A discussion on the moral themes of the Indiana Jones films.

One thing I've always loved about each of the four Indy movies is each has it's own moral message or theme to the movie.

In Raiders, the key theme of the film was "Don't mess with God". It shows the enormous consequences of meddling in God's business at the end of the film.

In Temple of Doom, it's about doing what's right over choosing fortune and glory. I think the key moment of this film is when Indy gets his hands on the stones, and then hears the children being whipped off in the distance, and he chooses to do what's right rather than pursue the fortune and glory.

In Last Crusade, it's about having faith, no matter what obstacles come in your way, even in the face of the seemingly impossible.

And in Crystal Skull, it's about the pursuit of knowledge, and using the knowledge you obtain responsibly, and for good ends. Knowledge is a gift, and we are to use it for good, and there are consequences when we use it for evil.

 

That's an excellent and concise summation of the moral themes of the 4 films.

 

Brilliantly said.

I'm going to go watch the movies now!

 

Well done.

 

You nailed it on all three films. Excellent analysis. It's always nice when popcorn movies have deeper themes.

 

Well said my friend.

 

I disagree. I think Last Crusade is about the value of family. It's about deciding what's really important in your life. Henry Jones spent decades of his life chasing the hollow dreams of eternal life that the Holy Grail offered and in doing so neglected his wife and son costing him the important things that life is really about. In turning his back on the Grail and embracing his son with his chosen name of Indiana Henry Jones truly discovered what was really important to him. His son. Indy was all the fortune and glory that Professor Jones really needed.

 

Prequel Dreamer, that was nicely written and it's true. That's especially true about Henry urging Indy to "let go" of the Grail. As we all know, that's the first time he calls him "Indiana" in the film, and it's a precious moment.

Yet I would also have to agree with Captain Typho. The Leap of Faith sequence is awesome, a physical representation of the mental leap people have to make in their minds when they decide to take action "on faith."

The Indiana Jones films are rich in symbolism and subtext that I love for action films.
It makes them more entertainingly nutritious.