Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - The nostalgic last of the 'original' Indy movies

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Striking new and familiar characters and thrilling situations are teased on this expert poster for Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

It is 1938, and Indiana Jones' estranged father has gone missing in a search for the Holy Grail. Up against the ruthless Nazis once again, Indiana must save his father and obtain the Grail.

 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is written by Jeffrey Boam (The Phantom (1996)), with George Lucas (American Graffiti (1973)) and Menno Meyjes (The Siege (1998)) contributing story elements, and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 10th feature it is. It is the 3rd in the Indiana Jones franchise.

The weakest in the 'original trilogy' in my opinion, Last Crusade is still a terrific adventure film. Many have expressed that its strength is its father/son story-line and the scenes of Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)) and Sean Connery (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)) in this capacity. I would only partially agree: Although Connery - and Denholm Elliott (Keys to Freedom (1988)) as another endearing geezer, the character Marcus Brody, - are good fun, I still think that Ford's interplay with Karen Allen (in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)) and Kate Capshaw (in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)) is more potent.

The pace is decreased, especially from the wonderfully hectic Temple of Doom, but there are many fun moments along the way. Best, however, may be the opening minutes, which introduces us to Indiana Jones as a boy, in the guise of the fantastic River Phoenix (Little Nikita (1988)), in a fabulous sequence on horseback and circus train (!) across the gorgeous Utah plains.

 

Related posts:

Indiana Jones franchise: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - The ultimate thrill ride for a child (and many adults too!) 

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure
Steven Spielberg: The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
The Post (2017) - Spielberg returns to mastery with a thrilling salute to the virtues of real, critical, brave journalism
2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V]
Lincoln (2012) - Spielberg's inspiring presidential portrait stands tall 
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Super 8 (2011) - Abrams' nostalgic family crowdpleaser (producer)

The 2000s in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

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A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - A robot fairy tale with both heart and mind
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Hook (1991) - Arr, Spielbergian folly 
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Spielberg's grand production of boy-in-China-during-WWII is a misfire

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (story)  

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - The ultimate thrill ride for a child (and many adults too!)
Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) - Fear takes many forms in tragedy-struck anthology

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Spielberg's greatest accomplishment

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure 
1941 (1979) - Spielberg's bizarre 'comedy spectacular' sinks like a rock  
Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Duel (1971) - Spielberg's truck terror is ideal afternoon fare

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 48 mil. $

Box office: 474.2 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 9.87 times its cost)

[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was released 24 May (North America) and runs 128 minutes. Several story-lines were developed into scripts before getting thrown out in the years leading up to the production for various reasons. Ford was paid 4.9 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from May - September 1988 in England, including in London, Jordan, Spain, Italy, Germany, California, including in San Francisco, Utah, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. The film opened #1 to a 29.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed #1 for another weekend and spent another 5 in the top 5 (#2-#2-#4-#5-#5), grossing 197.1 mil. $ (41.6 % of the total gross). It was the highest-grossing film of the year globally but the 3rd highest-grossing of the year in North America, behind Batman, selling approximately 49 mil. tickets domestically. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, winning for Best Sound Effects Editing. It lost Best Score (John Williams) to Alan Menken for The Little Mermaid and Best Sound to Glory. It was also nominated for 3 BAFTAs, a Golden Globe and a Grammy, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. IMDb's users have rated the film in at #117 on the site's Top 250, sitting between A Separation (2011) and Die Hard (1988). Indiana Jones returned in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) with returning star and filmmakers. Spielberg first returned with Always (1989). Ford returned first in Presumed Innocent (1990); Connery in Family Business (1989). Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is certified fresh at 84 % with an 8.00/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - The ultimate thrill ride for a child (and many adults too!)

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Vivid characters and dramatic situations in wild colors adorn this spectacular poster for Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Years prior to the events in Raiders of the lost Ark (1981), archeologist/explorer Indiana Jones is escaping a volatile situation in Shanghai, as he finds himself, along with two companions, recruited to help an impoverished Indian village whose children have been stolen ...

 

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz (American Graffiti (1973), both), with George Lucas (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)) contributing story elements, - and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 7th feature it is. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and a prequel to the first film.

My personal favorite in the beloved series, although widely discarded as "too dark" and "less comedic", I say that Temple of Doom is the ultimate adventure movie: A maddeningly paced spectacle that feels like one long delicious chase. It is stuffed with evil Chinese and Indians, mystical elements, horror, action and wonderful performances: Harrison Ford (The Fugitive (1993)) is tremendous as the exemplary man hero; Kate Capshaw (Love Affair (1994)) is terrific as the nightclub singer tag-along who is not well equipped for India; but it is Ke Huy Quan (Encino Man (1992)) who takes the cake and enriches the film most profoundly throughout as the fresh-faced mirth-maker 'Short Round'. 

