The Man said:
The Hangar 51 sequence felt somehow stodgy, like a awkward dress-rehearsal for the real deal. No dynamic whatsoever. The sight of the alien claw bathed in torchlight was one of the few memorable Spielbergian shots from the movie, however.
I couldn't disagree more. The entire opening is like a catalog of Spielberg sensibilities.
We had a little get-together after the press screening and this was one of the first things that we all agreed on. The opening
felt like Spielberg through and through. So many great small touches, from Dovchenko's bootlaces, to Mac and Indy's intros, to the opening of the warehouse doors, to Spalko's rapier play, to Indy ascending the crates and on and on. Great pace and great framing of shots.
Niteshade007 said:
Indy doesn't have to say "Like that time you screwed me over in Zanzibar. You remember, don't you? We were younger then."
I don't recall this line. There was a super brief reference to a past skirmish in Flensberg, but it was just enough to let you know they had a history of adventures together. I loved that dialogue, especially the world-weary snap of
"Put your hands down...."...
Niteshade007 said:
The one line that I like? "You don't know him, Boris. You don't know him!"
This line is great, the first 20 times it is repeated. Apparently, Boris also doesn't know brakes or steering wheels either.
Area 51 is, if I had to choose, my favorite section of the film. It's brimming with style. There are so many great shots. The kickass intro of Indy is my 2nd favorite of the series. The introduction of Spalko and the warehouse, along with the great action set piece that takes Indy up and down and back up and down various levels via crates, rafters, and an observatory skylight....it all results in one of the more memorable openings to a film.
My only gripe would be the illogical staging of the standoff between Indy and the Russians after the alien reveal. Makes little to no sense how that would have worked out that way...