That’s a gag that got cut out of Spielberg’s previous film, 1941, in which it was performed by Christopher Lee. Though it was deleted from the final film, Spielberg swore he would put it in every subsequent movie he made until it got a laugh. Fortunately, his next movie was RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.
Random casting note - the guy who played the captain of the freighter went on to play Kingsley Shacklebolt in the Harry Potter films. Damn' fine actor who's been in loads of stuff over the years. 😃 I reckon I'm going to be in the minority, but I enjoyed the hell out of "Dial of Destiny" and don't care what anyone else thinks. There was one chase too many for me - one of them seemed like it was there because someone decided they needed another thing to happen - but that's more of a modern action movie thing than anything egregious that this movie committed. If "Last Crusade" didn't have Sean Connery in it I would put "Dial of Destiny" a notch above it - everyone looks at "Last Crusade" with rose tinted glasses so that they overlook some of the jaw-droppingly slapdash, lazy shit that we see in that movie. No idea what happened - maybe Lucas and Spielberg were tired of Indy by then? "Dial of Destiny" has one of the best conceived villains of the series, second only to Belloq in this but none of the other movies really wrote a good villain, relying on damn' good actors to breathe life into them - Mads Mikkelson is really good without trying to steal the movie. So that's what I think. 🙂
Fun fact: although it was actually based on the colors of the German Imperial Navy flag, the Nazi flag had the same colors as (as mentioned in Plato apparently) the type of brickwork done in Atlantis, which the Nazis believed was the prehistoric origin of the Aryan ethnotype. Related fun fact: it was not actually Hitler but Himmler (Hitler’s right-hand man, commander of the SS and head of the Gestapo) who was chasing around the world after mystical artifacts. He was a major funder of the Ahnenerbe (“Ancestral Heritage”) Organization which provided the archaeological teams digging in various sites, trying to uncover the lost history/mythos of the Aryans. They were the ones Indy faced at Tanis.
The prop depiction of the Ark is an excellent interpretation of the very detailed description (actually a set of instructions of what the Israelites were commanded to build) found in Exodus 25:10-22.
When Indy and Sallah are first lifting off the cover off the Ark, over Indy's right/screen left shoulder you can see C-3PO and R2D2 carved in with the Hieroglyphics
27:55 In the 1960's my dad witnessed someone walking into the propeller of an airplane once. It was a flight attendant on a propeller powered airplane. The pilots had forgotten some paperwork and before anyone could stop her she jumped out of the plane and walked straight into the propeller. She was very young, 20 or 21 and extremely pretty. The scene here is much much less bloody than what my dad witnessed.
Fun fact: Indy’s Staff of Ra is only five feet tall (this is a major plot point), yet it’s several inches taller than Indy. Also, the little gold statue at the beginning would have weighed seventy-five pounds. Indiana Jones might be portrayed by Harrison Ford, but according to the movie, he’s actually built like Popeye.
From the perspective of a filmmaker, I would like to present a scene description and seek your insights into what might have occurred behind the scenes. In the particular scene where Indy discovers Marion in a tent, bound and gagged, there is an interesting contrast in her manner and expression. When her face is visible, she appears worried yet composed, whereas when the camera captures the back of her head, it seems as though she is crying. I am curious about the events that transpired during the filming and subsequent editing process. It seems as though something went wrong with the scene.
Harrison Ford suggested he shoot the swordsman because when they were shooting the scene it was over 100 degrees F and Harrison was sick with dysentery
The initial cave scene was a source of amusement for the Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts who were familiar with the game. The mysterious cave and the solitary beam of light were elements that resonated with them, as they resembled something that a Dungeon Master would create. Recognizing it as a trap, they found it reminiscent of the world of Dungeons & Dragons, resulting in laughter and anticipation.
Fun facts...Originally,actor Tom Sellect was suppose to play Indiana Jones. He was doing the TV show Magnum PI and the network wouldn't let him film the movie due to his contract.
The monkey you’re thinking of is named Crystal and her filmography includes George of the Jungle, Night at the Museum, Community, The Big Bang Theory, and more recently, The Fabelmans.
No. Indiana Jones' presence was NOT superfluous (Sorry Big Bang folks). The main treasure, as we discovered was Marion and his relationship (as she demonstrates in the end when they walk off). Without Indy. Marion would have died back in Nepal.
Arguably the greatest action movie of all time for my money. Indiana Jones being superfluous to the story has been discussed elsewhere and it isn't really a plot hole. His presence in the story is important in at least two respects, though: Firstly, the Nazis may have been able to find Marion without having to follow Indiana in which case they would have murdered Marion and taken the headpiece. Secondly, if they had gone to the island and opened the ark without Indy and Marion being there another German crew might have come to the island and retrieved the ark instead of Indy saving himself and Marion by knowing not to look at what comes out of the ark. PS - You are VERY beautiful.
I'm unsure why this is the second time in maybe two days I've heard of this mythical "plot hole." Never heard of it before. Regardless, it's a silly objection on two counts: one, Indy's presence clearly influenced the final location of the Ark in the American warehouse; second, the film was Indy's story, following his perspective for the most part, and the fact he failed his superficial quest (preventing the Nazi's from capturing the Ark) did not prevent him from learning something deeper of the mystical, or the audience from experiencing his adventure with him. The movie set the tone in the beginning: it was never about Indy *getting* the Ark.
It never occurred to me that the slaps that captain Jack Sparrow got could have been inspired by Marion punching Indy, right down to the angle of many of the shots.
Someone must have said this by now, The swastika the 4 armed German symbol designed by Hitler is a copy of a very old Jewish symbol going the opposite direction. This was not an accident.
Oddly enough I was born three months after this movie came out I watched it once when I was a kid I never really understand why people loved it I'm an adult now and can't get enough of Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite
I would think film school curricula would include movies the students are expected to be familiar with. It would be a good way to analyze cinematography, screenwriting, acting, editing, etc. The objection that Indiana Jones had no effect on the story misses the point, IMO. Not every story has to have the protagonist save the day. He went on a quest only to find that God was more powerful than anyone. Is there something wrong with that?
They would’ve found the head piece. They would’ve tracked down Marion and without Indy the Nazi would’ve gotten it first without needing the crusty burnt facsimile.
The Nazi submarine featured in Raiders was borrowed from Das Boot, which was being filmed at the same time. If you've never seen it, Das Boot is absolutely one of the best war films ever made - a must watch
god that film is brilliant, the ending absolutely tore me to bits. Highly recommend Stalingrad 1993, its in the same vein, again brilliant German war movie. I do have to ask, ive only seen the cut on Netflix, the movie version, is it a lesser version of the miniseries version? Would u recommend watching again for the miniseries?
There is an original film, mini series and director's cut. Mini series adds some character interaction and is nearly 300 minutes in total (I think it was 3 episodes). Director's cut is 219 minutes long. I think it's worth to see the series to fully appreciate this piece of cinematography.
The exposition scene at the college with the army intelligence, is still one of the best examples of exposition in a movie. No wasted words, everything you need to know is explained, not to mention the awesome music/theme that plays that sets the tone. So well done.
The one half they had was from the guy's hand. Only one side was burned in, so that's how they got it and why they didn't have the second. Without Indy, everything kind of happens as it did here except, probably, for the ark ending up in a US warehouse. As for the new movie, I really enjoyed it. I love all 5 movies, but if I'm gonna give my personal order of best to least best, it's: Last Crusade Raiders Dial of Destiny Crystal Skull Temple of Doom I hope to see you react to all of them! I'd even be interested in a rewatch of Last Crusade after you've seen the first 2. (Also, Temple of Doom actually takes place a few years before the first movie. Not strictly needed to know but I think it's good to know.)
John Williams is still active scoring at age 91. He even scored the recently released INDIANA JONES 5 (DIAL OF DESTINY). In fact, he made Oscars history earlier this year by being both the oldest ever Oscar nominee (he was nominated for Steven Spielberg's THE FABELMANS (2022) just shy of his 91st birthday) and the only person ever to be nominated in 7 different decades (he has been nominated every decade from the 1960s to the 2020s inclusive).
