ImperialFighter said:
Just how the gopher fits in, will have to wait.... ;)
Ideally, it DOESN'T! :)
I'd gladly lose the initial 'transition shot' of the 'PARAMOUNT' logo fading into the shape of the 'gopher'-mound altogether, so that the opening of 'INDY 4' becomes a 'gopher'-free zone....
** 2ND POST **
Unlike each precious movie in the previous trilogy, it pains me to say that there are just so many annoyingly misjudged-moments throughout 'INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL' that I'd like to see removed or altered (starting with that mouthful of a 'title'!), that I won't be rewatching the 'theatrical cut' again anytime soon....which is a pity, as there are some good moments in it.
Currently, there are just too many flippant and unfunny, 'dumbed-down' scenes for my own 'Indy' tastes, but while 'KOTCS' is a misfire in my book due to other reasons too, I DO agree that certain alterations here and there could give it a different 'tone' that I'd much prefer. Most of these potential changes have been already covered in this thread, and I'm hopeful that there'll eventually be a fanedit by someone that can salvage the movie into something less cringe-worthy at times.
In the meantime, here's my own take on how I'd like 'INDY 4' to look, where the 'BEGINNING' and 'ENDING' scenes are concerned -
OPENING 'CREDITS' / 'MAIN TITLE' SEQUENCE
(to briefly recap - we currently see a silent 8 seconds long 'LUCASFILM' logo followed by a 6 seconds long 'PARAMOUNT' logo which is accompanied throughout by a short, steady 9 seconds long 'mysterious'-sounding John William's 'cue', before eventually 'fading'-out to reveal the 'matching' shape of a 'gopher'-mound....out of which pops a chirping 'gopher', as we then start to hear the strains of 'Hound Dog' by Elvis....just before the 'gopher' squeals as it leaps out of the way, as a 'hotrod' full of whooping teenagers runs over the 'gopher'-mound....)
Although I like 'Elvis' as much as the next guy....hearing 'You 'aint a nothin' but a hound dog, cryin' all the time' at the moment we see a 'prairie dog' and his pals scatter, is just grating, and not quite the 'opening' scene that I'd hoped for in this long-awaited sequel. Some equally-annoying, inane antics involving some of the 'hotrod racing the convoy' scenes complete a disappointing start to the movie for me.
However, although it's NOT my own first choice for an 'opening' sequence, I appreciate that certain edits of 'INDY 4' will stick to this whole current version, because that's the footage onto which the intro. 'credits' and 'main title' have been superimposed, at the end of the day. (the 'hotrod racing the convoy' footage DOES include some neat shots, but there are SO MANY various 'credits' overlayed throughout the sequence, it makes the exact, shortened-version I would have preferred, unworkable unfortunately....so there's little point in describing it)
Still, as far as keeping the current 'intro.' is concerned, I'd at least like to see the 'gopher's' appearance REMOVED altogether....and INSTEAD 'fade-out' from a slightly-shortened 'PARAMOUNT' logo DIRECTLY into the the faster-paced, more dramatic-looking (and sounding) shot of the 'hotrod' running over the 'gopher'-mound (starting at the point where the 'gopher' has just left the frame), as it scatters debris everywhere, then quickly recedes away from us....
(Note: although a DIRECT 'fade'-out from the 'PARAMOUNT' logo to the new shot would be nice, I reckon that a brief fade' to black BETWEEN the 'PARAMOUNT' logo and the new shot would work equally well, especially if the 9 seconds long 'mysterious'-sounding John Williams 'cue' can be timed to 'fade'-into the noise of the new shot starting, no matter which way the shot is introduced)
So the current 'intro.' would look something like this now -
We start to hear the short, steady 9 seconds long 'mysterious'-sounding John Williams 'cue' now begin sometime DURING the previously silent 'LUCASFILM' logo, which continues for the DURATION of a now slightly-shortened 'PARAMOUNT' logo....
....until the 'cue' fades into the sudden noise of the 'hotrod' and it's passenger's 'whooping', when the now slightly- shortened 'PARAMOUNT' logo 'fades-out' DIRECTLY into this shot INSTEAD....
....and we only begin to hear the 'Elvis' song for the first time at this point now, as the noise of the 'hotrod' quickly recedes....
....and the footage proceeds as currently seen, with the 'main title' and various 'credits' superimposed over the inane antics that follow....
....still, at least we'd get rid of the 'gopher' with this scenario! :)
It's only a small tweak, but one that would certainly improve the current 'intro.' for me. (However, any potential version that DOES include the 'transition shot' of the 'gopher' would be tolerable to me, so long as the REST of the 'gopher' appearances thereafter are toned down or removed....so that they don't turn into a poor 'running gag' anymore. And I agree that even the removal of the 'sounds' it makes, would be an improvement)
For this particular entry in the franchise, I'd hoped for a return to an 'opening' scene that somewhat more closely approached the mysterious 'tone' of the 'RAIDERS' one, with it's marvellous eerily-atmosperic John Williams score....rather than another raucous, jokey entrance, this time set to a 'pop' tune!
So while it's by no means the worst sequence in the movie to me, I ain't ever gonna love it in it's current form....especially since there is a DIFFERENT sequence that I'd far rather had been used as the 'BEGINNING' of this movie INSTEAD....