My New 'Crystal Skull' Scene

[Small White Car]

So the new Indy movie is out on DVD. I haven't seen it since opening day, but hearing about the film again got me thinking.

One big problem (among many) was the paper-thin characterization of Mac. He's a central part of the story, and his motivations are fuzzy at best.

I thought up a scene this morning while I was taking a shower. I took what little they gave us and moved it here and built it up into a better scene. Take a look. Would the movie have made more sense with this? I think it would have made me happier.

(And after I wrote it, I do think I was influenced by this guy.)

Anyway, here it is:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Indy is tied to a chair. Mac enters the tent and stares at his former friend.]

INDY: I take it they pay well?

MAC: Hm? Oh yes. Quite.

INDY: What’s the matter? Didn’t the Nazis ever offer you enough? How often did you think of selling me out back then?

MAC: I could never have done that. We were fighting for a cause back then! For England! For America! For freedom! I would never have turned against you then.

INDY: And the Russians are what, exactly? Our new drinking buddies?

MAC: [Laughs] You always were focused on the short-term goals, weren’t you? Don’t you get it? Can’t you see the big picture? We just don’t matter anymore!

INDY: Big picture? Are you completely mad now?

MAC: You and I, we used to make a difference, my friend. The things we did during the war affected its outcome. You know that as well as I. But then along comes this ‘atom bomb’ and changed all that. You’re so focused on the past you can’t see 1 minute into the future. There are only 2 options, you know that, right?

INDY: Enlighten me.

MAC: Either we all blow the world up in an atomic holocaust [simulates explosion with fingers] … Or we don’t. And guess what? There’s nothing that you, or I, or secret codes, or submarines, or airplanes, or freak’n crystal skulls can do about it! It just...doesn’t...matter!

INDY: Yeah. You have lost it.

MAC: Oh Indy...you really don’t get it. We’re irrelevant. Yesterdays news. All that matters now is the bomb. So I say, if all this doesn’t matter, why not make a little cash and live a nice life until the end comes? What does it matter?

INDY: [Empty stare] I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Mac. But trusting you is right up there at the top of the list.

MAC: [Disappointed] And I actually thought I might change your mind. I guess I forgot how well I know you.

[Mac leaves the tent.]

MAC: [to Spalko] I couldn’t get him to see reason. [Hangs head] You can try your methods.

 

[Good Will Riker]

In order to give Mac more depth, he would have had to been the central villlain of Crystal Skull. But, that was not the case here.

It also helped that in The Matrix, Cypher was an allegorical Judas Iscariot figure: the betrayer. Unfortunately, in the case of Mac, he was supposed to be playing both sides. Mind you, the audience knew that he was the bad guy all along, eventhough "clever" George Lucas may have thought otherwise...

 

[Small White Car]

In order to give Mac more depth, he would have had to been the central villlain of Crystal Skull. But, that was not the case here.

Well, the goal here is to help the film in some slight way.

The concept of actually fixing it boggles my mind. I'm certainly not trying to go down that road! I applaud you for even considering it.

 

[Good Will Riker]

^^^

It's just that in George Lucas's mind, he had in his head that he thought he was making the audience believe that Mac was playing both sides up until the end, eventhought the majority of the audience knew that Mac was bad ("the betrayer") all along throughout the entire film.

So, Lucas obviously could not have approved of a scene like that which explicitly gives away the fact that Mac was completely in leagues with the Soviets all along, eventhough most of the audience was smart enough to figure out that deception all along after watching countless James Bond films over the decades...

 

[Small White Car]

^^^

It's just that in George Lucas's mind, he had in his head that he thought he was making the audience believe that Mac was playing both sides up until the end,

I really WANT to argue with you that he couldn't be so stupid as to think that.

But I can't because I know you're right.

 

[Good Will Riker]

^^^

All the warning signs were there since the Ewoks and Howard the Duck, but that is what we end up with when success goes to one's own head and he is constantly surrounded by obedient "Yes Men."

Frank Darabont would have loved your take on that scene, though.

 

[Aldo]

When Mac revealed he was CIA and playing the Reds I thought it was a neat twist. When Mac revealed he lied about that part I thought it was a bit excessive.

