The Golden Idol said:So, would it be possible to actually remove Ox from the movie?
I doubt it, not without some significant CGI to paint him out of some shots.
Histeria said:cyclades said:Similarly, why is Spalko a woman? What's the point from a story point of view? There's no sexual tension, and Marion never gets jealous. It could have been a man and the story wouldn't have changed at all.
You had me with all points until that one. Why should she not be a woman? Surely her gender is irrelevant in the role she plays?
I don't mean it to sound sexist, that wasn't my point. The point I was trying to make is that every aspect of a character is exploited for story purposes in really great movies. In This one it wasn't. She was asexual. She didn't show any interest in Indy, Mutt, hell she didn't even show any interest in Marion. I know in real life it doesn't matter, but in drama it can add depth. Take Belloq being smitten with Marion, or Elsa being with Indy and his Dad. These both added aspects of jealousy.
As Spalko was presented, it could have been a man playing the role and it wouldn't have mattered. The strengths of being a female were not exploited.
Doctor M said:I've been trying to figure out why this movie doesn't work.
There are action scenes that should be good, but aren't very intense. The plot is mostly ok, with a few flubs, but I could live with that. Even Mutt is quite tolerable (I expected Anakin II).
I want to blame Lucas for a lame alien plot, but you know, it does sort of work in the time period it takes place.
I want to blame Spielberg for failing to articulate the story in the white-knuckle manner we are accustomed, but the action seems to move along well.
I want to blame Harrison Ford for agreeing to Lucas & Spielberg's crap, and looking generally jowly, but I was never afraid he was going to break a hip.
I've decided the blame rests squarely with Janusz Kaminski. His shot composition is terrible. He frequently fails to emphasize the action on the screen, almost like he didn't know where his camera was pointing. For example: the tree cutting blades, the door being blown at Area 51, Mutt jumping vehicles, etc.
It's obvious whoever was responsible could not compose action shot to save their life.
Also, who else is there to blame for the high dynamic range/light blooming? I'd SAY the cinematographer is responsible, but I suppose with so much green screening it could have been Spielberg.
Spielberg MAY have been responsible for the problems in this film, but I don't believe that after all these years Spielberg forgot how to direct. I'm thinking if we see an Indy 5 it'll have a different DP... or it will suck too.
That being said, in the example scenes I mentioned (and several other), an edit would benefit from strategic cropping/resizing to shift the focus to the action.
Going from an HD source would make this possible, and could fix a lot of the dull action beats.
I agree with you generally. I believe Kaminski is the same reason JP2 didn't work. Dean Cundy did the first one and it's FAR superior.
The editing however is very slow and plodding, there are too many silly jokes, at the expense of good jokes.
But there are also moments that are story related.
For example, When Indiana Jones was getting the Russians to empty their shotgun shells I was excited, expecting this to be a brilliant way to disarm the Russians, so when they go to shoot him all they get is a "click" and they have to reload, allowing Indy to escape... Alas, nope.
The other big problem was that every time a character was picked up, they stayed for the journey.
Raiders is the most superior because the story picks and and puts down characters as needed. Sallah for example never comes to the island. What exactly was the point in having Ox alive and well? Why couldn't he have died in Peru leaving a mystery? Or Indy arrives just before he dies?
Also what was the point in Mac? At least Belloq was clear, but Mac serves no real purpose at all. You could cut Mac out of the entire movie and it wouldn't make any difference at all.
Similarly, why is Spalko a woman? What's the point from a story point of view? There's no sexual tension, and Marion never gets jealous. It could have been a man and the story wouldn't have changed at all.
These are things that prevent the movie from being great, even with a better DP and edit, imo.
Laserschwert said:Here's the current state of my so far edited sequences (no CGI-changes or color-correction yet, just plain editing):
Video is in DivX (crappy), audio in AC3 (5.1 surround, not so crappy)
Been busy with reallife... anyhoo.
Holy shit, yeah!
I'd remove the Oh shit line, but apart from that, that's what the chase should have been. Blistering. Fantastic job!
I'm squinting, but I'm still not seeing it... hehe
Ha! Never noticed the dude standing there before.
Well to be fair, it's not like they were ever that clear. :lol:
Was that supposed to be a telepathic opening of the door? That's even more lame.
I thought it was a charge placed by soldiers that were detonated.
More suggestions.
In this, Mac still comes out second, but Indy's close up is delayed. Actually makes the scene seem more brutal and dangerous.
Removed Mac talking about a bet. I know it's a set up for later, but who cares about his "reason" greed was enough, and more honest.
PLUS, took out Irina's crap mind reading which weakened her character from page one.
Note, want to have Indy say the you're embarrassing us line, but not used to the progam, couldn't see how to tweak the audio, but you get the idea.
If Indy gets thrown in first, it implies he was easier to capture. I don't think so!
I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, not MacHale and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! hehe.
It's all good. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Here's an edit I'd like to see someone put in.
Indy should be dragged out of the car at the beginning FIRST.
It weakens him having him come out second.
I've done a quick edit here to show what I mean
http://fileload.us/767258323-Sequence_1.avi
I don't have the time or mad skills to do an entire movie overhaul myself so if anyone likes this change, do please include it in your masterpiece :D