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In this month's Esquire magazine, there's a very interesting article about the status of Indiana Jones IV and what has caused all the excruciating delays over the past few years. After reviewing the article, it seems that George Lucas, the original creator of the Indiana Jones character could be the cause for all the script delays we've had to deal lately.

Here is an overview of the Esquire article by Kim Masters along with a few excerpts to give you a sense of what the article is about:

The first major point made in the article is that if Indy 4 is made it will be done because these guys are passionate about the story and the character and are not in it for the money. "No one's going to make a fortune," this source says. "There are four very powerful entities involved." That's a point I've made note of on several occasions, this is about good filmmaking, not about big bucks.

Even though studio executives were reluctant to foot the bill for Indy IV, that might not have been the problem with getting the film off the ground. It could be that the problem lies within the "Dark Lord himself", George Lucas. Esquire entertains the thought that these delays could all stem from Lucas and his protective (dare I say, controlling) nature with the Indiana Jones films.

While Lucas was working on the Star Wars prequels, this left Steven Spielberg and Frank Darabont to work on the script for Indiana Jones 4. "Imagine Darabont's joy when Spielberg pronounced that he liked Darabont's draft, except for some quibbles with the third act. Darabont reworked the screenplay, and a few weeks later—last fall—Paramount was told that Spielberg would shoot the picture in July 2004."

"The problem, by all accounts, was Lucas. He didn't like the script—which Paramount executives never got to see. Darabont, apparently, was stunned. At a film festival earlier this year, he went so far as to finger Lucas as the culprit, explaining that Spielberg had deferred to his partner out of respect for their "long and close friendship."

So is the problem with Indy 4 coming from Lucas' competitive nature? Well, that's the idea you get from reading Esquire's analysis. "...is [Lucas] jealous of Spielberg's success as a filmmaker. But most who know him insist that he accepts and admires his friend's success. His issues with Indy 4 may lie elsewhere: money (was the risk to the franchise worth the potential reward?) and, most of all, control."

So maybe in Lucas' eyes, money is an issue. The pieces seem to be coming together George Lucas did not like the script, was unsure that Indy 4 could perform at the box office and was worried he was losing control of the Indiana Jones series. After all, Indiana Jones IS George Lucas' baby, so is all this an attempt to "protect" his creation? Would it be a lot easier to prevent Indy IV from ever being made than to take the risk of having it bomb at the box office?

"The reason that Indy 4 hasn't happened, he [Esquire source] says, is because none of the big players want to sell out the franchise. "Here are three people who want to do something that's really worthy," he says. "The story is that people are choosing to get it right. Mission: Impossible 2 —they didn't even have a script and they started shooting! That's Hollywood. This is un-Hollywood."

That's another thing that bugs me.That's another thing that bugs me. The fact that other film franchises are able to crank out sequels faster than you can say "Thumbs down!" Indy 4 has been waiting for its day in the sun for over 15 years! So will we be left with a nicely packaged Indiana Jones trilogy? Or will a fourth film be added to the legacy? Only time will tell. "If it doesn't work out, Spielberg will survive the disappointment. "He liked the idea of it, but I don't think he was in love with doing it," says a fellow DreamWorker."

I can speak for most fans by saying that if Indy 4 dies a long and painful death, everyone will be sad, but life goes on. The official story is that Indy IV is NOT dead, and right now George Lucas is working on the story himself. It's hard to tell if that's the case, but for right now we're looking at an entire Lucas-made script for Indiana Jones 4 a far cry from the Darabont script we had last fall.

While there's been no word from The Big Three in a while, we can say that even though things aren't looking as good as it was back when Darabont had completed his script, it ain't over yet.While there's been no word from The Big Three in a while, we can say that even though things aren't looking as good as it was back when Darabont had completed his script, it ain't over yet. Indy IV and I hope my fellow Indy fans will join me in doing so. Though things may look bad at times, I have kept and will continue to keep faith that Indiana Jones 4 will happen.

To read the full article in Esquire magazine, visit KeepMedia to purchase the article for $2.95 or pick up the June edition of Esquire magazine in stores now.

Thanks to Spielbergfilms & Esquire.com!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 20th Anniversary!
May 23th, 2004 | Posted by Aaron

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the second installment of the Indiana Jones trilogy. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was released in theaters and added a second chapter to the Indiana Jones series.

TIE.c would also like to encourage you to take part in the 20th anniversary of Temple of Doom. For starters, you can check out some of TIE.c's most popular Temple of Doom related sections:

And as always, we would like to thank Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for bringing the stories alive and Harrison Ford for bringing the character of Indiana Jones to life no one else could!And as always, we would like to thank Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for bringing the stories alive and Harrison Ford for bringing the character of Indiana Jones to life no one else could! Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!

