blur said:
Thanks for that, Sun Tzu I would put forward the idea, however, that a lot of Indy's wins come through luck - pure and simple. It's written into the character that he gets into situations he cannot control and barely scrapes through. It creates the sense of drama that we enjoy in these films. We do not watch these films expecting Indy to be the ultimate fighting machine or the ultimate tactician... we watch them to see what accidental occurance will get him out of his next scrape. And that is why I disagree with your POV. I don't rate Indy as a tactician at all. He's far too impetuous. Just look at his big plan for blowing up the Ark in Raiders for starters.
Yes, I agree I wouldn?t rate Indy with the greatest generals of all time, and he relies on luck fairly often. So, while I would call Indy ? the ultimate fighting machine or the ultimate tactician?, I would call him a master of thinking on his feet or desperation tactics. He has a very good way of thinking about cause and effect, in ways that are usually ?outside the box.? Since, you brought up the rocket launcher incident, here are some example of what I mean outside strict combat situations.
1. Toppling the statues in the Well of Souls to bust through the wall.
2. Letting the Flying Wing take care of the German Mechanic.
3. Using his feet to stop the mine car.
4. Chopping the rope bridge to even the odds.
5. Flipping over Sir Richard?s coffin to escape the conflagration in the catacombs.
6. Going outside and swinging into his Dad?s alarmed room.
7. Using the bust of Hitler to stop the secret fireplace door.
8. Taking a flagpole to joust with the Nazi biker.
9. Using a rock to knock out one of the tank's cannons.
I?m sure other people could come up with other examples. Even if he?s not always sure how it?s going to turn out, Indy?s mind is a central part to his fighting style. It is this factor that makes him a superior fighter. Everything he does doesn't always work out, and Indy needs to be saved by luck (the spike chamber, hanging off the tank gun). BUT.....
Luck - pure and simple??? I think not, Herr Donovan.