6. Aliens – Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
George Lucas’ Role: Writer/Producer
As Indy moved into the 50s, George Lucas envisioned the franchise getting to grips with that particular time period, mainly by embracing its sci-fi tendencies. Now that’s not a completely terrible idea, given that Indiana Jones could’ve easily got involved in more science-fiction themed adventures. Perhaps they could’ve remained archeology-based, but with a few lasers and crude Russian robot machines thrown in for good measure. The crucial mistake was granting Indy a close-up experience with extra-terrestrial life, a decision so dumb that it’s genuinely surprising to think it was ever OK’d by the people making this movie.
As a result of this close encounter, George Lucas once again confirmed that he was your go-to-guy for nostalgia-based disappointment. Even his buddy Steven Spielberg, who is also partly responsible for the mess that is Indy 4, shifted the blame to his friend:
“I sympathize with people who didn’t like the MacGuffin because I never liked the MacGuffin. George and I had big arguments about the MacGuffin. I didn’t want these things to be either aliens or inter-dimensional beings. But I am loyal to my best friend. When he writes a story he believes in—even if I don’t believe in it—I’m going to shoot the movie the way George envisioned it.”
Spielberg must’ve really felt the pressure rising if he was willing to hand Lucas over to the masses, given that the filmmaker is usually such a humble and placid guy. George, you done goofed again.