the Martin Caidin ones, perhaps ...) Clearly written with the film script as foundation. But with each page I turned, I got in the mood to watch the movie. A couple of extra scenes and background information make the story a better whole.