I didn't know that! 😮 I feel like they should just rename "Best Original Score" to the "John Williams Award," because while there are some absolutely incredible composers, he's the GOAT!
I think people who say it's a "plot hole" that Indy doesn't affect the plot are missing the point. The movie isn't about the effect Indy has on the Ark, it's about the effect the Ark has on Indy.
Also, he absolutely had an effect on the plot. I've gone into this on other reactors' videos, so I don't feel like repeating it all, but to sum it up, Indiana not being there would've resulted in the Americans not knowing where the Ark was taken, and the Führer continually sending soldiers and researchers to the Ark until they figured out how to use it.
It's not even what Plot Hole means; it isn't a gap in the story. Idiots on the Internet throw around the term Plot Hole for anything they don't understand or don't like about a story. Not to mention that Marian would have been killed by the Nazis; that's a pretty damn significant thing Indy affected.
@@AaronLitz OP did say "plot hole" in quotations though, and most of the time I don't see that being used at all (and I don't use it myself when trolling). Most of the time people say something like "Indiana Jones had no effect on the plot". And sure, that's significant for her on a personal level. He also killed and hurt a bunch of people so he was significant for them too, again on a personal level. But looking at the big picture, the biggest thing he affected is where the Ark ended up.
Also, without Indy, the Nazis still have the Ark. One way or another, Hitler still gets his hands on it. Because of Indy and Mirion, it gets into the hands of the U.S. and away from the evil seeking its power.
Fun fact: In the "final boss" fight, Harrison Ford had severe dysentery at the time, so the long and involved fight sequence with the swordsman they had planned got changed to one of the most iconic scenes in cinema.
The original headpiece had all the information to get the correct length of the staff. The bald guy only got half, the front end of the headpiece, burned into the palm of his hand so that's why the Na26is were digging in the wrong place. They didn't have all the information from the headpiece to get the correct height. The guy who could read the writing, where the monkey was poisoned, stopped Indy and Sallah when they were talking about the length of the staff and then turned the headpiece around to read the rest of the writing and there it said to take back one kadam to honor the Hebrew God whose ark this is.
Thank you... I was hoping someone said this. I got stressed out every time she thought the Nazis had the full Talisman and Indy only had half. I wasn't sure how to explain what was really going on. So again, thank you! 😀
Yes, you saved me from having to type that out. I knew someone would explain it. I have a hard time understanding how anyone didn't get this as I understood it when was 11... (without a film school degree I might add). 😉
Guy's been up for two days, worked all through the night, fought snakes and Nazis all day, been punched a hundred times, shot, and thrown under a truck. And he got his jaw broken with a mirror. I think we should give him a break for falling asleep this one time. :) Actually, I like the fact that Marion did. All she said was "We can't catch a break."
Alfred Molina tells a funny story about how the spider scene was shot. He’s having spiders put on him by a spider wrangler. After he finished, Steven Spielberg came over and asked the wrangler, “Why aren’t they moving?” The wrangler explained that all the spiders were male and would need a female with them to compete over. Spielberg said, “Put a female in there,” and the wrangler did so. As Molina put it later, “All hell broke loose!” Spielberg turned to the cameraman and shouted, “Shoot! Shoot!” He told Molina, “Alfred, look scared!” To which Molina responded, “I’m scared! I’m scared!”
The spiders were also Brachypelma hamorii-from the dry forests of Mexico, and very out of place in a Sourh American jungle. (If they wanted to be accurate they should have used Goliath birdeaters, which are actually from South American jungles and are also the largest spiders in the world).
@@bkjeong4302My Dad told me once when he was stationed in Brazil back in the 60s, he was on training maneuvers and had to sleep in a hammock....20-30 feet off the ground so critters wouldn't come out for a snack. He has this fly net over him and in the middle of the night, he wakes up feeling something over his head trying to get through the net. He opens his eyes and sees THE BIGGEST SPIDER he's ever seen with quarter inch fangs! He reacted in the normal fashion: he pulled his gun and fired three rounds as he rolled out of his bed.... forgetting he's over 20ft in the air, and lands on his back knocking the wind out of. The rest of his team woke up to investigate and their guide, a local Indios, is laughing as he's holding up the bird catcher. It's body was as big around as a steering wheel. And since then Dad hated spiders with a passion.
Great story! Thanks for sharing! They used this species because their stripedy legs show up very well on film and contrast with the colours they are wearing. Goliath Bird-Eaters are not nearly so colourful, and wouldn’t ‘pop’ onscreen.
This was Alfred Molina pre pretty much anything. He'd only had a few small roles, and was getting ready to quit acting and go home to England, when he got the call. This was his first credited role.
Tom Selleck was supposed to play Indy, but he couldn't get out of his commitment to Magnum P.I. He later made a movie called High Road to China which Roger Ebert called a "pale echo of Raiders."
No kidding! I think I remember seeing somewhere that Chip and Dale were dressed like Indiana Jones and Magnum P.I., but I never made the connection that it's because Tom Selleck was supposed to play Indy. Thank you for sharing!
The opening is a perfect good news-bad news action sequence. Thanks for the reaction, Jacqui. Nice Die Hard reference BTW; "monkey in the wrench". Not Area 51, it's Warehouse 13. 😆 If Indy had not been in the story, Marion would probably be dead. That's about it.
The thing with 'Indy doesn't change anything' is that it kind of speaks to one of the main themes of Raiders and the series overall. Because the one thing he does really change is that Marion would have died in Nepal if not for him. And ultimately the core of the film and series is realizing that that quest for knowledge or power isn't worth sacrificing love and friendship for. In Raiders, Indy's tested three times: he fails when he doesn't rescue Marion from the camp because it would mean losing his chance for the Ark, and again when his threat to destroy it to save her is exposed as a bluff, but then he *passes* the final test when he gives up his chance to know what's inside the Ark in order to save Marion's life, literally closing his eyes to knowledge because he realizes she's more important. So the only thing that Indy really changes is, ultimately, the only thing that really matters. And that's the film's central message.
It seems to me that the Nazis only found Marian in Nepal because they were following Indy. So, if Indy never went on his quest, Marian would have never been in danger... of course, she would have still been stuck in Nepal.
@@reedcockrell8126 Wrong. Army intelligence had intercepted the message directing Toht (they didn't know exactly who it was) to "acquire headpiece, Staff of Rha". So they knew who had it - Abner Ravenwood, Marion's father and they knew what they were looking for. The idea that the Gestapo couldn't have tracked Marion down in Nepal from that is very unlikely. They were coming, they just used Indy to speed up the process.
I’ve seen this movie arguably a 100 times, and just now realized that the other guide who was with Alfred Molina from the beginning was also the Nazi spy with the eye patch and monkey.
One thing that gives Raiders its unique feel - you can almost seat your watch to it. It is an homage to the old Saturday morning serials (Rocky Jones Space Adventurer, Undersea Kingdom, etc) that Spielberg and Lucas grew up on. Each was a single reel long, shown before a Saturday matinee, and the reel was ten minutes long. If you watch this movie with a stopwatch, there’s a major scene or set piece for each 10-minute section of movie.
38:45 That's actually true of all the IJ movies. For example: You mentioned watching 'Last Crusade'? If the Nazi's found the Grail, they couldn't have taken it out of the cave anyway. Indy isn't the hero of these movies, he's the protagonist. In a lot of ways, the narrator. It said so point blank at 35:23 Indiana Jones is passing through history. He's fighting the bad guys, and he's saving the damsels, but history takes care of itself.
Not true. Indy figured out which cup was the true Grail. He was the only one who could pass the three traps to get to the Grail chamber. He figured out where the full tablet was hidden in the catacombs. He was the one who deduced that the Grail was located in Alexandretta. The Nazis had a whole lot of nothing without Indy. Indy was even more instrumental in _Temple of Doom._ All those children would've remained enslaved without him. The Thugees planned to spread their cult across the globe, and they might have succeeded if Indy hadn't stopped them in India.
