If Adventure Has a Name… It Must Be Indiana Jones
posted by Jon Cruz on May 21st, 2008
NEW YORK, N.Y. — If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones.
Lucasfilm fans worldwide will celebrate at 12:01 AM Thursday morning — just over twelve hours from now! — as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opens in theaters everywhere. It has been nineteen years since the release of the last film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Which film in the series is your favorite?
Those of you who know me shouldn’t be surprised that I will be seeing a midnight screening in a fedora and a Lucasfilm t-shirt and, of course, shouldn’t be surprised that I’d be celebrating the release of this film right here on VBD. Enjoy the good work of Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford!
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Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 21st, 2008 08:46
I think Raiders of the Lost Ark is the “best film,” but I am most often eager to watch The Last Crusade. I think it’s probably the most enjoyable one in the series.
I would just like to note that this version of the Lucasfilm logo was featured in Willow, and that Mira Chernick can recite the film by heart.
Posted from: 65.2.173.64
May 21st, 2008 13:20
I might as well. 5:00AM flight to Wisconsin FTL.
Although I have a bad feeling I’ll be screaming “IT’S A TRAP” throughout the entire movie.
Posted from: 98.194.141.111
May 21st, 2008 13:27
this movie is going to suck
Posted from: 128.135.193.149
May 21st, 2008 13:39
IM GOING
FUCK WORK
MIDNIGHT SHOW BABY
Posted from: 128.54.40.100
May 21st, 2008 14:38
The Last Crusade is most def the best film.
but im soooo seeing this at midnight tonight (if i can get my roommates to go…)
Posted from: 66.233.57.238
May 21st, 2008 15:12
willow was better than any indiana jones fix.
GIVE ME VAL KILMER OR GIVE ME DEATH.
Posted from: 68.199.21.95
May 21st, 2008 15:21
1) Last Crusade
2) Raiders
3) Temple
Thats my list for now…
Posted from: 24.205.208.214
May 21st, 2008 15:23
Rebar, why not both. http://moviesmedia.ign.com/movies/image/kilmer-spartan-1.jpg
Posted from: 69.118.235.253
May 21st, 2008 15:38
The Dark Night >>>>> Indiana Jones
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 21st, 2008 15:48
Rebar — who is your favorite character in Willow?
Posted from: 24.251.94.33
May 21st, 2008 16:01
it seems like the recipe of a good Indiana Jones film would be 1 part Nazis and 1 part biblical artifact… the Soviet army does a pretty good job of replacing the Nazis, but the other ingredient…
Posted from: 96.229.143.242
May 21st, 2008 16:28
i prefer the skeckskies
Posted from: 24.151.118.6
May 21st, 2008 16:39
temple of doom hates on indians
i’m really in the mood for some monkey brains right about now
Posted from: 70.18.171.226
May 21st, 2008 16:50
The Dark Night will fist the living shit out of Indiana Jones and his stupid skull
Posted from: 70.18.171.226
May 21st, 2008 16:50
knight*
Posted from: 76.17.167.243
May 21st, 2008 17:48
in all honesty, if we’re talking about fairytale movies where the plot is centered around the protection of a baby Labyrinth owns Willow any day of the week. david bowie ftw.
end of discussion.
Posted from: 75.73.212.61
May 21st, 2008 19:05
Labyrinth ftw
Posted from: 68.117.51.205
May 21st, 2008 19:11
last crusade fo sho. already have my ticket for tonight haha. im not having all that high of hopes tho.
Posted from: 75.3.254.146
May 21st, 2008 19:30
the dark knight will be the best movie ever
Posted from: 70.18.171.226
May 21st, 2008 19:32
The Dark Knight isn’t a movie… It’s an experience!
Posted from: 69.118.235.253
May 21st, 2008 20:26
it’s not an “experience”, it’s a way of life
Posted from: 69.115.223.185
May 21st, 2008 21:04
is harrison ford in the movie?
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 22nd, 2008 00:04
IT WAS INCREDIBLE
MIRA CHERNICK AGREES
ANNIE FUOTO AGREES
ARACELIS BIEL AGREES
CRAIG GILBERT AGREES
MIKE GOYETTE AGREES
MY UNCLE BOB AGREES
THANK YOU GEORGE
Posted from: 128.135.193.149
May 22nd, 2008 01:51
i will respectfully disagree as julian switala also does
the movie was not incredile
it was decent
the first 1:30 was great
the last part
not sooo much
Posted from: 76.17.167.243
May 22nd, 2008 02:32
for an adventure film ill turn off the bullshit meter to allow for swinging on vines with monkeys, killer ants that can eat entire humans, buried treasure, and an impossible to craft skull. hell, ill even be lenient when it even comes to perfect timing and the placement of life saving objects. but aliens? are you kidding me? its like they got to the end of the movie and…
George Lucas: look at all this shit we have on our hands: espionage, dead languages, psychic powers, government secrets, hidden civilizations. how do we explain away all of this?
