Team Indy said:
Granted, are Raiders, Crusade, and Crystal Skull upbeat movies as well? Except for fun highlights that make the movie, when you think about it, the overall tone of the entire series is grim, nasty, and cruel... just like reality. Apparently, divorce is not an issue when making an Indy film.
I agree that all three of the original trilogy had dark and 'horrific' moments. It's just that in TOD those moments are more sustained:
Indy double crossed by Lao
Willie more interested in the diamond than the antidote for Indy
Shorty was a pickpocket desperate to escape the streets of Shanghai, and to have parents again
Even the poor chickens died in the 'plane crash!
The starving Indian community who have lost their children
The disgusting dinner
The attempted strangling of Indy
The Thuggee whip-strangled by the ceiling fan - remember that Indy sent Shorty went back to collect that whip
The bug scene
The heart ripping and human sacrifice
Blood drinking
Willie on the verge of igniting over the lava pit
'Innocent' guards are necessarily killed - these aren't evil men, they're under the same spell as Indy
Indy tortured with a voodoo doll
The chief Thuggee crushed to bloody pulp...
It's pretty relelentless, like a journey through purgatory. TOD inflicts pain, suffering and death upon innocents, whereas in the other films the victims are more deserving of their suffering.
I know the film was one that lead to the creation of a new certificate to protect younger children. The book itself reads like a genuine horror story. I like both the book and the film as it adds another dimension to the series.
I don't know if Indy is really redeemed, but it was his decision to go to Pankot after the escaped Indian boy fell into his arms. So, I guess he did set the rescue in motion, even though he spends much of the time as Mola's puppet. Shorty prides himself as Indy's bodyguard, so he has to take over.
Team Indy said:
I had no idea that Shorty was the one who inspired the slave revolt. I thought it was all Indy's idea. Apparently, I was half-asleep when I saw the movie.
Inspired as in, once he broke free the other slaves saw that they had a real chance of escape, and turned on their guards after Shorty runs. In the novel the chains are rusty and, although Shorty has to hit them with a rock many times, they finally break. In the film it appears he breaks them far more easily. Once some of the guards have been taken care of Shorty and Willie are able to unlock groups of the slaves.
I can't remember if it was in the film, but there is a scene in the novel where a guard gets lava on his leg and he breaks out from the dark spell of Kali. That's how Shorty knows that burning Indy will cure him of his hallucination.
Team Indy said:
So, you compared a "cheesy summer popcorn movie" to the classic "1984" and made it sound as brilliant as that? Can you imagine how many people would sneer at such a comment? My hat's off to you, sir, for speaking the truth.
Having graduated with English Literature and History you see connections and influences in all sorts of places. No matter how 'cheesy' a movie, as long as it inspires people to talk (or write) and think, it can't be half bad! As a result, there's a lot of thoughtful writing here at The Raven, compared to many other forums I've read. It's fun revisting the films like this, as I keep seeing new ideas and influences myself, which in turn make the films even richer.