One of my favorite movies. I got a movie reaction suggestion for you it's another one of my favorite movies, The Final Countdown (1980) The U.S.S. Nimitz goes back to December 6th, 1941. It's filmed on the Nimitz.
I want to shout out to Marion (and Karen Allen). Hands down the best female character in the whole series. For my money she (both as written and as performed) is one of the best female characters out there. Btw, what were the names on a couple of the buildings at USC SCA? And you hadn't seen Raiders? Tsk Tsk 😂
Except NO ONE wants to watch this story WITHOUT Indiana Jones at the center. THAT'S the flaw in the idea that he's actually irrelevant to the narrative. Only someone whose never gotten a living soul to pay attention to THEIR stories could believe anything as incredible as that. Put another way, who goes to WNBA games? And who goes to see Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, etc., etc., etc. Write the story of professional basketball in this (or any other) country WITHOUT the aforementioned and see how far that gets you. CHRIST, who still needs shit like this explained to them?
I've been rewatching them all for The Dial of Destiny and I can tell you that both this film and The Last Crusade are some of my all time favorite films, especially The Last Crusade. You're going to have a lot of fun with these! 🤗
At 28:31 Indy says "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go". I heard that was an ad lib by Harrison Ford because he forgot the line, but they liked it so much they left it in.
Many stories likely have the same "flaw" of the main character being unnecessary. You could say the same about other characters in movies, such as the villain, or love interest. It is the interaction of those characters which makes the story, and a story worth telling. Thanks for the awesome reaction.
It doesn't bother me in the least, and I don't think it can be considered a flaw. I totally understand the debate, and I think it's something that can be great if it's all in good fun. This movie is a blast no matter what, and nothing changes that 😄 Thank you for watching, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Well in the case of Raiders Indy wasn't unnecessary. He told the US agents that the Ark's flaw is that it kills the people who use it as a weapon. You have to explain why the US government didn't use the Ark against all of the Nazis in WW2. The answer is that the American general's heads would explode!
As I understand it, the whole Indy being unnecessary thing is because it was the Ark that killed the Nazi's when they opened it. That would have happened whether Indy was around or not. So they were going to die either way simply because they opened the Ark. The other argument would be that since they were looking in the wrong place, they would never have found the Ark and they only did get in the film because Indy found it and got spotted. Maybe it would never have been found if Indy hadn't been there and maybe the Nazi's would have continued to tear the site apart until they did find it. We'll never know for sure. I wouldn't call it a flaw because at the start of the film no-one knew that the Ark would do that, it's all hindsight.
I knew a martial arts teacher who had two completely different types of class. He taught people to compete in competitive tournaments, and he also taught self defense classes. In the competition classes he taught you to follow the rules, but in self defense classes he taught you to fight dirty. If you are fighting to defend yourself, you want every advantage. Trying to fight clean will only increase your chances of losing the fight. You fight dirty because you are fighting for your life.
I enjoyed the entire franchise. The Last Crusade is my favorite with Raiders the second. There is something about Harrison Ford and Sean Connery costarring together that is a work of art. They meld well together in the story and the acting is wonderful.
For me, folks who say Indy's presence doesn't matter in this adventure are missing a basic point. The ark is a MacGuffin, he and Marian matter in the story because it's their journey and adventure together. They are changed by the experiences and come out as wiser, possibly better people. That's a successful hero's journey even if the two heroes weren't needed to stop the bad guys. The two heroes took a humble leap of faith and left the bad guys to their fate.
I'm sure someone else said it before, but the nazis followed Indy to Marion's bar in Nepal. Without him they wouldn't have found her, without her no headpiece of the staff of Ra, without the headpiece they wouldn't have found the ark. So the Big Bang Theory theory was false.
I always loved the original Raiders--one of the best films, period. The Temple of doom was entertaining but it seemed so violent and dark compared to Raiders and it had kids in danger and an awful leading lady. I also felt it was xenophobic aganist Indian history and culture. The last crusade was an excellent return to form with Indy's father and a legendary artifact to chase and Nazi villians. The Crystal skull was my least favorite--it was very poor in terms of story, casting,etc. Its only redeeming part was the return of Marion. I have not seen the new film but plan to do so.
Just think tom Selleck was the original choice for indiana jones also Spielberg wanted to do a james bond movie Lucas said he had a better idea base from the serials they watch as kids like the zorro movies from 1940s
The famous scene in which Indy shoots a marauding and flamboyant swordsman was not in the original script. Harrison Ford was supposed to use his whip to get the sword out of his attacker's hands, but the food poisoning he and the rest of the crew had gotten made him too sick to perform the stunt. After several unsuccessful tries, Ford suggested "shooting the sucker." Steven Spielberg immediately took him up on the idea, and the scene was successfully filmed.
If Indy hadn't chased the ark, when the nazis died, more nazis would have come looking to see what happened to them. Then the nazis get the ark back And that he keeps losing right until the end is something that makes the movie more interesting
The GREATEST Movie ever made?? YES!!... Here's why....It has EVERYTHING you go to the Cinema for. Great performances, stirring Musical Score, Flawless direction, exotic locations and the perfect blend of Mystery, comedy , horror, romance, action and adventure. Hasn't been a film that has all of those and done it nearly as well since...(!!! HIDDEN CAMEO ALERT!!! Look for the coroner from JAWS lurking in the background in the last scene in DC)....
Steven Spielberg & George Lucas took a lot of inspiration from b-movies and serials from the 30s and 40s, but another inspiration that isn't mentioned enough is James Bond. That was a big reason why they got Sean Connery to play Indy's dad in Last Crusade. Have you seen any of the Bond movies? Edit: OK, I just saw that you have seen the first 2 Daniel Craig films, but you need to see the classics, particularly the Sean Connery ones.
The Nazis only had the limited information that they had BECAUSE of the scar on Toad's hand. Indy had BOTH sides of the headpiece. Penny's assertion was that the Nazi's would have eventually found the ark, just by sheer dumb luck, but then everyone on the island with the Ark would have died, and the Ark would be stuck on that island.
Indiana Jones made no difference to the plot because he actually failed: he was sent on a mission to prevent the Nazis from getting the Ark, yet they got it. Indeed, he found it for them. It was God, not Indy, that gave it to the Americans, who buried it deep within their bureaucratic archives, not to be seen again for another thousand years.
Actually, they would have had both sides of the headpiece because Indy wouldn't have been there to keep them from taking it from Marion in the first place.
I think that the argument is that they would have eventually have found Marion on their own, killed her, taken the headpiece, and had all of the information needed. It’s possible, but not certain. If Indy had not gone after Marion, would they have found her own as quickly, if at all? Debateable.
Glad you finally caught the film that is the gold standard for the genre, and started the iconic franchise. I hope you review all of the other films (including a rewatch for your thoughts on Last Crusade). I was 10 when this film came out. Talk about influential.... :)
Thank you! I'm so glad I can finally say I've seen it 😄 I had only planned on doing Temple of Doom, since I've seen Last Crusade, but if you guys want a re-watch commentary, I'm always down for some Sean Connery!) And I can well imagine what an effect this movie would have on a 10 year old! 😄
Jacqui, if you're a film school grad, you might know about Peter Lorre, a popular character actor of the 1930s and '40s who specialized in playing creeps, psychos, weasels and general evil dudes. I've always thought the creepy Nazi dude who gets his hand burnt and his face melted at the end of the movie was doing his best Peter Lorre impression.
It was not a plot hole at all really. This was about the adventures of Indiana Jones. It could easily be a flashback to the past; a family member telling what happened to Uncle Indy way back then.
