I watched the entire indy series this year for the first time and was blown away. Despite KOTCS all of these movies were top notch. I've read nasty things about TOD and even read that spielberg only directed LC to apologize for temple. I enjoyed this movie so much. Is there a huge flaw I'm missing?
shareI'll argue that the poor attempts at comedy and underdeveloped story elements ruin TOD. It could have been done with a more serious tone with better (aka less annoying) side kicks who don't scream endlessly or have stupid dialogue.
Or, they could have ditched them as the story progressed. It would have been better to have Short Round get dropped off midway in the storyline rather than keep him thru the whole thing. As someone aptly said above: there is no threat to him so it's uninteresting. There's no point in him being around; he serves no purpose.
Willie is annoying beyond words. Her character is just plain useless. She is eye candy and nothing more. Marion at least was a better developed character. Ilsa was no Marion, but at least she didn't scream like a twit at everything.
The cult and sacrifice scenes worked well. Mola Ram was a cool bad guy. The mysterious qualities of the stones were in the realm of the Ark, so they work for the story. But there was very little challenge to getting them: Indy just waits for the sacrifice to end then steals them. Whoopie. Compare that to all the struggles to get the Ark....and there is no comparison.
The mine car scenes would have been awesome if not for the stupid jump and using his boot to stop it. The dinner scene was just a gross attempt at more lame comedy, and the raft going over the mountain side was just plain stupid. I can accept the heart being removed as "mysterious powers" or whatever but the raft defies physics and probability.
Probably the best scene to me is the rope bridge (minus Willie's scream at seeing Mola Ram). There is a real sense of danger, and when Indy cuts it, things get real intense. But when he says his dialogue that makes the stones get hot and Mola Ram drops them, it's like where the hell did that come from?? Was that little secret hiding In Indy's satchel?
People can say what they want about Crystal Skull, but for my money TOD was a wasted opportunity and easily the weakest of the four. Last Crusade feels forced in a lot of ways, but at least there is character development.
"TOD was a wasted opportunity and easily the weakest of the four."
Im sorry but anyone who puts Crystal Skull above any previous Indy film, their opinion is instantly invalid. Nothing is more stupid than Shia Leboeuf swinging on tree vines keeping up with vehicles travelling at normal speed or the three waterfalls, or the nuke the fridge. The entire movie is a shit show.
No!
The movie is and always been great. Its my favorite Indy. Theres haters thats all. Probably cuz they hate the hot girl.
I don't get why people polarize so vehemently for and against films in a movie series, such as this Indy series.
From a pure fan perspective, I enjoy Raiders and Last Crusade equally and Temple much less. BUT, rating Temple as a stand alone movie I think it's great. Within the context of the first three films though, it's not as enjoyable for me.
I saw Crystal Skull once and that's enough for me. I have zero interest in seeing it again. There are those who love Crystal Skull and I have no problem with anyone liking it, or preferring Temple over Raiders or Last Crusade.
I don't know why. I've kind of gone back and forth on it myself.
On the one hand it's not any kind of critically acclaimed film to be taken too seriously, but on the other hand, it is a fast paced action/adventure movie that is truly the definition of a "popcorn flick"
Reasons why? As mostly addressed in this thread, it was Capshaw, the raft drop, and the child abuse. Many forget how people were scandalized by the portrayal of children being whipped.
Personally, I loved Short Round. I do agree that he should have been dropped off somewhere before the main adventure, though.
Raiders: 10/10 (my favorite film)
ToD: 7.5/10 loved it though flawed
TLC: 5/10 the final transformation from funny-adventure to zany comedy with some adventure
KotCS: 5/10 some things to like but ultimately a bad movie
I don´t see the problem with fictionalized child enslavement especially when they are liberated at the end. People take films way too seriously.
shareMe neither. It didn't seem gratuitous. Just the kids in need of rescue. I only remember that there were many up in arms over the kids getting the whip. Pussies.
shareIt's pretty simple:
1. Most people don't know Hindu/Indian culture well enough to make connections between the different fragments of dialog. The story from a historical and mythical perspective is lost on them. Most people are much more familiar with Nazism and Christianity so they can keep up with what's going on much better.
2. More importantly; sane people don't like hearing a woman scream every 45 seconds for an hour and a half.
My main complaint with the movie was its being a giant step backwards, quality-wise, from the first.
share"Rap," not "wrap." LOL.
share