In BBT Mayim Bialik argues that Indy's presence is totally irrelevant to the plot of the movie since in the end the Nazis get the ark, open it and die anyway. I think this is a significant writing flaw from a dramaturgical point of view and seriously hurts the Indy character.
What do you think?
Death solves all problems. - Stalin
Women don't know anything about action movies.
i told you not to stop, now lets go - Apocalypse Now
Frankly I just want to say knowing Belloq, it was probably always his plan to test the ark on that island. If Indy isn't there, then all the Nazis on that island die and eventually when it's taken to Berlin and when opened up in front of Hitler and he and all the nazis in Berlin are killed. God isn't going to allow evil people to manipulate the ark.
He's going to kill anyone who does so. Heck it's proven in the bible. At one point (I can't remember which Old Testament book) one of the enemies of Israel get ahold of the Ark and God through the Ark causes their crops to go bad and also makes a majority of them sick. They end up having to give the Ark back to the Israelites in order to survive. Same thing for anyone who tries to use the Ark for evil.
"1-800 Spank me? I know that number." Scott Calvin, The Santa Clause.
Thats some interesting fairy tale. But in movie reality Indy clearly states "Close your eyes!". Does he close his and marians eyes cause of .... reason? The ark within this movie clearly kills anything within some range. No matter if the people are good or bad.
shareAnalyzing a movie with the "plot" as the most important thing is a really banal way to go about it. Indy may be irrelevant to the story, but the story isn't irrelevant to the development of his character, which is what the movie is really about.
shareWithout Indy (and Brody), the US intelligence services would not have understood the communique referring to Ravenwood, why Ravenwood was important, that it was the Ark they were after, where the staff headpiece might be, where the well of souls was.
Indy, Brody, Marion and Sallah found the Ark. Not the Nazis even though they spent the most effort looking in the wrong places. They took it from Indy, just like idol was taken from him at the beginning, but it blew up in their face when they tried to enjoy the spoils.
Indy only found the ark cause he got the talisman from Mirian. And the Nazis already were on their way to Mirian to get the talisman. So without Indy got the talsiman before them, they would have found the ark even earlier, cause they didnt ahd to deal with one side of the talisman (for obvious reasosn), but instead would have gotten the real taisman and therefor searched instantly at the correct spot.
But ... as stated here ..... Indy saved the ark at the end of the movie from the island with the Nazi submarine base. Without him it would have stayed there and the Nazis would have used it against their enemies in WW II. So Indy is everything else then irrelevant in this movie.
Indy got the Headpiece because he knew where it was. The Nazi's didn't know where Marion was and followed Indy. IT'S IN THE MOVIE. Even then they waited until then knew that Marion had it before they went after it. Indy was vital because if he hadn't returned, they would have killed Marion and taken the headpiece.
I swear to God, you people make up your own movie just to argue.
The Nazis already knew where that Marion was connected with that headpiece. Have you completely forgot about the memo? The followed Indy (I know that scene at the plane :) ) only cause they tried to avoid that Indy will getting in their quest for the headpiece.
Its amazing how people defends theories only for the sake of a theory. I also once believed in that theory, but then I found out that Indy did most things correct. He saved the arc (without him the Naizs would still have it in their possesion at Creta) and he avoided that the Nazis will get the headpiece by visiting Marion.
Its still true that Indy did many things wrong during the rest of the movie and supported the Nazis without wanting him :) . But his first and last action decided what happened with Marion and the arc.
The theory is dead. But, and that I have to agree with, only cause of small details overseen by not so well informed fans of the movies :) .
watch the filma again, if it wasn't for Indy the Nazis would of never found the location of the arc, it was Indy that found the location of the arc so end this discussion now as you are wrong
shareSorry, but thats wrong. The Nazis already had discovered the city. They just didnt knew the exact location within the city. Thats why they searched and found Mirian. Without Indy they would have gotten the whole talisman and would have found the exact location earlier then they already did. So Indy was almost irrelevant in that aspect.
But !!!!! its still BS to state that Indy was irrelevant, cause he saved the Ark. Without Indy the Ark would still be located at the island with the Nazi submarine base. They would have picked it up again and did further research. And with that research finished that realised that the ark kill anyone nearby with opened eyes. And such an indestructable weapon in the hand of the Nazis at WW II is everything. But thing it isnt for sure ..... irrelevant. So its simply BS to state that Indy is irrelevant in Raiders.
they were digging in the wrong place, do not assume they would of found the location of the arc, Indy found the location using the Staff of Ra, Indy is the hero.
shareThey were digging at the wrong place cause of Indy. Without him they would have found the medaillon and dig at the correct site.
The funny part here is .... Indy was relevant for the Nazis. Without him its likely that the Nazis wouldnt have found Marion (they found her, at least within this movies story arc, cause they followed Indy). And without him they wouldnt have found the ark at all. So at the first half of the movie indy wasnt irrelevant at all. He was the one which helped the Nazis finding the ark :) .
But at the end Indy saved the world. Without him at the ark testing site, they Nazis would have realised that their troops arent coming back, went to the testing site and would have seen that everyone there was gone (most likely killed). Therefor they wouldnt have transported it directly to Berlin (to present it to the Fuehrer), but instead tested it as long until they realised that closing eyes protect them from the arks power. And that way the Nazis would have gotten a weapon far more dangerous then any other weapon in WWII. But ..... Indy avoided that by transporting the arc from the island to the USA. So Indy saved the world in that movie.
.... by writing that I realized that without Indy the Nazis wouldnt found the ark at all. So Indys best action to hide the ark from the Nazis would have been ..... doing absolutely nothing :) . Even that way he wasnt irrelevant, cause he was the only one able to support the Nazis at the beginning of the movie :) .
Without him its likely that the Nazis wouldnt have found Marion
Its BS. Without Indy the Nazis would have kept the Ark (it was an island with even a large german submarine base there. So the Ark wont be laying around there for a long time before they Nazis would have missed it) and used it at the WW II. So no, shes is completely wrong. And no, the ark wouldnt just kill Nazis, cause Iny clearly states" Close your eyes!". And they had a lot of problems of keeping them closed. So the ark dont kill bad people. It kill all people nearby with openend eyes. And that weapon in the hand of the Third Reich during WW II would have a HUGE impact.
So stating Indy was irrelevant is as stupid as it gets :) .
I agree too.
He probably saved the girl who most likely would have been killed by the Nazi in Nepal but other than that all he did was give us a fun ride. He probably saved the girl's life and he got the Ark to the Americans to stick in their warehouse, without him it would still be sitting on the island in the das Mitttelmeer.
I disagree with it hurting his character.
1. Without Indy, the movie wouldn't have a relatable character to follow with who was in the script.
2. His reaction to the events added to the drama and action.
3. His action kept the Ark from being found by other Axis groups who would attempt to use it in future campaigns against the allies.
4. Marion would have been killed, so the only characters left to follow would have been axis sympathizers. That would probably suck as a film.
5. We wouldn't have had Sallah on the story. He was great as the jovial friend with connections.
I understand the criticism, but it wouldn't have been. Fun movie or story without Indy.