The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast – PEL Presents PMP#154: Indiana Jones and the Various MacGuffins

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts dive into the Indiana Jones franchise and discuss the latest film, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” They explore their childhood love for the series, their anxiety about watching the new movie, and the potential issues with the adventure genre. Join them as they dissect the nostalgic appeal of Indiana Jones and analyze the successes and failures of the latest installment.

Main Takeaways

Childhood Nostalgia and Anxiety

• Lawrence Ware shares his childhood love for the franchise and his fear of it being ruined after a bad movie experience
• The hosts discuss their anxiety and dread about watching the new film
• They recorded audio 10 minutes before deciding to have the conversation and discuss the film a week after its release

The Dated Adventure Genre

• The Indiana Jones franchise is based on a nostalgic jungle adventure genre from the 30s and 40s
• The adventure genre may be considered dated and potentially offensive in modern times
• The franchise appeals to nostalgia for a childhood era and the adventure genre

Critiques and Missed Opportunities

• A missed opportunity for the new Indiana Jones movie to have a post-colonial take and return an artifact to its country of origin
• The genre of artifact hunting and antiquarianism is dated and needs to evolve
• The Indiana Jones franchise appeals to nostalgia, but may not be as successful as hoped

Character Development and Continuity

• The character arc of Indiana Jones is interesting, and the director of the fifth movie was able to tie up loose ends and create a fully rounded character
• Continuity in the series can be confusing, with characters disappearing without explanation
• Chemistry between characters is crucial to the success of the Indiana Jones movies

The Use of CGI and Practical Effects

• The Crystal Skull film had a formula that included creepy crawlies and CGI effects
• Practical effects are more effective than CGI for creating scary scenes
• The opening sequence of the new Indiana Jones film is all CGI AI Harrison Ford

Summary

Indiana Jones: Nostalgia, Missed Opportunities, and Character Development

The hosts of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast” delve into the Indiana Jones franchise, exploring the nostalgic appeal of the films and the potential issues with the adventure genre. They discuss their childhood love for the series and their anxiety about watching the new movie. The podcast highlights missed opportunities for the latest installment to have a post-colonial take and evolve the genre of artifact hunting. They also analyze the character development of Indiana Jones and the importance of chemistry between characters. The hosts touch on the use of CGI and practical effects in the films, emphasizing the effectiveness of practical effects for creating scary scenes. Overall, they examine the successes and failures of the franchise, providing thought-provoking insights into its cultural impact and storytelling techniques.

Conclusion

As the hosts of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast” dissect the Indiana Jones franchise and the latest film, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” they offer a critical analysis of its nostalgic appeal, missed opportunities, and character development. They explore the challenges of evolving a dated adventure genre and discuss the use of CGI and practical effects. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, this episode provides engaging insights into the cultural significance and storytelling techniques of the Indiana Jones series.