Official Guide to Indiana Jones
The Ten Most Memorable Indiana Jones Moments
Posted by FSR Staff (editors@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 18, 2008
It’s not until you look back at the original Indiana Jones trilogy that you realize just how many memorable moments there are in the series. To whittle that list of seminal moments down to just ten is excruciating, and it will be different for everyone.
These are the moments that stuck with us long after the credits rolled. They are shocking, humorous and exciting. Some have become part of the iconic legends (like the boulder) while others can be quoted in pop culture with no need of an explanation (like “No ticket!” ala Kevin Smith).
The reality is that the films overall are memorable and worth another look for any fan of the adventure genre. Here are our favorites…
10. “The three challenges” from The Last Crusade
Although much longer than a mere moment, this scene began the climax of the third movie, giving us some booby traps that had otherwise been absent from the script.
9. “The Jones boys tied up” from The Last Crusade
The addition of Sean Connery to the cast of the Indiana Jones saga was brilliant, and his chemistry with Harrison Ford was impeccable, as shown in this scene.
8. “The mine chase” from Temple of Doom
While The Last Crusade was the installment that spotlighted chase sequences, it was the breathtaking mine chase from Temple of Doom that was most exciting.
7. “I hate snakes” from Raiders of the Lost Ark
What better way to demonstrate Indiana Jones’ loathing of snakes than to drop him into a pit of vipers?
6. “Hitler signs the diary” from The Last Crusade
Tongue-in-cheek humor has been a hallmark of these films, and it is demonstrated here when Indiana Jones has an unpredictable run-in with der Führer himself.
5. “Snake surprise and chilled monkey brains” from Temple of Doom
As a child watching these films in theaters on Saturday afternoon, nothing was more fun than the gross-out moments. That was taken to its fullest level in Temple of Doom with a feast at Pankot Palace.
4. “Face melting” from Raiders of the Lost Ark
The climax of Raiders of the Lost Ark showed how shocking the series could be, and what better way to dispatch the Nazis than with lightning to the chest, face melting and exploding heads?
3. “Burn your heart out” from Temple of Doom
Our first look at the Temple of Doom where a young man is sacrificed by the Thuggee cult caused a furor about the film’s PG rating. But to the 13-year-old kid in a multiplex in Ohio, it was glorious.
2. “Giant boulder” from Raiders of the Lost Ark
In reality, the entire opening sequence of Raiders is so full of moments, it’s hard to pull one out. But if we had to choose, the giant boulder climax to the scene is the most memorable.
1. “Shooting the swordsman” from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom
The scene where Indy shoots the swordsman in Raiders easily got the most laughs in the theaters, as did the call-back in Temple of Doom when Indy realizes he doesn’t have a gun.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
“What’s black and white and red all over?” from Raiders of the Lost Ark – A Nazi in a propeller, natch!
“The rope bridge” from Temple of Doom – What would Indy do?
“No ticket!” from The Last Crusade – There’s better ways to get rid of Nazis, but none as funny.
Article composed by Kevin Carr. Additional reporting by Nathan Deen.
Read more articles by FSR Staff
44 Comments
May 19th, 2008 at 3:34 am
I think one of the most memorable moments in the trilogy is the opening of “Last Crusade” as River Phoenix plays young Indy.
That ones up in the top 5.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
The “call-back” in Temple of Doom (in reference to the shooting of the swordsman) wasn’t that he didn’t have a gun, it was that he was out of ammo.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Where is “bad dates”?!? That has to be my all time favorite Indy moment.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Well I think one of the best moments was in last crusade. When they were down in the sewer/night tomb…under the city. Indiana sees a picture of the ark on the wall….”Its the ark of the covenant”……”Are you sure?”………and in a humorist was responds….”Pretty sure”
May 19th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, on the ship Indy says something like “It’s not the years it’s the mileage” when commenting on his physical condition. This right after he was dragged behind and under a truck, a great one liner.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Sorry Koskun, just watched the three this weekend, and in the Temple of Doom Call back, he reaches for the gun but the holder is empty.
And all my favorite scenes are already mentioned.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
my personal favourite is the “X marks the spot” and the subsequent stamping scene, wonderfully tongue in cheek.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Check again my friend, Indy didn’t have a gun in that call-back scene.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
“It’s not the years, it’s the mileage.” - Raiders of the Lost Arc
May 19th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
actually in temple of doom his gun is missing (he lost it during the opening sequence,,,when they where in the car)
He was out of ammo in the last crusade, when they where escaping from the airplanes..
i think..
May 19th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
No, the “call-back” in Temple of Doom was that he didn’t have a gun. He had lost it earlier when Willy dropped it out of the car window in the chase in Shanghai and he never gets a new one in the film.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
My favorite is from the Last Crusade when Indy and Elsa are in the catacombs looking for the knights tomb in Venice. they find a painting on the wall…
Elsa - “What’s that?”
Indy - “The Ark of the Covenant”
Elsa - “Are you sure?”
