Major West
Member
Another key point is that the Russians just don't quite have the same threat and menace as the Nazi's. Both Raiders and Crusade have that instant without needing to think twice about it audience reaction of not wanting the Nazi's to win, whatever the mcuffin might be. The Ark for example, an invincible power, but who do we really not want to have it? The Nazi's.
Temple of Doom was the other movie with the weaker threat. Did the audience really care about the power of the stones, not really. Rescuing the children was the key part, but even then that's easily forgotten until the moment that they are freed. Temple has the momentum of the action to support it though, but until Skull came out ToD was generally considered to be the weaker of the first three movies. I said generally, before somebody chimes in with it being their favourite.
Of course you can't really go back to the Nazi's when you resume a film series and the star is 25 years older. If they ever do a reboot of the series, I propose they keep the films in the 30s and 40s for this reason.
Temple of Doom was the other movie with the weaker threat. Did the audience really care about the power of the stones, not really. Rescuing the children was the key part, but even then that's easily forgotten until the moment that they are freed. Temple has the momentum of the action to support it though, but until Skull came out ToD was generally considered to be the weaker of the first three movies. I said generally, before somebody chimes in with it being their favourite.
Of course you can't really go back to the Nazi's when you resume a film series and the star is 25 years older. If they ever do a reboot of the series, I propose they keep the films in the 30s and 40s for this reason.