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Indiana Jones / Hoaxes / Museums / Sorry George Lucas / → All Tags

Hoax Travel: Indiana Jones' Quest for Naught, Crystal Skulls Are Fake

They don't have mythical powers either: Six weeks after the release of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," three real-life crystal skulls were debunked by museum experts as modern hoaxes, not Mesoamerican miracles.

Paris' Quai Branly Museum was the first to declare its crystal skull a fake, but the Smithsonian and the British Museum were also taken in by the artifacts, which were claimed to be part of a set of 12 that combined would prevent a Mayan doomsday in 2012. But under a microscope the skulls all bore traces of modern adhesives and tracks from drills and rotary wheels, none of which Central American cultures would have used.

The Smithsonian and British Museum skulls were purchased from the same shady Mexico City-based dealer around 1880. Of course, if you've seen "Indy 4," you know where the crystal skulls really come from... but we won't spoil the (ridiculous) source for you.

Related Stories:
· Crystal Skulls in British, American Museums Were Fakes [AFP, via Yahoo]
· Movie Set Travel: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Jaunted]
· Museum coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: MTV Movies Blog]

Movie Set Travel / Harrison Ford / Indiana Jones / Shia LaBoeuf / Cate Blanchett / → All Tags

Movie Set Travel: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Finally! Our favorite archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones returns! This week's pick is definitely one of the best ways to ring in Memorial Day weekend. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" opens nationwide today and we are hearing it's got the same cool stunts and cinematography as the previous versions of the series we've come to know and love. (Even if some critics were less than impressed.)

This time a crystal skull (obviously) was stolen from a lost city in the Amazon guarded by the living dead. Whoever returns the skull gains control of the lost city. Cate Blanchett nails her role as Russian operative Agent Irina Spalko and teen heartthrob Shia LeBeouf holds his own with Harrison Ford.

As this one was shot all over the US, we've picked some of the highlight spots for you to have your own Indy-style adventure:

Where To Get Briefed: Peabody Museum, Yale University Yes, in the movies, Indy's at "Marshall College," but really it's Yale U in New Haven. Make like Dr. Jones and take in the institution's Peabody Museum which "advances understanding of the earth's history, life and cultures." Families can enjoy Science Saturdays for their mini-Indy's. Make sure you bring your safari outfit.

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Celeb Travel / Shia LaBeouf / Indiana Jones / Transformers / LAX / → All Tags

Shia LaBeouf's Cold-Plane Defense

"Transformers" actor Shia LaBeouf rocked a '90s flannel, a '70s concert T-shirt, a space-age rolling bag and a nineteenth-century doctor's bag at LAX yesterday. Hopefully he'll be more uniformly packed for his role as Indiana Jones' sidekick in their quest for the Crystal Skull.

LaBeouf just wrapped filming the thriller "Eagle Eye," about a man framed as a terrorist, in Southern California. Next he's switching coasts for a short film directed by Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth: The Golden Age") that will be part of "New York, I Love You" with John Hurt and Julie Christie.

Related Stories:
· Movie Set Travel: Transformers [Jaunted]
· Indiana Jones IV Trailer Travel [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Just Jared]

Indiana Jones / Movie Set Travel / Chihuahuan Desert / Shia LaBeouf / → All Tags

Indiana Jones IV Trailer Travel

Few movies have spawned as many travel opportunities as the Indiana Jones trilogy. From Indy inspired archeological trips in Israel to the epic stunt spectacular at MGM--Indy equals travel. Today, the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer officially debuted, and the fourth Indy installment is set to open on May 22, 2008. The new movie is set in the 1950s and stars Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, John Hurt and, of course, Harrison Ford. You can bet multitudes of movie inspired summer travel will follow.

So what sort of filming locations can we expect in the new movie? Yale, Hilo Hawaii, the Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico, oh and Roswell. Roswell? Does that mean aliens will be making an appearance in the new movie? Who knows, but there were no aliens in the trailer, just plenty of Indy's signature hat. Stay tuned.

The Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull trailer is here.

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Movie Set Travel / Connecticut / Indiana Jones / → All Tags

Movie Set Travel: That's Professor Indiana Jones To You

Legendary adventurer Indiana Jones is basically the only fearless man left. (John McClane, eat your heart out.) So it makes sense that on his triumphant return to the big screen, he's going to a place that makes even the youngest and healthiest of us quake in fear...Yale. According to an extra who spoke to the New York Observer, "Indy 4" will open with Jones in a classroom in New Haven, Connecticut (at the fictional Marshall University) before some of his old enemies force him to take up the bullwhip again. His getaway car of choice? This motorcycle, driven by Young Jones (played by a post-pubescent Shia LaBeouf).

We are sure the powers that be at the Greater New Haven tourism bureau are furiously working on a way to make all this sing--"Come to New Haven".

Related Stories:
· Movie Set Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: Just Jared]