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This might be a late 90s or early 00s internet / pop culture reference, but I am still dearly attached to the phrase “jump the shark.”  For those not aware of the meaning, check both jumptheshark.com and wikipedia’s reference.  Anyway, the term came back to me after seeing the new Indiana Jones movie.  (spoilers ahead for those who have not seen it).  Before focusing on the shark moments, I have to say that I went into the film with really really low expectations (resulting from Harrison Ford’s sleepwalking through the last 10 or so movies he has done and anything that George Lucas has a recent hand in writing).  Because of said low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by the film and did enjoy it overall.  However, two moments must be singled out as shark jumping moments.

• Nuking the fridge - apparently AICN has taken this up as a potential replacement for JtS.  I have not seen it in any of the AICN talkbacks, but I think it has some validity.  I am supposed to believe that a) there is a lead-lined 1950s era fridge that Harrison Ford can fit into, b) will protect him from the physical blast of a nuclear bomb only a mile or so a way, and c) that him being tossed about in it for another few miles doesn’t at least knock him unconscious.  But lest we stop there…
• The monkeys - The whole monkeys coming alongside the Jones brigade and attacking the Russians AND Shia LaBouf going tarzan through the jungle was an absolutely ridiculous scene.  I know Indy movies are over the top (hearts being ripped out, surviving a jump from an airplane in an inflatable raft, the penitent man not only kneels before God, but also does a forward roll (I often do that in my prayer times as well), and so forth.  But this one was so out of nowhere that it was just awful.  In fact, the monkeys probably should have remembered their fallen brothers and sisters who were dined upon at the banquet in Temple of Doom and gone after Indy…

That feels good to let it out.

It led me to thinking, however, of other shark jumping moments for other movie series…

Star Wars saga - several come to mind

• Return of the Jedi - the “redone” dance sequence in Jabba’s palace and the first time an Ewok appears on screen.
• Phantom Menace - Where to begin…the title, the screenplay, Jar-Jar, but the specific ones for me are when Binks steps in bantha poop outside Mos Eisley, and when little Annie (aaahhh) says “whee-hoo” or something like that.
• Attack of the Clones - any scene involving Padme and Anakin pretending to be in passionate love with each other.
• Revenge of the Sith - I have to say that I largely enjoyed this film, but the fact that somehow this incredibly advanced technology does not detect that Padme is pregnant with twins, or the fact that this strong woman dies because her heart is broken by Anakin - leaving her newly born children in the hands of Obi-Wan and Yoda?  ummm…no.

Star Trek

• Ep IV - Time travel back to mid-80s San Francisco.  The whole slingshot around the sun thing…um…silly.

Superman

• Ep I - See above - spinning the earth backwards?
• EP IV - Richard Pryor…horrible move.

Lord of the Rings

• No shark jumping here…

Jaws

• 3D for the third film…bad move

Aliens

• This is painful to say, but when Newt dies between the 2nd and 3rd films.  They should have left well enough alone.  Newt was annoying in the 2nd film, but she gave Ripley a point for living.  Killing her off before the 3rd film and everything that followed…bad move.  The shark was very clear.

James Bond

• Moonraker - the moment you head up into space with a guy named Jaws, time to close up shop.  Unfortunately, they’ve had how many films since then?  I must say, though, that Casino Royale redeeemed the series for now.

Any Horror Series (Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, I know what you did last summer, final destination, etc)

• Anytime they make a 2nd film.

Other ideas?

UPDATE

http://www.nukingthefridge.com/