We Named The Dog Indiana | #80

We Named The Dog Indiana – Episode 80

Recorded: June 7th, 2023

Episode Overview

In this episode, Chewie and Pip reunite after an extended break and catch up on life, getting older, concert plans, summer activities, and the realities of approaching their late forties. The conversation quickly shifts into a discussion about the summer movie season, including the latest entries in the Mission: Impossible and Transformers franchises.

The bulk of the episode focuses on one of the most beloved adventure series of all time: Indiana Jones. With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny set to hit theaters, the hosts revisit the entire franchise, discussing their earliest memories of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the legacy of Temple of Doom, why The Last Crusade remains the gold standard of the series, and where Kingdom of the Crystal Skull went wrong.

Along the way, they debate the best Indiana Jones film, discuss Harrison Ford’s enduring appeal, examine the challenges of legacy sequels, and share their hopes and concerns for the final chapter of Indiana Jones’ cinematic journey.

Topics Discussed

Recovering from surgery and getting older
Midlife crisis purchases and dream collectibles
Hair metal and future music podcast ideas
Summer concerts and movie plans
The Mission: Impossible franchise
Tom Cruise as an action star
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Peter Cullen and Optimus Prime
The history of the Indiana Jones franchise
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Temple of Doom and the PG-13 rating
The Last Crusade
Sean Connery as Henry Jones Sr.
The best Indiana Jones film
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Shia LaBeouf and Mutt Williams
Marion Ravenwood’s role in the series
The controversy surrounding Indiana Jones and Marion’s backstory
Spielberg vs. modern franchise filmmaking
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Legacy sequels in modern Hollywood
Whether Indiana Jones still works as an action hero in his seventies

Episode Chapters

0:27 – Welcome Back After the Break
1:05 – Surgery Recovery & Getting Older
3:34 – Midlife Crisis Talk
4:16 – Dream Toys, Guitars & Slingshots
6:58 – Future Podcast Ideas: Greatest Hair Metal Ballad Band
9:02 – Summer Plans, Concerts & Movies

9:42 – Summer Movie Season Preview
10:31 – The Problem with Legacy Sequels
11:03 – Revisiting the Mission: Impossible Series
11:57 – Why Mission: Impossible III Works
13:41 – Movies We’re Shocked We Haven’t Seen
16:04 – Tom Cruise, Reputation & Action Stardom
18:17 – Popcorn Movies & Why They Work

18:49 – Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
20:17 – Transformers Timeline Confusion
21:39 – Favorite Transformers Films
22:26 – Peter Cullen & the Voice of Optimus Prime

24:01 – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
25:17 – First Reactions to a Fifth Indiana Jones Film
27:58 – Looking Back at the Indiana Jones Franchise
28:55 – First Memories of Raiders of the Lost Ark
30:06 – Why The Last Crusade Is the Best Indiana Jones Movie
31:06 – Temple of Doom and the Birth of PG-13
33:20 – Revisiting Temple of Doom
34:23 – Why Was Temple of Doom a Prequel?
37:00 – The Hottest Indiana Jones Character Debate
38:25 – Why The Last Crusade Still Holds Up
40:42 – The Problem with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
42:35 – Nuking the Fridge & Other Missteps
43:40 – Where Crystal Skull Went Wrong
46:06 – What Could Have Been the Next Great Indiana Jones Adventure
46:53 – National Treasure, The Mummy & Modern Adventure Films
48:47 – Shia LaBeouf, Mutt Williams & Missed Opportunities
50:34 – Marion Ravenwood’s Strange Character Arc
51:38 – Revisiting Raiders’ Controversial Backstory

53:01 – Are We Excited for Dial of Destiny?
53:58 – Spielberg’s Absence & Creative Concerns
55:55 – Comparing Indiana Jones to Star Wars & Ghostbusters
57:28 – Can a 77-Year-Old Indiana Jones Carry a Movie?
59:12 – Should Short Round Return?
1:00:00 – Final Thoughts on Dial of Destiny
1:13:26 – Wrapping Up & Future Podcast Plans
1:14:12 – Outro