Indy - “Pretty sure”
Made me feel dumb that I only recognized the humor in that scene recently, but it is definitely one of my favorite gems of the series now.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Traducion al español y pingback en: http://www.edadfutura.com/10-momentos-memorables-de-indiana-jones
May 19th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I don’t remember watching Indiana Jones with Mexican subtitles? Wtf ????
May 19th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
My favorite scene was the first first moment we saw the face of Indiana Jones. He was standing at the waterfall/pond in the jungle. One of the guides who was a mole for the bad guy reaches for his gun and before he could get off a shot Indiana knocks it out of his hand with his whip. You then see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and probably the first time since he was frozen in cabonite in the Empire Strikes Back. The one scene gave you a feeling that here was the hero and you also felt like you were in a 1930’s movie made with 1980’s Lucas/Speilburg standards.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Anyone notice that one of the guides in the first scene of “Raiders” was Afred Molena.
Remember him as Doc Octavious in Spider Man 2.
He tried to screw Indiana over and he payed the price!!!
May 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
What!?! The single greatest moment is when he shoots all those guys in a row with one bullet. That was so over the top excellent.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
No way. You are all off.
The number 1 scene was when the monkey in the Last Crusade saluted the Nazis.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Err, sorry, the monkey salute was in Raiders of the Lost Ark when he meets Bellock in Egypt.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Hash, stop smoking da hash.
Ya know I swear that monkey is the same little fart that’s in Speed Racer.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
In Last Crusade when the tank runs off the cliff and everybody thinks Indy went with it. He
comes staggering up but the gang and peers over the edge with them. That’s a nice
moment. And as a topper, his hat magically comes back to him while he’s taking a well
deserved rest after all that tank battling.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Another interesting cameo - Dan Akroyd in Temple of Doom
May 19th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
what about “Dr. Jones no time for love” from Temple of Doom?
May 19th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
“You’re insulting them, and you’re embarrassing me.” -Temple of Doom
May 19th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Dude… when Indy and Shortround are trapped in the spike trap room, and Willy’s having a
hard time sticking her hand in the hole to pull the lever… and Indy says, with the most
serious and pissed off face i’ve ever seen… “WE… ARE GOING… TO DIE!”
May 19th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Any scene with Indy is memorable……..whatta MAN!!!
May 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
What about all the bugs in Temple of Doom?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I’m just going to point this out because of the Alfred Molina quote.
Dan Aykroyd is in Temple. He delivers the famous, “As you will be riding with a cargo full of live poultry.” The camera never gives him a close up but he is mentioned in the credits.
Also, the name of the bar they are in at the beginning of that film is Obi Wan.
but my favorite part is either the “Pretty sure.” in Last Ark, or the entire truck chase in Raiders.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Hahahaha! Awesometastic!
May 20th, 2008 at 5:18 am
What about after escaping the Inferno in the catacombs?
… “Ah! Venice” …
May 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
When in Last Crusade at the end his father says “We named the dog Indiana”!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
As far as the Temple of Doom and PG rating, it was this movie that led to the PG-13 rating.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
What about when Indie knocks out a guard in Raiders of the Lost Ark and takes his uniform, but it doesn’t fit? When has any movie shown a hero steal a disguise and it doesn’t fit?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Gotta love when he shoots the sword guy.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Oh c’mon! The most precious scene (both metaphorically and visually) is the ending to Temple of Doom where Indy and Willie are just about to kiss and the elephant sprays water all over them! Hilarity ensues!! C’mon, for Pete’s sake that ain’t supposed to happen!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Raiders of the Lost Ark is by far the best Indiana Jones Movie ever!!
May 21st, 2008 at 8:46 am
I don’t pretend to be an Indy buff, but I’ve always been curious. When I saw “Raiders” for the first time, the part where Indy falls into the snake pit and the cobra sits up, I swear I can see the cobras reflection as if there is a piece of glass between them. Has anyone else noticed this?
May 21st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Yeah Dan, I noticed that….
That’s one of the effects that’s kinda dated.
They would be able to clean that up nowadays.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:09 am
The reflection is from glass, and it was placed so Indy wouldn’t get cobra venom spit in his face, or bitten, or both….from a ‘making of the movie’ documentary soooo many moons ago.
May 25th, 2008 at 5:37 am
“Asps, very dangerous, you go first.” Sala in Raiders.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
“Nice try, Lao Che!”
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
My all time favorite is the end of Raiders, as the camera pans back and up to show the giant warehouse that the Arc is being anonymously consigned to. I about fainted. Second fave is the round rock. Totally took me by surprise. A great chase.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Some other great lines:
“He sticks out like a sore thumb. We’ll find him. ”
“The hell you will. He’s got a two day head start on you, which is more than he needs. Brody’s got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he’ll blend in, disappear, you’ll never see him again. With any luck, he’s got the grail already. ”
[Cut to middle of fair in the Middle East, Marcus Brody wearing bright suit and white hat, sticking out like sore thumb]
“Uhhh, does anyone here speak English? ”
and
“Dad, we’re well out of range”
June 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I don’t believe anyone has mentioned the scene where Jones slides under a closing door, reaches under it, grabs his hat, and pulls it back to him before the door closes. That was the most memorable moment for me, but I don’t remember what movie it was from.