Indy 4 DVD Comentary: Spielberg Blames Lucas

[Nowhere Man]

^ Last week was the first time I watched it since the theatres, and thats when I saw the comentary. I don't want to say I hate it because Harrison Ford fits the role flawless, but the movie should have been done 10 or 15 years ago or not at all. I think around 1998-200 would have been perfect for another trilogy. that way by 2008 it would be done with completely. Of course they should have stuck with Archaeology, not Aliens. I get the myth, but still it was a streatch.

The movie had about the same amount of archaeology as the previous ones. The end result was what was somewhat different. However, I don't see really see Aliens being too far away as the crazy shit that Indy encountered in the previous ones, such as ghosts, mystical stones, and immortal knights.

What I mean about it bieng an archaeoligical streatch. Everyone has heard of the Holy Grail or The Ark of the Covenent, But the Krystal Skulls? Yes there is myth there, but Atlantis or something would have made more sense. The " Aliens build civilization" thing is cool, it just shouldn't involve Indiana Jones.

Can I assume we're talking about the Blue Ray disk here? I have the 2 disk DVD, and mine doesn't have a commentary track. I wish it did. It would be interesting to hear his thoughts. None of my Speilberg films do.

Spielberg doesn't do commentary tracks. The OP is a liar.

While the use of the word "Commentary" is misplaced here, the OP is actually referring to the special feature on the first disc titled "The Return of a Legend." In that feature, Spielberg dicusses how he initally wasn't keen on using aliens, but eventually got into it.

Yes The Return of a Legend, I guess it's not Comentary like throughout the movie, but an Interview I guess

Well, I understand why Lucas wanted to make it about aliens. The timeline had shifted to the 1950s and he wanted to make Indy 4 an homage to the science fiction B-movies of the era, like the first three were homages to the adventure serials of the 1930s, but it just felt out of place, IMO.

There was one Indiana Jones thread from a couple years back, we were all discussing what the fourth movie could be about. I remember suggesting in that thread that since the first three movies had been about two Judeo-Christian artifacts and one Hindu artifact, the fourth could have done something dealing with Buddhism. Then I found out about the Cintamani stone and suggested that the plot could be about Indy racing across Tibet trying to stop both the Soviets and Communist China (who had invaded Tibet in the early '50s) from getting the stone and obtaining ultimate power, etc., etc. Since it would be set in Tibet, Shangri-La/Shamballa could have also played a part in the plot.

But then Naughty Dog ended up doing a very similar storyline in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for the PS3, so while my ideas didn't come to pass in Indiana Jones 4, at least I got to see it (sort of) happen elsewhere.

I understand the B movie thing, but your Idea is more suited for Indy than Aliens. I know Nazi's can't be involved, but then agian there were escaped Nazi's in South America. Anyone heard of Odessa? I thought the Crystal Skulls was a reference to the Atlantis Crystal that suposedly gave Atlantis an infinite power source. Just think of escaped Nazi's trying to return to power by finding Crystals. That would have worked IMO.

 

[DeafPoet]

I didn't mind the alien angle. The execution on the other hand was pretty horrible.

I agree completely. Lots of my friends bitch about the aliens on the grounds that it strains credibility. They're right of course but it isn't any stupider than the other mystical shit Indy's gone after. It was just clumsily handled.

 

[Mojochi]

^Agreed, & I don't mind the Soviet angle either, but it just seemed like they were trying to cram them into their Nazi archetype, which didn't fit well, & they were rather weakly executed Indy villains, as a result. Indy doesn't require a Nazi-esque villain all the time. We've seen brain washed Indians, Chinese mobsters, Young Indy's American thieves, & even that French guy, Belloq. The trick is, whatever the villain, find what's unique about them, & highlight that. They didn't really succeed there either, imo

 

[Kelso]

Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world who actually enjoyed it.

It wasn't the second coming that I and just about everyone else was hoping for but on its own terms, I think it's a lot of fun.

Which is all an Indy movie should be, IMO.

Agreed. The film had problems... but I had (and continue to have) a lot of fun watching it.

 

[Skywalker]

Well, I understand why Lucas wanted to make it about aliens. The timeline had shifted to the 1950s and he wanted to make Indy 4 an homage to the science fiction B-movies of the era, like the first three were homages to the adventure serials of the 1930s, but it just felt out of place, IMO.

There was one Indiana Jones thread from a couple years back, we were all discussing what the fourth movie could be about. I remember suggesting in that thread that since the first three movies had been about two Judeo-Christian artifacts and one Hindu artifact, the fourth could have done something dealing with Buddhism. Then I found out about the Cintamani stone and suggested that the plot could be about Indy racing across Tibet trying to stop both the Soviets and Communist China (who had invaded Tibet in the early '50s) from getting the stone and obtaining ultimate power, etc., etc. Since it would be set in Tibet, Shangri-La/Shamballa could have also played a part in the plot.

But then Naughty Dog ended up doing a very similar storyline in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for the PS3, so while my ideas didn't come to pass in Indiana Jones 4, at least I got to see it (sort of) happen elsewhere.

I understand the B movie thing, but your Idea is more suited for Indy than Aliens. I know Nazi's can't be involved, but then agian there were escaped Nazi's in South America. Anyone heard of Odessa? I thought the Crystal Skulls was a reference to the Atlantis Crystal that suposedly gave Atlantis an infinite power source. Just think of escaped Nazi's trying to return to power by finding Crystals. That would have worked IMO.

