The Kidd here...
I know you've been patiently (some of you impatiently) waiting to find out if you're one of the five individuals whose creative approach to finding the MacGuffin for an ideal fifth Indiana Jones film struck a chord with me enough to land one of these sweet INDIANA JONES: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray box sets, so I won't keep you waiting.
I got a ton of similar ideas during the process, as just about everyone seemed to want Indy going after the lost city of Atlantis and even one of the winning ideas came up a lot (I had to go with the one whose story seemed to jive the best in the world of Indy's previous adventures). In the end, that's what really cemented these five winners for me. They each felt like they could easily fit into the world of Indiana Jones we've come to know and love - with the exception of one, which just made me laugh a great deal.
So here we go...
- Wesley Dodd
Indy discovers that a Nazi idealist is attempting to kickstart a Fourth Reich. Scoffing at earlier attempts to harness God’s power for the good of Nazi advancement (RAIDERS), this heathen lives by the adage that knowledge is power. He looks to claim what God deemed too rich for human consumption by eating from Eden’s Tree of Knowledge. Once armed with this forsaken wisdom, he believes he will be imbued with God’s omniscience, thus being able to lead his forces to achieve what Hitler never could. Even worse, if this new breed of Nazi discovers the location of Eden, the entire force will have access to the Tree of Life and immortality. Dr. Jones sets out on a final adventure to uncover the location of the Garden of Eden prior to the villains, putting a stop to this dastardly plot.
By utilizing Biblical relics, INDY 5 would not shy away from the grand scope of earlier films. The filmmakers would be forced to interpret the look and feel of these holy concepts that have never been seen by modern eyes. It is a mix of fantasy and reality that has always been one of the most appealing aspects of INDY. Fans of the franchise would take one final romp through the elements that made them fall in love with Indy’s universe in the first place, including ancient riddles, dusty tombs, mystical forces, and a villain that filmgoers love to hate (NAZIS!!!).
- Jonathan Foster
One of Indiana Jones’ student’s term papers has really caught his attention. It’s an assessment of a dig in the sands of Egypt that unearthed what was thought to be the tomb of one of the descendants of Jacob, third patriarch of the Hebrew people. The real mystery was that, once uncovered, it was found that the tomb was empty. Eventually the tomb of Jacob himself – in the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Israeli mountains was exhumed. It was also empty. Not even a trace of a body ever having rested there. The only finding of note was a picture engraved underneath the coffin’s top: A ladder going up into infinity. The students conclusions, fantastic, and indulging in folklore, Indiana is quick to condemn. Such indulgence has no place in real archeology.
But when archeologists start disappearing all over Africa, Indy starts to suspect that his student’s very youthful and fantastic report may not be nearly fantastic enough to predict what is waiting for him in his search for what remains of Jacob’s Ladder - Jacob’s dream of a contact – a bridge – a direct connection from the Earth into the afterlife – a staircase to Heaven, which is possible was not only dreamed about but, at one point, truly manifested.
A journey that brings Indy to within a glimpse of the next world, which, upon it’s discovery, restores Indy’s and Marion’s Raiders youthful appearance (CGI!!) and reunites him with Sallah, Marcus Brody, Short Round, Belloq, and Allison Doody(CGI)!!
- Abel Gleason
An aged, battered, and increasingly watered-down Dr. Jones gathers his wits, allies, and no shortage of practical effects about him and sets out in search of one of the greatest lost treasures the world has ever known: George Lucas' prosaic and directorial edge, which vanished from the world without a trace twenty years ago encased in a cursed vault forged from greed and clever marketing. Indy's greatest quest will take him around the world, and nowhere near a CGI rendering suite. But in his path stands an army of soulless Yes-Men and sycophants led by a force so heinous, so overpowering, even a lead-lined refrigerator may not be enough to save our hero: the vile Baron McCallum and the forces of the Lucasfilm Marketing Gestapo!
Can the Man with The Hat and Whip©®™ somehow triumph yet again? Can Dr. Henry Jones Jr. overcome the staggering odds of source material mediocrity and reclaim his original glory? Can Indiana somehow save the fans from being guilted into buying yet another box set featuring subsequent sequels, even if it (hopefully) costs him the life of his son?! FIND OUT in INDIANA JONES AND THE HUNT FOR THE LOST ELAN!!!
- Maxwell Heesch
An artifact once covered in the junior novel Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx, The Omega Book is a tome that contains the
complete record of everyone who has ever, or will ever live. Whom-so-ever finds the book has the power to alter their destiny or erase anyone they wish from existence.
Tossing out the story of the book, this MacGuffin would be ideal for Indy to pursue in his final adventure because of the familiar themes it touches upon from the other films (immortality, fortune, glory, etc.), as well as the opportunity for Indy to battle with himself, in addition to others, for control of his destiny and legacy. This is where a fitting conclusion to Mutt Williams' character could be sought as well.
The Book is originally hidden beneath the Sphinx, which could work. The Sphinx is an attractive location, as it would allow Indy and Marion to revisit places from their previous adventures, and perhaps include Sallah once more! My original thought for villains in the picture would have been Nazis hiding in South America, but instead I think that it would be the ultimate trip to see corrupt Americans as the foes this time.
Ultimately, Indy would take the high road and not read his fate, but the Book would offer genuine temptation for Indy, especially in his family were along for the ride. Plus, how cool would it be to see Indy read about all his adventures in one Book? (Very)
- Gary Wild
Every other Indiana Jones film has centered on a religious artifact dealing with Christ. The fifth installment should follow suit as a nice bookend, focusing on the quest for the Lance of Longinus: the spear that pierced Christ’s side on the cross.
Though Hitler is long defeated and dead, there remains the most vicious, violent, and dangerous sect of loyal-to-the-cause Nazis who embark on an underground campaign to locate the true spear (as there are several purported spears throughout the world). Believed to possess mystical powers from the blood of Christ, the lance grants immortality and great power to whomever wields it—for either good or evil. Having failed to obtain the Ark and the Holy Grail, this last relic could place the remaining Nazi’s in a position for world dominance, seeing their fuehrer’s demented vision to fruition through WWIII.
As this faction of determined and deranged Nazi’s grow closer to the true lance, they begin leaving signs of their relentless presence, propelled ever onward only by the ghost of their Commander-In-Chief and their “defeat-is-not-an-option” mentality.
Enjoying a quiet retirement—fedora and whip hung up—it is up to Indiana Jones to hesitantly set out on one last harrowing adventure to follow the clues and put an end, once and for all, to the Nazi’s sick desire to sweep through the world in a bid for absolute control.
The man in the hat is back to save the world one final time in Indiana Jones and the Spear of Destiny.
That's it. That's the list.
Oh, and, as far as the best of the best, which is good for that replica Indiana Jones fedora and whip, Wesley Dodd's approach to bring it all full circle has earned the honors.
Congratulations to all our winners, and thanks to everyone who took the time to participate.
I read through a lot of interesting ideas to give me hope that a fifth INDIANA JONES could absolutely work if given the care, effort and passion that some of you have for the character and the overall material.
Thanks to Paramount Home Entertainment once again for this wonderful opportunity.
-Billy Donnelly
"The Infamous Billy The Kidd"
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