 

[Kirkman1987]

When Mac revealed he was CIA and playing the Reds I thought it was a neat twist. When Mac revealed he lied about that part I thought it was a bit excessive.

I loved Mac up to that point. I loved him in the beginning. He had some great lines in the opening sequence, and was pretty good throughout most of the film. I love how he called Indy "Jonesy". I was excited when it was revealed he was a good guy, but then befuddled when he switched again.

 

[jonnyskywatcher]

I must have completely missed the CIA thing, because I thought he was just changing to whatever side was most convenient at the time.

 

[Gojirob]

I would have included this line :

Mutt : How's an old guy like you keep up so well?

Indy : Let's just I say drank from the right cup.

 

[roliver]

and his motivations are fuzzy at best.

He's greedy. That seemed abundantly clear to me. If I recall correctly he mentions being in some kind of serious debt, and I doubt he was talking about a reputable financial institution.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I didn't care that Mac was paper-thin. He got left in the dust because there was so much else interesting going on. I just saw this and frankly, I'm amazed at how this movie got trashed. I loved it! It's my second fave after the original. I just never cared a whit about the Temple of Doom and the Lost Crusade left me totally cold. This movie at long last was a return to the heart and soul of the original.

Marion really adds a lot to the movie, they should never have dropped her character. John Hurt was surprisingly good considering his character did little more than act crazy and poignant. Mutt is fun and has the potential to take over the franchise (considering the loot this flick made, of course they're going to do more, and the next one will probably be the official passing of the torch).

Cate Blanchett is the best nemesis Indy's ever had. The three-car fight in the jungle was hilarious. The army ants were exactly the kind of horrific icky thing we expect from an Indy movie. The visual gags were great (the ants stealing Indy's hat was my favorite). They had the right combo of comedy, horror, action, bickering and HOOLEY SHIT moments.

I was skeptical about the 50s setting, but it worked, due to the smart notion to keep evoking the pulp movie genres of the time, and since we're in the 50s, it's not treasure hunting now so much as sci fi. THAT is why they needed aliens, which is something I heard a lot of complaints about. Once you see why they did it, it makes perfect sense.

You know what was a lousy movie? SPEED RACER! That was doggie doo. Crystal Skull was just fine. I rarely come out in favor of anything that gets popularly trashed - usually I'm trashing the stuff everyone likes - but this is definitely an exception.

 

[TheBrew]

I didn't care that Mac was paper-thin. He got left in the dust because there was so much else interesting going on. I just saw this and frankly, I'm amazed at how this movie got trashed. I loved it! It's my second fave after the original. I just never cared a whit about the Temple of Doom and the Lost Crusade left me totally cold. This movie at long last was a return to the heart and soul of the original.

Marion really adds a lot to the movie, they should never have dropped her character. John Hurt was surprisingly good considering his character did little more than act crazy and poignant. Mutt is fun and has the potential to take over the franchise (considering the loot this flick made, of course they're going to do more, and the next one will probably be the official passing of the torch).

Cate Blanchett is the best nemesis Indy's ever had. The three-car fight in the jungle was hilarious. The army ants were exactly the kind of horrific icky thing we expect from an Indy movie. The visual gags were great (the ants stealing Indy's hat was my favorite). They had the right combo of comedy, horror, action, bickering and HOOLEY SHIT moments.

I was skeptical about the 50s setting, but it worked, due to the smart notion to keep evoking the pulp movie genres of the time, and since we're in the 50s, it's not treasure hunting now so much as sci fi. THAT is why they needed aliens, which is something I heard a lot of complaints about. Once you see why they did it, it makes perfect sense.

You know what was a lousy movie? SPEED RACER! That was doggie doo. Crystal Skull was just fine. I rarely come out in favor of anything that gets popularly trashed - usually I'm trashing the stuff everyone likes - but this is definitely an exception.

Quoted For Mother-Fucking Truth.

 

[BlackestPanther]

The scene you're proposing amounts to unnecessary exposition. It had already been stated that Mac had recently had a turn of bad luck and had racked up some considerable gambling debts, hence his motivation for the good pay.

If you're going to try to improve the movie, why not start with giving Marion a meatier role and a better introduction?