That could have been interesting, too. I never actually read it, but I think in Frank Darabont's draft of Indy 4, there was one character who was a former Nazi who'd fled to South America. I'm not 100% on that, though; like I said, I haven't actually read the draft.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I did like Kingdom, but I wish the Aliens had been Flying Saucer Aliens instead of Extra-Dimensional Aliens. It would have been more 50s.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I loved this movie.

 

[startrekrcks]

Can u explain why you loved Indy 4

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Great to see Ford back in the roll, fantastic comedy moments iced with some fantastic action sequences, loved the whole 1950 Aliens feel about it, the effects were brilliant, the music was top notch and to round it all up Karen Allen was back, and Cate Blanchett was no slob either in her role.

It entertained me from beginning to end, a fantastic few hours of escapism just like all the other Indy movies.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I never actually read it, but I think in Frank Darabont's draft of Indy 4, there was one character who was a former Nazi who'd fled to South America. I'm not 100% on that, though; like I said, I haven't actually read the draft.

If you're looking for Darabont's Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods, try here.

The story is largely similar to Crystal Skull, though without Mac and Mutt. It even has the "nuke the fridge" moment. And there is a Nazi, Von Grauen.

 

[JRS]

I did like Kingdom, but I wish the Aliens had been Flying Saucer Aliens instead of Extra-Dimensional Aliens. It would have been more 50s.

I agree. Somehow they could have left that to the cutting room floor. I mean we have aliens in the film, but they where not from outer space...silly really
They made the other 50s stuff very well, why not this?

 

[John Picard]

There is no denying the truth.

 

[DarthPipes]

I don't see what all the fuss was about with the aliens. This is a series that featured phantoms melting Nazis, magical brainwashing, a guy who rips other guys hearts out, and immortal knights. And suddenly aliens are too unrealistic for Indiana Jones?

I definitely understood the change. As Raiders was an homage to 1930s serials, KOTCS was an homage to 1950s B sci-fi films. It worked for me. The only thing that puzzled me was the decision to have them "extra-dimensional beings" instead of just plain aliens. I don't understand the purpose of that. Oh well...

 

[Myasishchev]

Practicaly, I watched the comentary and Spielberg repeatidly says he didn't want Aliens. He just keeps repeating this over and over in a joking,polite manner. It's almost like he new people were going to hate it. He keeps saying that Lucas pushed for Aliens. He was just directing the movie and giving the fans what they want as far as characterization and content, but not plot. I know Spielberg is not really blaming Lucas,but you can interpret it that way. Spielberg is just as guilty by not standing up to Lucas. I don't hate KOTCS , but I don't realy love it either. I just sort of except it for what it is and enjoy what I can. I definately seperate it from the trilogy. Has anyone else seen that comentary?

Spielberg can suck it, because aliens were a great idea, and always were, and the idea was executed in an excellent way. If it was Lucas' idea, it may be the only good idea he's had since Return of the Jedi, but even a broken clock is right occasionally.

This is a series that featured phantoms melting Nazis, magical brainwashing, a guy who rips other guys hearts out, and immortal knights. And suddenly aliens are too unrealistic for Indiana Jones?

Yeppers.

The only thing that puzzled me was the decision to have them "extra-dimensional beings" instead of just plain aliens. I don't understand the purpose of that. Oh well...

Yeah. Maybe it was to make their sort-of catatonia palatable or believable? Like, "this is just the part of us you can see." I kind of like that, although one would think the actual South American stuff (the giant air-visible designs on the ground) would suggest ancient astronauts.

Also: Temple of Doom is the best Indy movie there was.

 

[Sparky]

Temple of Doom is the best Indy movie there was.

Agreed

 

[RJDiogenes]

If you're looking for Darabont's Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods, try here.

Sweet. Thanks for the link.

 

[Tulin]

Spielberg did a commentary?!?!

THAT would be bigger news than ANYTHING he could say. The arsehole just hasn't done them thus far.

I personally believe it's a marketing ploy so that one day he can put out a $1000 box set of all his films with commentaries.

 

[startrekrcks]

I love all of the three Indy films not Kingdom just thought they could have made it better in my opinion.

 

[Small White Car]

It's funny, I thought the movie was a mess but I didn't mind the aliens OR the 'fridge.

Everyone harps on those but I had no problem with either one.

It was all the stuff in between that was the problem. The 2 main flaws were:

1) The story felt like a 'Choose your own adventure' book being read by a child. Nothing exciting or surprising happened, story-wise. It was A to B to C to D just to get to the last scene. It's like they wrote the end and then gave it to an intern and said "write it so they get to the spaceship...but don't spend all day on it, we've got some filing for you to do this afternoon."

2) It was the only Indy film to be shot entirely in the U.S. and it felt like it. The other Indy films feel like episodes of The Amazing Race. This felt like a Star Wars prequel.


I could get over #1 and just say "it's not my favorite of the 4," but I think it's #2 that really sunk it and that's the reason I've only seen it once and never felt like watching it again.

 

[DarthPipes]

2) It was the only Indy film to be shot entirely in the U.S. and it felt like it. The other Indy films feel like episodes of The Amazing Race. This felt like a Star Wars prequel.

This was something noticeable I thought and I was disappointed they didn't visit the usual exciting locales for this movie.