Spiced with unforgettable set pieces such as the mine scene, the dinner scene, - but perhaps most unforgettable, the bug scene, which stands tall as among the grossest scenes in cinema history. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom also has a hugely fulfilling ending. It is a complete masterpiece.

 

Related posts:

Indiana Jones franchise: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure
Steven Spielberg: The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
The Post (2017) - Spielberg returns to mastery with a thrilling salute to the virtues of real, critical, brave journalism
2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V]
Lincoln (2012) - Spielberg's inspiring presidential portrait stands tall 
War Horse (2011) - Spielberg visits WWI with problematic horse drama  
The Adventures of Tintin/The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011) - Affinities for Tintin, earlier Spielberg and film will decide your experience of this 3D mo-cap adventure
Super 8 (2011) - Abrams' nostalgic family crowdpleaser (producer)

The 2000s in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Munich (2005) - Spielberg wrings a brilliant spy thriller from fraught real-life massacre and its aftermath

Top 10: Best HBO titles 

2001 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Band of Brothers - TV mini-series (2001) - WWII-sacrifice and -comradeship portrayed with skill and integrity (producer) 

Top 10: Best future-set movies 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - A robot fairy tale with both heart and mind
Amistad (1997) or, Must... Free... Slaves! 

Hook (1991) - Arr, Spielbergian folly 
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Spielberg's grand production of boy-in-China-during-WWII is a misfire

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (story) 
Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) - Fear takes many forms in tragedy-struck anthology

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Spielberg's greatest accomplishment
1941 (1979) - Spielberg's bizarre 'comedy spectacular' sinks like a rock  
Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Duel (1971) - Spielberg's truck terror is ideal afternoon fare 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 28.17 mil. $

Box office: 333.1 mil. $

= Blockbuster (returned 11.82 times its cost)

[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom premiered 8 May (California) and runs 118 minutes. Ford was reportedly paid 4.5 mil. $ for his performance, mysteriously less than the 5.9 mil. $ he reportedly commanded for the first film. Shooting took place from April - September 1983, with reshoots in January 1984, in England, California, Arizona, Washington, Florida, Sri Lanka and China. The film opened #1 to a 25.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 5 weeks in the top 5 (#2-#3-#3-#3-#5), grossing 179.8 mil. $ (54 % of the total gross). It was the highest-grossing film of the year globally and the 3rd highest-grossing in North America, behind Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters, where it sold 53.5 mil. tickets. Due to critique of the film's PG-rating and at the insistence of Spielberg, also influenced by the release two weeks later of the Spielberg executive-produced Gremlins (1984), the MPAA created the PG-13 rating for similarly intense, violent fare appropriate for older children. The film was nominated for 2 Oscars, winning for Best Visual Effects. It lost Best Score (John Williams) to Maurice Jarre for A Passage to India. It also won 1/4 BAFTA nominations, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Spielberg later distanced himself from the film, whereas Lucas and Ford have spoken lovingly about it. Indiana Jones returned in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) with returning star and filmmakers. Spielberg first returned with Strokes of Genius (1984, miniseries, segments), Amazing Stories (1985, TV-series) and theatrically with The Color Purple (1985). Ford returned in Witness (1985). Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is certified fresh at 77 % with a 7.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? 

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure

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Wonderfully crafted poster with lots of details and the irresistible title art for Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark

Archeologist, teacher and adventurer Indiana Jones is briefed by US intelligence services that the Nazis are searching for the mythical Lost Ark in Egypt, believing that it will make their army invincible. - But not if Jones finds it first!

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark is written by Lawrence Kasdan (Dreamcatcher (2003)), with Philip Kaufman (Rising Sun (1993)) and George Lucas (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)) contributing story elements, and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 5th feature it is.

It is a pure breed of film, a rare experience in excitement, fun and imagination; thrilling, colorful and crammed with fantastic action sequences and magnificent music (score by John Williams (The Post (2017))), as well as unforgettable, charismatic performances by Harrison Ford (Ender's Game (2013)), Karen Allen (Year by the Sea (2016)) as Marion Ravenwood and Ronald Lacey (Valmont (1989)) as the ultra-evil German Toht. 