6 year old kid: how about aliens? theyre cool and stuff.
George Lucas: perfect! after being in the film industry for over 30 years, accumulating multiple academy awards and oscar nominations, and directing some of the most memorable films of all time that is BY FAR the best idea ive ever heard!
what a cop out.
Posted from: 128.135.193.149
May 22nd, 2008 03:17
uncle juju
FTW
Posted from: 68.117.51.205
May 22nd, 2008 07:06
I agree. That part was weird. But I guess thats actually part of the Crystal Skulls legend in real life. And all the movies have stayed relatively close to the legends and stories they are based on.
But really. Aliens. Come on.
Posted from: 76.167.241.163
May 22nd, 2008 07:54
jon is there any way you wouldn’t have thought it was incredible? ;)
Posted from: 66.108.83.60
May 22nd, 2008 08:18
Actually, the idea that aliens are involved with the crystal skulls was not George’s idea; that’s a large part of the myth behind actual crystal skulls in the first place. (Admittedly, most people feel that the crystal skulls that have been developed are nineteenth century forgeries.) In other words, before taking the easy George-bashing way out, just know that the “ancient astronaut” plot element was not his creation.
Of course, if you don’t like that element, it does leave open valid criticism that perhaps he should not have used the crystal skull as the “relic” in the film. I for one have always found the idea that beings from another world would be interpreted as gods by primitive people kind of interesting. And, it may just be the atheist in me speaking, but to me, the idea that aliens are the source of a seemingly mystical power is no less silly than the idea that the God of Abraham, Shiva, or Jesus Christ — the sources in the previous three films — are instead. (The astronauts-as-gods idea been used elsewhere, admittedly; there are a few really good episodes of Star Trek that deal with this theme.)
In any case, check out the largely debunked but still fun book CHARIOTS OF THE GODS from the 1960s for more on these “ancient astronaut” theories and some early discussion of the crystal skulls in general. That seems to have been the source of a lot of this. (There was an early rumor, after they decided not to go with the title “Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men from Mars” — probably a good thing! — that it was going to be called “Indiana Jones and the Chariots of the Gods.”)
Given that the films set in the 1930s were patterned after 1930s serials, I like that this was patterned after 1950s B-movies. I’d also rate the opening as probably the best of all four movies, maybe with the exception of Temple of Doom.
I was lucky to see the film with a very animated, fanboy crowd. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one who appreciated the fact that after having the new Lucasfilm logo come on in dignified silence, they reverted to the old 1980s Paramount logo from the 1980s before it faded into a mountain (or, actually, a tiny molehill). And the fact the Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse is Area 51. And the fact that you get to see the Ark. And that…okay, I’ll stop. :o)
But yes, I enjoyed it a lot. To each his or her own! :o)
Bietz: yes. I was actually painfully skeptical early on. And I admit that, while fun to watch in a stupid way, Howard the Duck was crap. :o)
Posted from: 76.17.167.243
May 22nd, 2008 14:07
well given the background and story behind the movie the ending is much more understandable and forgiving. in spite of this i still think the spaceship under the ground, the portal to another dimension, and the combining of the crystal skeletons into a single alien being was a bit over the top. nevertheless it was all visually stunning and the movie as a whole, i thought, was extremely well filmed.
haha, i was also part of an audience which applauded at both the Lucasfilm logo and the old Paramount logo. and of course at the end.
Posted from: 68.117.51.205
May 22nd, 2008 15:58
I also saw the movie with alot of fanboys dressed as Indiana Jones. and for some reason, someone was also dressed as Jack Sparrow. Indiana Jones then attacked him. It was very interesting.
Posted from: 68.117.51.205
May 22nd, 2008 15:59
*one of the Indiana Jones then attacked him.
Posted from: 70.21.126.208
May 22nd, 2008 19:30
Harrison Ford attacked Jack Sparrow.
