Consider that the Ark of the Covenant and Holy Grail are very firmly established relics of lore in Western culture. The Ark is less known but has a Biblical background and Grail lore has been a part of the West for centuries. The Sankara Stones, while less accessible to Western audiences, were developed enough at least within the actual film to be shown to pose some threat (They could be used to turn entire villages to dust and cause famines, for example - they had that level of power).
The aliens, I feel, on the other hand were underdeveloped. The film asks the audience many more questions than it answers, and, when using an already controversial idea, that's a problem.
-The Aliens are shown to be a hive mind, only in operation when all heads are attached. Yet one lone skull has mind control abilities?
-The Aliens supposedly helped the Ugha Tribe develop technologies and civilization far beyond that of the modern era, but we get to Akator and it is a pretty average ancient Mayan/Peruvian type ruin. There are no signs of paved roads or advanced technologies.
-The Aliens seem to have been "archaeologists" of humanity, but this angle is never fully developed or explored. Does this mean they guided all of mankind's civilizations? Or simply studied them?
-Why settle their ship in Peru? Why settle on Earth, period?
-Why did none of the Ugha attempt to reclaim the Skull for their Gods?
-How did a 15th or 16th century warrior manage to behead an almost god-like alien being?
-Why in 500 years were no other aliens (like the "distant cousin" at Roswell) able to find Akator?
-If the city temple was MEANT to be found, and it seems the aliens wanted the skull returned, why the barriers and booby traps? The Grail was not meant to be found except by one worthy man or woman. The Ark was lost to history and sealed away because it was dangerous. The Temple of Doom has booby traps because it is a secret society attempting to remain secret and infiltrate mainstream Indian culture and they do not wish to be found. But the aliens want the skull to be returned, so why barriers, why traps?
-Why did the Skull only seem to mildly influence Indy, but turned Oxley into raving lunatic? Why did the return of the Skull to the Alien cure Oxley?
I just feel that it's not that Indiana Jones meets Aliens is the issue; it's how underdeveloped the alien angle - ripe for creating a new mythology around - is.
The aliens, I feel, on the other hand were underdeveloped. The film asks the audience many more questions than it answers, and, when using an already controversial idea, that's a problem.
-The Aliens are shown to be a hive mind, only in operation when all heads are attached. Yet one lone skull has mind control abilities?
-The Aliens supposedly helped the Ugha Tribe develop technologies and civilization far beyond that of the modern era, but we get to Akator and it is a pretty average ancient Mayan/Peruvian type ruin. There are no signs of paved roads or advanced technologies.
-The Aliens seem to have been "archaeologists" of humanity, but this angle is never fully developed or explored. Does this mean they guided all of mankind's civilizations? Or simply studied them?
-Why settle their ship in Peru? Why settle on Earth, period?
-Why did none of the Ugha attempt to reclaim the Skull for their Gods?
-How did a 15th or 16th century warrior manage to behead an almost god-like alien being?
-Why in 500 years were no other aliens (like the "distant cousin" at Roswell) able to find Akator?
-If the city temple was MEANT to be found, and it seems the aliens wanted the skull returned, why the barriers and booby traps? The Grail was not meant to be found except by one worthy man or woman. The Ark was lost to history and sealed away because it was dangerous. The Temple of Doom has booby traps because it is a secret society attempting to remain secret and infiltrate mainstream Indian culture and they do not wish to be found. But the aliens want the skull to be returned, so why barriers, why traps?
-Why did the Skull only seem to mildly influence Indy, but turned Oxley into raving lunatic? Why did the return of the Skull to the Alien cure Oxley?
I just feel that it's not that Indiana Jones meets Aliens is the issue; it's how underdeveloped the alien angle - ripe for creating a new mythology around - is.