Warning: Spoilers ahead. Don’t read if you don’t want to know what happens.
This was a lot of fun. Was it fun because it’s one of our last nights out before the baby comes, or was it genuinely fun? I think the latter. Much like the first one there was hardly ever a rest of more than two minutes before the action got going again. Marion comes back again (she was great), the music, the jumps, the Nazis – it’s all there.
And yet, it didn’t hold together. None of them hold together that well, but this one in particular. It was next to impossible to suspend disbelief. Within the first twenty minutes, Indiana Jones survives a nuclear bomb. Yes, that’s right, a nuclear bomb. How? By climbing in a lead-lined refrigerator, which is thrown end over end for miles. When I.J. gets out, he seems a little bruised. If this made any sense, when the government found this out they would train the populace in how to survive a nuclear blast this way. Why didn’t they? Because it’s ridiculous.
This was typical of the plot. New elements would be introduced and then forgotten about. Complications were thrown in for no apparent reason. The central secret (SPOILERS!) deals with an interdimensional alien. Who is one being incorporated into thirteen bodies. Why? No reason. Just seemed cool to have thirteen bodies in the movie. It has no effect on the plot. Why is it interdimensional instead of normal space travel? No reason. Just seemed cool to have dimensions. What kind of dimensions? Who knows. No one seems curious enough to ask. The mind control that the alien has? Forgotten about. Besides creating some kind of link in their insane guide (who used to be their best friend but no one seems to be emotionally distraught about it) that little plot line is never heard from again. We even see the Ark again in this movie. It’s funny, but you kind of think that might some reprecussions? The McCarthy era red-hunting plot is unnecessary. The natives attacking Indy as he explores their ruins are unnecessary and never seen again. The actions of his friend and betrayer are inconsistent and don’t add up. Etc.
At one point, Jones is captured and being lectured about mind control. He sneeringly dismisses the whole idea, “I don’t believe in that stuff, that’s just a legend!” Just a legend? Really? This is the same guy who has personally witnessed the power of The Lord! This is a man who has personally met King Arthur’s knight, held The Holy Grail and again witnessed the power of the Almighty! But a legend!? That’s crazy talk lady!
Check your brain at the door and then you’ll enjoy it.