From: dsc@gemini.tmc.edu (Doug S. Caprette Bldg. 28 W191 x3892)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies
Subject: Re: Best shots wanted
Date: 27 Aug 92 22:09:30 GMT
Organization: NASA GSFC CDP VLBI

In article <3777@cvbnetPrime.COM> csroc@dime.UUCP (Charles Sroczynski x4014 5-2) writes:
>>3) RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - The fight around the airplane, as it
>>slowly rotates. The fire chasing around the plane in the background
>>took some real timing.
>
>Kind of shocked that you(or anyone else) would mention the timing
>of this shot...there was no continuous action...and no timing in 
>this,(nor in many of the Indy movie action shots).  These shots are
>created by editing.  You never see the fighters, the girl, the plane,
>and the gasoline fire at the same time in anything resembling a 
>continuous fashion. By rights, the girl, Indy, and the Nazi should have
>been killed by the explosion and fire about five minutes before they
>escaped;  the timing was so far off that I feel it lost much of the 
>suspense and realism that could have been here.

Indeed, 'poor' (unrealistic) timing in the Indy films is one of their hall-
marks.  In 'Raiders', after the guide/porter/whatever vamooses under the 
dropping door with the idol the shots alternate between the dropping door,
and Indy struggling tomake it accross the pit.  When he finally slips under
the door, it seems to be higher than it was in some of the previous shots.
At any rate, had it fallen steadily at the rate we observe it during the scene,
he would have never made it.  This kind of editing is a 'cheap' trick to
create more drama.  But, I am not criticizing the use of this trick in the
Indy films.  This kind of trick was also commonplace in the cliffhanger serials
of the 30's and 40's which the Indy films were modelled on, and contributes
greatly to their 'feel.'

I think that a criticism of the Indy films based on lack of realism, is some-
what ill considered at best!

My own criticism of the films is the manner in which they trivialize the 
destruction of archaeological sites.  Contrast the treatment of the destruction
of the tomb/temple at the beginning of Raiders, or the subsequent destruction 
in the Tomb of Souls (burning of the snakes, crashing the statues), or the 
destruction of the Crusader's tomb in Last Crusade, etc etc, with the treatment

"The Name of the Rose" spoiler below


of the burning of the library in "The Name of the Rose."

Contrast this with the very obvious avaricious motive to Indy's activities.
The early dialog in Raiders makes it clear he is merely a grave robber with
no real interest in archaeological value.  "The museum will buy them from you
as usual--no questions asked."  Who was it that said this?  The same person
who said in a mocking tone of voice:  "I'm sure that all of your aquisitions
are made in accordance with the international treaty of such and such anti-
quities." or some such.  

dsc@gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov  
 |  Regards,         |   Hughes STX                |    Code 926.9 GSFC        |
 |  Doug Caprette    |   Lanham, Maryland          |    Greenbelt, MD  20771   |
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"Alas for the wailing of the gulls!  Did not the Lady tell me to beware 
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