In what order do you rate the Indiana Jones Movies

[Shadow Master]

They re-edited them for the DVD collections a few years ago, took out old man Indy, made lots of other changes. I haven't picked them up on video. Any reactions? Is this one I should wait for eventual Blurays?

I'm wondering this, myself. I want to get the DVD sets but am hoping for an improved Blu-ray release that restores the elderly Indy segments.

 

[Chubs&Doggers]

You could read this entire thread and I'm sure without exception Raiders is #1 on everyone's list.

That wouldn't be much of a discussion though. So the question is what do you think of the rest of them?

I hated - HATED - Temple of Doom for over twenty years after seeing it the first time. In recent years it's played on cable TV and I watched it without any expectations, not trying to compare it to Raiders. I've decided it's not perfect, but it's a lot better than I remembered.

I agree, Kate is a terrible actress. But she married Steven Spielberg right after that movie, so do the math. If you can get past her lack of ability to do anything besides scream "Indyyyyyyyyyy" this movie is a diamond in the rough.

Ford looks like he's really having fun in this movie and hadn't begun the wooden, phone it in performances he's now known for. ILM was at the top of it's classic craft. There's not a frame of computer animation anywhere in this film. This movie actually can be somewhat disturbing and twisted and it's not just a by the numbers thrill ride. There's lot's of cornball stuff, but it's also a more honest Indiana Jones movie than 3 and 4.

I am in total agreement with this HF depiction of IJ. It at least feels like its the same jones form raiders. But you are asking a lot to get past Kate. I know very well Steve married the girl and they have plenty I children. But she still is very tough to watch. Short round on the other hand is a great side kick. Movie was better when I was a kid. I didn't know any better then..

 

[Shadow Master]

I've never minded Willie or Short Round at all. Maybe it's because I've seen TOD so many times that it's easy to get used to their antics when you've seen it for so many times, but I honestly enjoy their characters. Willie I think was funny and Short Round made for a great sidekick.

Honestly for me, the way people feel about Willie and Short Round is exactly how I feel about Elsa in TLC, as well as that movie's version of Brody.

 

[aljf]

1. Raiders
2. Indiana Jones and the last crusade
3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of doom
4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the crystal skull

 

[choopie]

Raiders, of course, will always be my No.1.

I never minded Willie. In fact, I always found her antics to be comical. But I never liked Indy having a kid as a sidekick. I always felt that Indy should work alone. That being said, I really enjoy ToD. It's gritty and dark and one hell of an adventure movie. You get to the scene where Indy frees the kids and it's just non-stop intense action. And the rope bridge scene is brilliant.

TLC is way too lighthearted for me, despite the fact that I enjoy the chemistry between Ford and Connery. And I hate that they dumbed down Marcus just for the sake of a few laughs. What an insult, IMO.

When I'm in the mood for Indy, I'll watch Raiders and ToD and generally stop there.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Raiders, of course, will always be my No.1.

I never minded Willie. In fact, I always found her antics to be comical. But I never liked Indy having a kid as a sidekick. I always felt that Indy should work alone. That being said, I really enjoy ToD. It's gritty and dark and one hell of an adventure movie. You get to the scene where Indy frees the kids and it's just non-stop intense action. And the rope bridge scene is brilliant.

TLC is way too lighthearted for me, despite the fact that I enjoy the chemistry between Ford and Connery. And I hate that they dumbed down Marcus just for the sake of a few laughs. What an insult, IMO.

When I'm in the mood for Indy, I'll watch Raiders and ToD and generally stop there.

Pretty much agree with ya, choop. But I didn't like Willie because she was much too comical (and annoying). I just felt it undercut any dangers the trio got into and ruined the pacing. I watched TOD recently (I think it was on TV) and tried to ignore the intercuts with Willie (and sometimes Shorty), and it made me realize how intense and mature the movie was. That constant intercutting of comic relief (that isn't even funny) just made everything stumble or stop dead.

Actually, that's really the core of the problem. If Willie was genuinely funny, then the movie would have been fine. But having someone act "funny" and not be funny in the least is the worst thing you can do to a movie.

