George Lucas had some things to say about the fourth Indiana Jones movie, slated for a 2008 release...
"We're basically going to do The Phantom Menace. People's expectations are way higher than you can deliver. You could just get killed for the whole thing. We would do it for fun and just take the hit with the critics and the fans."
What... The... FUCK!!
Excuse my language here folks, but is this idiot now not even going to TRY and make the best possible film that he can? Is he that lazy? I love the original Indy trilogy. LOVE IT! And I would rather be left with my memory (not to mention my DVDs) of three excellent films than to have the Indiana Jones franchise tainted with a ham-fisted, half-assed attempt at another sequel. As a creative person, I am left to wonder why he would even bother trying to make a film if he is not going to do his level best to make the BEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE! Here's a challenge, George. Why not try to SURPASS the first trilogy? Why not surprise us and show us that you are still capable of making a decent film? Why not live up to the hype for once? OR, why don't you admit that you are creatively bankrupt, step aside, and hand the character over to a film maker with some energy and something new to say? Think of what M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Raimi or Peter Jackson could do with the Indy franchise?
Alright, now that that's out of my system I also feel that I must defend one of the most maligned of the Indy films. I speak, of course, of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The bastard middle child of the trilogy. In fact, I would argue that this is a superior film to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Now, I think that we can all agree that "Raiders" was the best of the lot, but I will now list 5 reasons why "Temple of Doom" is better than "the Last Crusade."
A brief disclaimer. I love Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I love the fact that the main character relationship is between Indy and his Dad and not Indy and some chick. I love the opening sequence with "young Indy." I just don't feel that ultimately it is as strong as "Temple." Onward...
#1) Different direction. After creating arguably one of the greatest films of all time in Raiders of the Lost Ark, it took huge stones to take a 180 digree turn and try something different for the sequel (well, prequel really). Different setting, different side-kick, different love interest, different villains. And to my mind, it all works. Where "Last Crusade" played it safe and followed the basic "Lost Ark" formula, "Temple of Doom" took chances and was still able to pay homage to the great film serials of the past. Although, it honored different serials.
#2) That fight scene. To my mind that fight between Indy and the Thuggee slave master while Short Round was duking it out with the Prince at the simultaneously was one of the coolest fights in cinematic history. Not to mention the best single fight of the three Indy flicks. But then, I'm a big fan of old school, Jim Kirk style fisticuffs. And I like Short Round enough so that I'd like to see what the adult Shorty is up to in Indy 4 (if they were going to bother to make a good movie that is).
#3) Seat grabbing action! The non-stop action in "Temple" was just as relentless as it was in "Raiders." God, they even made the dinner scene exciting. While there are many great action sequences in "Crusade," pound for pound it doesn't match up with the unswerving break-neck pace of the first two.
#4) Honor the characters. While I loved seeing the return of Sallah and Marcus Brody in "Crusade," they were not treated with respect. In "Raiders" Sallah and Marcus were more than just light comic relief, they were solid character's with a real impact on the plot of the film. In "Crusade" they were sad shadows of their former selves. Poor Marcus especially suffered. Why couldn't they be funny, but not fools?
#5) The villains. While I enjoy seeing Indy beat the snot out of Nazi's as much as the next guy, it was cool to see him match his skills against the savage Thuggee cult and the black magic of it's leader. Indy can match wit's with other baddies besides the Nazi's and still be interesting.
Anyway, this is just one obsessed fan's opinion. Let the debates begin...
