He is irrelevant-- which is part of the genius of the movie. The sequels would turn Jones into the character you obviously want him to be: conventional. But for one movie only Spielberg, Lucas, and Kasdan gave us a hero unlike any we had seen before. And his ultimate irrelevancy is what makes him unique.
I think filmgoer James Berardinelli said it best: "You have to love a movie that is so devilishly clever as to make the hero's every effort, no matter how Herculean, irrelevant to the conclusion. Had Dr. Jones elected to go on an extended vacation to Mozambique and never have anything to do with the Ark of the Covenant, nothing would have changed. Jones doesn't save the day. In fact, he doesn't come close to rescuing it, unless one considers his having failed as being the key to success. (Although he does get the girl.) Yes, the movie ends with melting faces, but, underneath all of that liquefying flesh and exploding heads, there's an abundance of irony just waiting for the attentive movie-goer to unearth. When was the last time that an action hero has been so utterly, completely inconsequential as Indiana Jones?"
reply
share
HAL 9010 (903)
6 years ago
I appreciate the sentiment. But the same can be said about any race. If you do not attend someone else will... and so your attendance makes no difference. But does this makes you irrelevant? No, this is a stale argument as this is the inherent nature of a race. What matters is who finishes first. And in this case the god guys did, solely because of Indiana Jones. Pure and simple.
Had he not played a role in the outcome of the story, the Nazi would win the race and in the process have acces to a destructive force the new world knew nothing off. I would say this is pretty damn relevant.
Fact is, that the Nazi was digging in the right place more or less already. And without the medallion they would have hit the mark eventually. They even had a complete miniature map of the hidden city. The dig-side seemed to be the whole city and so it was merely a question of time.... which is why the US Government contacted Indiana in the first place.... in comes Indy and with his work, the Nazi get quicker acces to this Ark indeed.... but ultimately he manages to steal it back. Good guys win. World likely saved. The end.
That being said, I agree largely with the sentiments of your reply. His character and his part is wonderfully and paradoxically played. In a way just like most Supervillains are created by their Superheroes super deeds... poetic as he is, irrelevant he is not.
The sequels would turn Jones into the character you obviously want him to be
A side note perhaps, but Temple of Doom is chronologically before Raiders... so he was already the hero I seek ;-)
reply
share
AngularTurnip (3333)
6 years ago
But, Indy is just as much a skeptic and mercenary in "Raiders" as he was in "Temple." So whatever changes he underwent in the prequel were all but forgotten when "Raiders" rolled around.
reply
share