Your next Indiana Jones viewing
So, by now we all know that despite my fairly unimpressed review, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull made a goofy amount of money over the long weekend.
That’s cool. Really. We all knew it would. It’s not a very good movie, but it’s cool to see Harrison Ford back in action. And unlike the original, you might not want to return for seconds. Still, if you’re still jonesing for Dr. Jones, I recommend that you mark your calendar for July 10, when the Museum of Contemporary Art will show the first of this year’s Parking Lot Pictures. It is, of course, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation.
The what? Okay, check this out. Starting in 1982, three dudes from Mississippi, who were just twelve when they saw the original Raiders, put together a shot-by-shot recreation of the original film. It took them seven years to finish up. The movie was basically forgotten until ’03, when horrormeister Eli Roth got ahold of it. It had a premiere at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin (one of the best theaters in the country) in ’03, and a year later producer Scott Rudin bought the rights to make a film of the their lives. Dan Clowes is reportedly working on a screenplay.
Now, this film has been on my radar for years, so I approached MCASD’s fine staff of crack publicists for a screener, and they went to Film Curator Neil Kendricks. This isn’t an unusual request, so I was surprised to hear that even Neil didn’t have a copy. The three guys–Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb–have a deal with Spielberg and Lucas that basically says they can’t give it out ahead of time. At least one of them will be on hand for the screening with a copy of the film (presumably in a locked briefcase).
Neil had a few clips to offer, and there are definitely some bits and pieces to be found on YouTube. Now, availability aside, let me say this–I have actually seen this film, the entire thing. So I can vouch for its awesomeness. And believe me, awesome is the right word, because it is exactly what it sounds like, a bunch of kids remaking Raiders. It is ridiculous and funny and totally creative, and also seriously 80s. But they hit every scene, every line, everything. When they don’t have what they need (like, say, a plane), they improvise. And you actually see them all grow up during the filming. Awesome. But here’s the thing, it’s not necessarily the kind of movie you’d want to sit in your living room and watch by yourself or with your significant other. It’s not that kind of awesome. It is possibly the ultimate fan film, and it will be best seen by fans with other fans. All of whom are at least slightly buzzed.
So, look. Pull out the calendar. Mark this down in ink, because this is pretty much a one-time deal. Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is not coming to DVD. MCASD in La Jolla, Thursday, July 10 at 8 p.m. It’s free, so get there early to get the good seats.
You’re absolutely right about having to see it with a crowd–watching it on your own doesn’t come close to the experience of seeing it in a theater full of people going out of their minds, cheering, throwing popcorn and all the rest. Plus the guys do a Q&A afterwards so it’s kind of like a live DVD ‘making-of’ extra. I interviewed Chris Strompolis, Eric Zala and Eli Roth about the film for a book I wrote about fan films that’s coming out this summer (“Homemade Hollywood: Fans Behind The Camera”), and while the movie itself is great, it doesn’t hold a candle to the real-life story of how they made it and how wild coincidences involving Roth brought it to the public 15 years later. The story is so nuts, it took up a whole chapter all by itself. Anyway, I can’t recommend this movie enough to people–if you like Indiana Jones, you’ll love this flick.
Clive
http://www.fancinematoday.com
Hi there my name is Martin I have living in San Diego for 5 years, I’m from Lima – Peru (the capitol), I love your magazine I think is the perfect magazine to have contact with concerts, shows and what’s going on in San Diego. Well this post is just to say that I’m really disappointed with Indiana Jones 4 is a nonsense and crappy film for me, with many historical mistakes of course, one of them is that in Peru there is no Mayan pyramids style or whatever, also there are Mayan warriors appear or something like that in this film, so who was the person who advised them on this issue???, another point is why sounds mariachi music background when they arrival in Cuzco?? I think is a lack of respect for a culture what has in many ways nothing in common with what Mexico culture is, I know this is just a film and also that has a entertainment destination, but they must be make sure and focused in historical and music data, maybe they could have put Sumac’s music (a great female singer of all the times) or something like that you know, what is more consistent with culture and reality of Peru.
PD: Anybody knows how could I have contact with someone who has had responsibility with this movie?
*** Yma Sumac’s music.
the only good thing that this movie has is able to see the Nazca Lines
hehehe
June 10th is a Tuesday. Is the movie on Tuesday, June 10th, or Thursday, June 12th?
The MCASD La Jolla website has the film listed as screening on JULY 10th.
You’re absolutely right, Natalie. I’ve corrected it in the post. The first mention was for July, the second for June. But the event is on Thursday, July 10. Thanks for the clarification.
Crow T Robot put it best: “Indiana Nerd and the Temple of Dork!”