Lego ''Indiana Jones''

Lego Indiana Jones
Sub‑themes Raiders of the Lost Ark
Temple of Doom
The Last Crusade
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Subject Indiana Jones
Licensed from Lucasfilm
Availability 2008–2009
Total sets 15
Characters Indiana Jones
Henry Jones Sr.
Marion Ravenwood
Rene Belloq
Satipo
Short Round
Willie Scott
Elsa Schneider
Mutt Williams
Irina Spalko
Official website

Lego Indiana Jones (stylized as LEGO Indiana Jones) is a Lego theme based on the Indiana Jones film franchise, licensed from Lucasfilm. The exclusive franchise (for the 'Construction Category Rights') was first announced in June 2007,[1] and followed the successful Lego Star Wars franchise, also with Lucasfilm. The first set of products were launched in 2008, based upon two of the three earlier films (Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade). Sets featuring scenes from the fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, were released alongside the film, later in 2008. The Temple of Doom film was not featured until 2009, in a large set which re-created the mine-cart chase using new narrow-gauge Lego train track.

The theme also features in a video game series. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures was released on June 3, 2008, based on the original trilogy. A sequel, called Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues, was released in November 2009, including scenes from the new Kingdom of the Crystal Skull film, along with a level editor feature.

A computer-animated short film, Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick, directed by Peder Pedersen, was also released on the official Lego site. It combines details from all four Indiana Jones films in one adventure.

Development

The development of the Indiana Jones Lego theme followed a similar process to other Lego themes, with sets being designed by Lego's team of designers in Billund, in consultation with franchise owner Lucasfilm. The inclusion of guns within the sets (including machine guns) was a cause of some internal controversy.[2]

Sets

Of the initial wave of sets released in 2008, Temple Escape (7623) was one of the biggest, and features the famous boulder chase scene from the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Measuring 53 cm long, the set included numerous 'booby traps' from the film, including shooting spears and tumbling rocks. As well as Indiana Jones himself, the set included minifigs of René Belloq and Satipo. Pilot Jock and his seaplane were also included as a late addition, with the Lego designer and Lucasfilm agreeing that they were an important addition to complete the scene (allowing Indy to escape).[3]

Two other medium-size sets released at the same time also featured scenes from the Lost Ark film. The Lost Tomb (7621) depicted a snake-filled tomb, which Indy must escape from, and Race for the Stolen Treasure (7622) depicted the chase scene from the film, with Indy riding a horse in pursuit of a truck.

Later in 2008, four sets were released featuring scenes from the new film. The biggest of these was Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (7627), which focused on the final scene of the movie, and included a rotating circle of 'crystal skeletons', as well as the falling obelisk tower. The characters Mutt Williams, Irina Spalko and two Ugha Warriors were all included in minifig form, as well as Indy and an unnamed Russian soldier.

In 2009, the 'gap' of having no sets from The Temple of Doom was filled with two new sets featuring scenes from the film. The biggest of the two, The Temple of Doom (7199), included new narrower gauge (4-studs wide rather than the usual 6 studs) Lego train tracks in order to re-create the mine cart chase scene from the second half of the film. Six track piece were included in two shapes, four as curves and two as slopes. Straight track pieces for this new type of train track have not yet been released in any set.

The second-biggest set released in 2009 was Venice Canal Chase (7197), which depicts the boat chase scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The set includes two boats, one driven by Indy and Elsa Schneider, and the other driven by two Grail Guardians. The boats appear largely identical bar a few colour differences, but contain different button-activated actions - one boats splits in two when a button is pressed, the other one features an 'exploding' motor. The two Grail Guardian minifigs are notable for their dark red Fez hats, which is a new Lego element. The set also features a Venetian style bridge and an exploding pier.[4]

Products

see List of Lego Indiana Jones sets

Name Number Minifigures Released Film Pieces
Motorcycle Chase7620Indiana Jones, Henry Jones, Sr., German Motorcyclist2008Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade79
The Lost Tomb7621Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood, Skeleton2008Raiders of the Lost Ark277
Race for the Stolen Treasure7622Indiana Jones, German Guards x2, Horse2008Raiders of the Lost Ark272
Temple Escape7623Indiana Jones, Rene Belloq, Satipo, Jock, Skeleton x22008Raiders of the Lost Ark552
Jungle Duel7624Indiana Jones, Irina Spalko, Mutt Williams2008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull90
River Chase7625Indiana Jones, Russian Guards x2, Marion Ravenwood2008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull234
Jungle Cutter7626Indiana Jones, Colonel Dovchenko, Russian Guards x22008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull511
Temple of the Crystal Skull7627Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, Irina Spalko, Russian Guard, Ugha Warriors x2, Crystal Skull Skeletons x2, Conquistador Skeleton2008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull929
Peril in Peru7628Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, Irina Spalko, Russian Guard, Pilot, Colonel Dovchenko2008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull625
Jungle Cruiser20004Indiana Jones (no bag)2008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull83
Shanghai Chase7682Indiana Jones (tuxedo), Willie Scott, Short Round, Lao Che, Kao Kan2009Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom244
Fight on the Flying Wing 7683Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood, German Mechanic, German Pilot2009Raiders of the Lost Ark376
Ambush in Cairo7195Indiana Jones (Cairo), Swordsman, Cairo Bandit, Marion Ravenwood2009Raiders of the Lost Ark79
Chauchilla Cemetery Battle7196Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, Cemetery Warriors x22009 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull189
Venice Canal Chase7197Indiana Jones (professor), Elsa Schneider, Kazim, Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword guard2009Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade420
Fighter Plane Attack7198Indiana Jones (no bag), Henry Jones Sr., German Pilot2009Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade339
The Temple of Doom7199Indiana Jones (Kali), Willie Scott (Kali), Short Round, Thuggee, Chief Thugee, Mola Ram2009Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom654

Future

The line was discontinued in 2010, but since Lucas plans to make a fifth installment to the franchise, the sets may be re-released along with new sets of the possible fifth Indiana Jones film. Due to the fact Disney bought Lucasfilm and will be making a new Indiana Jones movie, chances of new sets are high.

Reception

The Indiana Jones sets proved to be one of the most popular Lego themes, and by the end of 2008 were credited, along with Lego Star Wars, of boosting the Lego Group's profits within a stagnant toy market. The product line was said to have "sold extremely well - especially on the North American market." [5] The sets were occasionally compared to those of the discontinued Lego Adventurers label (which was strongly influenced in its own right by the Indiana Jones franchise), which ran from 1998 to 2003.

Video games

In common with some of the other movie franchise Lego themes, Lego Indiana Jones also features spin-off video games. These combine scenes from the films with the graphic style of the Lego pieces and minifigures.

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (2008)

This was the first videogame released in the series, produced by Traveller's Tales and published by LucasArts in 2008. It features scenes from the first three of the original Indiana Jones films, which can be played in any order.

Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (2009)

This game was produced as a sequel to The Original Adventures, and includes scenes from the fourth film in the franchise (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), as well as all-new scenes from the three original films. The game also added a new level editor.

References

  1. ↑ "LEGO Group Secures Exclusive Construction Category Rights to Indiana Jones Property" (Press release). Lego Group. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Schwartz, Nelson D. (5 September 2009). "Turning to Hollywood tie-ins, Lego thinks beyond the brick". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Lipkowitz, Daniel (2009). The Lego Book. Dorling Kindersley. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-4053-4169-1.
  4. ↑ "LEGO Indiana Jones | Brickset: LEGO set guide and database". Brickset. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  5. ↑ Espinoza, Javier (12 August 2008). "Lego Builds On Earnings". Forbes. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
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