If your parents didn’t let you watch “Temple of Doom”, I can see them not letting you see “Raiders”! Melting faces, mummies with snakes coming out of its mouth, and pretty ghosts turning into the face of death . . . Oh, my! “The Last Crusade” is certainly the tamer of the original 3 movies. While I think “Temple of Doom” is a slight step down from both “Raiders” and “Last Crusade” it is only slightly so. In fact, there is a strong contingent of Indy fans who think “Temple of Doom” is best. It is certainly a darker storyline, which I don’t mind, but it has one major character who I just never could like that takes away from my full enjoyment of the film, and it’s definitely not Short Round. Yes, even Spielberg can make a mistake. Yes, I think “Chrystal Skull” is a further, much more significant, step down from “Temple of Doom”, but it’s not as bad as people make out. I think the first 2/3rds of the movie is pretty entertaining, but it’s just not able to stick the landing. Anyway, great review of an iconic action adventure movie that set the bar for all later movies if the genre! Additionally, as the song goes, “You oughta be in pictures, you’re wonderful to see. You oughta be in pictures, oh, what a hit you would be!!!!”
Thank you for the lovely compliment 😄 I watched Temple of Doom the other day (stay tuned!) and while I definitely don't think it was as strong as Raiders or Last Crusade, I enjoyed it more than I expected to! (I was also admittedly watching mainly for Short Round! ❤️) But also yes, the melting faces surprised me a bit. I didn't expect to see anything quite like that, and I probably wouldn't have handled it well as a child 😅
One thing you might find cool is Steven Soderbergh's edit of Raiders of the Lost Ark. He desaturates it to black and white, and replaces the soundtrack, including dialogue, with atmosphere synth. It's an exercise in drawing attention to Spielberg's masterful use of blocking and framing in Raiders, and it's really effective in showcasing what a uniquely brilliantly directed film it is.
In case it wasn't clear, the German got branded with only one side of the medallion. That's why their staff was too long and they were digging in the wrong place. If Indy hadn't been there, maybe they'd have gotten the medallion from Marion and known the right length for the staff. Or maybe they'd have stumbled onto the Well of Souls just by persistence. In case you've never read any of them, Indy owes much of his existence to H. Rider Haggard, a 19th and early 20th century writer who created Indy's precursor, a Great White Hunter named Allan Quatermain and his adventures beginning with King Solomon's Mines in 1885. His books are kind of amazing and not nearly as racist as we might expect given the material and their setting. Haggard also gave us Ayesha, AKA She Who Must Be Obeyed, as well as many other compelling characters.
With the Big Bang Theory thing, I tend to agree with the common criticism that it's basically a dumb persons version of what smart nerds are. I think, in this movie, we are to assume that the nazis would eventually fix their mistakes and find the ark. And some scientist would study the ark, and figure out that it basically kills everyone around. Then Hitler would have that information and use it accordingly, like send some person on a suicide mission to open it places. So Indy made all the difference in the world, getting it away from the Nazis at the end and getting it secure in America.
The point that the Big Bang Theory makes is that Indy actually failed in his mission. He was sent to keep the Nazis from getting the Ark, and yet they got the Ark. It was the wrath of God, not Indy (who was captured), that killed the Nazis and prevented them from keeping it.
The scene where they Indy encounters the guy with the sword was suppose to be an elaborate sword v whip fight, but it was a really hot day, they had already done several takes and everyone was tired. So i=Indy pulls his gun and shoots. Everyone played along. The sword guy fell down, and even the extras cheered. It worked so much better they kept it.
I'm glad you mention the Big Bang Theory episode about Indy's involvement in the film. Technically, Indy is kind of detrimental to the plot, though he does get the girl at the end. Also, had the Nazis found the Ark without Indy's involvement, it probably would have gone to Berlin and incinerated the actual leaders of the High Command including Adolf himself upon being opened. If anything was left of the Nazis afterwards, though, they would have probably would have realized to shut their eyes when the Ark is opened and wound up using the Ark to decimate the Allies. So, in that way, Indy did contribute to the plot. Plus, he rode off into the sunset with Marion. Win there.
I feel that when they made this movie it was like they caught lightning in a bottle and the feel of this movie has never been able to be duplicated in any of the sequels. Everything in this movie was just perfect for an adventure entertainment movie: the use of lighting and shadows (as you have noticed), the pacing, the dialogue, all the iconic elements, the basis for the story etc. There are other movies I feel the same way about that I thought should have been left as a stand-alone in my opinion such as The Matrix and Highlander to name a few.
In The Last Crusade, the Arc is mentioned and is in a picture and Indiana's father asks Indiana if he is sure it is the arc. Indiana replies, "Pretty Sure." He is sure because he went through this movie. haha.
This movie is one of the Best "ODTAA" movies ever- "one darn thing after another". Some big problem happens, gets resolved, the audience gets time for ONE deep breath, and Something Else happens...
Honestly, my favorite gag in the film is the buildup & payoff with the coat hanger. The dude pulled that scene off like a master.
His scenes are great, and he has one of the best face-melts. He elevates a mid-level hench to iconic status.
...and somehow people hated when a similar thing happened in The Last Jedi. This just proves people were hating this movie for sport.
that guy has been in a LOT and i mean a LOT of tv series, films, his scream is epic
@@paddyoddy The Last Jedi is trash regardless of a borrowed gag
That’s a gag that got cut out of Spielberg’s previous film, 1941, in which it was performed by Christopher Lee. Though it was deleted from the final film, Spielberg swore he would put it in every subsequent movie he made until it got a laugh. Fortunately, his next movie was RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.
Random casting note - the guy who played the captain of the freighter went on to play Kingsley Shacklebolt in the Harry Potter films. Damn' fine actor who's been in loads of stuff over the years. 😃
I reckon I'm going to be in the minority, but I enjoyed the hell out of "Dial of Destiny" and don't care what anyone else thinks. There was one chase too many for me - one of them seemed like it was there because someone decided they needed another thing to happen - but that's more of a modern action movie thing than anything egregious that this movie committed. If "Last Crusade" didn't have Sean Connery in it I would put "Dial of Destiny" a notch above it - everyone looks at "Last Crusade" with rose tinted glasses so that they overlook some of the jaw-droppingly slapdash, lazy shit that we see in that movie. No idea what happened - maybe Lucas and Spielberg were tired of Indy by then? "Dial of Destiny" has one of the best conceived villains of the series, second only to Belloq in this but none of the other movies really wrote a good villain, relying on damn' good actors to breathe life into them - Mads Mikkelson is really good without trying to steal the movie. So that's what I think. 🙂
Fun fact: although it was actually based on the colors of the German Imperial Navy flag, the Nazi flag had the same colors as (as mentioned in Plato apparently) the type of brickwork done in Atlantis, which the Nazis believed was the prehistoric origin of the Aryan ethnotype.
Related fun fact: it was not actually Hitler but Himmler (Hitler’s right-hand man, commander of the SS and head of the Gestapo) who was chasing around the world after mystical artifacts. He was a major funder of the Ahnenerbe (“Ancestral Heritage”) Organization which provided the archaeological teams digging in various sites, trying to uncover the lost history/mythos of the Aryans. They were the ones Indy faced at Tanis.
The prop depiction of the Ark is an excellent interpretation of the very detailed description (actually a set of instructions of what the Israelites were commanded to build) found in Exodus 25:10-22.
Maureen McCormick, from the original Brady Bunch series, was called in to audition for the part of Marion. She was cracked out and blew it.
When Indy and Sallah are first lifting off the cover off the Ark, over Indy's right/screen left shoulder you can see C-3PO and R2D2 carved in with the Hieroglyphics
If you thought this movie was violent just wait until you watch Temple of Doom
27:55 In the 1960's my dad witnessed someone walking into the propeller of an airplane once. It was a flight attendant on a propeller powered airplane. The pilots had forgotten some paperwork and before anyone could stop her she jumped out of the plane and walked straight into the propeller. She was very young, 20 or 21 and extremely pretty.
The scene here is much much less bloody than what my dad witnessed.
