Farewell, Dr. Jones
The king of the adventure genre, Indiana Jones, is soon to ride off into the sunset. With the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, now is as good a time as any to see how the iconic archaeologist’s previous adventures stack up with one another. From worst, to best, this is the ranking of the first four Indiana Jones films.
4.) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Even to this day, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a film loathed by many fans. From the overuse of CGI, aliens, Mutt Williams, and the infamous nuke fridge, there’s a lot that people take issue with. That said, as many problems as there are with this film, it isn’t all entirely bad. Harrison Ford of course gives it his all, as an aging Indy. Marion Ravenwood for many was a welcome return after her absence from Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade. In addition, the film is still able to capture the sense of adventure and mystery of the previous three films.
Still, its flaws are very hard to deny. There is something of a shame in having the satisfying ending of The Last Crusade somewhat undone. Even it attempts at setting up a new hero to take over the lead role with Mutt Williams backfired heavily, and presented the idea that perhaps, the franchise ends, and should end, with Indiana Jones.
3.) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
A prequel to Raiders of the Lost Arc, this film has a rather notorious history. Easily the darkest entree in the series, this film is partly responsible for the establishment of the PG-13 rating existing in the first place. From a man getting his heart pulled out, child slavery, and people getting torn apart by alligators, it’s certainly brutal. As a result, the film has something of a divisive response, being the favorite film for some people, and the least favorite of the original trilogy for others. While characters like Short Round and Mola Ram are fan favorites, Willie is met with far more negativity.
What is this film’s greatest strength, is that it’s the most unique Indiana Jones film. Its emphasis on eastern culture, iconic action sequences, and dark tone make this film very easy to remember. The mine cart sequence, raft down the mountain, and confrontation at the bridge still stand as some of the best action sequences in the series. It’s easy to see why this film is a favorite for many.
2.) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
After the divisive response to Temple of Doom’s dark tone, The Last Crusade aimed to capture the lighter tone of the first film. In fact, The Last Crusade takes a lot more from the first film compared to every other. Focusing back on Christian mythology with the search for the Holy Grail, and facing off against the Nazi’s once more, The Last Crusade feels more like a proper follow-up to Raiders of the Lost Arc. While this does have the strength of making The Last Crusade feel like a more satisfying conclusion, it does make it feel somewhat repetitive.
Still, there are many things to love about this film, making it a favorite for many(including myself). Characters like Henry Jones and Elsa Schneider have become fan favorites, and the sequence choosing the proper grail is tense and satisfying as you would hope it would be. The beginning sequence with young Indy provides a great origin to what makes the character who he is, while also setting up the main dynamic with his father and his arc in the film. At the time, when the character rode of into the sunset, it served as a satisfying conclusion to the character, one which has been very difficult to top.
1.) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc
Honestly, it couldn’t be any other film here. Being about as perfect an adventure film as one could get, Raiders of the Lost Arc has it all. Action, romance, mystery, gruesome deaths, iconic imagery, and fantastic characters. Raiders of the Lost Arc is the most well-rounded of all the Indiana Jones films. Characters like Sallah and Marion Ravenwood are still favorites to this day. The discovery of the Arc, the fight at the plane, the opening jungle sequence, and the opening of the arc still remain some of the most memorable scenes in all of film. Even the soundtrack is arguably at its best in this film, as so many classic pieces of music fill this film. Even the music when the Arc is hidden away, simple as it is, remains iconic.
Raiders of the Lost Arc simply provides everything you could want out of an Indiana Jones film.
Check out the Indiana Jones films on Disney+, and stay tuned for the review of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Graduated from Point Park University in 2021 with a Degree of English Creative Writing.
Author of the Chronicles of a Broken World Series
Avid Nerd and Enjoyer of All Things Fun and Thoughtful
