Raiders is my favorite. I was disappointed by the sequels. I suppose it's personal taste which one is more exciting and which one has the most thrills, but Raiders of the Lost Ark is by far the best one when it comes to overall quality. It was an example of excellent film making, not just a fun action flick, which the sequels were. If you watch Raiders again, notice the dialogue and the depth of the characters, the atmosphere, the attention to details. It was taken much more seriously by the filmmakers. The characters seemed like real, intelligent, genuine people instead of just two dimensional characters. Even the villains were more intelligent and distinguished. The humor was more natural as well. That's why this one was nominated for best movie at the Oscars. It was an example of a classic Hollywood film.
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I would have to say raiders of the lost ark, in this case the first is the best.
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I think I like raiders the best actually... which is weird because the third used to be my favorite. I watched all of them again recently and think that raiders had the best story and the best overall tone... it was a pretty damn serious movie with some comic relief here and there. The second one had the best action scenes IMO but was way too dark (the whole sacrifice scene was too much) and the third one was good mainly because it brought all of the characters back but was way too comedic. It seemed like I was almost watching a kids movie at times.
pfffft... the first one I think... the third was great with Connery, but it focused too much on them instead of the quest I think
the second one is by far the worst
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I felt exactly the same way. I used to think The Last Crusade was the best one, and I still think it's very very good. I disagree it's like a kids' movie. It's about an adult relationship with one's parent, the Holy Grail is the perfect archeological find for Indy, and I think it shows us the seriousness of the Nazi regime better than ROTLA. Plus it has Sean Connery.
That said, Raiders is still the best one. I agree it has the best story and tone. Sallah is less a comic figure and is a much better sidekick than in TLC. Marion could kick Elsa's ass, and Belloq and that little guy could run rings around Donovan.
I just don't get The Temple of Doom's appeal. Willie is far too annoying and doesn't contribute in the slightest. The other two movies didn't ridicule foreign cultures or make them out to be barbaric. The dinner party scene is just a little too politically incorrect and is more low-brow humor than expected of an Indy film. And I just don't care for Indy going evil all of a sudden. He's flawed and usually bites off more than he can chew, which is part of his charm, but that decision just seemed so out of place to me.
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Last edited by willofthewisp on Jun 9th, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Indy II, you mean? Well, it kinda works I think. Willie's rather awful, I didn't like Short Round very much. But a lot of scenes are very good. The opening scene, the plane crash, the bridge scene (Indy's "Oh shit", is a classic). I like the characters of Mola Ram and the Prime minister. Even the stones... what the heck are they, but who cares... they are the perfect McGuffin, unlike the Crystal Skull.
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Lol, at least we agree that Willie and Short Round suck. The bridge scene is rather good and who can resist Indy swearing? But it just doesn't have that Indy-feel to me. I like Act 2=darker, but this imo just bypassed dark and went alien.
Why do you think the skull is not a good McGuffin? It fits the definition and in all of Indy's movies, you could argue all the artifacts he goes after are McGuffins, couldn't you?
of course all the artifacts are McGuffins... otherwise for instance Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark would be about chasing a rhino in the serengetti.
Almost per definition people go after the McGuffin: Maltese Falcon, right?
The reason why the crystal skull wasn't good as McGuffin: they found it way too early: in all the previous movies they had to go find it and then keep it away from the Nazi's. Here, that didn't happen at all.
Because of this, the entire [SPOILER - highlight to read]: alien-thing was WAY into your face. During Indy movies, you have to accept that there is a supernatural part: the Ark which destroys everyone, the Holy Grail and eternal life ... but because the skull was in it already, you were constantly reminded [SPOILER - highlight to read]: about the aliens.
If they had made it like the old movies: let them go search the skull for 75% of the movie or more, and THAN reveal what it is things would have worked out better... besides the numerous scenes which were lousy.
__________________ Kyuzo: Don't you see? A real sword will kill you. Mr. Earl Brooks: If I were here to kill you, you would already be dead. Mercedes: My mother told me to be wary of Fauns. Mr. Le Chiffre: No, I believe in a reasonable rate of return. James Bond: Now the whole world will know you died while you were scratching my balls!
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Feb 22nd, 2008 02:50 PM