This was Speilberg's homage to the old "Cliff Hanger" Serials they played before the Main Movies.
The serials were played before the Westerns on Saturday afternoon. The News of the World was played in the evening with the main movie.
Fun fact: Indy’s Staff of Ra is only five feet tall (this is a major plot point), yet it’s several inches taller than Indy. Also, the little gold statue at the beginning would have weighed seventy-five pounds. Indiana Jones might be portrayed by Harrison Ford, but according to the movie, he’s actually built like Popeye.
From the perspective of a filmmaker, I would like to present a scene description and seek your insights into what might have occurred behind the scenes.
In the particular scene where Indy discovers Marion in a tent, bound and gagged, there is an interesting contrast in her manner and expression. When her face is visible, she appears worried yet composed, whereas when the camera captures the back of her head, it seems as though she is crying. I am curious about the events that transpired during the filming and subsequent editing process.
It seems as though something went wrong with the scene.
Harrison Ford suggested he shoot the swordsman because when they were shooting the scene it was over 100 degrees F and Harrison was sick with dysentery
Raiders is a masterpiece in film making. I think it is Spielberg's best film by far.
I love how the moment when the lid slams back down on the Ark after torching all those Nazis feels like a full-on mic drop from God ...
The initial cave scene was a source of amusement for the Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts who were familiar with the game. The mysterious cave and the solitary beam of light were elements that resonated with them, as they resembled something that a Dungeon Master would create. Recognizing it as a trap, they found it reminiscent of the world of Dungeons & Dragons, resulting in laughter and anticipation.
I still have my whip from when this film came out.
With you being in cinema, I was wondering if you would mention the Wilhelm scream.
Fun facts...Originally,actor Tom Sellect was suppose to play Indiana Jones. He was doing the TV show Magnum PI and the network wouldn't let him film the movie due to his contract.
The monkey you’re thinking of is named Crystal and her filmography includes George of the Jungle, Night at the Museum, Community, The Big Bang Theory, and more recently, The Fabelmans.
No. Indiana Jones' presence was NOT superfluous (Sorry Big Bang folks). The main treasure, as we discovered was Marion and his relationship (as she demonstrates in the end when they walk off).
Without Indy. Marion would have died back in Nepal.
Arguably the greatest action movie of all time for my money. Indiana Jones being superfluous to the story has been discussed elsewhere and it isn't really a plot hole. His presence in the story is important in at least two respects, though: Firstly, the Nazis may have been able to find Marion without having to follow Indiana in which case they would have murdered Marion and taken the headpiece. Secondly, if they had gone to the island and opened the ark without Indy and Marion being there another German crew might have come to the island and retrieved the ark instead of Indy saving himself and Marion by knowing not to look at what comes out of the ark. PS - You are VERY beautiful.
I'm unsure why this is the second time in maybe two days I've heard of this mythical "plot hole." Never heard of it before. Regardless, it's a silly objection on two counts: one, Indy's presence clearly influenced the final location of the Ark in the American warehouse; second, the film was Indy's story, following his perspective for the most part, and the fact he failed his superficial quest (preventing the Nazi's from capturing the Ark) did not prevent him from learning something deeper of the mystical, or the audience from experiencing his adventure with him. The movie set the tone in the beginning: it was never about Indy *getting* the Ark.
I can’t believe she missed Oliver Platt!
at the end, that's warehouse 13 😆
"...the ark is somewhere very safe."
23:13 Moses was a very upper class person.
It never occurred to me that the slaps that captain Jack Sparrow got could have been inspired by Marion punching Indy, right down to the angle of many of the shots.
Someone must have said this by now, The swastika the 4 armed German symbol designed by Hitler is a copy of a very old Jewish symbol going the opposite direction. This was not an accident.
Oddly enough I was born three months after this movie came out I watched it once when I was a kid I never really understand why people loved it I'm an adult now and can't get enough of Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite
I would think film school curricula would include movies the students are expected to be familiar with. It would be a good way to analyze cinematography, screenwriting, acting, editing, etc.
The objection that Indiana Jones had no effect on the story misses the point, IMO. Not every story has to have the protagonist save the day. He went on a quest only to find that God was more powerful than anyone. Is there something wrong with that?
I wish I had no memory of Crystal Skull
They would’ve found the head piece. They would’ve tracked down Marion and without Indy the Nazi would’ve gotten it first without needing the crusty burnt facsimile.
Hitting Harrison Ford in his wound in the 1930's is definitely a dick move. Doing it to him in a future cyberpunk setting is a Philip K. Dick move.
That is a fact.
I see what you did there.
Less problematic than the original joke, kudos
Well played
Now _that_ is an appropriate dick joke.
The Nazi submarine featured in Raiders was borrowed from Das Boot, which was being filmed at the same time. If you've never seen it, Das Boot is absolutely one of the best war films ever made - a must watch
Das Boot is an epic fim/series. It should get much more appreciation and recognition.
god that film is brilliant, the ending absolutely tore me to bits. Highly recommend Stalingrad 1993, its in the same vein, again brilliant German war movie. I do have to ask, ive only seen the cut on Netflix, the movie version, is it a lesser version of the miniseries version? Would u recommend watching again for the miniseries?
There is an original film, mini series and director's cut. Mini series adds some character interaction and is nearly 300 minutes in total (I think it was 3 episodes). Director's cut is 219 minutes long. I think it's worth to see the series to fully appreciate this piece of cinematography.
@@mrshogun1689 I've only ever seen the series when it first came out. My whole family were engrossed by it.
The exposition scene at the college with the army intelligence, is still one of the best examples of exposition in a movie. No wasted words, everything you need to know is explained, not to mention the awesome music/theme that plays that sets the tone. So well done.
Agreed!
@@movienightwithjacqui Poltergeist 1 - 3 are a must watch too...
Indy is ably assisted through the scene by Agent Jek Porkins!
@@daddynitro199 Also known as Munsen, Dr Zarkhov's assistant in "Flash Gordon" :)
The one half they had was from the guy's hand. Only one side was burned in, so that's how they got it and why they didn't have the second. Without Indy, everything kind of happens as it did here except, probably, for the ark ending up in a US warehouse.
As for the new movie, I really enjoyed it. I love all 5 movies, but if I'm gonna give my personal order of best to least best, it's:
Last Crusade
Raiders
Dial of Destiny
Crystal Skull
Temple of Doom
I hope to see you react to all of them! I'd even be interested in a rewatch of Last Crusade after you've seen the first 2. (Also, Temple of Doom actually takes place a few years before the first movie. Not strictly needed to know but I think it's good to know.)
John Williams is still active scoring at age 91. He even scored the recently released INDIANA JONES 5 (DIAL OF DESTINY). In fact, he made Oscars history earlier this year by being both the oldest ever Oscar nominee (he was nominated for Steven Spielberg's THE FABELMANS (2022) just shy of his 91st birthday) and the only person ever to be nominated in 7 different decades (he has been nominated every decade from the 1960s to the 2020s inclusive).
I didn't know that! 😮 I feel like they should just rename "Best Original Score" to the "John Williams Award," because while there are some absolutely incredible composers, he's the GOAT!
I feel like he and Horner will have some type of lifetime achievement award for the new people who do scores.
@@Deepthoughtsabound Yes! I'd definitely include Hans Zimmer in the pantheon, as well. The trifecta of iconic film composers!
@@movienightwithjacqui actually despite an incredible nomination tally, John Williams only won 5 Oscars (out of 53 nominations).
I heard that John Williams is retiring from scoring after he completed the score for Harrison's last act as Indiana Jones.
I think people who say it's a "plot hole" that Indy doesn't affect the plot are missing the point. The movie isn't about the effect Indy has on the Ark, it's about the effect the Ark has on Indy.
It's a fun one to troll fan-boys with though.
