What's the Best Indiana Jones Movie?

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by Oatsdad, Feb 23, 2019.

  1. supermd

    supermd Senior Member

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    I used to think Temple of Doom was the best of the (then) 3, and would tell that to people when they asked. They seemed shocked, and I never knew why. Now, I rate it third, with Raiders being the best, by far, but I love the serial idea they went for. It has an old-timey feel to it, and the Kali Ma scene is killer! It's a lot of fun at the movies!
     
  2. MrSka57

    MrSka57 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse, New York
    I saw Raiders the day it was released and couldn't believe it only got a PG.
     
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  3. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever Thread Starter

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    That's why they eventually acceded to the idea of "PG-13": too many movies that were in that nebulous spot between "PG" and "R".

    I see why it seemed too violent for "PG", but I also can't view it as an "R"... :shrug:
     
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  4. MrSka57

    MrSka57 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Syracuse, New York
    Exactly. Thanks.
     
  5. Rocker

    Rocker Senior Member

    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    A puppy in a fedora, and Nazi kittens... what's not to love?
     
  6. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles

    Everything
     
  7. Rocker

    Rocker Senior Member

    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Okaaaay.... isn't there a parade somewhere you should be raining on?
     
  8. entropyfan

    entropyfan Forum Resident

    Raiders is #1. Last Crusade is a better film than Temple, but somehow it's less fun to watch.

    I haven't seen Crystal Skull since it was in theaters. I didn't go until a few weeks in, and by then it had been skewered by everyone. Definitely the weakest, but my expectations were so low that I actually enjoyed it. Shia swinging through the trees was the only cringe-worthy moment for me.
     
  9. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles

    Yes. Yours? :D
     
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  10. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever Thread Starter

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Oh, I disagree there.

    "Crusade" is a bit lackluster for its first act, but once Connery arrives, it's a delight.

    The chemistry between Ford and Connery makes the movie!
     
  11. Madness

    Madness "Hate is much too great a burden to bear."

    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    :eek: Spoiler Alert!
     
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  12. Madness

    Madness "Hate is much too great a burden to bear."

    Location:
    Maryland, USA
    1. Raiders
    2. Crusade
    3. Doom
    4. Why?

     
    Juan Matus likes this.
  13. JediJones

    JediJones Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    A 4K release of the full quadrilogy has just been announced. There is a standard edition for all retailers and this Best Buy exclusive Steelbook edition:

    https://www.bestbuy.com/site/indian...blu-rayonly--best-buy/6457772.p?skuId=6457772

    For the standard edition, Target is cheaper than Amazon at $86.99.

    Interestingly, this article says Paramount says "they had 'extensive visual effects work done to ensure the most pristine and highest quality image.' They noted Indiana Jones film director Steven Spielberg approved all the picture work."

    The INDIANA JONES Movies Get a 4K Ultra HD Set - Nerdist

    It's a tone-deaf choice of words given the attitude among fans toward the Star Wars: Special Editions, but it could just be referring to things like cleaning up matte lines. Although I think there was some analysis out there a few years ago that an HD version of Raiders shown on TV had visual effects changes done in the scene where the truck falls off the cliff. So I don't know if that's the kind of territory we're going to be getting into here.

    The article says all the bonus content is previously released.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2021
  14. Kyle B

    Kyle B Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago
    Raiders is my favorite movie. Temple of Doom is underrated, but the actual temple scene where Indy is being tortured is very hard to watch. Other than that, it’s a fun ride. Last Crusade is also fun, but is a bit of a rehash with the Nazis again as the villains. The less said about Crystal Skull, the better.
     
  15. Panther

    Panther Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    They get progressively worse as time goes on...

    1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    Two minor nitpicks: (a) The casual murder of Arabs is a bit racist, and (b) the 5 or 10-minutes just prior to the climactic island-wrath-of-God scene (with Indy on the boat, swimming around or whatever he's doing) is a bit muddled, rush-edited or something and doesn't really make sense. But those two points aside, this is a near-perfect fun, action-adventure type film.

    2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    Major flaw with this one is the VERY racist depiction of Indians, in general. Otherwise, I like it. It's darker, all outside of the USA, and is therefore very different from the first (or next).

    3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    Cute, family-fun! Nice brisk pace, good-ish story, but way too funny and audience-pandering. (As I recall, it's also photographed too bright, looking like a Disney movie or a TV show.)

    4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
    An abomination, predictably. Horrid.
     
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  16. will_b_free

    will_b_free Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boulder, CO
    Rumor is that everything that was optically composited has been recomposited digitally.
     
    JediJones likes this.
  17. indigovic

    indigovic (Taylor’s Version)

    Location:
    North Bend, WA
    I am totally okay with that.
     
  18. Halloween_Jack

    Halloween_Jack Senior Member

    Location:
    Hampshire, UK
    My ranking of these films follows the films releases, with Crystal Skull being way under par compared to the other three, to the extent I've erased it from my 'head canon'. It almost feels like a parody of Indiana Jones, and as for what they did to Marion... totally different character IMHO. Hoping James Mangold can somehow balance the drama, the thrills, the darkness, supernatural elements, awe and grandeur at the maguffin, and just a pinch of that Saturday Matinee serial 'mojo' to keep it fun, without becoming parody, or swinging the other way not becoming uber serious and wallow in Indy's age too much. It still needs to fit in with the other three... I hope they ape Douglas Slocombe's amazing photography more than Crystal Skull did too, and naturally that John Williams decides to finish the saga with one last Indy score. Cautiously optimistic about this one.
     
  19. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    I overheard some high-schoolers talking the other day at a bowling alley.

    Kid #1: Have you seen those movies? Indiana Jones?
    Kid #2: I know, right? They're amazing.
    Kid #3: I heard they're making another one this year.
    Kid #1: With who? The original guy? (laughs hysterically) HE'S ANCIENT!
     
    MichaelH likes this.
  20. indigovic

    indigovic (Taylor’s Version)

    Location:
    North Bend, WA
    Yet he can probably still kick their asses.
     
  21. finslaw

    finslaw muzak to my ears

    Location:
    Indiana
    I went with Temple of Doom. An absolute thrill ride from start to finish, which Raiders of the Lost Ark is NOT. Close, but it peters out before the end.
     
    twicks likes this.
  22. Doctor Worm

    Doctor Worm Romans 6:23

    Location:
    Missouri
    Raiders, though I love all four. Yes, even Crystal Skull has its charms.
     
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  23. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    I'm fine with Crystal Skull through the opening act. The Area 51 warehouse is fun, and I love the atomic test town and yes, even the fridge scene. End it there and you've got a solid little half-hour "episode."
     
  24. Kyle B

    Kyle B Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago
    Agreed. I read that Lucas was pushing the aliens aspect for that movie for years, and Spielberg resisted, which is why there was almost 20 years between the third and fourth movies. There were a bunch of scripts written in the 1990s that were discarded. I’ve love to see them now - I think one was about the lost city of Atlantis.
     
    twicks likes this.
  25. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2021
    Bobby Buckshot likes this.

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