The last two Indiana Jones movies were… Well, not very well received. While Crystal Skull was… OK, the followup The Dial of Destiny was roundly panned by critics and audience members alike.
It didn’t have to be that way.
So, let’s do a “two-fer”! Let’s fix both movies. Or at least, let’s try to.
Crystal Skull, Fixed
Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull faced criticism for various reasons including its over-reliance on CGI, the inclusion of aliens, and a less coherent plot compared to its predecessors. The first act is… Pretty good, to be fair. But it falls apart in the third act.
So, is it fixable? Yes, but only if you jettison most of the plot and shift the focus of the film.
New Title: Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Aztecs
Set in the mid-1950s, during the Cold War era, he story spans across various locations, including the United States, Mexico, and deep into the jungles of Central America.
The film opens with Indiana Jones thwarting a looting attempt by a group of Soviet agents in a South American temple. The KGB wants to use the treasures to fund operations in South and Central America… At least that is what the lead bad guy tells Indy. We later learn his motive is much more insidious. After the conflagration, the leader of this group, a cunning and brutal KGB agent, escapes, vowing revenge against Indy.
Indy, now a respected professor, is approached by a Mexican archaeologist who brings him an ancient Aztec artifact. They discover a coded message and a map hinting at a powerful secret hidden within an undiscovered Aztec temple.
Instead of aliens, the focus is in this film is on the mystical aspects of Aztec mythology. The secret is rumored to be a powerful artifact that grants immense knowledge and power, sought after by the Soviets as a tool for world domination.
Indy teams up with a younger, but equally adventurous female archaeologist Susan – a former student who is also dating Mutt Jones, his son with Marion. Her character serves as a foil to Indy, providing a dynamic interplay and mentor-student relationship. She drags Mutt along on the adventure – Marion stays home (they are together as a couple but not yet married). Their banter reminds Indy of his youth and his relationship with Marion.
The film emphasizes practical effects and real stunt work, capturing the classic feel of the original trilogy. The jungles, temples, and traps are all physically crafted, providing a tangible and gritty atmosphere.
Indy and his team journey through perilous jungles and solve complex Aztec puzzles, leading to the discovery of the temple. They are pursued by the Soviets, leading to several confrontations and narrow escapes. In the temple’s inner sanctum, they find the artifact. However, instead of a supernatural power, it’s revealed to be a repository of wisdom – a library of sorts. The real power is knowledge, which is consistent with Indy’s character as an archaeologist and scholar. In a way, it represents everything he has been searching for his entire life.
The KGB agent arrives, and a final showdown ensues. Indy faces a moral dilemma – to use the destructive potential of the temple’s traps to stop the Soviets or to preserve the ancient site. He chooses the latter, outsmarting the Soviets and ensuring the temple’s secrets remain safe. During the conclusion, Mutt almost dies and Susan gets emotional. Seeing the feelings they have for each other, Indy makes a decision.
Indy and his team leave the temple hidden, protecting its secrets from misuse. Indy reflects on the true value of preserving history and knowledge, as he has truly evolved from the “fortune and glory” days of his youth. We then cut to Indy and Marion finally getting married, and Mutt and Susan stand by… Both wearing engagement rings.
There you have it.
Or you can just have adapted the Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis game.
Fixing The Dial of Destiny
What can I say about this movie? It made Indy a weak secondary character in his own series. He had no agency and was a loser.
Let’s fix that.
Title: Indiana Jones and the Legacy of the Lost Heir
We find our iconic adventurer, Indiana Jones, in the early 1970s as a retired archaeology professor and a loving grandfather. Years have passed since his last adventure, and he now lives a peaceful life with his family, sharing stories of his thrilling escapades with his curious grandchild Max.
However, fate takes an unexpected turn when Max stumbles upon a cryptic artifact during a summer vacation in India. Unbeknownst to them, this ancient relic holds a secret that could change the course of history. Max’s life is now in danger as a mysterious organization, seeking to obtain the artifact’s power, kidnaps him.
When Indy receives the distressing news from Susan, he realizes he can’t sit back and let his family suffer. With a fire reigniting within him, Indy seeks help from two unexpected sources – his long-estranged son, Mutt Jones (now separated from wife Susan), and his loyal friend, Short Round, who is all grown-up and an accomplished archaeologist in his own right.
Reuniting with Mutt and Short Round, Indy forms a formidable team that combines experience, knowledge, and a deep bond forged through shared adventures. Together, they embark on a quest to rescue Max and protect the artifact from falling into the wrong hands. Their journey takes them across continents, leading them through perilous jungles, ancient ruins, and hidden tombs, all while facing ruthless adversaries determined to seize the artifact’s power.
The reunion allows Indy to mend his relationship with his son, Mutt, and bridge the gap that had formed between them – he blamed Mutt for abandoning Susan to travel the world, displaying the wanderlust he himself had as a young man. Short Round’s presence serves as a reminder of their past adventures and the lasting bond they forged in their youth.
With their family’s legacy on the line, Indiana Jones, Mutt Jones, and Short Round must summon their combined expertise, resilience, and determination to rescue Max. As they get closer to the mysterious organization’s lair, the tension escalates. They have deciphered the artifact’s secrets and realize that it possesses the power to control time itself.
Inside the organization’s hidden temple, they encounter elaborate traps and adversaries who are determined to stop them. Max, the kidnapped grandchild, has been imprisoned in a chamber with the artifact, unknowingly tapping into its power. The organization’s leader, Dr. Evelyn Stroud, aims to harness this power for her own ambitions. She hopes to change history, preventing the ascendancy of America and instead preventing the American Revolution from ever occurring.
During a climactic showdown, Indy, Mutt, and Short Round confront Stroud and her henchmen. With their combined skills and determination, they manage to outsmart them and free Max. The artifact’s power begins to surge uncontrollably, threatening to make Stroud’s dream a reality.
Indy and his team must work together to prevent the artifact from completing a change in history. Mutt and Short Round use their archaeological expertise to deactivate the artifact, while Indy confronts Stroud in a fierce battle of wits and wills.
Ultimately, Indy outsmarts Stroud, disarming her and securing the artifact. The temple begins to collapse, and the team narrowly escapes, riding the edge of destruction as they make their way to safety.
In the aftermath, the artifact is safely locked away in a museum, where its secrets will be studied responsibly. Indy, Mutt, and Short Round stand together, having not only saved Max but also rediscovered what is the most important… Family.
As the sun sets on their adventure, Indy and Mutt share a heartfelt moment, mending their strained relationship. Short Round, too, reflects on their past and how they’ve all grown through their experiences. Short Round and Mutt leave together, knowing that Indy has Max in safe hands. Indy lets Mutt go, knowing he has to find his own path in life.
As we see Indy and Max walk away, Indy starts to tell another story…
“Max, time for Bible study. You know the Ark of the Covenant, right?”
“Sure, Papa.”
“Well, I found it. Many… Many, years ago. Lemme tell ya about it…”