Also, he absolutely had an effect on the plot. I've gone into this on other reactors' videos, so I don't feel like repeating it all, but to sum it up, Indiana not being there would've resulted in the Americans not knowing where the Ark was taken, and the Führer continually sending soldiers and researchers to the Ark until they figured out how to use it.
It's not even what Plot Hole means; it isn't a gap in the story. Idiots on the Internet throw around the term Plot Hole for anything they don't understand or don't like about a story. Not to mention that Marian would have been killed by the Nazis; that's a pretty damn significant thing Indy affected.
@@AaronLitz OP did say "plot hole" in quotations though, and most of the time I don't see that being used at all (and I don't use it myself when trolling). Most of the time people say something like "Indiana Jones had no effect on the plot". And sure, that's significant for her on a personal level. He also killed and hurt a bunch of people so he was significant for them too, again on a personal level. But looking at the big picture, the biggest thing he affected is where the Ark ended up.
Also, without Indy, the Nazis still have the Ark. One way or another, Hitler still gets his hands on it. Because of Indy and Mirion, it gets into the hands of the U.S. and away from the evil seeking its power.
Fun fact: In the "final boss" fight, Harrison Ford had severe dysentery at the time, so the long and involved fight sequence with the swordsman they had planned got changed to one of the most iconic scenes in cinema.
Gotta love when "accidents" become iconic 😄 What an incredible moment!
Actually, he had diarehha, it I spelled it right.
Diarrhea.
it's probably the most American scene in any movie.
@@melanieparker Diarrhea. Or diarrhoea if you write British English, or even diarrhœa if you prefer archaic British English spelling. :)
The original headpiece had all the information to get the correct length of the staff. The bald guy only got half, the front end of the headpiece, burned into the palm of his hand so that's why the Na26is were digging in the wrong place. They didn't have all the information from the headpiece to get the correct height.
The guy who could read the writing, where the monkey was poisoned, stopped Indy and Sallah when they were talking about the length of the staff and then turned the headpiece around to read the rest of the writing and there it said to take back one kadam to honor the Hebrew God whose ark this is.
Thank you... I was hoping someone said this. I got stressed out every time she thought the Nazis had the full Talisman and Indy only had half. I wasn't sure how to explain what was really going on. So again, thank you! 😀
Yes, you saved me from having to type that out. I knew someone would explain it. I have a hard time understanding how anyone didn't get this as I understood it when was 11... (without a film school degree I might add). 😉
Guy's been up for two days, worked all through the night, fought snakes and Nazis all day, been punched a hundred times, shot, and thrown under a truck.
And he got his jaw broken with a mirror.
I think we should give him a break for falling asleep this one time. :)
Actually, I like the fact that Marion did.
All she said was "We can't catch a break."
Alfred Molina tells a funny story about how the spider scene was shot. He’s having spiders put on him by a spider wrangler. After he finished, Steven Spielberg came over and asked the wrangler, “Why aren’t they moving?” The wrangler explained that all the spiders were male and would need a female with them to compete over. Spielberg said, “Put a female in there,” and the wrangler did so. As Molina put it later, “All hell broke loose!” Spielberg turned to the cameraman and shouted, “Shoot! Shoot!” He told Molina, “Alfred, look scared!” To which Molina responded, “I’m scared! I’m scared!”
The spiders were also Brachypelma hamorii-from the dry forests of Mexico, and very out of place in a Sourh American jungle. (If they wanted to be accurate they should have used Goliath birdeaters, which are actually from South American jungles and are also the largest spiders in the world).
@@bkjeong4302My Dad told me once when he was stationed in Brazil back in the 60s, he was on training maneuvers and had to sleep in a hammock....20-30 feet off the ground so critters wouldn't come out for a snack. He has this fly net over him and in the middle of the night, he wakes up feeling something over his head trying to get through the net. He opens his eyes and sees THE BIGGEST SPIDER he's ever seen with quarter inch fangs! He reacted in the normal fashion: he pulled his gun and fired three rounds as he rolled out of his bed.... forgetting he's over 20ft in the air, and lands on his back knocking the wind out of. The rest of his team woke up to investigate and their guide, a local Indios, is laughing as he's holding up the bird catcher. It's body was as big around as a steering wheel. And since then Dad hated spiders with a passion.
Man, that is a F******** BADASS STORY!!!😂😂😂😂😂
@@bkjeong4302 Oh dear, really???!!!😔😔😔😔.....ohhh I'll have to try and forget that whenever I watch that scene - DON'T like inauthenticity 😠😠😠
Great story! Thanks for sharing!
They used this species because their stripedy legs show up very well on film and contrast with the colours they are wearing. Goliath Bird-Eaters are not nearly so colourful, and wouldn’t ‘pop’ onscreen.
This was Alfred Molina pre pretty much anything. He'd only had a few small roles, and was getting ready to quit acting and go home to England, when he got the call. This was his first credited role.
The ending scene became the inspiration for the TV show "Warehouse 13" 😯
😮
I always wondered what warehouse number it would be
"Is this area 51?" Nope, Warehouse 13. Look it up. Great series.
Warehouse 13 had a great cast. I miss Claudia.
Nope. It's an Amazon warehouse.
Don't forget "The Librarian" they have a similar warehouse in that all the artifacts are there. 1 of them is the ark from Raiders
Tom Selleck was supposed to play Indy, but he couldn't get out of his commitment to Magnum P.I. He later made a movie called High Road to China which Roger Ebert called a "pale echo of Raiders."
No kidding! I think I remember seeing somewhere that Chip and Dale were dressed like Indiana Jones and Magnum P.I., but I never made the connection that it's because Tom Selleck was supposed to play Indy. Thank you for sharing!
I liked High Road to China. But then, I'll watch most anything with Bess Armstrong in it.
Roger Ebert was WRONG. High Road to China was terrific.
The opening is a perfect good news-bad news action sequence. Thanks for the reaction, Jacqui.
Nice Die Hard reference BTW; "monkey in the wrench". Not Area 51, it's Warehouse 13. 😆
If Indy had not been in the story, Marion would probably be dead. That's about it.
The thing with 'Indy doesn't change anything' is that it kind of speaks to one of the main themes of Raiders and the series overall. Because the one thing he does really change is that Marion would have died in Nepal if not for him. And ultimately the core of the film and series is realizing that that quest for knowledge or power isn't worth sacrificing love and friendship for. In Raiders, Indy's tested three times: he fails when he doesn't rescue Marion from the camp because it would mean losing his chance for the Ark, and again when his threat to destroy it to save her is exposed as a bluff, but then he *passes* the final test when he gives up his chance to know what's inside the Ark in order to save Marion's life, literally closing his eyes to knowledge because he realizes she's more important. So the only thing that Indy really changes is, ultimately, the only thing that really matters. And that's the film's central message.
It's a myth
It's kind of nonsense though. I the nazis follow him to Marion, they didn't know where she was, and she had the staff piece.
A bluff made standing on a bluff 😁
It seems to me that the Nazis only found Marian in Nepal because they were following Indy. So, if Indy never went on his quest, Marian would have never been in danger... of course, she would have still been stuck in Nepal.
@@reedcockrell8126
Wrong.
Army intelligence had intercepted the message directing Toht (they didn't know exactly who it was) to "acquire headpiece, Staff of Rha".
So they knew who had it - Abner Ravenwood, Marion's father and they knew what they were looking for.
The idea that the Gestapo couldn't have tracked Marion down in Nepal from that is very unlikely.
They were coming, they just used Indy to speed up the process.
I’ve seen this movie arguably a 100 times, and just now realized that the other guide who was with Alfred Molina from the beginning was also the Nazi spy with the eye patch and monkey.
One thing that gives Raiders its unique feel - you can almost seat your watch to it.
It is an homage to the old Saturday morning serials (Rocky Jones Space Adventurer, Undersea Kingdom, etc) that Spielberg and Lucas grew up on. Each was a single reel long, shown before a Saturday matinee, and the reel was ten minutes long.
If you watch this movie with a stopwatch, there’s a major scene or set piece for each 10-minute section of movie.
