Few characters with whip-smart charisma are as beloved as Indiana Jones. Since the 1980’s, Jones has become an icon. A celebrated figure in popular culture, Jones has stood the test of time as a legendary character. Played to perfection by Harrison Ford, Jones has become an icon that is worthy of celebration. Given the sheer number of movies produced about Indiana Jones, making a top 10 list isn’t easy. Nevertheless, listed below are my picks for best movies made about an archaeologist that deserves to be celebrated.
1. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones is an incredible character that shaped my grandfather’s identity. Several years ago, I formed a strong bond with a grandfather that was a huge fan of the whip-smart hero. I remember spending time with a grandfather that regarded Jones to be a national treasure. Every Summer, we would always enjoy heading to the theatre to see movies about a character that we came to treasure. Watching Indiana Jones movies in the Cinema strengthened my bond with my grandpa. Through his admiration for Indiana Jones, my grandpa gave me a love for Cinema. He admired all the films made about the hero with a spark, but his favourite film was always “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. Ever since its release in 1981, Steven Spielberg’s iconic movie has stood the test of time as an iconic classic. Spielberg’s classic adventure film had a huge impact on popular culture by introducing an iconic character. Packed with awe-inspiring action, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the greatest films ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Harrison Ford, who embodies the whip-smart archaeologist. As Indiana Jones, Ford created one of the most iconic characters in popular culture. A timeless adventure classic, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is filled with several unforgettable scenes that define the series. For instance, the iconic scene in which Indiana Jones is chased by a boulder remains one of the greatest moments of the franchise. Ultimately, what makes “Raiders of the Lost Ark” the greatest Indiana Jones movie is its message. For a film made in the 1980’s, it has aged beautifully with a message that remains relevant today. The film delivers a profound message about the importance of dreams which would resonate with everyone. Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a whip-smart hero searching for a lost ark, it’s a riveting reminder of a franchise that hasn’t lost its spark leaving a lasting mark.
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
India is a powerful country that has shaped my personality. As far as I can remember, I’ve always admired a country that I’ve grown up to treasure. I recall with nostalgia memories of a country that shaped my persona. During my childhood, I became enamoured by the industry of Bollywood. Indian movies became a part of my identity that shaped my love of filmmaking. As someone that has always admired India, I’ve often felt it is rarely depicted accurately in Cinema. Hollywood has often struggled to capture the beauty of a country that’s misunderstood. Few films I’ve ever seen have captured the beauty of a country with the ability to bloom as powerfully as “Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom”. Released in 1984, Steven Spielberg’s sequel found the iconic archaeologist embarking upon a trip to India. One of the defining characteristics of the Indiana Jones franchise has always been is its sharp sense of humour. Throughout the series, Jones has proven to be a comical character that often cracks jokes. Jones’ sharp sense of humour is clearly evident in “The Temple of Doom”. It’s arguably the funniest film in the franchise with jokes that are surprisingly not outdated today. For instance, the scene in which Indiana Jones and his comrades have a dinner at an Indian temple remains one of the funniest scenes in the franchise. At the centre of it all is an exceptional performance from the late actor Amrish Puri, who created an iconic villain celebrating Indian countries. Ultimately, what makes “The Temple of Doom” stand out in the franchise is its authentic depiction of India. Unlike most movies that have depicted India as an impoverished country without prosperity, the film captured the beauty of the country. Spielberg managed to capture the beauty of Indian culture rarely seen in movies. As precious as the Temple of Doom, it’s a strong reminder of a celebrated franchise with little room for improvement that hasn’t lost abilities to bloom.
