Sarah Keechlett

Rating: 9/10 (12 May 2005)

Sarah Keech Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the third movie in the Indiana Jones trilogy. We start off in Utah in the 1912's. In the very beginning of the movie we start off by seeing desert and hearing eerie music. This leads us into a cave where we meet the young Indiana Jones. The use of lighting on the rock sculptures and echoing in the caves is a good use of those techniques. Throughout the rest of the movie we go through Venice and Vienna which is on the Germany Austria border. We see the similar kind of environment as when Indiana was in the desert. Throughout the entire movie we see a pattern that relates his past to his present. Such as him dad calling him Junior, and seeing how he got his famous whip and hat. ) The whip was introduced to us by using an interesting film technique called rack focus.) Both involve thinking back to when he was younger (flashback). The point of view in this movie is set up in third person. Therefore were being told how a story of someone's adventure or life is happening. Throughout the movie the entire plot is to find the Holy Grail, which is the glass that Jesus drank from at the last supper. It's said that if you drink from it you will have eternal life, but only if you don't cross the seal. The lighting in the chamber with all the different cups is really interesting. By using the lightness, darkness and shadows, you get the effect of realism. It makes' you think you're really there with him in the movie. This is key to being a good film maker. As for the Holy Grail cups, there are shiny gold ones which the light reflects off of and one ugly wooden one. One of the main themes of the movie is how the hero always rides off into the sunset at the end of the movie. This has been done in a lot of movie, especially Westerns. This shows us that at the end of the day they end come out on top of the world and that he had won in all of his conquests throughout his adventure. I especially like this shot because in a way is very classical. During this the music is happy and cheerful, and light. It some-what lifts you up because everyone is happy that good prevailed over evil and now no wrong can be done. It gives you a sense that you're safe, again going back to realism.