This came up the other day when the report of the warehouse where the Ark is being kept, was being built. Someone came up with a possible scenerio.
What if the Russians obtain the crystal skulls and start doing lots of damage as everyone watches helplessly, but Indy realises where there is another powerful weapon, the Ark, and so he goes to get it to battle the power of the Skulls.
I just thought I'd mention the scenerio here. let the discussion begin.
What if the Russians obtain the crystal skulls and start doing lots of damage as everyone watches helplessly, but Indy realises where there is another powerful weapon, the Ark, and so he goes to get it to battle the power of the Skulls.
I think that would officially make Indy 4 the worst movie ever.
Location: Skull Island (the spiders get in everything!).
Posts: 2,112
Quote:
Originally Posted by bergstrom
This came up the other day when the report of the warehouse where the Ark is being kept, was being built. Someone came up with a possible scenerio.
What if the Russians obtain the crystal skulls and start doing lots of damage as everyone watches helplessly, but Indy realises where there is another powerful weapon, the Ark, and so he goes to get it to battle the power of the Skulls.
I just thought I'd mention the scenerio here. let the discussion begin.
Berg
That sounds reasonable, Berg. If they do plan that, I would be more willing to accept the Ark rumors. After all, it makes for a nice twist that the Ark, originally a destructive weapon, will help save the world. Good irony, right? And it would explain Abner's return, since he's an Ark expert...
Hell with it, I actually like that idea! Maybe the Russians are trying to steal the Ark to prevent this very thing, and that's why Abner is in trouble because the Russians need his knowledge and Indy is called in both to rescue his former teacher and get the Ark again. All while trying to steal the Crystal Skulls (in the name of "fortune and glory"), of course...
I cant see that happen.
In Indys movies the rest of the world isn't aware how in danger it is.
Indiana saves the day and remains an anonymous hero.
Ditto.
I just can't picture Indy grabbing the Ark, flipping the lid off, and letting the spirits lose to kill the Russians. It sounds like a cheesy idea and would feel like a cop-out Indy to me.
That sounds reasonable, Berg. If they do plan that, I would be more willing to accept the Ark rumors. After all, it makes for a nice twist that the Ark, originally a destructive weapon, will help save the world. Good irony, right? And it would explain Abner's return, since he's an Ark expert...
Hell with it, I actually like that idea! Maybe the Russians are trying to steal the Ark to prevent this very thing, and that's why Abner is in trouble because the Russians need his knowledge and Indy is called in both to rescue his former teacher and get the Ark again. All while trying to steal the Crystal Skulls (in the name of "fortune and glory"), of course...
Yeah, I like your way of thinking there. Evil instrument used for good. Fight fire with fire or something.
Hi Kingsley, I meant that the Russians may do damage in a certain small area before moving onto world domination, but Indy saves the day before that happens, not many know about it, and he still remains an anonymous hero.
Or how about the US govt. threateans to use it in retaliation if the Russians get the Crystal Skulls and give Indy a ultimatum to stop the Soviets or else. It's play up the arms race thing with a supernatural spin. Obviously Indy would not be in favor of either being used as a weapon.
Or how about the US govt. threateans to use it in retaliation if the Russians get the Crystal Skulls and give Indy a ultimatum to stop the Soviets or else. It's play up the arms race thing with a supernatural spin. Obviously Indy would not be in favor of either being used as a weapon.
Mmmm, I'm not convinced either. In the other movies the artifacts power isn't clear until the end. Doubting about its true value and power is part of the expectation.
I think the ark will not appear (maybe the warehouse), and the crystal skull (only one) will open the gate to the Kingdom.
"how about the US govt. threateans(sic) to use it"
Use it how?!?! The last person who tried to use it got 'crispy-crittered'.... It's not like they've been 'running tests'. The Ark was nailed into that crate, wheeled into that warehouse, and then 'lost' like JFKs brain, never to be seen again. Anything that changes that is a lame idea.
"Hey, I'm out at Nakatomi. Say, would it be possible for you to shut down grid 212. No {censored for your pleasure}, it's my ass. Just shut it down now!"
"I don't think so"
(sorry for the multiple pop culture references....50 points if you can name all 5 of them)
"The Ark is a radio for talking to God."
Except that line is said by the delusional character, and is proved wrong later, when he opens it and gets melted.
"Hey, I'm out at Nakatomi. Say, would it be possible for you to shut down grid 212. No {censored for your pleasure}, it's my ass. Just shut it down now!"