The scenes that will etch themselves into your memory for all their unique charms, ingenuity and general awesomeness are pretty much standing in line in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Related posts:

Steven Spielberg: The Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
The Post (2017) - Spielberg returns to mastery with a thrilling salute to the virtues of real, critical, brave journalism
2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V]
Lincoln (2012) - Spielberg's inspiring presidential portrait stands tall 
War Horse (2011) - Spielberg visits WWI with problematic horse drama  
The Adventures of Tintin/The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011) - Affinities for Tintin, earlier Spielberg and film will decide your experience of this 3D mo-cap adventure
Super 8 (2011) - Abrams' nostalgic family crowdpleaser (producer)

The 2000s in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Munich (2005) - Spielberg wrings a brilliant spy thriller from fraught real-life massacre and its aftermath

Top 10: Best HBO titles 

2001 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Band of Brothers - TV mini-series (2001) - WWII-sacrifice and -comradeship portrayed with skill and integrity (producer) 

Top 10: Best future-set movies 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - A robot fairy tale with both heart and mind
Amistad (1997) or, Must... Free... Slaves! 

Hook (1991) - Arr, Spielbergian folly 
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Spielberg's grand production of boy-in-China-during-WWII is a misfire

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (story) 
Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) - Fear takes many forms in tragedy-struck anthology

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Spielberg's greatest accomplishment
1941 (1979) - Spielberg's bizarre 'comedy spectacular' sinks like a rock  
Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Duel (1971) - Spielberg's truck terror is ideal afternoon fare 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 18-20 mil. $ (different accounts)

Box office: 389.9 mil. $

= Blockbuster (returned 20.52 times its cost)

[Raiders of the Lost Ark was released 12 June (North America) and runs 115 minutes. Spielberg was reportedly paid 1.5 mil. $ for directing, while Lucas got reportedly 2.5 mil. $ for his inputs, plus a gross percentage for Spielberg and a profit participation for Lucas, likely running into a huge multi-million dollar backend payment for both. Ford was paid 5.9 mil. $ for his performance, while Alfred Molina received 2.5k $ per week. Shooting took place from June - September 1980 in England, France, Tunisia, Arizona, Hawaii and California, including in San Francisco. The film opened #1 to an 8.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it climbed the charts again after a few weeks and regained #1 in its 6th week, spending most of the following 9 weeks at #1 and a total of 40 weeks in the Top 10. It was the highest-grossing film of the year, grossing 212.2 mil. $ in North America (54.4 % of the total gross). Several re-releases continued to grow the total gross, and VHS and later DVD and Blu-ray releases further increased to amazing profitability. The film was nominated for 9 Oscars, winning 5; for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Sound, Editing, Visual Effects and a Special Achievement Oscar for Sound Effects Editing. It lost Best Cinematography (Douglas Slocombe (Nijinski (1980))) to Vittorio Storaro for Reds, Director to Warren Beatty for Reds, Score to Vangelis for Chariots of Fire and Picture also to Chariots of Fire. It also won 1/7 BAFTA nominations, was nominated for a César award, a Golden Globe, won a Grammy and a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. The film spun a franchise with the next film, with Ford, Spielberg and others returning, being Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). IMDb's users have rated the film in at #60 on the site's Top 250 list, sitting between Wall-E (2008) and The Lives of Others (2006). Spielberg first returned with E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982). Ford first returned in Blade Runner (1982). Raiders of the Lost Ark is certified fresh at 93 % with a 9.0/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Raiders of the Lost Ark?

Top 10: Best heist movies

 

1. The Asphalt Jungle (1950) - John Huston

 

2. Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Steven Soderbergh

 

3. Good Time (2017) - Benny & Josh Safdie

 

4. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - Arthur Penn

 

5. Charley Varrick (1973) - Don Siegel 

 

6. High Sierra (1941) - Raoul Walsh  

 

7. Heat (1995) - Michael Mann

8. Inside Man (2006) - Spike Lee

 

 

9. Hell or High Water (2016) - David Mackenzie  

10. Bandits (2001) - Barry Levinson

Selected from 43 titles labeled 'heist'

Previous Top 10 lists:

Best action movies
Best adapted movies
Best adventure movies
Best 'big flop' movies
Best B/W movies
Best true story movies
Best 'big hit' movies
Best biopic movies
Best 'box office success' movies
Best car chases in movies
Best comedies
Best cop movies       
Best crime movies 
Best debut movies   
Best Danish movies
Best Disney movies 
Best documentaries 
Best dramas
Best drama-thrillers
Best dramedies

Best drug-themed movies

Best UK movies

Best epic movies

Best erotic movies

Best family movies

Best fantasy movies

Best films about filmmaking 

Best first-of-franchise movies 

Best 'flop' rank movies

Best Twentieth Century Fox titles 

Best French movies

Best franchise movies 

Best future-set movies 

Best gangster movies

Best gay-themed titles

Best German movies 

Best ghost horror movies 

Best gore movies

Top 10: Best HBO titles

What do you think of the list?
Which heist movies would make your personal Top 10?