Rank The Indy Movies

[Doomtrooper]

I find time has definitely been kind to Crystal Skull. What a difference after the hype died down.

 

[Doomtrooper]

I'll try to see DOD again sometime this week, look forward to seeing how it holds up and where it'll remain in my ranking. It could go up or down.

 

[DarthMickeyMoose]

Raiders will remain-#1
Temple of Doom
Last Crusade
Crystal Skull (now looks better after DOD)
.
.

.







DOD

 

[Doomtrooper]

I look forward to seeing how DOD holds up to a rewatch.

 

[Kooshmeister]

Dial of Destiny was okay. Good beginning, great ending, everything in-between, though, was kinda... eh.

 

[Darth_V4der]

1. Last Crusade
2. Raiders
3. Doom
4. Dial of Destiny
5. KOTCS

 

[Doomtrooper]

I'll be seeing DOD again sometime soon now that I picked it up on 4K. Look forward to giving it a rewatch or two and finalizing it's placement in my ranking. I'm pretty confident it'll still remain in third place behind TOD and ROTLA.

 

[Doomtrooper]

And DOD is indeed still 3 on my list.


TOD
ROTLA
DOD
KOTCS
TLC

Very controversial, I know, but I greatly enjoy them all.

 

[Doomtrooper]

Likely to always be my ranking, though the latter three can switch places depending on my mood.

Edit - meant to quote my prior post, for some reason it didn't do it. Oh well.

 

[JTKenobi]

TOD
ROTLA
TLC
KOTCS
DOD

Love 'em all!

 

[Doomtrooper]

Same, there's not a single Indy film I don't get enjoyment from.

 

[Doomtrooper]

I'm seeing some ranking in The Great Circle game with the movies and from the looks of it, it's great and really nailed the feel of the films. It nicely fills the void of wanting new Indy content.

 

[Wookie_Wes06]

So I am surprised I never actually ranked them here, considering I have been making custom Indy figures.

Anyway if I were to rank them?

1. Last Crusade
2. Raider's of the Lost Ark
3. Temple of Doom
4. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- Dial of Destiny.

I would say that Raiders is probably a all around better film than Last Crusade from a technical perspective. But I tend to put Last Crusade higher because I just enjoy the dynamic between Indy and his father so much. Last Crusade isn't perfect and the people that want to point to how ridiculous KotCS is I could point to several things in LC that may not pass muster/scrutiny. The venice catacombs scene when the petroleum is lit on fire, the scene of the tank chase where Indy's strap somehow passes through the barrel of the tank, etc. etc. but none of those are enough to ruin the film. I also actually like the bit of an origin story in LC that shows him getting the hat, the whip, and the Cross serves as a nice transition to him as an adult and shows his determination and perseverance.
Raider's is just a classic. I really don't have too much if anything negative to say about Raiders. Maybe if I was really nitpicking I could point to things like some of the post release CGI editing.

But I don't think this cut was ever released. Not enough to really ruin the film. There were other enhancements for the 4k release and most of them were improvements with regards to color grading, etc.

Temple of Doom is darker but I still have quite a bit of fun with it. I don't agree with some of the controversy surrounding the film either but thats for another time.

KotCS was the first film I saw in theaters. I am 36 now and I remember walking out of the theater pretty happy. (This is kind of important for what I will discuss in a bit). KotCS is not without its flaws. Some questionable choices like swinging monkeys and such. But I actually kind of liked the angle of aliens as it kind of fit the period and hey we got Russian baddies for a change like we had in Infernal Machine. I would also say the costumes feel far too clean.

This may not be the best shot. But when you consider this is at the end and they are wearing the same outfits after they went through the jungle, Indy getting into fisticuffs with Dovchenko, and all the other stuff that happened? Their attire looks like they just had their clothes drycleaned and are on holiday.

Compared to Raider's or Temple where Indy looks like he's been through ****. Raiders had a grittiness to it.

I still like KotCS and it's schlocky but it has that same spirit of adventure. We had at the time KotCS came out bought a Yellow lab and named him Indy. He will have been gone a year now and was with us for 16 long years. So maybe my fond memories of our dog is playing into KotCS somewhat too. Its actually funny we would be watching any of the Indy films on TV and Indy (our dog) would look at the screen when someone said his name.

Finally Dial of Destiny...

Let me first preface my thoughts by saying if you enjoy the film that is entirely fine. I am not going to tell you that you shouldn't like it or anything like that. All I can say is my personal experience. Now Disney I feel made a mistake when they showed it at the Caen Film Festival. The initial reaction that came out of that hurt the film regardless of one's personal like or dislike of the film. Ever since it had an uphill battle.

