Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade is a 1989 Action Adventure picture produced by George Lucas and Directed by Steven Spielberg. It stars Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, John Rhys-Davies, Alison Doody, and Denholm Elliott. The plot is set in 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.
UNDER THE LENS: VILLAIN AND SETS
Villain: The Indiana Jones franchise is memorable, but it’s not known for particularly iconic bad guys, if one is asked they like will say “NAZIS.” The Nazis are great villains but until The Last Crusade we never really had a single main villain who was particularly interesting. Indiana Jones much like the Mission Impossible pictures is more about “The Mission” and those who oppose Indie are really just window dressing to give him someone to punch.
Julian Glover’s Walter Donovan gives us one of the more interesting villains of the franchise. Donovan is an academic, smart, and calculating, who ends up giving Indiana Jones a formidable adversary to face. We even get a twist when his real identity and motive are revealed. Having a villain be given a bit more depth and connection to Indie allowed us to get to know him more. Overall I would say he is the strongest adversary in the original trilogy.
Sets: Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade has some of the best sets in the trilogy. A highlight is the church and catacombs, in Italy. It brings the attention back to the archeology roots of the franchise and gives Indie a real puzzle to solve while getting to see some real-life architecture. The cave at the heart of the third act is also a lavishly designed and constructed set, from its traps and chasms to its dozens of chalices. The Last Crusade was Elliot Scott the pictures production designer’s final credit, and he delivered a magnificent showstopper for his final bow.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The horse vs tank chase was wonderfully shot and lots of fun
- Marcus Brody was a delightful addition to the cast’s adventure
- The sunset ending is one of cinemas best
QUOTABLE QUOTE
Professor Henry Jones: Now then… he who finds the Holy Grail must face three challenges. First, is the Path of God: Only the penitent man shall pass. Second, is the Word of God: Only in the footsteps of God, shall he proceed. Third, is the Breath of God: Only in a leap from the lion’s head, shall he prove his worth.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Have you ever reconnected with a parent you were estranged from, what was it like to reconnect? Was it difficult or easy?
CONCLUSION
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade is a fantastic capper to an amazing trilogy, it ends the journey of Indiana Jones but leaves him with the promise of more adventures with a reconnected family and friends who care about him. The picture at its core is about facing your past while forging ahead with your future, Indie must face the abandonment he felt from his Father while mending those fences and saving the world at the same time.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade features dynamic action, a great cast, and a fun story. It stands the test of time, and may in fact be the best Indiana Jones picture made. So jump on your horse, pull on your hat and ride off into the sunset with Henry Jones Jr.