38:45 That's actually true of all the IJ movies. For example: You mentioned watching 'Last Crusade'? If the Nazi's found the Grail, they couldn't have taken it out of the cave anyway.
Indy isn't the hero of these movies, he's the protagonist. In a lot of ways, the narrator. It said so point blank at 35:23 Indiana Jones is passing through history. He's fighting the bad guys, and he's saving the damsels, but history takes care of itself.
Not true. Indy figured out which cup was the true Grail. He was the only one who could pass the three traps to get to the Grail chamber. He figured out where the full tablet was hidden in the catacombs. He was the one who deduced that the Grail was located in Alexandretta. The Nazis had a whole lot of nothing without Indy.
Indy was even more instrumental in _Temple of Doom._ All those children would've remained enslaved without him. The Thugees planned to spread their cult across the globe, and they might have succeeded if Indy hadn't stopped them in India.
One of my favorite movies. I got a movie reaction suggestion for you it's another one of my favorite movies, The Final Countdown (1980) The U.S.S. Nimitz goes back to December 6th, 1941. It's filmed on the Nimitz.
I want to shout out to Marion (and Karen Allen). Hands down the best female character in the whole series. For my money she (both as written and as performed) is one of the best female characters out there.
Btw, what were the names on a couple of the buildings at USC SCA? And you hadn't seen Raiders?
Tsk Tsk 😂
I can see you only watched Last Crusade cause you dressed like Elsa Schneider lol
Haha thank you! It was the best I could do, so as long as I'm in the "Indiana Jones" ballpark, I'm happy 😄
Except NO ONE wants to watch this story WITHOUT Indiana Jones at the center. THAT'S the flaw in the idea that he's actually irrelevant to the narrative. Only someone whose never gotten a living soul to pay attention to THEIR stories could believe anything as incredible as that. Put another way, who goes to WNBA games? And who goes to see Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, etc., etc., etc. Write the story of professional basketball in this (or any other) country WITHOUT the aforementioned and see how far that gets you. CHRIST, who still needs shit like this explained to them?
I've been rewatching them all for The Dial of Destiny and I can tell you that both this film and The Last Crusade are some of my all time favorite films, especially The Last Crusade. You're going to have a lot of fun with these! 🤗
At 28:31 Indy says "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go". I heard that was an ad lib by Harrison Ford because he forgot the line, but they liked it so much they left it in.
Many stories likely have the same "flaw" of the main character being unnecessary. You could say the same about other characters in movies, such as the villain, or love interest. It is the interaction of those characters which makes the story, and a story worth telling.
Thanks for the awesome reaction.
It doesn't bother me in the least, and I don't think it can be considered a flaw. I totally understand the debate, and I think it's something that can be great if it's all in good fun. This movie is a blast no matter what, and nothing changes that 😄 Thank you for watching, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Well in the case of Raiders Indy wasn't unnecessary. He told the US agents that the Ark's flaw is that it kills the people who use it as a weapon. You have to explain why the US government didn't use the Ark against all of the Nazis in WW2. The answer is that the American general's heads would explode!
Much like a lot of the movies being made today are unnecessary in general...haha
Thinking about it more, without Indie then Marion might have been tortured for the medallion and then killed.
As I understand it, the whole Indy being unnecessary thing is because it was the Ark that killed the Nazi's when they opened it. That would have happened whether Indy was around or not. So they were going to die either way simply because they opened the Ark.
The other argument would be that since they were looking in the wrong place, they would never have found the Ark and they only did get in the film because Indy found it and got spotted. Maybe it would never have been found if Indy hadn't been there and maybe the Nazi's would have continued to tear the site apart until they did find it. We'll never know for sure.
I wouldn't call it a flaw because at the start of the film no-one knew that the Ark would do that, it's all hindsight.
If Indy hadn't been in Nepal, the Nazis would have gotten the medallion right away and been able to read both sides from the start.
I knew a martial arts teacher who had two completely different types of class. He taught people to compete in competitive tournaments, and he also taught self defense classes. In the competition classes he taught you to follow the rules, but in self defense classes he taught you to fight dirty.
If you are fighting to defend yourself, you want every advantage. Trying to fight clean will only increase your chances of losing the fight.
You fight dirty because you are fighting for your life.
Hmm. Wise
If you have found yourself in a fair fight; your tactics suck.
@@jerryfick613 or you are in a tournament i guess 😂
The actor playing the villain Beloc played the priest in the Simon Pegg movie “Hot Fuzz”.
I enjoyed the entire franchise.
The Last Crusade is my favorite with Raiders the second.
There is something about Harrison Ford and Sean Connery costarring together that is a work of art.
They meld well together in the story and the acting is wonderful.
38:14 I believe it’s Warehouse 13 😂. Love that show!
The Nazis needed to follow Indy to find Marion. So once again, Big Bang Theory is wrong... not the theory, the show 😂
"Jesus!" as they are lifting The Ark.
Actually, more like Moses.
For me, folks who say Indy's presence doesn't matter in this adventure are missing a basic point. The ark is a MacGuffin, he and Marian matter in the story because it's their journey and adventure together. They are changed by the experiences and come out as wiser, possibly better people. That's a successful hero's journey even if the two heroes weren't needed to stop the bad guys. The two heroes took a humble leap of faith and left the bad guys to their fate.
I'm sure someone else said it before, but the nazis followed Indy to Marion's bar in Nepal. Without him they wouldn't have found her, without her no headpiece of the staff of Ra, without the headpiece they wouldn't have found the ark. So the Big Bang Theory theory was false.
I always loved the original Raiders--one of the best films, period. The Temple of doom was entertaining but it seemed so violent and dark compared to Raiders and it had kids in danger and an awful leading lady. I also felt it was xenophobic aganist Indian history and culture. The last crusade was an excellent return to form with Indy's father and a legendary artifact to chase and Nazi villians. The Crystal skull was my least favorite--it was very poor in terms of story, casting,etc. Its only redeeming part was the return of Marion. I have not seen the new film but plan to do so.
Indiana Jones is one of my favorite franchise. I am so glad you discover this movie Jacqui and I’m so exited to see your next réactions 🤠
Just think tom Selleck was the original choice for indiana jones also Spielberg wanted to do a james bond movie Lucas said he had a better idea base from the serials they watch as kids like the zorro movies from 1940s
The famous scene in which Indy shoots a marauding and flamboyant swordsman was not in the original script. Harrison Ford was supposed to use his whip to get the sword out of his attacker's hands, but the food poisoning he and the rest of the crew had gotten made him too sick to perform the stunt. After several unsuccessful tries, Ford suggested "shooting the sucker." Steven Spielberg immediately took him up on the idea, and the scene was successfully filmed.
That's fantastic! I love when accidents become iconic 😄
Specifically it was dysentery, and it was also why he was so sweaty, he was spiking a fever at the time.
Before you feel bad about the monkey, remember it was a Nazi monkey.
But I love this movie. I watched it over and over on video as a kid.
18:40
No that's the side they have.
That's why they only have one side because of his burn marks.
Saw the last one last night. Nice send off to the franchise.
If Indy hadn't chased the ark, when the nazis died, more nazis would have come looking to see what happened to them. Then the nazis get the ark back
And that he keeps losing right until the end is something that makes the movie more interesting
The GREATEST Movie ever made?? YES!!... Here's why....It has EVERYTHING you go to the Cinema for. Great performances, stirring Musical Score, Flawless direction, exotic locations and the perfect blend of Mystery, comedy , horror, romance, action and adventure. Hasn't been a film that has all of those and done it nearly as well since...(!!! HIDDEN CAMEO ALERT!!! Look for the coroner from JAWS lurking in the background in the last scene in DC)....
Steven Spielberg & George Lucas took a lot of inspiration from b-movies and serials from the 30s and 40s, but another inspiration that isn't mentioned enough is James Bond. That was a big reason why they got Sean Connery to play Indy's dad in Last Crusade. Have you seen any of the Bond movies?
