Think of it like this: On the Nazi submarine military base they recover this box and a lot of melted and explode bodies.... and perhaps some recordings showing some of its power. They did try and film it after all.
That would surly spike interests and just as Belloq spells out to us earlier; they have to study such artifacts outside of reach of the high command first. His mishap proves him right and the next “Belloq” would not make that mistake either. The Nazi are many things but stupid is not one of them.
Precisely. The only reason they opened the ark on that island in the first place is because Indy destroyed their intended mode of transportation: by airplane. They were going to fly the ark to Berlin first. When they had to go to plan B, Belloq saw the opportunity to open the ark *before* it was brought before Hitler. We see Belloq persuading Dietrich to open the ark, only *after* the plane had been destroyed.
"But that is like saying we should not obstruct their research in atomic energy"
No, it is not like saying that at all. Atomic energy is science. The power of God is superstition. It is not unreasonable to assume the power of the atom could be harnessed just as easily regardless of religious or political affiliation. The power of God, however, comes from a source who is very conscious indeed how he wishes that power to be used. In that case it is only reasonable to assume that you can only access that power if you're on the same team as that god.
Besides, we are talking about the effect of Indy's involvement, not what he should or should not have done.
As for Indy and Marion shutting their eyes, this is simply because the ark kills indiscriminately. If you've read the Biblical accounts, anyone who so much as touches the ark will be killed - no matter who. So the ark is perfectly willing to kill anyone for the sacrilege of touching it or gazing upon its contents - and the only ones able to use its power for their cause are the Hebrews.
So the comparison with nuclear weapons is completely moot. Science doesn't favour anyone, but God does. In the film, there was no talk about nuclear power anyway, so I assume you were drawing parallels to how we should respond in the real world. To which I say, who cares if the enemy is interested in religious artefacts? Let them knock themselves out. Should we care if they are also interested in preserving art?
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HAL 9010 (903)
6 years ago
Good point. I forgot about his effect on the plane and that this changed how they transported it away.
Question is though, do we know if they would fly in to Berlin and open it in front of the high Command before any study or research?
Or
Would they fly it to a research facility like that island first?
Or
Even if to Berlin, would they open it first to see what was in there before showing it to Hitler? (knowing Hitler, I would surely check if it was anything above a pretty box before showing him, for sure)
And knowing Belloq, I am sure he would study it first too. He was in it for his own reasons and not to impress Hitler. He says so directly. He was no Nazi, just a smock. And he was in charge after all. And so I say, even with the plane as the way of transport the Nazi would find out of its destructive power under somewhat controlled circumstances. And this is a scenario I would advice against.
I understand your point: If it would be opened in front of Hitler, this would have avoided WWII. But that is too big of an assumption in i my view. And I guess we just have to disagree here. And that it only kills evil people or kills with a divine purpose, I cannot buy when I look at the evidence in the movie.
There is a box that has this destructive power.
Once opened it kills indiscriminately
... and so my advice to the Allies is to get this box at any cost.
And once we have it we can figure out how or if to ever use it for our gain and then on our own terms. We cannot allow for even a chance that the Nazi may get it and use it for evil deeds.
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Karl Aksel (1451)
6 years ago
"(knowing Hitler, I would surely check if it was anything above a pretty box first, for sure)"
This is an important point, because of the discrepancy between Hitler in the Indy universe and the real Hitler. The Historical Hitler wasn't into the occult or the supernatural, that was Himmler. Himmler was into it in a big way, and Hitler indulged him at best. If Hitler had gotten his hands on the ark, I think there is a real possibility he would have destroyed it, just to spite the Jews.
As for the Indy-universe Hitler, I guess it's up to Spielberg and Lucas whether he would have cautious or not.
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HAL 9010 (903)
6 years ago
Yeah, it is entirely possible that this Hitler might have waited at the airport with a crowbar. But also he might not have been. And if not, I would rather we have the Box under our control before they would ever learn more about its powers... it is just too big a risk to think he would this dumb.
... of course I am extremely disappointing in the "Top Men" back in the US... but that is for another conversation :)
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