My own expectations were lowered and I tried to ignore the YouTube drama and went into it with an open mind thinking "Well I liked KotCS when countless others didn't." But I am sad to say I walked out of the theater feeling kind of indifferent and actually disappointed despite my lowered expectations. It was so unlike the initial reaction I had out of the theater with KotCS.

• Dial is frankly just too long.
• Its best part was the 20-odd minutes of Indy in Nazi Germany..but that's kind of a damning indictment if the best part of the film is that it's trying to thrive on nostalgia something that was done better elsewhere. (We will come back to this). The CGI felt inconsistent.
• You can point to the nuking of the fridge, or the raft and airplane as being over the top. But DoD does two things in the opening few minutes that make KotCS seem plausible. (If you have seen the movie you know what I am referring to.)
• Dial also wastes some of its talent. You had Madds Mikkelsen who feels like he shows up as the plot demands it. This also extends to Antonio Banderas who felt incredibly shortchanged.
• The artifact takes far too long to establish what it does and why it's important. If you look at Raiders, Temple, or Last Crusade? They set up these artifacts pretty early on with very few lines of dialogue.
• The narrative forgets it is supposed to be an Indiana Jones film. They got hung up on Indy being old. We know. We knew that in KotCS. But beating the audience over the head with a melancholic story arc is not what Indiana Jones is about. And it could be argued this was the problem in not recasting years ago. Indy like Bond was based on the serials...(standalone adventures). The narrative and direction they take with Marion, Mutt, and Salah don't really pay off either.
• The biggest detriment for me was Helena herself. I found her character to be deeply insufferable. Now some would say "You just don't like a strong woman." I would point to Raiders in that Marion was strong-willed and a fiercely independent woman. The difference is that Karen Allen has more charisma IMO.
• The ending tries to play to our nostalgia but ultimately does it worse than a far better movie making it feel like Dial really has nothing to say of it's own imo. Especially if you don't buy the reasoning for Indy and Marion's split as I didn't.

So those are my thoughts on the films.

And finally, I just want to give a nod to...

Great Circle plays to our nostalgia as well. It has a few references sprinkled into other films that will take place later. Its intro is a shot for shot recreation of the Raider's opening but ultimately is more memorable because it is in first person and you get to experience it. That's transformative in a way that doesn't seek to just do what's been before but enhances it through new technology and a different medium. That is what I am referring too when I say Dial tries to nostalgia bait with it's ending but in the end, it only highlights the disparity between itself and vastly superior films. I loved the Great Circle. I know a lot of people were concerned about first person but I think it was the right call.

 

[Doomtrooper]

I really enjoyed your write-up and assessment of the series, even if our views differ a bit here and there I enjoyed DOD but you brought up some good points about some of it's problems. It still felt like it probably should've come out a full decade earlier rather than when it did. That said, I'm glad we finally got a new film.

 

[Wookie_Wes06]

I really enjoyed your write-up and assessment of the series, even if our views differ a bit here and there I enjoyed DOD but you brought up some good points about some of it's problems. It still felt like it probably should've come out a full decade earlier rather than when it did. That said, I'm glad we finally got a new film.

We all are fans of Indiana Jones at the end of the day. DoD didn't really resonate with me...but I am glad for those that did enjoy it. I feel llike to your point about it coming earlier? I feel like (even though I liked KotCS) they should have recast after the end of LC. The series is based on the serials (standalone adventures) like James Bond. And that's been part of the secret to 007's success is that they can recast every few years and keep it relevant. Indy had been out of the public consciousness even at the time KotCS came out and even less so when Dial did.

People argued Ford was too old at the time of KotCS and Dial made those criticisms even more apparent. I feel like many people had already made their peace with the franchise with KotCS and felt that Dial was retreading familiar territory with the angle of "Ford's last Outing." Many folks already thought they had Ford's last outing in 2008. Ford will always be Indy to me in the way Connery will always be the definitive Bond. But not recasting was a mistake and missed opportunity imo. And let's be honest. Troy Baker has shown another actor can play the role. (At least with regards to the voice).

Indy never had the kind of generational franchise care that Star Wars has had. You only tend to get a game or books, etc. around the release of a new movie. Star Wars you had new comics, books, and games coming out in those years between the last of the prequel trilogy and the Force Awakens.

The sad part is that we will likely have to wait however many more years to get a new film if at all and that will be probably after Ford is gone sadly. My hope is that the success of Great Circle shows that the series is still viable if not on film certainly in other media. Rumor is that more Indiana Jones games have been greenlit so sign me up for those if they are as good as Great Circle.

 

[SpectreOne]

I have a hard time ranking the Indy content - especially the first three movies, since they all deserve the top spot. Each just for a different reason. Raiders has the best script, the best McGuffin and just the best atmosphere and, yeah, it propably IS the best movie - not just of the bunch, but it's one if not the best movie all around. But temple of doom scores with it's ball to the wall sheer crazyness and fun. It also has propably the best Indy (at least for me). (And since that one was my first Indiana Jones movie, ToD will always have a very special place in my heart). And Crusade just has the best emotional beats and the most wholesome father-son story - a story that might resonate with basically every male on some level.