Edit: OK, I just saw that you have seen the first 2 Daniel Craig films, but you need to see the classics, particularly the Sean Connery ones.
Nobody seems to notice the eyepatch guy and the guy that was whipped in the beginning are the same actor
I thought Dial Of Destiny was a great conclusion to the saga! 👏🏼
Raiders is better
Did you know... The freighter captain, Katanga, would go on to play Kingsley SHacklebolt in the HP films
The Nazis only had the limited information that they had BECAUSE of the scar on Toad's hand.
Indy had BOTH sides of the headpiece.
Penny's assertion was that the Nazi's would have eventually found the ark, just by sheer dumb luck, but then everyone on the island with the Ark would have died, and the Ark would be stuck on that island.
Indiana Jones made no difference to the plot because he actually failed: he was sent on a mission to prevent the Nazis from getting the Ark, yet they got it. Indeed, he found it for them. It was God, not Indy, that gave it to the Americans, who buried it deep within their bureaucratic archives, not to be seen again for another thousand years.
Actually, they would have had both sides of the headpiece because Indy wouldn't have been there to keep them from taking it from Marion in the first place.
I think that the argument is that they would have eventually have found Marion on their own, killed her, taken the headpiece, and had all of the information needed. It’s possible, but not certain. If Indy had not gone after Marion, would they have found her own as quickly, if at all? Debateable.
*Toht*
@@JedHead77 I had a hunch I was wrong since I was going off what I heard, having never seen it written.
Thanks,.
Glad you finally caught the film that is the gold standard for the genre, and started the iconic franchise.
I hope you review all of the other films (including a rewatch for your thoughts on Last Crusade).
I was 10 when this film came out. Talk about influential.... :)
Thank you! I'm so glad I can finally say I've seen it 😄 I had only planned on doing Temple of Doom, since I've seen Last Crusade, but if you guys want a re-watch commentary, I'm always down for some Sean Connery!)
And I can well imagine what an effect this movie would have on a 10 year old! 😄
Jacqui, if you're a film school grad, you might know about Peter Lorre, a popular character actor of the 1930s and '40s who specialized in playing creeps, psychos, weasels and general evil dudes. I've always thought the creepy Nazi dude who gets his hand burnt and his face melted at the end of the movie was doing his best Peter Lorre impression.
He also was in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, where he played a cowardly valet/grad student
9:51 - 9:52 I love Indy looking at Sallah with that "what are you, fuckin' kidding me?" look after he tells Indy to go first. 😂😂
It was not a plot hole at all really. This was about the adventures of Indiana Jones. It could easily be a flashback to the past; a family member telling what happened to Uncle Indy way back then.
If your parents didn’t let you watch “Temple of Doom”, I can see them not letting you see “Raiders”! Melting faces, mummies with snakes coming out of its mouth, and pretty ghosts turning into the face of death . . . Oh, my! “The Last Crusade” is certainly the tamer of the original 3 movies.
While I think “Temple of Doom” is a slight step down from both “Raiders” and “Last Crusade” it is only slightly so. In fact, there is a strong contingent of Indy fans who think “Temple of Doom” is best. It is certainly a darker storyline, which I don’t mind, but it has one major character who I just never could like that takes away from my full enjoyment of the film, and it’s definitely not Short Round. Yes, even Spielberg can make a mistake.
Yes, I think “Chrystal Skull” is a further, much more significant, step down from “Temple of Doom”, but it’s not as bad as people make out. I think the first 2/3rds of the movie is pretty entertaining, but it’s just not able to stick the landing.
Anyway, great review of an iconic action adventure movie that set the bar for all later movies if the genre! Additionally, as the song goes, “You oughta be in pictures, you’re wonderful to see. You oughta be in pictures, oh, what a hit you would be!!!!”
Thank you for the lovely compliment 😄 I watched Temple of Doom the other day (stay tuned!) and while I definitely don't think it was as strong as Raiders or Last Crusade, I enjoyed it more than I expected to! (I was also admittedly watching mainly for Short Round! ❤️) But also yes, the melting faces surprised me a bit. I didn't expect to see anything quite like that, and I probably wouldn't have handled it well as a child 😅
Oh sure, it's a classic. But it really hasn't been watched until Jacqui watches it....
Aw thank you! I am honored beyond words 😄
One thing you might find cool is Steven Soderbergh's edit of Raiders of the Lost Ark. He desaturates it to black and white, and replaces the soundtrack, including dialogue, with atmosphere synth. It's an exercise in drawing attention to Spielberg's masterful use of blocking and framing in Raiders, and it's really effective in showcasing what a uniquely brilliantly directed film it is.
Just watch the first three and you have them. The other ones are crap.
In case it wasn't clear, the German got branded with only one side of the medallion. That's why their staff was too long and they were digging in the wrong place. If Indy hadn't been there, maybe they'd have gotten the medallion from Marion and known the right length for the staff. Or maybe they'd have stumbled onto the Well of Souls just by persistence.
In case you've never read any of them, Indy owes much of his existence to H. Rider Haggard, a 19th and early 20th century writer who created Indy's precursor, a Great White Hunter named Allan Quatermain and his adventures beginning with King Solomon's Mines in 1885. His books are kind of amazing and not nearly as racist as we might expect given the material and their setting. Haggard also gave us Ayesha, AKA She Who Must Be Obeyed, as well as many other compelling characters.
With the Big Bang Theory thing, I tend to agree with the common criticism that it's basically a dumb persons version of what smart nerds are. I think, in this movie, we are to assume that the nazis would eventually fix their mistakes and find the ark. And some scientist would study the ark, and figure out that it basically kills everyone around. Then Hitler would have that information and use it accordingly, like send some person on a suicide mission to open it places. So Indy made all the difference in the world, getting it away from the Nazis at the end and getting it secure in America.
The point that the Big Bang Theory makes is that Indy actually failed in his mission. He was sent to keep the Nazis from getting the Ark, and yet they got the Ark. It was the wrath of God, not Indy (who was captured), that killed the Nazis and prevented them from keeping it.
The scene where they Indy encounters the guy with the sword was suppose to be an elaborate sword v whip fight, but it was a really hot day, they had already done several takes and everyone was tired. So i=Indy pulls his gun and shoots. Everyone played along. The sword guy fell down, and even the extras cheered.
It worked so much better they kept it.
I'm glad you mention the Big Bang Theory episode about Indy's involvement in the film. Technically, Indy is kind of detrimental to the plot, though he does get the girl at the end. Also, had the Nazis found the Ark without Indy's involvement, it probably would have gone to Berlin and incinerated the actual leaders of the High Command including Adolf himself upon being opened. If anything was left of the Nazis afterwards, though, they would have probably would have realized to shut their eyes when the Ark is opened and wound up using the Ark to decimate the Allies. So, in that way, Indy did contribute to the plot. Plus, he rode off into the sunset with Marion. Win there.
I feel that when they made this movie it was like they caught lightning in a bottle and the feel of this movie has never been able to be duplicated in any of the sequels. Everything in this movie was just perfect for an adventure entertainment movie: the use of lighting and shadows (as you have noticed), the pacing, the dialogue, all the iconic elements, the basis for the story etc.
There are other movies I feel the same way about that I thought should have been left as a stand-alone in my opinion such as The Matrix and Highlander to name a few.
I like the references to Casablanca in this movie.
Without Indy, Marion would have been tortured and killed, so that's kind of important (especially to Marion). Thanks for a great reaction!
Warhouse 13 at the end...
You love John Williams too? ❤❤❤
In The Last Crusade, the Arc is mentioned and is in a picture and Indiana's father asks Indiana if he is sure it is the arc. Indiana replies, "Pretty Sure." He is sure because he went through this movie. haha.
This movie is one of the Best "ODTAA" movies ever- "one darn thing after another". Some big problem happens, gets resolved, the audience gets time for ONE deep breath, and Something Else happens...