Indiana Jones vs. Spider-Man Comic!
May 21th, 2004 | Posted by Aaron

Greg's brother unearthed a cool comic from December of 2003 featuring a special issue of Indiana Jones vs. Spider-Man in Paragon Fishing:

Thanks to Greg and his brother for the comic!

Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss: Chapter 30
May 21th, 2004 | Posted by Aaron

Editor's Note: At the request of Monkey, we will be posting the Gypsy's Kiss chapters three per week Monday, Wednesday & Friday enjoy!

In the continuing adventures of Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss, we present the next chapter in the thrilling adventure serial by Monkey: Gypsy's Kiss!

1937 - Everyone's favorite archaeology professor embarks on a brand new adventure that spans four continents. From the depths of booby trap ridden Inca tombs to the magnificent temples of Upper Egypt and the valley of the Nile; Indiana Jones is pitted against foes and adversaries both modern and ancient. This ain't your little brother's Indiana Jones.......

Tune in Monday for the next chapter in continuing adventures of, Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss! Many thanks to Monkey for his wonderful work with this excellent serial adventure!

In this week's Entertainment Weekly, movie critic Owen Gleiberman was asked, "What modern movie has had the most influence on other movies?" And here was his answer:

The one with the most revolutionary impact on the way that movies flow and feel--on what they are--is Raiders of the Lost Ark. Jaws and Star Wars remade the film industry, but they were classically designed Hollywood adventures. In crafting their ultra-revved version of the old matinee serials, director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas replaced the ebb and flow of dramatic suspense with a new rhythm of one climax after another: an all-sensation-all-the-time structure that became the template for every future cinematic ride, from Cliffhanger to Van Helsing. In Raiders, boulders and snake pits are simply hurdles for Indiana Jones to clear. There is physical tension, even excitement, but no conflict, just a daisy chain of action-events. Only a prig would fail to find Raiders fun, but what Spielberg couldn't have foreseen is that his experiment in zip-zip summer escapism would change, if not destroy, the DNA of storytelling as we knew it.

Indeed, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most influential films of all time, changing the way we watch movies and the way movies are made. Very well put Mr. Gleiberman!

We've got a special treat for fans of the latest Indiana Jones video game, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb. TIE.c's resident game reviewer has sent me two new cheats for Emperor's Tomb including a special invincibility cheat for Emperor's Tomb for XBox:

In the Istanbul Chapter, I have discovered that grenades make very effective weapons against the sharks. You see, if you wait for a shark to swim in front of you, then drop a grenade in the water, the shark will chase the grenade just as the sharks chased the skulls in the Ceylon chapter. Except when the shark dives for the grenade, it is turned into sushi by the explosion. There seem to be plenty of grenades lying about...I made sure Indy had two of them when he left the Breakout level...and this seems to be more effective and less stressful than having Indy duke it out with a sword.

Check out the Hints page for more hints and cheats for the Indiana Jones video games!

Rob Newton with FanzillaCon is looking for Indy fans in New England to help out with this year's FanzillaCon, more specifically the screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation.

Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss: Chapter 29
May 19th, 2004 | Posted by Aaron

Tune in Sunday for the next chapter in continuing adventures of, Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss! Many thanks to Monkey for his wonderful work with this excellent serial adventure!

The Indy Experience.com would like to wish Mr. Pat Roach a very happy birthday! The only man other than Harrison Ford himself to appear in all three Indiana Jones films turns 61 today. A very happy birthday to Pat Roach from all of us at TIE.c!

Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss: Chapter 28
May 16th, 2004 | Posted by Aaron

Tune in Wednesday for the next chapter in continuing adventures of, Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss! Many thanks to Monkey for his wonderful work with this excellent serial adventure!

Tune in Sunday for the next chapter in continuing adventures of, Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss! Many thanks to Monkey for his wonderful work with this excellent serial adventure!

Chris Strompolos shot me an email informing me of a special screening of the critically acclaimed fan remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark! Raiders: The Adaptation will be shown at the 2004 FanzillaCon, June 11th 13th and will feature a brief Question & Answer session with Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation creator Chris Strompolos before each screening.

This year's FanzillaCon will be held in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Fan Film Festival will be featuring many famous fan films including Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation and George Lucas In Love. For more information about dates and locations, check out FanzillaCon.

Indiana Jones and the Gypsy's Kiss: Chapter 26
May 9th, 2004 | Posted by Aaron