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Another winner! I'll post a review on the main site shortly, but here's a preview:
Even after seeing Infodroid's rescue of "The Last Crusade", I wondered if "Temple" could be saved. I rate the theatrical even below the awful "Mummy Returns". To my surprise, however, Infodroid has unearthed a decent movie, and what's better, a decent Indy movie.
Willie is now tolerable, and even somewhat likeable. Short Round is mostly inoffensive. The new opening scene, with the severed fingers, is terrific, and making the Shanghai scenes a flashback is an excellent choice. In the theatrical, the plane-to-raft-down-mountains-to-the-river sequence is insultingly stupid. But now that the rules of space and time demand that the escape work, it's much more palatable.
I was greatly enjoying it up to the heroes' capture, and liked the rest also. I do think, however, that more should have been trimmed, including:
- Shorty's kung-fu. Comes out of nowhere, and should have stayed there.
- The Pat Roach fight drags; some careful trimming could help.
- The mine-cart chase... some may like it, but if the goal is to make the closest tonal edit to Raiders as possible, it would be great to cut it, or maybe to reduce it to ten seconds or so (Indy rope-lands on, and the heroes jump out right afterwards). Could be tricky, but that's just my two cents - it looks great, but it's just too outlandish.
- The missing-gun gag amused me as a kid, but now it just makes Indy look dumb.
- Indy's decision to cut the bridge could also use some trimming: less hesitation, more badassery.
- I didn't take notes on specific scenes, but any reduction of baddies cackling would be nice. :wink:
- I'd suggest cutting all close-up shots of crocs eating baddies (and maybe all shots of them altogether) until after Mola Ram's fall, which would make that plunging shot all the more impactful.
- I also think a smash-cut to credits after the line "I understand its power now" would make the most effective ending. (Who but Ford could deliver such a cheesy line with such wit and heart?) The ensuing "fortune and glory" reference doesn't make much sense with the earlier scene out, and the jubilant kids quikly become
de trop. This ending could keep the focus on the mysticism, with the good magic of the stone mirroring the evil magic of the shrine that opens the film.
- For your special edition four-pack: I suggest another post-credits teaser. The "Crusade" boat... lightning... Indy's grin... cut to: Indiana Jones will return!
All in all, a vast improvement over the theatrical and a rather good time. I don't mean to sound presumptuous in trumpeting my own suggestions, but I do believe that with both this and your "Crusade" edit, two very good cuts are just a few tweaks away from being full-blown classics. Anyways, thanks for making them available!