Fortune and Glory

So I feel like I’ve come across as being rather down on the new Indiana Jones movie in my recent blog entries.   But really – it’s the first new Indiana Jones movie in 19 years!   How could I NOT be incredibly excited??

Am I a little dubious about The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Well, sure. But still, I cannot wait for May 22.

So, in the spirit of the power of positive thinking, I’ve decided to focus on the positives today.   So I hereby present you with my list of my ten favorite moments in the Indiana Jones series (so far), listed in order of preference:

10.   “They’re digging in the wrong place!”   I am as filled with glee as Indy and Sallah are each time I hear this magnificent line-reading.   (Raiders)

9.   “She talks in her sleep.”   Henry Jones’ revelation of how he knew Elsa was a Nazi.   Henry:   “I’m as human as the next man.”   Indy: “Dad, I was the next man!”   (The Last Crusade)

8.   Pretty much the whole opening sequence of The Temple of Doom, in which Harrison Ford plays Indiana Jones playing James Bond (complete with white Goldfinger tux).   I also admire anyone with the guts to open their big blockbuster action movie sequel with a dance number from “Anything Goes” – and in Mandarin, nonetheless! (Temple of Doom)

7.   “I am the monarch of the sea…”   After Marian kisses Sallah goodbye, he thumps his chest and wanders away down the pier while singing this little ditty.   It’s just a silly little extraneous moment, but there’s such LIFE in the character at that moment – I just love it.   (Raiders)

6.   “No time for love, Doctor Jones!”   My favorite Short Round line.
(Let me note here that I have never approved of a “kid sidekick” in a movie more than I approve of Short Round.   A terrific combination of role and actor.)   (Temple of Doom)

5.   “You could warn them…if only you spoke hovitos!”   The culmination of the phenomenal, iconic opening of Raiders of the Lost Ark is the introduction of the best Indy villain so far: Belloq.   Sort of a dark mirror image of Indy, Belloq is the archaeologist/adventurer without any morals. His taunting of Indy in this sequence (“once again Doctor Jones you see there is nothing you can possess that I cannot take away”) perfectly establishes his character and the rivalry dynamic with Indy.   (Raiders)

4.   “I should have mailed it to the Marx Brothers!”   There’s a lot of great Henry Jones/Indiana Jones banter throughout The Last Crusade, but Henry’s frustration at Indy for letting the Nazis capture his Grail diary is probably my favorite moment.   (Although “I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne” is pretty a good one, as well!”) (The Last Crusade)

3.   “Besides…you know what a cautious fellow I am.”   This is from a great scene early in Raiders, in which Marcus wishes that he were ten years younger so that he could accompany Indy on this adventure.   I love how that hints at their past together.   But my favorite moment is the end of that scene, when Marcus cautions Indy not to underestimate the significance and power of the lost Ark.   Indy scoffs at his warning (“Oh Marcus, what are you trying to do, scare me?   You sound like my mother”) but then adds “besides…you know what a cautious fellow I am” as we see, in a quick shot, Indy tossing his revolver into his suitcase…   (Raiders)

2.   “What truck?”   After getting his ass roundly kicked by the big Nazi boxer during the flying wing fight sequence, Indy is informed by Sallah that there’s still a chance to recover the ark, as the Nazis are now moving it on a truck.   The spirit with which Indy throws down the towel he’s been using to wipe his bloody face as he demands “what truck?” exemplifies the indomitable nature of this iconic character more than any other.   The magnificent truck chase sequence that follows ain’t too shabby either.   (Raiders)

1.   “You throw me the idol, I throw you the whip!”   Alfred Molina achieves movie infamy.   (Raiders)