What is your favorite Indiana Jones movie?

[Joshua Randall]

I'm not the first to say this, by IMO, Raiders of the Lost Ark has perfect pacing. There is just enough story to string the audacious action sequences together, but not too much of the latter to take it over the top. (Well, more over the top. You know what I mean.) Raiders should be required viewing for would-be film-makers.

 

[Altalazar]

Nothing beats Raiders - but I really enjoyed all three.

 

[Orius]

I think maybe some cultural perspective may be at play here. Assuming an American audience here (and I mean North American in general), a quest for the Ark of the Covenant or Holy Grail probably resonates etter than those stones from Doom. American audiences I think understand the significance of the Ark or Grail more than the stones.

And there's also villains. Sure, Doom has those evil cultists, but the other two have the Ultimate Movie Villains -- Nazis. Mola Ram (?) can rip out the hearts of as many people, and enslave as many children as the want, but they still won't be seen as evil as Nazis. Besides, it's much more fun to see Nazis getting utterly obliterated by the wrath of God than seeing Shiva smack Mola with some retribution.

 

[Thanee]

Voted for 3, altho 1 is very close. 2 loses out by far, tho.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Uruk]

Sorry, had to choose Temple of Doom. I just found all the mid-eastern mysticism to be more interesting than the judeo-christian mythology. Either way I've got the boxset and enjoy all three (though I've only watched Temple on DVD). Not to mention I got my ever useful undergraduate degree in anthropology.

 

[milotha]

I'm definitely an old school girl. Give me Raiders of the Lost Ark anyday, especially the infamous scene where Indie shots the guy with the swords. Though, I did like the Last Crusade. The interplay between Indie and his dad was funny, and a nice parody. I didn't care much for the Temple of Doom. The story was too kid-centric for me

 

[reapersaurus]

I'm baffled as to how anyone could possibly choose Crusade over Raiders.

Anyone care to fill me in?

Crusade was a derivative, tired mess compared to the original.

 

[Dinkeldog]

I said Raiders, but really this poll is kind of like asking what the best kind of chocolate is. The answer is the kind that I'm eating right now.

 

[nikolai]

I'm baffled as to how anyone could possibly choose Crusade over Raiders.

I been thinking about this. If you watch the films just for the action I can see why you'd choose Crusade, which has an action set-piece every 15 minutes or so. The best bits of Raiders surround the uncovering of the Ark and the setup to the Ark. There are large chunks of the film where there isn't any action: from the Cairo street scenes to the plane, and then from the submarine to the end. So if you are watching the films for the fights and the stunts, you're probably going to choose Crusade.

 

[Mark]

Although I though the first and third movies were great, I have a special place in my heart for the Temple of Doom. As an Asian Indian, I never get tired of jokes about how I enjoy a good eyeball soup or the occasional chilled monkey brain.

I feel compelled to chuckle nervously at your joke lest you use one of your powers and draw my still beating heart from my chest for you own amusement...