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 22nd, 2008 19:40
Good article:
http://darkside.newsvine.com/_news/2008/05/22/1505909-10-things-george-lucas-did-right-with-indiana-jones-and-the-kingdom-of-the-crystal-skull?email=html
“Ten Things George Lucas Did Right with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
Posted from: 66.233.57.238
May 23rd, 2008 06:28
Jon: In addition to worshipping the ground Mad Martigan walks on, i also like General Kael’s skull mask.
ZOINKS SCOOBY, ALIENS!
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 23rd, 2008 06:42
OMG Rebar come to a tournament I’m at next year and I’ll bring my General Kael and Madmartigan action figures with me. They’re originals from when I was five and six.
Posted from: 69.120.236.168
May 23rd, 2008 09:01
Good flick. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted from: 66.233.57.238
May 23rd, 2008 13:12
NO WAYZZ. they made action figures?!?!?!
wow, you’re really not going to be able to get rid of me once i see those.
Posted from: 75.35.208.165
May 24th, 2008 00:03
I can agree with the above comments that claim that this installment was a bit over-the-top–but on the whole, I enjoyed it. The cinematography was generally excellent; the lighting was especially well done. The special effects were spectacular, the sound effects stunning. I was glad to see that Indy was not too old to use a whip.
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 24th, 2008 08:45
They’re not as cool as the articulated Hasbro/Kenner action figures for Star Wars and Indiana Jones — they’re more like miniature figurines — but they’re nifty.
The poster above my bed is a fairly rare Willow one-sheet teaser poster.
Posted from: 63.246.171.199
May 24th, 2008 12:25
This movie was amazing.
INDIANA JONES SURVIVED A NUCLEAR BOMB!!
The Russian-ness was fantastic.
Did anyone else feel like the scene where Jones says “air doesn’t agree with him” was a harkening to the scene in the Last Crusade where the guy picks the false grail and ages to death?
Also, I would have cried had LeBeouf put on that hat at the end. Thank goodness for the snatching hand of Mr. Ford.
Huzzah for Indiana Jones!
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 24th, 2008 12:31
“He chose…poorly.”
Posted from: 63.246.171.199
May 24th, 2008 23:37
Haha. That knight is great.
We watched Last Crusade in history class last week.
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 25th, 2008 09:11
Rebar — you LUV that I just found my “Willow Sourcebook” from 1988.
General Kael rules. I still think Queen Bavmorda is amazing. I remain intrigued by her mummy-like wrappings — seen right before she put the cloak on to begin the Ritual of Obliteration — all these years later. I also think her rendition of “Raziel” is the most perfectly enunciated word of all time.
P.S. Seeing Indy for the fifth time.
Posted from: 66.233.57.238
May 25th, 2008 14:50
that whole movie just rocked the house. i agree, the mummy wrappings totally kicked it up that extra notch. i also love the wolf beasts they send after them.
Posted from: 70.21.126.208
May 25th, 2008 16:30
Somebody should make a list of what Indy survived. :P
Posted from: 70.56.10.115
May 25th, 2008 17:59
i guess i’m going against the general consensus, but the movie just didn’t do it for me the way the earlier indiana jones films do. sure it was entertaining, but so are the rambo movies, but i think it’s reasonable to expect a little bit more of a story from the indiana jones series.
also, can i just say i am terribly disappointed regarding the absence of jake gelfand on “who wants to be a millionaire”? i heard he was announced to be on the show on the next airing but when the episode came on there were only 9 contestants and his name wasn’t announced. :(
Posted from: 75.72.79.154
May 26th, 2008 19:11
Although I have not seen the movie, everyone I know who has agrees with the JuJu/Maeshal opinion.
Here’s how it works:
Lucas: How about we design a kickass sequel to Indiana Jones, complete with all the traditional shit, plus we throw in a couple government conspiracies into a complex plot with multiple twists?
Spielberg: Or I can just do a sick job rendering a bunch of aliens and other wierd stuff and we can just blow it all up. Why spend money on an amazing plotline if we can just have aliens and explosions?
Lucas: But won’t that seem like a cop out?
Spielberg: You can’t go wrong with Aliens and explosions.
Lucas: Ok, Spielberg. I’ll go with the aliens.
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 26th, 2008 19:29
Phelan, for someone so frequently adamant about stating his own opinions on the comment threads here on VBD, I’m surprised to see you (admittedly) simply parrot what others have said. :o)
Posted from: 72.229.4.198
May 26th, 2008 19:42
By the way, I love that Mutt — the Shia LaBeouf character — notes that he debated in high school.