3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Fathers are powerful figures that shape children’s futures. As far as I remember, I’ve always shared a strong bond with my father. An inspiring role model, he has motivated me to achieve dreams that I am pursuing. Without his words of wisdom, I may not have achieved dreams I am passionate about. I have always appreciated the huge sacrifices that my father has made in order to ensure my pursuit of happiness. Fatherhood is a recurring theme throughout the Indiana Jones franchise, and it is most clearly evident in the third film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. Released in 1989, Steven Spielberg’s movie depicted the strong relationship Indiana Jones shares with his father embarking on an adventure. With the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise, Spielberg captured the roles fathers have played in shaping the archaeologist’s identity. Packed with awe-inspiring action, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it remains one of the best films in the franchise. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Sean Connery, who brings gravitas to the role of Indiana Jones’ aging father What sets it apart from other movies in the series is the attention it gives to character development. Spielberg focuses on Indiana Jones’ conflicted relationship with his father which audiences can easily relate to. For instance, the scene in which Indiana Jones has a candid conversation with his father about his parenting is one of the most memorable moments in the series. Ultimately, what makes “The Last Crusade” a great Indiana Jones movie is its message. The film delivers a meaningful message about fatherhood which would resonate with everyone. A powerful portrait of the sacrifices made by archaeologists embarking on a last crusade, it’s a remarkable reminder of a franchise that has made headline news through depicting heroes that aren’t afraid.
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4. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Aging is a painful process that causes seniors to face stress. Years ago, my grandfather was once a huge fan of Indiana Jones whom he considered a hero. I formed a strong relationship with a grandfather that was a huge fan of a hero with a whip. However, age became a barrier bringing bonds to a closure. After reaching age of retirement, he lost his interest in an iconic hero in entertainment. Adopting a pessimistic attitude, he lost interest in a character that he once valued. As someone treasuring memories of a grandfather that once loved Indiana Jones deeply, I adored “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”. Released in 2023, Harrison Ford’s final Indiana Jones movie did an excellent job bringing the beloved franchise towards a satisfying conclusion. Unlike previous Indiana Jones movies, what make “The Dial of Destiny” stand out was its powerful depiction of aging. The movie captured aging faced by Indiana Jones ignored by the previous films in the franchise. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Harrison Ford. In his final role as the whip-smart archaeologist, Ford brought emotions to Indiana Jones that audiences hadn’t seen in the past before. For instance, the scene in which Indiana Jones reunites with his lover Marion after several years of separation is one of the greatest moments of the franchise. Despite its strong emotions, “The Dial of Destiny” isn’t quite a perfect movie. It lacks the strong storytelling that made the previous films in the franchise successful. Although it’s far from a perfect movie, “The Dial of Destiny” still did a great job celebrating Indiana Jones’ legacy. Ultimately, what makes “The Dial of Destiny” a great Indiana Jones movie is its message. The film delivers a profound message about aging which would resonate with everyone. A breathtaking farewell towards an iconic hero with a powerful grip on his whip, it’s a remarkable reminder of a commemorated character that audiences have grown to worship.
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5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones is one of those characters that hasn’t always been portrayed perfectly in Cinema. While most movies have been successful in depicting the hero with a whip, others have failed to capture what makes Indiana Jones special. Unfortunately, “Indiana Jones the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is a dull film falls into the latter group of movies that can’t entirely celebrate Indiana Jones. Released in 2008, Steven Spielberg’s movie failed to capture what made Indiana Jones an iconic hero to begin with. Widely considered to be the worst film in the franchise, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” remains a tough film to watch. Packed with over-the-top action sequences, silly humour and a lack of strong characterization, it stands out as being the worst Indiana Jones movie. I recollect the strong feeling of disappointment that I felt when I first saw the movie back in 2008 at witnessing a character I regarded as an icon in entertainment given poor treatment. Simply put, the film failed to live up the previous movies in the franchise. That being said, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” isn’t the disaster that most critics have made it out to be. For all its faults, the film does have certain redeeming qualities that make it worth watching. Harrison Ford remains a shining presence in all five Indiana Jones movies. He’s one of those actors with the rare ability to elevate every movie regardless of poor quality. Even when the story is falling apart, Ford pours his heart Indiana Jones making the film worth a watch. Despite its flaws, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is worth watching for Ford’s fantastic performance alone. As strong as Indiana Jones’ desire to enter the Crystal Skull kingdom, it’s a riveting reminder of a hero that has achieved stardom through his wisdom whose commemorated movies I will forever treasure for inspiring me to pursue dreams of film criticism.
The Film Buff 