Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

The Ark is perfect and Raiders is still the defining movie of that genre IMO. With Temple being a prequel I think the addition of the children changes Indys mindset from just being there for the fortune and glory to something more emotionally caring.

He did direct the Tintin animated film in 2011, which is very much in the vein of an Indiana Jones film.

 

This is from 1956-58's Tintin story The Red Sea Sharks:


I think you can see a line of inspiration, yeah

 

Though note that both of those are just copying a real building (the Al Kazneh in the ancient Nabatean city of Petra, in Jordan) and making it a landmark of the imaginary country they were setting the story in.

 

Yeah, it's like showing the audience that a scene is in Paris by showing a shot of the Eiffel Tower.

 

I don't know if I agree with that assessment. I think "Raiders" was the first really successful movie of that genre. I think that is the only reason why many call it "defining".

 

Raiders is usually on top 100 movies of all time lists and was nominated for a ton of Oscars including best picture. Not that that means everything, but it is one objective criteria. I love TOD, but it never appears on any best of lists.

 

Raiders I will accept as generally being better made, but for pure enjoyment, little beats Crusade for me. Connery, RIP, always brings a smile to my face, whether it's the scene where he weaponizes bird flocks or tells Nazis to get screwed. As does the final scene. Macguffin wise...the Ark itself is more visually memorable, but the Grail has been itself a Macguffin in stories for centuries, giving it a little extra weight--and, of course, worth it for "You have chosen...wisely'.

 

Theres more to this film being regarded as genre defining than just its success, that's doing it a real disservice. It doesn't feature in film magazine or critics lists purely on its success alone. Its structure, stunts, choreography, cinematography, set design, score, characters are a lightning in a bottle moment that as a package Hollywood has tried to replicate since and it hasn't quite managed to. Its as much an important film in Hollywood as a Jaws, Alien, Godfather, Star Wars, Searchers, Shawshank or a Die Hard. Classic movies that define a particular genre, and rightly so too.

The Last Crusade out of all the Indy films gets close to Raiders.

 

Enjoyed the rewatch of Last Crusades on Thanksgiving night. Watching Raiders and Last Crusades again puts some of the criticism of Crystal Skull in perspective. All the early beloved Indy films were slapstick in nature.

The reason why it turned me off of Crystal Skull and not them is because Raiders/Crusades are insulated by nostalgia and those first impressions of my much younger self.

 

Last Crusade was fun and all but too derivative of Raiders, I think they played it too safe after Temple of Doom(which I really liked).

My opinion Charlton Heston would've been a better choice for Henry Jones Sr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_of_the_Incas

 

I know Gregory Peck was considered, and I personally can see him doing really well but you make a good point about Heston also @Vorax




I get the reason they casted Sean though.

 

I love Heston but Connery was perfect.

 

"I should have mailed it to the Marx brothers."

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/n...ast-crusade-now-im-a-real-life-indiana-jones/

 

It's kind of hard to imagine Heston pulling off the same goofy grandpa performance, for me.

 

Get your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty Nazi!






(Not you RD)

 

Agreed. I think ROTLA and TOD are better, but TLC is pure entertainment.

 

I think The Last Crusade is a good way to introduce kids to the character... and it was actually my introduction to Indiana Jones. I have this movie to thank for making me a fan. It's certainly not a perfect film. The film plays it safe, is a bit too silly in some areas (the characterization of Brody and Sallah as comic reliefs is especially noticeable), and Donovan is probably my least favorite of the main antagonists in the series. But there are a lot of great funny moments (especially the Hitler cameo), Sean Connery is delightful, the father/son relationship gives the film heart, the tank battle is a fantastic action piece, and Elsa is a complex love interest/villain that is different from both Marion and Willie.

 

Heston was iconic, but Connery was also a better actor IMO

 

I like how the first three movies use cliched old movie archetypes for the female characters. Marion is the feisty heroine, Willie the damsel in distress and Elsa the femme fatale.

 

Heston would've been ideal since they modeled Indiana after him and his characters in the first place. It never really made any sense why he copied one of the bad guys for his "Indiana" persona just cause he gave him a sweaty hat after chasing him down.

 

I love Heston but Ford looks a hell of a lot cooler in a fedora.

 

The funniest part in that movie is when Ford attempts that horrendous Scottish accent.

 

As a kid I thought the funniest scene by far was the confused librarian stamping the books. As an adult I think I lean more toward the scene when Marcus is wandering around lost asking if anyone speaks English.

 

"Water? No thank you sir, fish make love in it"