As whip-wielding adventurer Indiana Jones  storms back into movie theaters after a 19-year hiatus in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, fans of the intrepid archaeologist played by Harrison Ford were asked in a survey by Blockbuster video to name their favorite scenes from his previous three movies. These came out tops:

1. Running from the Boulder (”Raiders of the Lost Ark”) — 75%.  An overwhelming three out of four surveyed chose this scene with Indiana Jones running from a boulder in a booby-trapped temple as essential Indy material.

2. ”Why Did It Have To Be Snakes?” (”Raiders of the Lost Ark”) — 61%.  This is Indiana’s first on-screen encounter with the snakes he dreads as he descends into the snake-infested Well of Souls.

3.  Shooting the Swordsman (”Raiders of the Lost Ark”) — 40%.  Indy surprises a sword-wielding enemy with his gun in this comic scene.

4. Mine Cart Chase Scene (”Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”) — 30%.  Indy and friends speed through a mine shaft to escape the Thugee cult  members.

5.  Monkey Brains and Eye Soup (”Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”) — 20%.  Willie and Short Round choose from a menu of floating eyeballs,   crunchy bugs, snake surprise and monkey brains at the Pankot Palace.

Reckon these are the best? Which would you nominate?

Welcome to the world of the movie junket. Ever see “Notting Hill”, where Hugh Grant waits around in a swanky hotel waiting for his few minutes with the stars of a new movie?

It’s a reasonable representation of the “junket”, a rather unflattering but nonetheless apposite term to describe the short TV interviews studios organise to give news channels and agencies access to stars. The reason: news media need soundbites for their stories.

 Today was another “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” day on the junket front, and the blockbuster which had its world premiere in Cannes has taken over the 7th floor of the plush Carlton hotel for the last few days.

Overhearing actor Jim Broadbent asking “how many more?”, I learned that there were seven, four-to-five minute slots left with 17 already done, and that was all by lunchtime.

Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett and crew all did their best to sound fresh and new at the end of a gruelling few days of media over-exposure, and bleary-eyed reporters waiting in crammed rooms and corridors shared the usual grumbles about life in Cannes.

It could have been worse. One early round of interviews here took place before the film was even shown, and despite the size of the operation on Monday morning, I was out of the hotel in under two hours, six “junkets” in hand.

Highlights from day 5 of the Cannes film festival: “Indiana Jones” reviews and a little about the film market.

Highlights from Day 4, and the premiere of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

Highlights from day 3 of the Cannes film festival.