# Raiders of the Lost Ark revisionism **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669 "2003-03-07T05:56:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Stitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stitch)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/21 "2003-03-07T19:38:19Z")
They portray Nazis and Thugees as if all of them were evil with no redeeming qualities, ignoring all of their positive contributions to society. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/22 "2003-03-07T19:52:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stitch \* > \*\*They portray Nazis and Thugees as if all of them were evil with no redeeming qualities, ignoring all of their positive contributions to society. \*\* Riiiiiiight, because as we all know, big-budget versions of b-grade action serials are the proper place to play up the positive aspects of Nazism . . . :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/23 "2003-03-07T20:30:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stitch \* > \*\*They portray Nazis and Thugees as if all of them were evil with no redeeming qualities, ignoring all of their positive contributions to society. \*\* That’s pretty dang funny if it’s a joke. I’ll be spending the rest of the day wondering what “positive” contribution the Thugees offered to society. Shorter lines at the mall? ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/24 "2003-03-07T20:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hoops \* > \*\* . . . _Temple of Doom_ is Chapter 23, . . . _Last Crusade_ is Chapter 25, and presumably, chapters 1-22 are the individual episodes of _The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones_. > \*\* Waitaminnit. So Temple of Doom is supposed to have occured before Raiders? Is that ever said outright? I’ve seen all three a ton of times and never realized that… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/25 "2003-03-07T20:41:18Z")
It’s common knowledge that Temple of Doom is a prequel to Raiders. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/26 "2003-03-07T20:42:09Z")
Temple of Doom isn’t an Indiana Jones movie. I don’t know what it is or what Indy was doing there, but it’s not an Indiana Jones movie. I hate ToD. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/27 "2003-03-07T20:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by belladonna \* > \*\*Waitaminnit. So Temple of Doom is supposed to have occured before Raiders? Is that ever said outright? I’ve seen all three a ton of times and never realized that… 😕 \*\* I’m not sure, but I think at the beginning of each movie the year is shown. Temple of Doom is set earlier than Raiders. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/28 "2003-03-07T20:44:03Z")
Yeah, I think Temple of Doom is a “prequel” ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/29 "2003-03-07T20:48:57Z")
Definitely a prequel. I remember an interview with Harrison Ford where he said he was X years older, asked to play the same character x years younger. Plus, Raiders is so much later that Indy flies over Thailand. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/30 "2003-03-07T21:05:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fibber McGee \* > \*\*It’s common knowledge that Temple of Doom is a prequel to Raiders. \*\* Well whattayaknow… At least now no one will be able to accuse me of being “common”. 😃 [sub]Yes, it is quite comfortable under this rock. Thanks for asking[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/31 "2003-03-07T21:06:08Z")
There’s a parallel universe where some really good Indiana Jones movies were made after RotLA. It’s not this one. Temple of Doom and Last Crusade have a couple of good moments, but are mostly chaff. Temple of Doom speaks for itself. Last Crusdae is just a weak rehash of RotLa, with the emphasis on “weak”. Watch it again and see how often you hear the triumphant Indy theme when nothing overly exciting is happening - as if they’re trying to fool you into thinking it’s exciting. And the trap sequence at the end is just silly, for so many reasons. I would love to have RotLA on DVD (even though it’s shown on cable every other weekend) but the others I can easily do without. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/32 "2003-03-07T21:49:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gatopescado \* > \*\* > > By the way, “Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure” is one of the best games around. Awsome multi-ball play. > \*\* You cheat, Dr. Jones! ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/33 "2003-03-08T00:16:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\*I could have sworn that in the Holy Grail movie (Last Crusade) there was a bit where the knight says something about why he can’t leave (aside from gaurding the grail): that he’d age a year in a day for each day he does not drink from the cup (i.e., you have to keep drinking out of the grail from that fountain to stay immortal). In fact, something like this must be so, or else Indy and his father would be immortal! > > But whenever they play the movie on Tv, I see no hint of the line. Revisionism, or poor memory? \*\* If it’s poor memory, then we have the exact same problem. I remember this distinctly…the knight says something about how on some days, he despaired, and on those days he did not drink from the Grail, and he aged a year each day he did not drink from it. They must be editing that out. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/34 "2003-03-08T00:26:54Z")
I’ve never seen that line. Could it have possibly been in a teaser in 84 and never made the film’s cut? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/35 "2003-03-08T00:36:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\*Poor memory, I think. I don’t recognise this at all. However, the knight says words to the effect of “The Grail can never pass beyond the great seal. That is the boundary, and the price of immortality”, implying that one sip from the Grail is not enough, and that you do need regular doses. > > Also, the knight has aged. Quite a lot. Apparently the Grail just slows aging, it doesn’t stop it. \*\* Pedant - he could have been old when he found the Grail, or he could have tried crossing the desert with his brothers and turned back to guard the Grail when age began to touch him. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/36 "2003-03-08T01:33:39Z")
—“The Grail can never pass beyond the great seal. That is the boundary, and the price of immortality”, implying that one sip from the Grail is not enough, and that you do need regular doses.— I have a friend who vehemntly denies this theory, insisting that Indy and his father are immortal. But if that were true, then this particular line by the knight would be hilarious: “The terrible price of immortality is traveling to this shitty desert, walking through all the medevil traps that Indy broke, and drinking out of the Grail. But you can’t take the now worthless (to you) Grail home with you as a souvenir! Oh the horrible price!” Is there a transcript of the movie online somewhere, perchance? I feel better knowing that at least some other people actually have a vague recollection of this line. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/37 "2003-03-08T02:55:45Z")
KNIGHT You have chosen wisely. But the Grail cannot pass beyond the Great Seal. That is the boundary and the price of immortality. From [Sci-Fi Scripts](http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/Indiana3.txt) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/38 "2003-03-08T04:00:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > But whenever they play the movie on Tv, I see no hint of the line. Revisionism, or poor memory? \*\* “This film has been edited for television.” You can’t compare a DVD or VHS version with the commercial ridden dubbed over lets cut in the middle of the scene versions on TBS or USA Network. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/39 "2003-03-08T04:57:55Z")
“He chose… poorly.” What a great one-liner, if rather smug for such a dignified character. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669/40 "2003-03-08T05:23:17Z")
I saw _Last Crusade_ in the theaters when it first came out, and I’m sure that the knight didn’t say anything about having to drink from the Grail every day. He just said that “the Grail can never pass beyond the great seal. That is the boundary, and the price of immortality.” I took this to mean that you could go anywhere and still be immortal, but the Grail had to stay in the temple. Once what’s-her-name took the Grail beyond the great seal, Indy and his dad lost their immortality. The knight probably lost his immortality as well, and probably died of old age soon after. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-revisionism/159669.md?page=3)