10.23.09 By: Peter Hall
Now this is just a tad mind boggling. As picked up on by /Film, LucasFilm and Sideshow Collectibles have released a 12" Indiana Jones action figure honoring the goofiest part of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you're reading a site like this, you are no doubt familiar with the term "nuke the fridge", a reference to the opening scene of Crystal Skull in which everyone's favorite whip-cracking artifact hunter hides inside a refrigerator to survive an impending nuclear bomb test. Said fridge is subsequently launched into the air by the blast, soaring thousands of feet before bouncing violently as the fridge returns crashing to Earth, a little scorched, but otherwise intact.
Out spills Dr. Jones, unharmed by the logic atrocity that has just been committed. It was (and still is) a ridiculous scene that epitomized how silly the fourth Jones film would be remembered as. So it's remarkable to me that LucasFilm would embrace the egg on their face and allow Sideshow to license this figure. Either someone at Skywalker Ranch has a great sense of humor or they are truly oblivious to how cheesy nuking the fridge was. Whatever the case may be, you can now have a constant reminder of this cinematic milestone sitting on your desk for a mere $174.99 (I know, what a deal!).
There will only be 600 of these ever made, which will surely turn this into a bonafide collectors item in no time, but I still don't think that justifies rewarding LucasFilm's misstep with even more money. But if you'd still like to own one of these treasures, click on for a list of features.
The Indiana Jones 12 inch Figure features:* 12-inch Pro male body Version 1.0 with 30+ points of articulation
* Authentic likeness of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
* Hat
* Shirt
* Pants
* Belt
* Faux-Leather Jacket
* Boots
* Revolver
* Detailed belt with holster
* Coiled bullwhip with tie
* Articulated bullwhip
* Satchel
* Nazca Dagger
* Orellana mask
* Crystal skull
* Two sets of interchangeable gloved hands
* Two sets of interchangeable bare hands
* Display base with Indiana Jones logo
* Display base with Indiana Jones logo
* Sideshow Exclusive: Refrigerator made from polystone and metal
Filed under: Fan Picks
Tags: Collectibles, Indiana Jones, indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull, IndianaJones, IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull, nuke the fridge, NukeTheFridge, Sideshow Collectibles, SideshowCollectibles
Paul Nicholsonat 10-24-2009
I still find it funny that people get so bent out of shape about the fridge scene or the monkey/vine scene in Crystal Skull because it didn't fit in the trilogy.
Do none of you remember Indy using a rubber dingy to survive a drop from an airplane into the mountains (and subsequent safe journey through a series of convenient tunnels, etc). Or surviving a fight with a big Nazi brute near a taxiing airplane while surrounded by HUNDREDS of other Nazis ready to shoot him the moment he won the fight?
It's not like the Indiana Jones series is meant to be realistic. It was based on ridiculous, over the top serials from the 1930's. Crystal Skull absolutely fit right in to the mold. Of course it is stupid that Indiana Jones could survive the nuclear blast (much less the preceding fight at his age). But he's freaking Indiana Jones. That's the POINT!
Peter Hallat 10-24-2009
I remember how unrealistic the series is, but there's a charm to seeing Harrison Ford do unrealistic things that's lost in the digital-loving Crystal Skull.
I'm okay with the monkeys and the ants and the vine swinging, because there is a sense of adventure there, but the fridge scene is just lazy.
Paul Nicholsonat 10-24-2009
To me that scene adds to Indy's character. It show's that not only is he rough and tumble, but smart. Not just knowledgeable about ancient cultures, but street smart and then some. Kinda like the almost as silly use of the knight's massive several hundred pound crypt as a shield from surface fire in Last Crusade.
I talked more about it in a whole blog post here: http://nicholsonrecords.com/paul/2009/10/indiana-jones-…yes-it-belongs/