Not Bad Prognasticating!

So, a little over a year ago (April 12 2007) I spoke of how I was looking forward to the new Indy movie, and how I thought it should embrace his age and not overlook it. We're a little less than two weeks away from it arriving, so let's look back on it with what we know. Now, I got some things wrong, obviously. It doesn't seem like he "hung up the whip" at all. But I did say they should set it in during the Cold War era and have the enemies be the Russians. Nailed that (though I did say 70s...missed that by 20 years, but still). Said he should have a hot shot son. Well...I might have nailed that. We won't know what Shia LeBeouf's actual role is until May 22nd, they're being pretty secretive about that, but it's widely rumored that he's the child of Indy by way of Marion Ravenwood, being played once again by Karen Allen (which is awesome by the way). But his character is definitely a hotshot guy, so if he turns out to be his kid, I got that, too. Plus, in the trailer, they definitely had a moment where the music kicks in as he puts the hat on, which I said would be a goosebump like moment.

That's not bad for knowing ZERO about the movie at the time.

And a big shout out goes to Chewy, who in the comments suggested maybe an alien artifact could be used, also a good prediction. Now, the Crystal Skulls may or may not be alien, but it's definitely been reported that the movie itself will definitely explore the possibility that they could be. Which is a parallel to the time period, it's going to be a little more sci-fi than the others, because it takes place in the 50s when sci-fi serials were popular, since the other movies were based on Lucas and Spielbergs love of serials when they were kids.

For those Indy fans that poo-poo the sci-fi thing...oh shut up. You had no problem with the Ark of the Covenent spewing avenging angels and melting faces, or with Mola Ram ripping out the still beating hearts of sacrifices with his bare hands and the victim still living to be burned alive, or with the Holy Grail healing the gunshot wound of Henry Jones, Sr. There's always been sci-fi elements to these movies, but they were masked by "religious mythologies" (whether Western or Eastern) Now they're dropping that aspect (maybe). Don't get all worked up. I understand that it's trepidation from what Lucas did with the Star Wars prequels and such, but lets remember that Spielberg was on this, too, and actually directed. Not to mention that Harrison Ford is a bit of a persnippity guy and wouldn't sign off on something simply to do it. He's said he wanted to play Indy again, but he also had been turning down the script treatments for awhile.

For those that haven't seen the trailer. Take note of a few things...one, looks like the warehouse from end of Raiders, doesn't it? Also, there is a shot of a box that says Roswell, NM on it...a clear indication of the alien aspect. I love the "Damn, I thought that was closer" moment. That's classic Indy. But yes, note that thing with hat and the music kicking. Damn that gets me.

Top Ten...

Oops, this was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I only saved it. My bad.

...Songs associated with movies that I'll never be able to disassociate...

10. Huey Lewis and The News - The Power of Love
Back to the Future (honorable mention, same band same movie - Back in Time)
Doesn't everybody think of Marty McFly when they here those driving keyboards?



9. Yello - Oh Yeah
Many, but mostly Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Stylistically, this song summed up the movie pretty well, I'd say. Honorable mention also goes to the underrated Michael J Fox flick The Secret of My Success. Which is what we actually see here because YouTube is again uncooperative.





8. Beethoven - "Ode to Joy" from "Symphony No.9 in D- 'Choral', Op.125"
Die Hard.
The original teaser trailer was John McClane jumping from the roof of the Nakatomi Building as it exploded behind him, firehose tied around his waist, set to this piece. Why does such a joyous song work so well for this movie? I have no clue, but it sure as hell does. Unfortunately, YouTube doesn't seem to have that teaser trailer, and pretty much everything involving the original movie and Ode To Joy is a edited video, so here's a "rare" trailer for the third movie. (Honorable Mention from the same movie, Run DMC's Christmas in Hollis (This IS Christmas music!)




7. Mickey Mouse Club Theme/The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
Full Metal Jacket.
One flows in to the other as the Marines marching away from the burning town singing the Mickey Mouse Club Theme, and then the Rolling Stones kicks in for the end credits. Both are perfect to me, the imagery of a children's song being sung amidst carnage and devastation, then the Stones song seems to bookmark the movie itself perfectly.




6. The Doors - The End
Apocalypse Now.
The beginning of the movie...yet we hear "This is the end..." Perfect choice and I can't help but see the broken down Sheen every time I hear this haunting song.



5. Sugerhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
The Wedding Singer
It's a shame that such a ground breaking piece will probably be best remembered this way by many people, but hey...they let a granny rap it...



4. Kenny Loggins - I'm Alright
Caddyshack
I can't help but feel good and happy, and it's because I think of that crazy ass country club. NOONAN!



3. Zero 7 - In The Waiting Line
Garden State
So many songs to choose from, but when you get right down to it, this song and this scene will always go hand and hand for me. As Large simultaneously starts to emerge from his chemical numbness AND takes ecstasy at a party, things get weird for him as everyone around him plays Spin The Bottle... "Do you believe in what you see?" indeed.



2. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Wayne's World.
Not only will I not be able to disassociate it, I'll never be able to curb the desire to head bang like the gang when the song hits it's stride.



1. Stealer's Wheel - Stuck in the Middle With You
Reservoir Dogs.
Could it possibly have been anything else? I mean, the song is going to forever be associated with the ear slicing scene. Even for people that have never seen the movie.



I'll be back later tonight with Rhyme and Treason results...

I wanna see the fedora and whip again, sue me.

So, I was listening to music from Raiders of the Lost Ark and IJ and the Temple of Doom, and I realized that I don't really care how bad it'll probably end up being, I want to see the fourth Indiana Jones movie. Pretty badly. But it also made me think of a basic premise that would be awesome.

Now, to start, this is basically a Star Trek II treatment. Not the whole thing, but the "get your butt back on the horse" mentality of the first 30 minutes. First off...no Nazis. Set this puppy in the 70s, and embrace the fact that Harrison Ford is no longer a spring chicken. Take this picture from one of the Young Indiana Jones chronicles. Run with it for a near 70 (if not 70) Indy. Now a professor emeritus. Specializes in giving guest lectures about the Nazi involvement in arcane archaeological discoveries. Find out that his experiences in the Canyon of the Crescent Moon led him to give up the "swashbuckling" life. He even got married, and had a kid. The wife died, though (not unlike what happened to his own father) and he raised the child. He didn't name him Henry. Oh, that's the other thing. He goes by Henry, and chuckles when people try to call him Indiana. His son is a hotshot. Not as smart as Indy, but definitely has the adventurous streak. He gets himself in trouble with the Russians (hey, Cold War era, why not?) over some artifact (that's for someone smarter than me), and Indy is basically forced to come out of retirement. And then the pay off scene. Indy opens up a closet, and the "bum...bu bum...bum...bubumbum" of the Raiders March starts. He pulls out a leather jacket and puts it on. Opens up a box which has a bullwhip in it, puts it on his belt. Picks his fedora up and puts it back. Turns to the camera, and he might be older, but that's Indy. Raiders March kicks in full.

Would it be cheesy? Hell yeah. Would it also be awesome. You damn straight.