Raider S said:
Can't even the lovers admit it was all a bit too sweet? I didn't hate the movie but only people who are oblivious will deny it didn't have the "edge" of the first two. Crusade was equally sappy, in my opinion.
Whether it's
too sweet is a matter of personal taste. It's true that many of its scenes are lighter, like Crusade, but quite a bit of KOTCS is actually pretty dark, especially in the first half. The warehouse chase, the sanitarium and the cemetary were all fairly serious scenes. I think that certain, sillier parts of the film stand out for people (fridge, sand pit, vines, etc.), and then they feel that the entire film had the tone of those few scenes. I would suggest watching it again but more closely. I've noticed that the film frequently shifts back and forth between a serious Raiders-like tone and a lighter Crusade-style feel.
Edit: I'm just going to explain my view. Here's how I see the scenes in KOTCS, "tonally":
Intro through to Rocket sled: Raiders
Doom Town: Crusade
FBI questioning to Mutt's introduction: Raiders
Arnie's Diner to the end of the motocycle chase: Crusade
Indy's home to the introduction of Marion: Raiders
Indy/Marion arguement to the beginning of the jungle chase: Crusade
Jungle chase up until the sword fight: Raiders
Sword fight, vine swinging: Crusade
Ants, Dovchenko Fight: Raiders
Escape over cliff, three waterfalls: Crusade
Discovery of Ugha cave drawings: Raiders
Ugha Chase to the Artifact room: Crusade
Artifact room to the "activation" of the spaceship: Raiders
Escape from Akator, spaceship, and ending.: Crusade