Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Observation

[Mola Rob]

I have always wondered why near the end of LC when Indiana is trying to get to the Monty Python knight he has to do a somersault in order to avoid the first trap?

I can understand a penitent man going before god on his knees but that is not the case here. If Indy had remained on his knees he would be a lot shorter. If if he were to prostrate himself he would get cut in half. So wtf? The diary does not say "a penitent man does a somersault before god". No wonder no one has ever made it to the knight. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Minder Thr33]

He figured the first part from the guys heads that were coming off. I'd assume that he either saw/felt/heard the motions of the second blade coming up and knew he had to move out of that spot quickly.

Or it could just be dumb luck and Indy's momentum had him going forward and he noticed the other blade and just went to finish the roll.

 

[Mola Rob]

He figured the first part from the guys heads that were coming off. I'd assume that he either saw/felt/heard the motions of the second blade coming up and knew he had to move out of that spot quickly.

Or it could just be dumb luck and Indy's momentum had him going forward and he noticed the other blade and just went to finish the roll.

I realize that he figured the first part out but the trap is a cheat and the clue will only get you killed. So what was the point of a trap that you can only escape by getting really lucky?

Did Jigsaw set this thing up? "Hello Indiana, lets play a game."

 

[Qrest Fourstar]

I always felt he kneeled, saw the slit for the second blade and rolled.

 

[CessnaDriver]

Obviously Indy was in a big rush to save his dad.
But help me if I am forgetting, why were the bad guys in such a huge rush?
Taking a few days to examine and test the traps without getting killed was clearly possible. Hell the first two traps, just send in a damn goat or something.

 

[Mola Rob]

Nazi's are very impatient. :lol

 

[Mola Rob]

I always felt he kneeled, saw the slit for the second blade and rolled.

But why was the second blade there? Indy correctly figured out the hint in the grail diary but still should have died. The hint in the diary does not match the workings of the actual trap. I always felt this was a big cheat to make the end of the movie more exciting.

 

[Lightning]

part of his problem is he figures it out so late, if he's kneeled earlier, he wouldn't be right on top of the second blade. I once heard the theory that the second blade is to catch those who prostrate rather than kneel. It won't get you if your head isn't in front of your knees.

 

[Wes R]

I think the entire point was that nobody was supposed to get to the grail at all so the trap was there so that even if you followed the clues you'd never get to the grail which was the plan.

 

[Shade88]

I'd stop looking into it too much, it was an action scene... Doesn't need to be over-analyzed.

 

[blip]

......

 

[darthgordon]

Initially the scene was done with one blade... but Lucas felt that wasn't his vision. So he went back and added the additional, superfluous blade before it's release. He's said already that the released movie isn't his final vision. When he goes back to make IJATLC SE, he's going to add not only ten more CGI blades, but he's going to make a CGI Indy, do a crazy dance number. He and Speilberg are discussing what kind of walkie talkies all of the Nazis guns should be replaced with.

 

[DarkHelmet]

Dramatic effect. It really didn't happen.

 

[ewokus]

Makes Indy one of the first 'holy rollers'...

 

[Mola Rob]

I think the entire point was that nobody was supposed to get to the grail at all so the trap was there so that even if you followed the clues you'd never get to the grail which was the plan.

Out of all the theories I think this is probably the best. May not be what the writers had in mind but it makes the most sense. Although if you do kneel and don't progress any further I would assume the floor blade would stop spinning eventually and you can pass (unless the knight comes out and rewinds it ).

Makes me wonder why they went to all the trouble considering you can't remove the grail anyway.

 

[thegreatgalling]

For what its worth, here is my take:

If you look carefully, I think it was intended that you 1. kneel, and 2. if you stopped and paid your respects right then and there, the 2nd blade would just pass you. (The blades only pass once -If Indy had stayed kneeling in front of that line, the blade would have passed him). This was intended to thwart those who simply knew the clue and "faked it" by ducking.

His decision to jump over it was simply out of fear and instinct when he saw another blade was on his way as he looked down.

Great thread! Keep em coming! I love these types of questions, keep the brain moving and makes the movies fresher.

 

[Jeyl]

My biggest grip is why Elsa lost 100 points of her IQ when she saw the Grail and picked it up. Wouldn't the appropriate time to be astounded be in the Grail room when Indy picked the right one? Cripes, it's like she just saw it for the first time in her life and turned into a ******.

Edit: ret@ard is an inappropriate word?

 

[Wolfie]

For what its worth, here is my take:

If you look carefully, I think it was intended that you 1. kneel, and 2. if you stopped and paid your respects right then and there, the 2nd blade would just pass you. (The blades only pass once -If Indy had stayed kneeling in front of that line, the blade would have passed him). This was intended to thwart those who simply knew the clue and "faked it" by ducking.

His decision to jump over it was simply out of fear and instinct when he saw another blade was on his way as he looked down.

Great thread! Keep em coming! I love these types of questions, keep the brain moving and makes the movies fresher.

I follow your logic here, or would have had the chance to see the other one's slot and knew to roll out of the way or whatever. You probably wouldnt have a chance of noticing the second one if you didnt kneel with your head looking downward first.

Or God just has a sense of humor.

 

[rollerboi]

Edit: r***** is an inappropriate word?

Well, it's not very nice, innit? :lol
(sorry, just picking on ya)

 

[Cheeflet]

My biggest grip is why Elsa lost 100 points of her IQ when she saw the Grail and picked it up. Wouldn't the appropriate time to be astounded be in the Grail room when Indy picked the right one? Cripes, it's like she just saw it for the first time in her life and turned into a ******.

Edit: ret@ard is an inappropriate word?

Grail fever. It even happens to Jr a couple of minutes later.