A break in the Celebration

by Darth Danno
on 2012-09-19, 08:14:37

We pause in our coverage of CVI to bring you news of this past Saturday's special event to which I was able to be a part of.

“The Complete Indiana Jones Adventures” were released on Blu-Ray yesterday. To commemorate the occasion, select AMC theaters where having an Indiana Jones marathon, showing all four films back to back, starting at 10:30 am. I got there about 9:25, and there were at least thirty people already standing outside, waiting to get in. They finally opened the doors shortly before 10:00; I got in, got in line to get my ticket (I had already pre-ordered tix, but had to pick it up.) then got in the line to get my poster and lanyard. After obtaining them, I picked a seat in the theater, left my jacket and poster there, then stopped off in the bathroom, after that, I stopped at the concessions stand and got a large popcorn and drink as they allowed free refills, then headed back to my seat.

Between each film, they had a twenty minute break for everyone to stretch their legs, use the facilities, go back to the concession stand, etc...Then @ 5 minutes before each film, some of the theater employees would come in and read trivia questions, if you got it right, you won a prize. My question was “What was Indiana Jones' occupation?” I answered “He was a teacher of Archeology at the college”. The girl said that was correct and to come up and claim my prize, but everyone started booing stating the answer was incorrect and the right response should have been “He was a PROFESSOR of Archeology”, but they gave me my prize anyway, which was a DVD copy of the film “The Devil Inside”. Little did I know that vindication for my response would come a little later, from the most unlikely of places.

Once “Raiders” concluded, my popcorn bag was still full, and I had enough soda left to get me through “Temple Of Doom”, but after that ended, a trip to the washroom was in order, and then back to the refreshment stand for more soda. After “Last Crusade” finished, I needed a refill on popcorn.

While watching “Crystal Skull”, in the scene where Mutt and Indy are sitting in the diner, Mutt asks Dr. Jones what he does, to which he replies “I'm a tenured Professor”. Mutt's reply brought laughs throughout the theater. “So, you're a teacher?” Shia got my back!!!

The final film ended around 7:30 at night, and I had noticed that some people had left before the last film had even started. The event finished with everyone getting a slip of paper with a number on it, and then they drew a slip out of a box, and if your number matched it, you won a copy of “The Complete Indiana Jones Adventures” on Blu-Ray. I wasn't the lucky one; but had a great time anyway.

It was awesome seeing the films back on the big screen again. At times it felt odd, watching the stories unfold and realizing “oh, such and such is deceased now”. I got a lump in my throat watching “Raiders”, realizing that when I saw it for the first time 31 years ago, my Mom was alive and well.

It just goes to confirm that what Rene Belloq said was true; “We are simply passing through history.”

But these films are history, and will surely withstand the tests of time. Kept hoping some official word would have leaked out during the day regarding “Indy 5”, but no such luck. Oh well, you can't have everything! It just felt good knowing the man with the hat was back on the big screen, if only for a day.