Just look at something like the Avengers. Great action, and really very funny! Because the jokes are actually funny! Imagine that!

 

[Kamandi]

Actually, that's really the core of the problem. If Willie was genuinely funny, then the movie would have been fine... Just look at something like the Avengers. Great action, and really very funny! Because the jokes are actually funny! Imagine that!

Good comedic performances are delivered from people with acting talent. Look at Jack Nicholson in his prime. He could turn dangerous or funny on a dime.

A good actress might have been able to save the character of Willie. But they didn't get a good actress, they got Spielberg's GF.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

True. I've seen a lot of comedians in interviews say that there is no bad joke, just a bad comic. If a joke bombs, it's not that the joke is bad, just that their delivery was bad. A good comedian should be able to make anything funny.

 

[Kamandi]

I believe that. Ford has (or at least had) a great ability to get a laugh with a simple look. In all of the Indy films the fault lies behind the camera for the forced comedy.

The air duel in LC is an example of a scene that falls apart because they never let the audience get in the moment. Bad comedy, blah visual effects, and the airplane sliding in the tunnel.... lots of bad.
ToD doesn't even come close to that level of cheese.

The Indy films and SW film both have a common problem: Just because you can do something with SFX doesn't mean you always should.

One of the best part of the first Raiders film was the truck chase. Fewer effects, brilliant stunt work. When Ford is hanging off the grill it's not played for laughs, it's a holy crap moment. That's the kind of thing the sequels all got wrong. Reggie the snake in the plane comes at the end of a big action scene, it doesn't undermine one as it plays out.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

I believe that. Ford has (or at least had) a great ability to get a laugh with a simple look. In all of the Indy films the fault lies behind the camera for the forced comedy.

The air duel in LC is an example of a scene that falls apart because they never let the audience get in the moment. Bad comedy, blah visual effects, and the airplane sliding in the tunnel.... lots of bad.
ToD doesn't even come close to that level of cheese.

The Indy films and SW film both have a common problem: Just because you can do something with SFX doesn't mean you always should.

One of the best part of the first Raiders film was the truck chase. Fewer effects, brilliant stunt work. When Ford is hanging off the grill it's not played for laughs, it's a holy crap moment. That's the kind of thing the sequels all got wrong. Reggie the snake in the plane comes at the end of a big action scene, it doesn't undermine one as it plays out.

Agree 100%!

It's strange because the SFX in LC are downright embarrassing. They look so cheap. You'd think a tentpole summer movie that had 2 uber successful preceding movies would have a better budget, or at least look like they do. That airplane scene is so terrible and I remember watching it way back in 1989 when I was in HS and just being bewildered at how bad everything looked. I mean, there was barely a breeze hitting them as they flew in an open canopy plane!

Nothing beats the practical effects (and the magnificent SFX especially the ark and face melting) of the first one!

 

[choopie]

Not to mention the music! The score for the truck chase scene is my absolute favorite. Ties it all together beautifully.

You're right about the sequels. If they were taken half as seriously as Raiders, we'd have a really great series of films to cherish.

One of the best part of the first Raiders film was the truck chase. Fewer effects, brilliant stunt work. When Ford is hanging off the grill it's not played for laughs, it's a holy crap moment.

 

[Khev]

When I'm in the mood for Indy, I'll watch Raiders and ToD and generally stop there.

Same here.

 

[SAB]

Saw the 2K remastered Temple of Doom at the cinema last night

(Astor theatre is an old cinema in Melbourne, Oz that plays nothing but classics)

God it was awesome on the big screen.

 

[Shadow Master]

Raiders, of course, will always be my No.1.

I never minded Willie. In fact, I always found her antics to be comical. But I never liked Indy having a kid as a sidekick. I always felt that Indy should work alone. That being said, I really enjoy ToD. It's gritty and dark and one hell of an adventure movie. You get to the scene where Indy frees the kids and it's just non-stop intense action. And the rope bridge scene is brilliant.

TLC is way too lighthearted for me, despite the fact that I enjoy the chemistry between Ford and Connery. And I hate that they dumbed down Marcus just for the sake of a few laughs. What an insult, IMO.

