Is "The Last Crusade" essentially a rewrite of "Raiders of the Last Ark"

[Mike Daniels]

With the exception of the object of the quest, there are so many similarities in plot line, scenes, and incidentals that it's almost like Speilberg and Lucas just rewrote the script and tacked on enough secondary changes to make them appear to be different movies.

Just some observations I noticed after watching both this weekend:
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1. In both movies, Indy is basically hired to pick up the trail of the noted expert on the items being sought. In both cases, the item is described as an obsession of the missing person. (Ark/Ravenwood - Last Crusade/Holy Grail/Dr. Henry Jones

2. In both films Indy is estranged from the person he's supposed to locate.

3. There's a traitorous presense in each film which leads to one of the characters to be captured - (the monkey with Karen Allen in Raiders - Dr. Schneider with Indy and Henry in Last Crusade).

4. A vehicle goes over a cliff during the main pursuit scene in each movie (jeep in Raiders/ tank in Last Crusade)

5. In the final battle of the respective chase scenes the final person to be vanquished by Indy ends up getting his head smashed repeatedly into the vehicle (jeep/tank) before being dispatched.

6. The main secondary characters (Karen Allen in Raiders and Connery in Last) end up trapped in a military vehicle where they are able to assist Indy at critical moments by pure luck. Also, at some point in the respective scenes the vehicles are forced into changing direction by the pilot/driver falling against the controls after receiving a blow or bullet to the head.

7. Both of the primary villians (Beloque/Donovan) enter into agreements with the Nazi's not for political purposes but as a means to an end to obtain the object of the quest which they wish to use for their own eccentric purposes - speaking to God/Beloque or eternal youth/Donovan.

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I remember seeing other repeated plot devices at the time but these are the ones that stick out. Yes, I know that one is a sequel to the other and that there will be common plot or action points but the fact that so many scenes and various plot points match up exactly just seems unusual.

Just wondering if anyone else had noticed this as well and does it diminish the enjoyment of watching them if so. I know it doesn't keep me from enjoying each on it's own merit since the stories were fast moving and interesting and the movies were well crafted.

[everythingsxen]

1. I agree with you

Another thing to add would be that in both films there was a scene involving a roomfull of critters that a character was afraid of (Indy's Snakes in RotLA and his fathers creature of phobic choice, rats in Last Crusade).

Of the two films I think Last Crusade is slightly better in terms of acting and storyline. Not that the Lost Ark isn't good in it's own right however.

On Edit: Addendum - Favorite scene from Last Crusade, going through the tomb beneath the library and finding the mark on the wall, Dr. Snider asks what it is, Indy replies Lost Ark of the Covenant barely looking at it, as the eerie music from Raiders plays.

"What is it?"
"The Ark of the Covenant"
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure"

[skygazer]

2. I did the same thing recently

I watched all three of them on three consecutive nights. I too noticed the similarities between "Raiders" and "Crusade". I wish they'd followed the same formula with "Temple of Doom" because that one was awful!

[renegade000]

3. ya

they are similar...but infinitely better than temple of doom

[MrScorpio]

4. You're right

Also, remind me to tell you someday why the US version of GODZILLA and INDEPENDENCE DAY are the same movie.

[jpgray]

5. Yes, and Episodes I and IV of Star Wars are essentially the same as well

(nt)