I'm a slayer, ask me how.

There were lots of great taglines for ‘The Last Crusade’ but I think my favorite was “The Man with the hat is back. And this time, he’s bringing his Dad.”

‘Last Crusade’ was the first Indy movie I got to see in the theaters. I was 8 years old and already a hardcore Spielberg and Lucasfilm fan – I had all the Star Wars movies memorized, and knew most of ‘Temple of Doom’ by heart. ‘Raiders’, with it’s ghosts and melting Nazis, I had convinced myself, was too scary for me. (My theory is that the first ghost caught me off guard, sort of like the first ghost in ‘Ghostbusters’, which I didn’t watch from the very beginning for a LONG time because that memory of being scared kept me away).

I know we saw this in the theater. It wasn’t my first movie theater experience (I saw E.T. in the theater but have no memory of it except for things my Mom told me later), but I definitely don’t have the strong memories of seeing a movie with my whole family like I do with this one.

This was a world with no spoilers beyond the trailer, unless you searched for them. And by search, I don’t mean hopping on your computer. No, that Apple IIe did NOT have an internet connection just yet, or, at least, no world wide web to post your fan theories to. I’m sure I could have found some magazines with interviews and what not, but, again, 8. So I went into this movie just knowing that I loved Indiana Jones and had no idea what to expect beyond what Drew Struzan’s poster artwork told me.

So the opening sequence with a young Indy was a new idea. I didn’t really know who River Phoenix was so I didn’t see him as anything else but Young Indy. And then this happened:
Henry Jones Jr. gets his fedora and is magically turned into Indiana Jones.



Henry Jones Jr. gets his fedora and is magically turned into Indiana Jones.

and the movie really got started.

I don’t remember too much else about the viewing experience. Mostly just sitting in silence, probably munching on popcorn because how could you see an Indiana Jones movie without popcorn?

Yet, there is one moment, one scene, that I still remember, deep in my mind, deep in my gut, because of the reaction I had to it. When Donovan pulls the gun on Indy, threatening him to go in and find the Grail. Indy smirks and quips ” Shooting me won’t get you anywhere.” Donovan looks straight at him and says ” You know something, Dr. Jones? You’re absolutely right.” and then…



Donovan pivots ever so slightly and shoot Indy’s Dad.

Right – so I’m 8 years old here. I don’t know movie tropes. I don’t realize that Steven Spielberg doesn’t kill a Dad. I don’t understand that Indiana Jones movies are not going to go that dark. All I know is that Indy’s Dad just got shot. I remember feeling my guts squeeze, the heart stop, and my eyes just filling with tears. I remember my Mom leaning over, sort of giving me a rub on the back and perhaps whispering that it would be okay or not to worry or something along those lines. Something to calm me down so I didn’t lose it completely.

I believe once I saw that Henry was stable and talking, that Marcus was going to hold that little cloth over the wound, I calmed down, hopeful that Indy would save the day.

Of course, there was a happy ending (unless you were a Nazi, but then you don’t deserve one, do you?) and like all good stories, the heroes ride off into the sunset, laughing and smiling, with John Williams’ classic theme playing.



Since then, I have watched the movie many many times. I quote it constantly, especially the classic “No ticket.” line. I could probably act out entire scenes if I needed to. It is perfect from beginning to end. No downtime, no throwaway scenes, all of it important for the story.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s, straddling the Gen-X and Millenial line. I didn’t get to experience Star Wars or the first two Indiana Jones’ films in their initial theater releases, and I’d say this movie marks the end of that Lucas/Spielberg summer domination era in some ways. Speilberg went on to make some fantastic, but heavier, films. Lucas waited another ten years to go back to a galaxy far far away. I’m so glad I saw this in the theater and have this memory, even if it was a bit of a traumatic one. This was the last great summer romp before both creators matured and grew apart.

If you haven’t seen this movie in awhile, sit down and watch it again. Turn out all the lights, pop some corn and settle in. 30 years later, it is still a lot of fun keeping up with the Joneses.

What are your Indiana Jones memories? Please comment or link to your post! I’d love to chat with other Indy fans.

Well, it looks like the game will be coming out in June. But only for the Wii? Explains why the graphics are not as pretty. I hope its fun! I've enjoyed the other Indiana Jones games.

I rented Lego Indy on the Xbox360 and I have to say, the controls feel a lot better on this console than the Wii version. I'm up to the Well of Souls level, which I didn't make it to on the Wii version because I got so frustrated with the Wii-mote/nunchuck button set-up.

Yeah, I'm gonna put this on my xmas list.

Playing this game makes me really want to watch Indiana Jones movies though...except for Crystal Skull. Does it make me a bad fangirl that I have no desire to rewatch, let alone own KotCS? The original 3 movies were so perfect to me, Skull just felt off in some way.

Okay, back to the game!!!

Hey Maryland peeps,

I ended up having to scrap The Senator midnight show - no time to run up to B'more to get tickets since I was in Florida and all. BUT I did get myself and AD tickets to the Muvico midnight showing (if you buy online, it is the second 12:01am show listed).

Anyhoo, I know I don't have all of your emails, so I thought I'd post this in case anyone wants to meet up with us. :) I can't wait!!!!

okay, I'm going to work now.

As I'm sure you've heard, there is a new Indiana Jones trailer up on the official site. Its very pretty. Only 18 days!!!

There's also a new Dark Knight trailer. OMG looks so good. (I still get a pang of sadness from seeing Heath Ledger.)

( slight spoiler if you're avoiding the trailers )

I'm a little concerned that, as cool as the Incredible Hulk trailer looks, I've seen the entire movie in those 2 minutes of clips. :\

Toy Fair 2008 reports are rolling in from all over. And OMG so much stuff I must have!

First, the really good news - the Starbuck action figures does not look like total ass! There are new images of her and the rest of the upcoming line at Cool Toy Review.

I think I'm going to pass on the Razor figures. Not really a big fan of the Pegasus crew and the Gina Six doesn't look very good. Its like she has a totally different face mold than the current Sixes, which seems silly!

I am a bit concerned about how the Cylon is standing. I assume this means he has some balance problems. You'd think they would have made a stand for him.

New Caprica Sharon (the first Sharon in the series) looks like poo right now. Her neck is far too wide. Something is off with Dualla's face and I cant quite place it. I think it is too round. Other than that she looks okay. The likeness on Three/D'anna Biers is really good though.

I have been trying to resist the Might Muggs figures as they are adorable but large. But I think this next wave of Star Wars figures and the new Indiana Jones figures will break me. I mean, LOOK AT INDY AND HIS DAD! And Leia with her little round buns and Yoda with his Yodaness! Just adorable!

Titanium Die Cast Indy being dragged by a truck! Hehe. That's just too amusing. Adventures Heroes are still too cute and I still must have them.

Now, I wonder when any of these figures will actually hit the shelves...

This is trouble -- Hasbro is offering Free Figures when you collect Indiana Jones stickers...which you get from buying regular Indiana Jones figures.

I'm so getting the Adventure Heroes (Indy Galactic Heroes) line freebie - Indiana and his Horse!!! Probably won't buy enough of the 3 1/2" line to get a freebie, and I don't plan on buying any dolls 12" figures.

And apparently the first Lego set is out. The Temple Escape set is pretty awesome.

New Old Indy Pics! Is it just me, or does it look like they are standing on the edge of the same pit from the opening of 'Raiders' in that last photo? Prolly just me. Harrison looks old but still, YAY INDY!

Also, new pic of Heath Ledger as The Joker. Still creepy as hell.

Summer 08 is going to rock.

In other fandom news - more information has surfaced about the Young Indiana Jones DVDs coming out later this year.

According to TV Shows on DVD.com:
First of all, this is a massive set of 12 discs. Considering the running time of the featured episodes is only 649 minutes (less than 11 hours), then you just know the rest of that DVD space is taken up with the extensive historical documents George Lucas and Rick McCallum have been promising us for years.

Rumored suggested retail price - $117.99 US - but it's not up for pre-order yet so no idea what the Amazon price will be.

Sean Patrick Flannery was one of my first poster boys. Though it might have been the Superman/Robin Hood syndrome - dress a guy up like Indiana Jones and his hotness level rises. Still, I rewatched a lot of the Young Indy episodes (because, even then, I was such a fangirl that I taped as many as I could) and they were enjoyable even years later. I can't wait to see the ones that I didn't get a chance to tape and didn't get to buy on VHS.

October 23rd is the release date. Which means I will probably wait and ask for Santa to bring them to me.

The man in the hat is FRIGGIN' BACK!



I forgot how much I liked Speilberg. He seems like such a cool guy. Bit of a dork, but that's totally my type.

...and I think I'm developing a crush on Shia LeBeouf.

that could be the Mike's Cranberry Lemondate typing though....

now I'm off to make Indy icons with the wallpapers just uploaded to the official site!