MovieChat Forums > Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989) Discussion > This film works on so many levels

This film works on so many levels

posted 17 years ago by doublehelix
8 replies | jump to latest

If you ever have the opportunity to see this film: Go! Go immediately! My mom and I saw it last night at the Cleveland Cinematheque and everything you have read about this story is true! While watching it we were duly impressed with their recreation of the action sequences, from the rolling boulder to the Ark's final hurrah. But these 3 kids were adept and passionate enough to capture the unspoken nuances and details in the original "Raiders" [Marion throwing down the shot glasses, Indy replacing a turban with his signature fedora during the nighttime dig, Sallah's shoulders heaving when his friend Indy was being entombed, Belloq's little gesture to the Hovitos Indians.]

Even when shots don't play well because of the limitations: their age, the consumer-grade betamax and videotapes causing static blips and sound outages, the 7-year filming period, and the difficulty of finding actual Hovitos tribe members in Mississippi...in the end it all works. The limitations actually create some clever moments proving the adage "necessity is the mother of invention": a boat and pet dog instead of a plane and spider monkey. This re-make is so faithful to Spielberg/Lucas/Kasdan (who are also in the main title and end credits) the inaudible or over-exposed passages are easily recovered because those orignal scenes are already burned in our collective memory. A testament to the joy in this adaptation was touted by an audience member who said although he'd never seen "Raiders" (shocking!) he was still on the edge of his seat. It sets the bar for all future fan films because of the way they captured the essence of their full-blown obsession. This is especially impressive knowing all these events occurred during a very specific time in the 80's before you could: rent a film 3 months after it's release...or download it. Before you could find every piece of memorabilia that exists for that film on eBay. Before the r/evolution from analog to DV.

Two of the three filmmakers, Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos were present to talk about their experiences then and now. They were funny, charming, and honest during the Q&A session. Since they've met Spielberg and he gave them such a positive response, I hope he finds a way to work all 3 of them into "Indy 4", either in front of or behind the scenes. I'm very glad this film did not suffer the same fate as the Ark in the original: boxed up and stored away, never to see the light of day again. This ending is much more satisfying.

...and DO stick around for the end credits. They are as enjoyable as the film.

-Angela

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] PstrfrmlyknownasJBunce 17 years ago

I was amazed at how much of the dangerous action stuff they managed to get right. I mean, that "truck? What truck?" sequence with Indy hanging off the edge of the truck, getting dragged under, knocking the drivers off and taking over... amazing!

"If fifty million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing"... Anatole France

[–] doublehelix 17 years ago

JBunce55408-

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I felt the same way about the action scenes; the phrase "how did they DO that..." was blurted out more than once. I read Jayson Lamb (one of the original trio AND the person responsible for the sFX, including the bullet holes in the bar scene) is working on a documentary about their adaptation called "When We Were Kids."

Just think of the opportunities and exposure Lamb, Zala, and Strompolos will recieve based on these 3 upcoming events:

(1) The documentary film (docs are now as popular as fiction films!)
(2) The Rudin-produced feature film adaptation about their RotLA adaptation
(3) Indy 4's release date

I am very excited for all of them and hope they get a chance to share their love of the orignal with people who already love it but will now see it in a new light after watching "The Ultimate Fan Film."

I rented the original and paid close attention to the dialogue. During the Q & A session the filmmakers moderated after the Cleveland viewing, Chris Strompolos said the expositon in the scene with Indy, Marcus and the military men was really well written. He's right: it's necessary dialogue but it's seamlessly integrated by Kasdan's words, Ford's acting, and Williams' score.

-Angela

[–] PstrfrmlyknownasJBunce 17 years ago

One other thing I'd meant to say was that during the Q & A Eric and Chris did get just a touch serious for a moment as they stressed the "Kids, don't try this at home" message, adding "This could have gone disastrously wrong so many times". Not just to themselves, either, but to the basements and entire homes that they could easily have burned down. But luckily it did work, and resulted in an incredible movie. (And, oh yeah... the substitution of Snickers the dog for the spider monkey seemed to be greatly amusing to pretty much everyone in the audience.)

By the way, I'm glad to hear about the documentary. I sent an E-mail to several friends of mine after seeing it, and they said that they would have loved a chance to see a documentary about how a film like that got made. Now they'll have their chance. And I'd think pretty much everyone who HAS seen "The Adaptation" would be interested in seeing it, too.

"If fifty million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing"... Anatole France

[–] viss1 16 years ago

I just saw the film at the DC showing. I was literally amazed at what they managed to pull off. I was clapping and laughing in incredulity in a way that I haven't done since I first saw Star Wars. Freaking amazing accomplishment. Do not hesitate to seek out a viewing of this flick.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Bladerunner 14 years ago

Watching the film gives you such an appreciation for the original and makes you "jones" to see it again. That 12-year-olds did this (or started it as 12) is just amazing.

The truck scene blew me away. It was VERY dangerous and Zala et. al. were right in stressing the "don't do this at home" message, it's an important one. The scene in Marion's bar with all the flames is crazy. I couldn't believe how much fire they used. It really is a wonder they didn't burn someone's house to the ground. The truck scene, as others have noted, is very dangerous. I simply couldn't believe they did some of the scenes.

The movie is so much fun, and it includes every scene except one - the fight scene with the big German guy by the plane with the propellers almost killing them. That is a GOOD thing, I found myself very worried that they were actually going to try this as I was watching the film.

The detail in the map room and the Well of Souls is great and just makes you laugh out loud. Zala, who plays Belloq is arguably the very best. His imitation of the accent, and timing are spot on and his acting is very believable. Strompolos as Indy is a close second.

It is very fun to watch them grow up before your eyes. As some professional critic noted, you watch Strompolos go from baby faced to having stubble, and Angela Rodriguez as Marion develops breasts before your eyes. Zala grows about a FOOT and ends up looking like an adult by the time the film ends.

Some of the sets will give you a real giggle and others are amazingly well-done considering the budget and the fact that kids are doing it all. The dig, for example, is very well done in some kind of sand pit and as someone else says they do the ship scenes on a ship and a submarine (or something that looks very much like one).

If you get a chance, go see it, you'll have loads of fun. This is the kind of film that will really benefit from audience participation. I can't wait to see the documentary, which I'm sure will make them a good deal of money and more fame than they already have. They deserve it. Kudos also to Spielberg and company for receiving all of it with such style and grace. I find myself hoping that some kids will do this again, or perhaps do some other film because this was so much fun. Here's hoping. Star Wars, anyone?

"...nothing is left of me, each time I see her..." - Catullus