"I don't think so"
(sorry for the multiple pop culture references....50 points if you can name all 5 of them)
Hmm... what would Jesus Do? and Die Hard... other than that... I dunno.
Location: The Host City of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia
Posts: 3,158
I still not sold on the Crystal Skull. Even with Lucas now trying to defend it when talking about the trailer being released for Christmas. I would rather have a Raiders 2, than the film that seems to be forming in my head from what we know and think we know. I would feel better if I knew for certain that "The Kingdom" itself is really the MacGuffin and NOT the skull. That would completely change my perspective on the film, a glimmer of hope, per say.
But Ark versus the Crystal Skull in the film itself, lame as much as I'd like to see the Ark in this one.
Can we all not agree (or many of us) that at the very least, the crystal skulls are more intriguing than the made-up Sankara Stones?
The existing crystal skulls are said to all be "fakes," meaning, there are in fact real crystal skulls, or allusions to them that seem to make them real, in the Native cultures of South/Central America. That fact alone--that the myth actually exists, and that it's tied to a real-life ancient culture--is enough for me. In that respect the skulls are closer to the Ark and Grail. Ancient Mayan culture may not have the same weight in people's minds as the roots of Christianity, but it's certainly solid material to work with.
I mean, come on, some eggplant-shaped rocks that bring "life force" to a little village...? I'm not sure what people are complaining about with the crystal skull. It's vastly more interesting than Temple's relic(s).
Here is what I think: Somebody (maybe Indy, maybe not) is trying to get the Ark from the government. They steal the wrong crate (hence the transposed crate numbers). This crate contains something to do with the crystal skull. The warehouse in ROTLA is Area 51. While whoever it is is stealing the crate, we get a nod to alien artifiacts being in the warehouse (a la the nod to the ark in the Venetian catacombs).
Evidence: It seems there are pretty good rumors that the movie involves the ark in some fashion. Crystal skull(s) is obvious. The transposed crate numbers seem to back this up.
Pop culture has everybody beleiving that Area 51 is an alien morgue and flying saucer garage. Assuming you dont believe in the alien stuff, and assuming there is an actual Area 51, it is a place where the government develops and stores secret technologies- not nessecarily an alien connection, but an in-joke about Roswell or something could be funny. If Area 51 really exists, and aliens don't, then it's probably just the place the government would take the ark to have 'top men' work on it.
The clip showing Indy being held by two American soldiers (they are GIs in 1950s Army uniforms and insignia), could be at Area 51 where he is apprehended trying to steal the ark.
I thought the Shankara stones were great, I didn't care that they were something made up just for the film. But anyway, Krystal Skulls have been known for much longer, it's not something Lucas is making up anyway. I'm sold on the idea so far, I prefer it to bringing back the ark.
I still not sold on the Crystal Skull. Even with Lucas now trying to defend it when talking about the trailer being released for Christmas. I would rather have a Raiders 2, than the film that seems to be forming in my head from what we know and think we know. I would feel better if I knew for certain that "The Kingdom" itself is really the MacGuffin and NOT the skull. That would completely change my perspective on the film, a glimmer of hope, per say.
But Ark versus the Crystal Skull in the film itself, lame as much as I'd like to see the Ark in this one.
This brings up a good point- crystal skull(s) as an artifact may not play a part in the story at all. Indy could be searching for the kingdom and never encounter an actual skull. Also the kingdom may not nessecarily be a place, but could be a group of people or something else. Searching for a legendary place, though, would be something different from the other movies, where he was always searching for an artifact.
Maybe the crystal skull isn't the mcguffin, perhaps the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is just where Indiana goes in search of whatever he is looking for...
And even if it is... whatever he is going after is merely an object that you see for a couple of moments in the film... it's important, but does not make it a great movie alone. I mean, we only see the Sankara stones a few times... we only see the grail at the very end.
Ok, the ark sequence was bad ass. Yeah, but we all know nothing will top Raiders OR the Ark so that just doesn't count.
The part of the movie we should be more concerned about is everything in-between the few minutes of footage of the skull... ya know, that hour or two of the story.
The part of the movie we should be more concerned about is everything in-between the few minutes of footage of the skull... ya know, that hour or two of the story.
Exactly, Lucas and Spielberg have two hours to give us a good story, and at the same time to make us care for the five minutes we will get of crystal skull.
They couldn't do that with the Sankara stones for me, but the ride was preety good!
hahaha Indy just busting open the Ark destroying all the Russians.
