I am one of the biggest Indy dorks, but there are STILL a few things that I have noted that I really never found many answers to. They don't quite fit in "gaffs" and they really aren't plot holes; just head-scratchers.
I'd appreciate a point in a right direction about the following. Feel free to answer or post your own irksome moments or questions! No doubt there will be the "Indy is just fiction" responses, but I get that. I'd also prefer to keep any Crystal Skull bashing in my hats, if you know what I mean.
RAIDERS
1. It always bothered me that the gun that fires after Indy uses his whip to disarm a bad guy in the first few minutes gave off no muzzle flash or signs of being fired yet we hear the sound effect of a gunshot.
2. One of Indiana's famous lines has always baffled me. Is it "Adios Stupido?" or "Adios Satipo?" To my ears, Indy clearly says "Stoopeeeedo." If he is attempting to speak Spanish and say "See ya, stupid" the accent he places on the word is just wrong. It would be said "Stooooopido." On my very first copy of Raiders on DVD, the subtitles read "stupido." On the recent DVDs they read "Satipo" and it has been since accepted that this was the characters name. Is it an attempt at revisionist history to undo a language gaff that an astute prof. wouldn't make? If his name was "Sapito" thats one thing. But "Satipo." I don't buy it.
3. Is Sallah mistaken when he says the others call Belloq "Bellosh?" Is this just the way they incorrectly pronounce his name?
4. Is anyone else in conflict about whether Indy's stealing of an idol STILL BEING WORSHIPPED would violate the moral code he establishes in other films? We know he has no respect for the death (using bones and torches, throwing around carcasses, etc), but this?
5. Does the "You sound like my mother!" line to Marcus sort of imply his mother is alive until it is later established that she died years before, in Last Crusade?
LAST CRUSADE
1. I never quite grasped the circumstances in the scene where Indy is accosted on his way to the office by hundreds of rabid students. Why does this happen? Is this to show he is amazingly popular among students? Is it to show that his adventures keep him from being a thorough professor?
2. While it is more dramatic to have the news about Indy's father being missing delivered at the end of Donovan's pitch about the grail, I would have slugged him for waiting so long to tell me that "my father is the man who disapeared."
3. I won't get into the flames from the torch dropping into Petroleum, the fact that Indy opens his eyes in the stuff, or that the grail tablet rubbing magically stays dry.
2. Why doesn't Indy wait for the Nazis to take off in their boat further and simply "sneak" out of the box with the motorcycle, instead of dramatically pulling away while they are still on shore, giving them more time to catch up?
4. Has anyone given thought the "great seal" talk? Why is that the boundary and the price of imortality? How did the grail get there? Who made that rule? And doesn't it imply that removing the grail would simply take away one's ability to remain immortal, and not that the whole ground will open up and swallow you and the grail?
5. When the knight waives. What is he thinking? Is it "I know you are righteous, thank you for destroying my home, losing the grail in the Earth, and likely killing me?" is it "I know it was the crazy woman's idea to take the grail and not yours, so we cool?" is it "Thank you for putting me out of my misery since I have sat here for 700 years with a romance novel that has lost its suspense after the 1000th read?" In all seriousness, I suppose the knight has no ill will?
CRYSTAL SKULL
1. I know I am asking for it, but can anyone give me a decent fan explanation for what happens in the end of Crystal Skull with the thirteen heads slamming into each other and turning into a living, organic being?
And for good measure, YOUNG INDY:
1. I wonder why we see almost zero reference to the trilogy in the entire series? Is it because Paramount has the rights and Lucas merely paid to use the "character?" No theme, no Abner, no Marion, really nothing direct. Yes we see the peacock diamond, and Indy wears a subtle chin scar, but that's all folks.
I am sure I will think of more.
I'd appreciate a point in a right direction about the following. Feel free to answer or post your own irksome moments or questions! No doubt there will be the "Indy is just fiction" responses, but I get that. I'd also prefer to keep any Crystal Skull bashing in my hats, if you know what I mean.
RAIDERS
1. It always bothered me that the gun that fires after Indy uses his whip to disarm a bad guy in the first few minutes gave off no muzzle flash or signs of being fired yet we hear the sound effect of a gunshot.
2. One of Indiana's famous lines has always baffled me. Is it "Adios Stupido?" or "Adios Satipo?" To my ears, Indy clearly says "Stoopeeeedo." If he is attempting to speak Spanish and say "See ya, stupid" the accent he places on the word is just wrong. It would be said "Stooooopido." On my very first copy of Raiders on DVD, the subtitles read "stupido." On the recent DVDs they read "Satipo" and it has been since accepted that this was the characters name. Is it an attempt at revisionist history to undo a language gaff that an astute prof. wouldn't make? If his name was "Sapito" thats one thing. But "Satipo." I don't buy it.
3. Is Sallah mistaken when he says the others call Belloq "Bellosh?" Is this just the way they incorrectly pronounce his name?
4. Is anyone else in conflict about whether Indy's stealing of an idol STILL BEING WORSHIPPED would violate the moral code he establishes in other films? We know he has no respect for the death (using bones and torches, throwing around carcasses, etc), but this?
5. Does the "You sound like my mother!" line to Marcus sort of imply his mother is alive until it is later established that she died years before, in Last Crusade?
LAST CRUSADE
1. I never quite grasped the circumstances in the scene where Indy is accosted on his way to the office by hundreds of rabid students. Why does this happen? Is this to show he is amazingly popular among students? Is it to show that his adventures keep him from being a thorough professor?
2. While it is more dramatic to have the news about Indy's father being missing delivered at the end of Donovan's pitch about the grail, I would have slugged him for waiting so long to tell me that "my father is the man who disapeared."
3. I won't get into the flames from the torch dropping into Petroleum, the fact that Indy opens his eyes in the stuff, or that the grail tablet rubbing magically stays dry.
2. Why doesn't Indy wait for the Nazis to take off in their boat further and simply "sneak" out of the box with the motorcycle, instead of dramatically pulling away while they are still on shore, giving them more time to catch up?
4. Has anyone given thought the "great seal" talk? Why is that the boundary and the price of imortality? How did the grail get there? Who made that rule? And doesn't it imply that removing the grail would simply take away one's ability to remain immortal, and not that the whole ground will open up and swallow you and the grail?
5. When the knight waives. What is he thinking? Is it "I know you are righteous, thank you for destroying my home, losing the grail in the Earth, and likely killing me?" is it "I know it was the crazy woman's idea to take the grail and not yours, so we cool?" is it "Thank you for putting me out of my misery since I have sat here for 700 years with a romance novel that has lost its suspense after the 1000th read?" In all seriousness, I suppose the knight has no ill will?
CRYSTAL SKULL
1. I know I am asking for it, but can anyone give me a decent fan explanation for what happens in the end of Crystal Skull with the thirteen heads slamming into each other and turning into a living, organic being?
And for good measure, YOUNG INDY:
1. I wonder why we see almost zero reference to the trilogy in the entire series? Is it because Paramount has the rights and Lucas merely paid to use the "character?" No theme, no Abner, no Marion, really nothing direct. Yes we see the peacock diamond, and Indy wears a subtle chin scar, but that's all folks.
I am sure I will think of more.
Last edited: