HJJNR said:
I can fully appreciate all the points you made here and from an adult thinking as a child, it makes sense. However, not once has my son (or daughters) picked up on any of the things in the way you mentioned. He has asked about Nazis and I didn’t lie to him, I watered it down a bit but hey, too much info and all that. I think, no I believe that a young boy watching Indy gives them a sense of adventure and yes some of his morals are to be judged but kids don't pick up on such things.OK some aspects of the movies can be a bit much for kids, hence my strategically placed 'Cough' over any swear words hee hee. (Doom bridge; "Oh *COUGH*")
To be sure this is how an adult would hear/interpret an innocent question. That a child may not have the moral template to apply to such behaviors is the point. How do you explain such actions to a child? How do you give them perspective to judge such ADULT themes noted? Your child may not have asked these questions...though they didn't use the same terms/language, mine have. (Plus I couldn't pass up the an attempt at comedy: is he trying to outdrink the monkey for the monkey's money? But they do follow the logic you set out for them).
I also employ the strategic cough, and pause for a bathroom break/snack break to FF questionable material. I also put subtitles on; it's helpful for foreign names and locations. There are all types of children, but I won't underestimate mine. I had a GREAT laugh when my son read ASS in the subtitles and instinctively coughed. He had no idea why I was laughing or that he had done it. But he knew the word and understood my tactic! Not all children are the same. But I'll err on their ability to ask me when they don't understand something, (as I remind them), and they do.
HJJNR said:
We then have merchandising that’s available for kids..aimed at kids. Lego Indy, dress up costumes, lunch boxes, annuals and so on (cost me a fortune). We can argue thats just about money and what not but I've never seen a stand in toys r us for a Saw3 doll or a hannibal Lecter lunch box...
But you have seen McFarlane's Movie Maniacs, from Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees, to Chucky, just as my kids have.
HJJNR said:
Like I said, all your points are valid and understandable but I don't think kids pick up on such things... kids are pretty face value when it comes to films. Watching Harry Potter I don't get questions like why does Voldermort (oops I mean 'you-know-who') hate Harry Potter and why is Snape so mean to him?
Children have instincts, it's up to parents to prepare them to understand them and when to act or not. I do get questions like that, and I'm grateful for them...and will continue to encourage them to tell me and not be afraid to share.
HJJNR said:
Whenever I take the kids on walks or trips, my son will run to grab his "Indy kit" as he calls it (Gas mask bag, foam bullwhip, trowel for digging, notepad etc). My nephew loves Superman and his Mum is terrified that when he has the costume on he'll try to "fly" out of an open window or top of climbing frame and heroes don't come much more squeaky clean than Superman.
As Bill Hicks said "If he thought he could fly, why didn't he take off from the ground first and try it out. There's one less doorknob in the world? Wooh! What a tragedy!"
There are qualities Indiana Jones has that are worthy AND fun...and like you those are the things I encourage in my children. I tell them: "you're supposed to imitate the GOOD things people do!" among other things, and I love seeing my boy have fun with a character who doesn't have superpowers.
HJJNR said:
I just don't see any poor examples that can come from being an Indy fan as a child. How old were you when you first saw Indy?
Well, I saw Indy first when I was 11 and I broke my brother's clavicle in a fake fight...those young reader things are targeted to sell to our youth. They are produced to sell, get em young, but the cinematic Indiana Jones is an adult with adult flaws, adult problems and adult solutions, no matter how fantastic.
(Wait till we get to the mixed message master Elsa Schneider! How DARE you kiss me! ...uh Daddy, why did she say, and do, and...)
Crack that whip said:
Hence my use of "FWIW," since I do indeed acknowledge the many shortcomings of the allegedly Ultimate Guide in matters pertaining to dating and chronology. That said, what better sources are there for Marion's birthdate? As I noted, Marion being 17 at the time of the affair does easily still fit...
Hence my follow of your lead. Better sources, I'd say that's to be determined, but the
Ultimate Guide? A step up factually from Beam's "Off The Beaten Path", (barely). As for Marion being 17, no, she was a child, it was wrong and he knew it.
Originally Posted by Rocket Surgeon
The Crystal Skull novel puts a new spin on how they met...(the daughter of a teacher very well may have "skipped" a grade or two but a 15 year old in a graduate class?).
Crack that whip said:
Well, there you go.
There you go what? That it's as unlikely Marion was 15 in a graduate class as they continue to re-write and politically correct their youthful creative inclinations?
Crack that whip said:
He's always going to be rough, with some dark areas, but he was never intended to be an outright villain (not even in those early conceptual stages for Raiders), which is how he's being interpreted here. Some say it's his "darkness" that makes him interesting; I think this is not entirely off the mark, but not quite there either - I think it's his flaws which make him interesting, but that's not the same thing. At the end of the day, he's still a heroic figure, just not a perfect one. I certainly don't think he's a monster, or even a purely self-interested mercenary with no ideals at all, nor was he ever intended to be, and I'm frankly somewhat baffled by folks who apparently not only see him as one, but prefer him as one...
I think I agree with Sharkey, (maybe
) to say he was never intended to be an adult hero is as crazy as saying that he's as much a "monster".