[Sean C]

Aside from deconstructing Indy to a gifted hat, a scar he gave himself and naming himself after a dog (all feels like foreshadowing to SOLO), I felt Last Crusade was too much self-parody. Indiana Jones was already a homage to old adventure serials and their cliches. To have Indy's dad show up and make fun of our hero...I never cared for it. It's kind of realistic though, who's going to drop your cool points more than a parent along for the ride? There's no strong lead villain in Last Crusade, the most memorable thing Donovan does is die horribly. Only Raiders wins in the villain department, as Belloq manages out maneuver Jones and wins (and loses by winning). Mola Ram doesn't show up until half way through Temple of Doom. Kate Blanchett in Crystal Skull...doing her Natasha Fatale impression. Nah.

I think Indiana Jones movies need some darkness. That complaint about Temple of Doom seemed disingenuous when the first movie ends with faces melting. CHILD SLAVERY BAD. Well, NOT-ZEES BAD...and Spielberg reduced them to action movie villains...so much he had to makes Schindler's List to remind us they weren't comic book baddies.