When I'm in the mood for Indy, I'll watch Raiders and ToD and generally stop there.

Took the words out of my mouth, except for Short Round. While I enjoy TLC and even KOTCS, to me neither is as good as the first two and while TLC is a good film, I always felt it was a little overrated. The overly light and comical tone, making Brody and Sallah comic relief, using Nazis again as the villains, etc.

One thing about TLC that also gets to me is how Indy is revealed to have essentially stolen his iconic look from the adventurer during the prologue. Something about that just really grinds me, the revelation that his awesome apparal was stolen from someone he met.

 

[Chubs&Doggers]

I believe that. Ford has (or at least had) a great ability to get a laugh with a simple look. In all of the Indy films the fault lies behind the camera for the forced comedy.

The air duel in LC is an example of a scene that falls apart because they never let the audience get in the moment. Bad comedy, blah visual effects, and the airplane sliding in the tunnel.... lots of bad.
ToD doesn't even come close to that level of cheese.

The Indy films and SW film both have a common problem: Just because you can do something with SFX doesn't mean you always should.

One of the best part of the first Raiders film was the truck chase. Fewer effects, brilliant stunt work. When Ford is hanging off the grill it's not played for laughs, it's a holy crap moment. That's the kind of thing the sequels all got wrong. Reggie the snake in the plane comes at the end of a big action scene, it doesn't undermine one as it plays out.

Very well said!

 

[Shadow Master]

I believe that. Ford has (or at least had) a great ability to get a laugh with a simple look. In all of the Indy films the fault lies behind the camera for the forced comedy.

The air duel in LC is an example of a scene that falls apart because they never let the audience get in the moment. Bad comedy, blah visual effects, and the airplane sliding in the tunnel.... lots of bad.
ToD doesn't even come close to that level of cheese.

The Indy films and SW film both have a common problem: Just because you can do something with SFX doesn't mean you always should.

One of the best part of the first Raiders film was the truck chase. Fewer effects, brilliant stunt work. When Ford is hanging off the grill it's not played for laughs, it's a holy crap moment. That's the kind of thing the sequels all got wrong. Reggie the snake in the plane comes at the end of a big action scene, it doesn't undermine one as it plays out.

Very well-said. The constant slapstick and overly comedic mood TLC has is why lately it's become my least favorite of the series even though I still enjoy it very much. The frequent comedy also being mixed in with the action and killing the sense of danger becomes jarring. KOTCS for all of it's silly moments like the swinging monkeys and the infamous fridge bit has a more consistantly serious tone throughout and not everything in it is played for laughs, which is why lately I slightly prefer it to TLC. That's something five years ago when I first saw KOTCS I never thought I'd say, but call it time being kinder to it.

TLC while still being a highly entertaining film suffers from too much slapstick and too much comedy for my liking, and this is why it's not as good as the first two for me, and even manages to fall a little short of KOTCS; it has entire sequences of comedy and a good amount of the action is played for laughs, whereas in Raiders and TOD, the humor is kept seperate and not overdone, and it doesn't mix in with the action, retaining the sense of danger and excitement that helps make scenes like the Raiders truck chase and TOD mine cart chase so thrilling to watch; you actually feel the danger in those sequences.

 

[SAB]

TLC may not have the darker tone of the first two but at least it follows the general rules of the series.

I don't see how its possible to rate KotCS anyone near it.
It breaks all the Indy rules and literally every character other than Indy is just awful, contradictory and pointless.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Unfortunately, that's part of TLC's problem: it follows the general rules too closely. One of the bigger criticisms for that movie is that it's a retread of Raiders. I personally felt it was just kinda dull and bland--no real danger or peril.

 

[SideshoMel]

Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Last Crusade
Temple of Doom
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

 

[SAB]

Unfortunately, that's part of TLC's problem: it follows the general rules too closely. One of the bigger criticisms for that movie is that it's a retread of Raiders. I personally felt it was just kinda dull and bland--no real danger or peril.

Oh my problem with it is definitely that its too similar to Raiders + a dad

By 'general rules' I meant things like the amount of CGI used, character behaviour, etc...