Hope someone is gong to have a stab at this soon! I'd have a go, but I'm spending all my processor time right now on running G-force's GOUT script. This film COULD be made to work a little better, probably placing it somewhere between TOD and LC on the "Not Crap-O-meter". Couple of thoughts, not sure if I've missed these in the thread or not.
A)14.) Minor, but Ox's "Dad?" in the end in reaction to Mutt isn't really needed. Cut right to "somewhere your grandpa.."
Isn't it explicitly stated that the reason Oxley stopped talking to Indy is because he left Marion knocked up and alone? Shouldn't this be GONE for sure?
B)Was just watching the Rifftrax last night, and the debriefing scene feels like it needs trimming. The whole "WHAT WAS IN THE BOX?!" exchange is redundant, and makes little sense after establishing that Indy has already examined it (that WHY they captured him in the first place!) and has told Spalko he knows what they're looking for. Also, he knows about the wreckage, the magnetic shroud, and the "mutilated remains", why the hell would he keep asking what was in the box? How about cutting right before he goes off on that gruff little hissy fit, at the end of the shot where the chunky agent is accusing him of helping the KGB break into the warehouse in "My country.". Cut directly to the general walking in on the proceedings. "Who was that woman?" is also redundant, since she's introduced herself, and bragged about her accomplishments already, but it's proabably neccessary to put what meagre meat there is on the character.
C)Ford's read of "I should never have doubted you, my friend." is superior in the on-set audio from the BTS featurette, I'd vote for replacing that line as well as "Part-Time". Although I think I'd actually vote against switching "Not as easy as it used to be.". Sure, the read is great, but it works in the trailer becuase the tone of the sequence is a little different (as it exists anyways). In the film, it sounds like it would be out of place, as the sequence is just Indy and Mac throwing lines back and forth, not a single, world-weary take on the whole situation. Come to think of it though, could that "we've been through worse" nonsense be cut in favor of the simplicity of the exchange from the trailer? None of the whole "Vennesberg..." "...we had guns..." "I still am young!" banter really sits well anyways. Is there any way to go from "This ain't gonna be easy" "Not as easy as it used to be." to "Put your hands down will, you? You're embarrassing us."? Maybe after a cut-away to the jeep pulling up?
D)Don't suppose there's any way to incorperate any of the introductory dialogue with Marion from the featurette? The exchange of "Why are you so mad at me? How long ya got?!" feels so much more natural than what ended up onscreen, and does the same story work more efficiently.
E)Yeah, the cinematography is awful. Beyond pallette, exposure, and filters, composition is lazy, lacks much kinetic energy and focus. Just look at the chase in college town; just tightening the FOV on a few of those shots would have made it a little more dynamic. At any rate, the CC attempts sop far look very promising.
Anyways...just stream of thought.