Right after that comes the Young Indy show. I loved that show and it still breakes my heart that it was cancelled just when Lucas was about to bring Indy closer to the version we saw in the movies.

After that there is Dial. It is not a perfect movie - Helena's characterization is a bit all over the place and, sadly, Indy isn't given a final triumphal moment there at the end, which, in my opinion, is the only miss the movie really has. But I thought everything else was highly enjoyable. I was positivly surprised and glad the movie was made.

A lot of the tie-ins follow after Dial in my ranking. I always loved the "Emperor's Tomb" game and "Fate of Atlantis" and "Infernal Machine" and some of the german novels were pretty good reads too (Das Schwert des Dschingis Khan, Das Geheimnis der Osterinseln).

And then there is some of the not so good stuff, like most of the novels from Max McCoy or Rob McGregor. The comics are a bit eh too, for the most part. Not bad, there were actually some solid stories in there, but nothing really stood out. Haven't played the Great Circle yet. My PC is too old.

 

[Wookie_Wes06]

I have a hard time ranking the Indy content - especially the first three movies, since they all deserve the top spot. Each just for a different reason. Raiders has the best script, the best McGuffin and just the best atmosphere and, yeah, it propably IS the best movie - not just of the bunch, but it's one if not the best movie all around. But temple of doom scores with it's ball to the wall sheer crazyness and fun. It also has propably the best Indy (at least for me). (And since that one was my first Indiana Jones movie, ToD will always have a very special place in my heart). And Crusade just has the best emotional beats and the most wholesome father-son story - a story that might resonate with basically every male on some level.

Right after that comes the Young Indy show. I loved that show and it still breakes my heart that it was cancelled just when Lucas was about to bring Indy closer to the version we saw in the movies.

After that there is Dial. It is not a perfect movie - Helena's characterization is a bit all over the place and, sadly, Indy isn't given a final triumphal moment there at the end, which, in my opinion, is the only miss the movie really has. But I thought everything else was highly enjoyable. I was positivly surprised and glad the movie was made.

A lot of the tie-ins follow after Dial in my ranking. I always loved the "Emperor's Tomb" game and "Fate of Atlantis" and "Infernal Machine" and some of the german novels were pretty good reads too (Das Schwert des Dschingis Khan, Das Geheimnis der Osterinseln).

And then there is some of the not so good stuff, like most of the novels from Max McCoy or Rob McGregor. The comics are a bit eh too, for the most part. Not bad, there were actually some solid stories in there, but nothing really stood out. Haven't played the Great Circle yet. My PC is too old.

Emperor's Tomb and Infernal Machine are classics. Staff of Kings was ok. Lego Indiana Jones is great fun.

Fate of Atlantis is a classic, and many view it as one of the best, if not the best.

Whenever you get around to it and are able? You are in for a treat with Great Circle. I loved it. Played it on my Steam Deck.

 

[comicalUser]

Rumor is that more Indiana Jones games have been greenlit so sign me up for those if they are as good as Great Circle.

It is not a rumor. Disney gave the green light. It is unclear if it is a continuation of the story told in Great Circle or new content. The same person who worked with the story and development of the game will still be involved. That said person is a big fan of the franchise and, thankfully, understands our hero quite well. He is a huge part as to why Great Circle is such a success.

 

[Wookie_Wes06]

It is not a rumor. Disney gave the green light. It is unclear if it is a continuation of the story told in Great Circle or new content. The same person who worked with the story and development of the game will still be involved. That said person is a big fan of the franchise and, thankfully, understands our hero quite well. He is a huge part as to why Great Circle is such a success.

I got the impression that the devs behind Great Circle do like and care about the character as well. It is uncanny how much it feels like a "lost film". I just want the "isle of Giants DLC" right now.

The fact the game made me hungry for more in a way that Dial didn't I feel is a testament to how much I enjoyed the game. I have said it on the adventure series...but Hasbro left money on the table not having Great Circle figures.

 

[comicalUser]

As of right now, multiple games are planned. That means little though — so many games are planned, and even start with development, only to be canceled. Heck, then there are games like Battlefront III that are 98% finished and get canceled! The PSP port does not count!

The success of this game shows how underutilized the Indiana Jones franchise was/is underutilized. I have small glimmer of hope we may get something for Temple of Doom's 40th anniversary. That hope is dwindling, however.

 

[Doomtrooper]

Hard to believe DOD is now two years old. I think it still holds up pretty well and it was fun going to see a new Indy film in 2023. A welcome refresher from the endless comic book films for sure.