> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Indiana’s search for a good title
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/indianas-search-for-a-good-title/
- Published: 2007-09-21T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T02:55:08.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By KEN TARR I Special to the Daily Press*

There were no bricks laid at this Indy 500 — a rough estimate of the number of possible titles branded on the much-debated third “Raiders of the Lost Ark” sequel. Well, maybe one brick — the one executives finally settled on.

Nearly 18 years after the release of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” the third chapter of the Harrison Ford-Steven Spielberg adventure series, the long-awaited fourth film has been given a May 22 release date.

Following some heated and longstanding debate amongst fans and critics alike, and on the heels of protracted rumors and speculation, the title for the fourth film is … “Indiana Jones and the Search for the Little Blue Pill,” quips Jon Turner, of Playa del Rey. An interesting title to say the least, but incorrect. “I can’t believe it took this long. Harrison Ford is older than my grandfather. I’m not sure how the film will work,” said Turner.

Executives at Paramount are less skeptical. The film has an undisclosed marketing budget, meaning Indy and his bull-whip and trademark hat will be on everything from hamburger boxes to maternity clothing and everything in between.

Not surprisingly, the film will prey on American filmgoers without another major release until mid-June. Rival executives are likely gun-shy and in personal conflict. The original trilogy is often cited as the inspiration for many producers and filmmakers to join the business. But business is business, and in late June, the highly-anticipated second chapter of the Batman series is released, “The Dark Knight.” This will result in a flash-back for many, reminiscent of the battle between swashbuckler and bat, as it did in 1989, when “Last Crusade” and Tim Burton’s “Batman” went head-up against each other. The eventual victor: “Batman.”

“Indiana Jones and the Stairway to Heaven,” theorizes Sanjay Chaditha, a Santa Monica resident. “Indy finds a secret portal in Iceland that can transport him to heaven and hell and everything in between.” Bizarre and entirely incorrect. Wrong hemisphere.

The fourth film will star Ford, Cate Blanchett, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” heroine Karen Allen, Ray Winstone of “The Departed,” John Hurt, Jim Broadbent and Summer 2007 box-office star Shia LaBeouf, whose “Disturbia” and “Transformers” films combined to make over $400 million domestically.

“OK, it takes place in ancient Mayan cities, let me think …” pondered Liz Velasquez, a Santa Monica resident. “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Already taken, but nice guess. OK, not really. “How about ‘Indiana Jones and the City of Gods?” This was actually the most guessed and speculated title. Also incorrect.

“Indiana Jones: Back in the Saddle Again!” Gratefully incorrect. “Indiana Jones 4.” Numerical ly true, creatively boring. I wouldn’t have been shocked by such a ridiculous title. “Indiana Jones and the Resurrection of Tote.” No, Tote is still a pile of ash. The new film will take place in the 1950s and LaBeouf will play a student of Dr. Jones. No other plot details are available at this time.

What is available at this time is … the title. And after all this build-up, the fourth film, like it or not will be called “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” After all the recent Harry Potter films, I have fatigue from all these “and the … ” titles and this one is not bad, it’s just not very good either.

As a Dr. Jones fan, in fact I named my dog after him, I will reserve judgment till I see the film, or at least a preview. The title sounds like Indy is going to the final level of a Super Mario video game. It also evokes too many scenes and set design piece from “Temple of Doom.” It will be up to director Steven Spielberg and his creative posse to make this film distinct from the others yet still keep the tone in tact. A difficult challenge, but I am convinced the American audience’s sensibilities haven’t changed that much. But the title is vague and doesn’t rouse my interest in name only.

Still, after years of anticipation, the film could be called “Indiana Jones and the Slowly Drying Paint” and the film would still gross $100 million in three days. The bat will lose next summer. Indy will be the hit of the summer. But after the “Star Wars” prequels, George Lucas has a lot of work to do to make sure the new chapter(s) are on the same level as the originals, as the newest “Star Wars” trilogy did not work as a whole, to say the least. Whatever the case, there is only one cool place to be next Memorial Day Weekend and that is the cineplex to see if an older, grayer Dr. Jones is still the screen idol that every film fan craves.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/092107-13_01.jpg)

NAME GAME: New ‘Indiana Jones’ title lacks a little something. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)