Ranking the Indiana Jones Series

[STARMAN]

One of the things I hate about Crystal Skull is constantly stopping the movie to give us exposition dialogue about the skull. If you look at the other films they basically take one scene to explain the object and then you're off and running. Not with Crystal Skull.

 

[wampa1]

Everything up until the Jungle is actually really good, in KOTCS. The first third actually feels like a great 3rd act. I would have preferred to see a movie leading up that as the ending rather than beginning with that and carrying on.

 

[STARMAN]

The only thing I like about Crystal Skull is the opening warehouse scene. The last act feels like a National Treasure movie.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I greatly enjoy the jungle section of KOTCS. Maybe just because it's something of a change of scenery, but I find there's some wonderful setpieces throughout the second half of the film. The script was just in need of some heavy fine-tuning. Drop Oxley and Mac, get rid of the CGI, etc.

 

[DyeLorean]

On repeat viewings I can't stand the character that shouts JONESY! every two minutes.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Him and Oxley both needed to go, bad. While the movie has improved a great deal for me with rewatches, those two characters surely haven't.

 

[Punisher Rising]

On the subject of the Indy video games, I've seen some fans rank some of the games in with the films such as The Fate Of Atlantis and The Emperor's Tomb. Some of the games I've seen from the footage have a cinematic quality that would make putting them besides the films pretty apt.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I got to wonder if for Indy 5 if Indy will be killed off? I doubt it but after The Force Awakens I don't think anything is out of the realm of possibility. It's supposed to be the final installment and will obviously be Harrison's final outing as the character. I'm not sure if Disney is still keeping the Young Indy TV show as canon, due to the bookends that show him in the modern age (showing he's obviously still alive at least well into the 1990s). It'd be a rough way to end the series, but after TFA it's not something to completely rule out. If he was okay with giving Han Solo a send-off, I don't think it's unfeasible to think he might want to do the same with Indy.

 

[Roose Bolton]

I think unlike with Star Wars Ford is a bit more in love with Indy, I could see him wanting to keep going. Though realistically I think everyone involved probably knows this is the last for him and Spielberg.

 

[Punisher Rising]

It goes without saying this'll be his last go as Indy. He'll be almost 80 by 2020 when 5 is out and while he may be in good shape for his age when you get that much older there's just some things you can't do anymore and in Ford's case, action/adventure roles will be one of them for him.

 

[Mandon Knight]

My personal view is that the character is 'retired', no re-boot, no re-cast, no prequel.

 

[Schlosser85]

Him and Oxley both needed to go, bad. While the movie has improved a great deal for me with rewatches, those two characters surely haven't.

It has an excess of supporting characters tagging along, for sure (and completely wastes John Hurt).

Without Mack and Oxley (and, ya know, a better script), the movie could have devoted more focus to developing Indy/Mutt's and Indy/Marion's relationships better and making Spalko a better villain.

 

[NHawk19]

It has an excess of supporting characters tagging along, for sure (and completely wastes John Hurt).

Without Mack and Oxley (and, ya know, a better script), the movie could have devoted more focus to developing Indy/Mutt's and Indy/Marion's relationships better and making Spalko a better villain.

Can we tack a re-cast of Mutt on there too?

 

[Herofan]

I think Mutt was supposed to be, while Dean-esque, goofily loveable, I'm not sure how another actor could do better.

 

[Schlosser85]

I didn’t think Shia was bad.

 

[Punisher Rising]

I actually liked Spalko, she was an enjoyable villain.

 

[Punisher Rising]

To think next month KOTCS turns 10, time has flown. It's grown on me a lot since I first saw it for sure. One of those films where time heals the initial wounds of disappointment.

After Ready Player One I can totally see Spielberg in high gear again for Indy 5. Excited over the news. I just hope it's a worthy finale and ends things on a satisfying note. The kind of movie you look forward to capping off an all-day marathon with when you marathon a series.

 

[Dave McFly]

I still want to see THIS as a series

 

[Teelie]

I also remember back 10 years ago people wondering if Ford was too old to play Indy and now here we are 10 years on from that accepting (barely) he can still pull it off.

 

[Drizzle]

I also remember back 10 years ago people wondering if Ford was too old to play Indy and now here we are 10 years on from that accepting (barely) he can still pull it off.

We accept that because we've seen him play Han Solo and Rick Deckard again but those roles aren't nearly as physically demanding as Indiana Jones. Good thing Ford has taken such good care of himself, despite crashing a plane and having the door of the Millennium Falcon dropped on his leg.

 

[Teelie]

Yeah, seeing him perform moderately action heavy roles helps but I also don't think anyone expects him to be doing crazy stunts either. Certainly no refridgerator scenes (I hope) and more shoot the guy with the crazy sword skills ala Temple of Doom.

 

[Punisher Rising]

The basic acting scenes he could still do easily enough but the stunt work and the like will definitely require a double.

 

[Punisher Rising]

Whew, long time since I was last here. After recently rewatching Dial Of Destiny since the theater, I remembered this topic. Digging it up like an old relic for a revised ranking:

TOD
ROTLA
DOD
KOTCS
TLC

I know, I know. I really enjoy them all though, and DOD was far better than it had any right to.

 

[Hunter Rider]

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. The Last Crusade
3. Temple of Doom
4. Dial of Destiny
5. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

 

[Drizzle]

I'd rank them as:

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. The Last Crusade
3. Dial of Destiny
4. Temple of Doom
5. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Raiders and Last Crusade are basically neck and neck. I consider Last Crusade to be the better written of the two but you can't top Raiders for a firing on all cylinders action-adventure movie.

Dial of Destiny and Temple of Doom are also pretty much neck and neck. I give DOD the edge for having less cringey elements but TOD is the more entertaining of the two, at least.

Finally we get to Crystal Skull, which I've never thought was outright bad but I still think it's the weakest of the bunch.