Confused about all this Indiana Jones hubbub Read our primer on the first three films in the series -- and prep for Kingdom of the Crystall Skull, which hits theaters on May 22. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) The Object of Desire The Ark of the Covenant, a Biblical artifact that once held the Ten Commandments. The Nazis want it to make their army invincible.

The Sidekick Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Indy's friend and colleague who helps him remove the Ark from a snake-infested tomb

The Villain Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman), a French archaeologist who has a habit of taking credit for Indy's findings

The Setting Though the movie begins in a much-booby-trapped Peruvian jungle, the quest for the Ark leads Indy and Co. to ancient Egyptian tombs.

The Love Interest Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), the hard-drinking keeper of a medallion that leads Indy to the true location of the Ark

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) The Object of Desire The glowing Sankara Stones, which were created to battle evil. Indy searches for one of the stones stolen from an Indian village - along with all of the village's children.

The Sidekick Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), an 11-year-old Chinese orphan and admirer of Dr. Jones known mostly for being an ethnic stereotype

The Villain Mola Ram (Omrish Puri), a sadistic high priest who rips out human hearts as blood sacrifices and enslaves children to search for the remaining Sankara Stones

The Setting Following a sour business deal in Shanghai, a harrowing ride down the Himalayan mountains and a pit stop in the Indian village of Mayapore, Indy discovers the titular temple inside a grand palace.

The Love Interest Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw, aka the future Mrs. Spielberg), a shrieky nightclub singer who escapes with Indy from her thug boss in Shanghai

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)The Object of Desire The Holy Grail, a chalice which promises eternal life

The Sidekick Dr. Henry Jones (Sean Connery), the world's foremost expert on the Grail - and also Indy's annoying but proud papa. It's his kidnapping that launches Indy into action.

The Villain There are a few - like the Nazis, for example - but it's Walter Donovan (Julian Glover) whose deception puts both Joneses in peril.

The Setting After a scenic jaunt through Venice and a Nazi rally in Berlin (at which a misunderstanding prompts Hitler to give Indy his autograph), most of the film's climax takes place in an ancient tomb in Turkey.

The Love Interest Dr. Elsa Schneider, the elder Dr. Jones' research assistant, who is also - oops! - a Nazi sympathizer

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) (Things have been kept pretty hush-hush, so these are educated guesses.) The Object of Desire A crystal skull perhaps Legend has it these relics have been left on Earth by aliens

The Sidekick Henry "Mutt" Williams (Shia LaBeouf), Marion Ravenwood's son and a "greaser" type who recruits Indy in the search for the Crystal Skull of Akator. But is he actually Indy's son

The Villain Soviet dominatrix/agent Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) continues Indy's tradition of falling for the wrong gal.

The Setting Mutt and Indy search the jungles of Peru (pictured) for the crystal skull. But why/how do they end up in New Mexico, where a UFO is said to have crashed in 1947 Hmmm

The Love Interest Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who reprises her Raiders role looking remarkably not so different than she did 27 years ago