 

[Small White Car]

The scene you're proposing amounts to unnecessary exposition. It had already been stated that Mac had recently had a turn of bad luck and had racked up some considerable gambling debts, hence his motivation for the good pay.

That explains why he would do something illegal for cash. If he robbed a bank then yes, we have enough exposition to explain that.

It does not explain why he would betray Indy and the American government after he fought alongside both against the Nazis in WWII. What made him turn his back on the things he'd been fighting for over the last 20 years? Why did they matter before, but not now? What changed?

There's nothing in the film to address that.

 

[nx1701g]

^ Um yeah there actually was. In the beginning of the film he tells Indy while he's holding the gun to his head that he's a capitalist and they offered him the most money.

 

[Tim]

I didn't care that Mac was paper-thin. He got left in the dust because there was so much else interesting going on. I just saw this and frankly, I'm amazed at how this movie got trashed. I loved it! It's my second fave after the original. I just never cared a whit about the Temple of Doom and the Lost Crusade left me totally cold. This movie at long last was a return to the heart and soul of the original.

Marion really adds a lot to the movie, they should never have dropped her character. John Hurt was surprisingly good considering his character did little more than act crazy and poignant. Mutt is fun and has the potential to take over the franchise (considering the loot this flick made, of course they're going to do more, and the next one will probably be the official passing of the torch).

Cate Blanchett is the best nemesis Indy's ever had. The three-car fight in the jungle was hilarious. The army ants were exactly the kind of horrific icky thing we expect from an Indy movie. The visual gags were great (the ants stealing Indy's hat was my favorite). They had the right combo of comedy, horror, action, bickering and HOOLEY SHIT moments.

I was skeptical about the 50s setting, but it worked, due to the smart notion to keep evoking the pulp movie genres of the time, and since we're in the 50s, it's not treasure hunting now so much as sci fi. THAT is why they needed aliens, which is something I heard a lot of complaints about. Once you see why they did it, it makes perfect sense.

You know what was a lousy movie? SPEED RACER! That was doggie doo. Crystal Skull was just fine. I rarely come out in favor of anything that gets popularly trashed - usually I'm trashing the stuff everyone likes - but this is definitely an exception.

Totally agreed. Great fun; I was rewatching it tonight, in fact. Spalko had just the right blend of scary and sexy with the dominatrix vibe.

As for Mac, I think the chief goal was to make him a duplicitous slime-ball that changed sides to fit the situation. In reality, the only side he's on is his own. In that regard, the characterization was spot-on.

 

[CaptainJon]

The biggest problem with the role of Mac wasn't just the fact that he was so transparent and given no characterization: his role as a betrayer was revealed way too soon! It shouldn't have happened until much further into the movie! It would not only have proven to be a twist, but also would've given the opportunity to provide some connection between Mac and Indy. Unfortunately, his betrayal 5 minutes into the movie meant that there was no time to establish how good of friends they were.

Plus, I think it would've been much better if he didn't betray him until later on in the movie and turned out to be the central villain, with Cate Blanchett being his right-hand...uh, woman.

My 2 cents anyway. To be honest...I was rather disappointed by the movie.

 

[Small White Car]

^ Um yeah there actually was. In the beginning of the film he tells Indy while he's holding the gun to his head that he's a capitalist and they offered him the most money.

As for Mac, I think the chief goal was to make him a duplicitous slime-ball that changed sides to fit the situation. In reality, the only side he's on is his own. In that regard, the characterization was spot-on.

And this kind of character is fine, we've seen it before. The problem with Mac is that they said he had worked with Indy for years. They were spies together. They'd been through a lot.

I have trouble believing that someone can be an amoral, double-crossing slime-ball AND be Indy's 'best-bud-sidekick' for many years. I can accept one or the other, but not both. The only way it makes sense is if something changed Mac in some way. Then I can make it jive in my mind.

I have no problem with a good-for-nothing mercenary. I just can't answer the question of "Why now?" (as Indy asks in my script). Why now, indeed?

 

[nx1701g]

^ But, in some ways, he didn't really change as far as how he felt about Indy. He was still making comments and such like he and Indy were friends up until the very end. As for how can someone be your best friend for years then turn on you? Apparently you aren't in politics