Childhood, Indiana Jones, and the Things that Bother Us In Movies
Gerald and I were discussing the newest trailer to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It turned into a discussion of the two previous Indiana Jones films, Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade.
I have fond memories of Temple of Doom from my childhood. I remember my dad renting the film, and it being the first Jones movie I saw all the way through. (I remember vague images of the Hovitos putting arrows in one of the explorers backs in the first Indy film from when I was real young, but don't think I made it all the way through the film.) So, let's say when I first saw Temple of Doom I was six or seven.
I remember my Mom and I being horrified at the monkey brains. I remember being told to close my eyes when the heart was torn out. I loved the traps, the ending on the Bridge. I was caught up in the whole film. I loved the lines and can still quote them today. "He not nuts, he crazy." "We... are... going to ... die." (great delivery by Ford.) "There are dead people out here" "There are gonna be two dead people in here if you don't hurry!"
Gerald also argues that the villains are too out there for an Indiana Jones movie. I always felt the villains were scary and a formidable opponent for Jones.
And the movie still works for me. Yeah, it's uneven and the tone isn't consistent, but it works for me. I enjoy it, I'm forgiving of the tone since I enjoy the film.
Gerald, disagrees, arguing the Willie is annoying (yes) and that the lines don't work. That Indy has much less to do in the film. (I completely disagree.)
Gerald, however, talks about the first film he saw, The Last Crusade. Another movie, I love. But I'm a little less forgiving with the film than he is. Gerald mentioned enjoying the first scene with River Phoenix as Young Jones as being a great scene. I have more of a problem with that scene as being too: This is how Indiana Jones became Indiana Jones.
I mean in one afternoon: Jones sees a guy that dresses like future Indiana, becomes afraid of snakes, uses a whip, gives himself a scar, learns a valuable piece of life advice ("You lost today, kid. That doesn't mean you have to like it.") and gets his Fedora. He becomes who he is. (The Fedora may be the most important part of that image, which is why it's the last thing to make Jones Indiana.)
That's too much to me. But at the same time, it's a fun action scene, and fun to watch.
These movies probably shouldn't be overanalyzed. They're fun romps where things explode and guys get beaten up. Raiders is still my favorite, but I think I like Temple of Doom second.
I think it is appropriate with music, movies, all sorts of things. Most everyone consider things from their time better than what has come since. But honestly, there are movies made today that are better acted, better constructed, and better written than the movies of the past. (Yes, even better than say Casablanca.)
Is it because of the fond childhood memories? I mean, I remember going to the theater to see The Last Crusade with my family. The younger we are when we enjoy something, are we more willing to forgive its obvious flaws to keep nostalgia alive?
What do you think?
(Come on people, give me a response, I'm trying to be semi-intellectual here.)
I have fond memories of Temple of Doom from my childhood. I remember my dad renting the film, and it being the first Jones movie I saw all the way through. (I remember vague images of the Hovitos putting arrows in one of the explorers backs in the first Indy film from when I was real young, but don't think I made it all the way through the film.) So, let's say when I first saw Temple of Doom I was six or seven.
I remember my Mom and I being horrified at the monkey brains. I remember being told to close my eyes when the heart was torn out. I loved the traps, the ending on the Bridge. I was caught up in the whole film. I loved the lines and can still quote them today. "He not nuts, he crazy." "We... are... going to ... die." (great delivery by Ford.) "There are dead people out here" "There are gonna be two dead people in here if you don't hurry!"
Gerald also argues that the villains are too out there for an Indiana Jones movie. I always felt the villains were scary and a formidable opponent for Jones.
And the movie still works for me. Yeah, it's uneven and the tone isn't consistent, but it works for me. I enjoy it, I'm forgiving of the tone since I enjoy the film.
Gerald, disagrees, arguing the Willie is annoying (yes) and that the lines don't work. That Indy has much less to do in the film. (I completely disagree.)
Gerald, however, talks about the first film he saw, The Last Crusade. Another movie, I love. But I'm a little less forgiving with the film than he is. Gerald mentioned enjoying the first scene with River Phoenix as Young Jones as being a great scene. I have more of a problem with that scene as being too: This is how Indiana Jones became Indiana Jones.
I mean in one afternoon: Jones sees a guy that dresses like future Indiana, becomes afraid of snakes, uses a whip, gives himself a scar, learns a valuable piece of life advice ("You lost today, kid. That doesn't mean you have to like it.") and gets his Fedora. He becomes who he is. (The Fedora may be the most important part of that image, which is why it's the last thing to make Jones Indiana.)
That's too much to me. But at the same time, it's a fun action scene, and fun to watch.
These movies probably shouldn't be overanalyzed. They're fun romps where things explode and guys get beaten up. Raiders is still my favorite, but I think I like Temple of Doom second.
I think it is appropriate with music, movies, all sorts of things. Most everyone consider things from their time better than what has come since. But honestly, there are movies made today that are better acted, better constructed, and better written than the movies of the past. (Yes, even better than say Casablanca.)
Is it because of the fond childhood memories? I mean, I remember going to the theater to see The Last Crusade with my family. The younger we are when we enjoy something, are we more willing to forgive its obvious flaws to keep nostalgia alive?
What do you think?
(Come on people, give me a response, I'm trying to be semi-intellectual here.)
Labels: Childhood Memories, Indiana Jones, Nostalgia
posted by Dave White at 10:42 AM
3 Comments:
Now that you point out all the coincidences of the Last Crusade opening, I agree it was too much, but I don't think it's fair to compare your childhood viewing of Temple of Doom to your more grownup reaction of the opening of Crusade.
My criticism of Temple of Doom has developed from catching it several times over the years, the same way your view of the Crusade opening developed. Were you more forgiving of the same opening the first time you saw it?
Gerald, that's a good point. For some reason, it's really the only scene in the trilogy that gets me. It's TOO much. I can't remember if I felt the same way when I was a kid and saw it in the theater. I was probably too excited to be seeing Indiana Jones on the big screen. (And to be honest, that will probably happen with the newest film too, I won't see most of it's flaws until the DVD release, unless it's REALLY bad.)
for the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it seems like the recipe of a good Indiana Jones film would be 1 part Nazis and 1 part Hebrew artifact... the Soviet army does a pretty good job of replacing the Nazis, but the other ingredient...
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