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TheRaider.net News Miscellaneous Archives 2007
 
2007

 

New Raiders screenings planned in the USA
07/01/07, 1:29pm EST

There are already 4 new Raiders of the Lost Ark screenings planned in the USA the coming months. Specifically in the Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver areas. This includes the Continental Theater in Denver which has one of the largest screens in the USA.

These Raiders of the Lost Ark screenings take place at:

  • Seattle, WA - Egyptian Theatre
    on January 12 & 13, 2007
    Website: Egyptian Theatre
  • Denver, CO - Esquire Theatre
    on January 12 & 13, 2007
    Website: Esquire Theatre
  • West Los Angeles, CA - Nuart Theatre
    midnight screening on January 19, 2007
    Website: Nuart Theatre

And I'd like to end this screening news article with what must be the best Indiana Jones TV ad ever. Last month German TV station 'SAT 1' aired all three Indy films and announced it with this wonderful Indy commercial.
Note: Enable PopUp's to watch the file.

Thanks to Geoff Jones and IndianaJones.de for the Indy commercial.

 

Fans choose Indiana Jones as their top hero
24/01/07, 6:33pm EST

Readers of UK newspaper The Sun have voted Harrison Ford as best film action hero ever for his role in the Indiana Jones films.

Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator was second with Sean Connery's James Bond third.
Fourth was Die Hard's Bruce Willis, with Christopher Reeves as Superman in fifth. Ford, 64 — who will make a fourth Indiana movie next year — also took sixth place with Star Wars' Han Solo.

And UK magazine Empire asked its readers how excited they are about Indiana Jones 4. 59% voted for maximal excitement, or "Best. Film. Ever."
EmpireOnline's Indy 4 preview also appears to be their most popular upcoming film page at the moment.

 

Raiders criticised for stereotyping
26/01/07, 3:50pm EST

Popular films ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to children's cartoons are depicting "crude and exaggerated" stereotypes of Muslims and perpetuating Islamophobia, according to a study published yesterday.

A report by the Islamic Human Rights Commission argues that films as diverse as The Siege, a portrayal of a terrorist attack on New York starring Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis, the Disney film Aladdin and the British comedy East is East have helped demonise Muslims as violent, dangerous and threatening, and reinforce prejudices.

Other films criticised include Raiders of the Lost Ark, where, say the authors: "The cultural stereotypes and scenarios are patently obvious," pointing to a street scene featuring bazars, veiled women and bearded men in traditional dress, all set to snake-charming music.

Many felt the media failed to give enough opportunity to Muslims to represent themselves. Those Muslim figures who do appear in the media are seen as either holding extremist views or are "marginalised Muslims" who do not represent the Muslim community.

Read the full article online at The Guardian.

Thanks to The Raven forum member 'Ste2652' for the link.

 

Amazing Indy 4 poster fanwork by Paul Shipper
31/01/07, 5:59pm EST

click to enlarge

Professional illustrator Paul Shipper - well known in this fan community for his Drew Struzan style Indiana Jones art - has topped himself with a new mesmerizing Indiana Jones 4 poster!

Motivated by the recent Indy 4 press release, Paul Shipper took out his pencils and a recent photo of Harrison Ford and went to work.
And by the looks of the amazing result Paul not only delivered his best portrait to date, he also proved that Ford is not too old to play Indy once again (my personal opinion)!

Inspired by Paul Shipper's new Indy 4 poster art, I've opened a new gallery to our own Fan Art Museum. Yup, the Indy 4 Fan Art gallery is open for everybody and accepts any kind of fan madeIndy 4 posters & sketches. Don't hesitate and send me your own Indy 4 fan artwork.

If Lucasfilm ever needs an additional illustrator to help Drew Struzan with Indiana Jones 4 promo art, they should consider Paul Shipper! Paul's got talent and a lot of fans as support!

 

Happy birthday, John Williams!
08/02/07, 2:59pm EST

Born in Long Island, New York on February 8, 1932, John Towner Williams has since then become one of the best known, awarded and successful composers in US history.

Only Last year, John Williams tied Alfred Newman for the most number of Oscar nominations (45!) received by a film composer, when he was nominated for Spielberg's Munich and also Memoirs of a Geisha.

On behalf of the whole TheRaider.net crew and its visitors, we would like to wish John Williams a very happy birthday today, many more years of success and lots of fun while composing the soundtrack of Indiana Jones 4!

Visit the John Williams Fan Network for more information on this legendary film composer-conductor.

 

Three new Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
11/02/07, 5:20pm EST

The first three screenings of the cult fan film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation have been announced. The filmmakers Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala will all be in attendance at all these screenings:
  • Milwaukee, WI, USA - Milwaukee Art Museum
    - Thursday, April 12
    Milwaukee Art Museum (not updated yet)

More Raiders: Adaptation screenings to come in the next few months

Visit our Raiders: The Adaptation section for more information about this special film.

Big thanks to Chris and Eric for the news.

 

Indiana Jones trilogy costumes to be auctioned
13/02/07, 4:36pm EST

A remarkable collection of costumes created and supplied by Angels The Costumiers, for some of the most iconic international film, television and theatre productions in history will be sold at Bonhams in Knightsbridge, London, in what is believed to be the UK's largest auction of film and television costumes.
Bonhams

More than 400 Angels outfits including Obi Wan's Cloak, James Bond's Suits and a selection of costumes from the Indiana Jones films will be available to collectors and amateur fans alike.

The Indy costumes found in this collection are from Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade - see lots #36 and #317 till 328 - and include:
Kazim's striped suit, 2 showgirl costumes from 'Club Obi Wan', and Henry Jones Senior's (Sean Connery) two piece tweed suit with hat.

Other lots in the Bonhams sale of Angels costumes include the most prominent costumes from films such as Braveheart, Titanic, Elizabeth, Highlander, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Evita, Superman & Harry Potter.

The Angels Star Collection of TV and Film Costumes is to be sold at auction by Bonhams in Knightsbridge, London on the 6th March 2007.

Visit the official Bonhams site for further information on these lots and the Angels Collection.

 

Treasure of the Templars fanfilm 'On The Lot'
17/02/07, 10:44am EST

Jonathan Lawrence
Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Templars - the most impressive Indy fanfilm to date - got submitted to Steven Spielberg's new reality TV show On The Lot!

You can now show your support for Treasure of the Templars by going here and vote for the film trailer and its talented director Jonathan Lawrence.

In order to vote you have to create an account but its quick (about 1 minute) and painless and it really does make a difference for the film and Jonathan Lawrence. Post a review as well if you wish as it all helps.

On the Lot is the groundbreaking new show brought to you by reality show mastermind, Mark Burnett, and legendary producer and director, Steven Spielberg. Over the season, the 16 filmmakers will produce short films in every genre every week and the viewers will vote on who gets eliminated. The winning filmmaker will take home a $1 Million development deal!

Thanks to Ken Gawne for the news and good luck to Jonathan Lawrence!

Visit the official TreasureoftheTemplars.com or TheRaider.net's Fan Films Theatre for more information about this film.

 

More Indiana Jones Trilogy screenings in the USA
19/02/07, 3:46pm EST

Many more Indiana Jones trilogy screenings are planned on big silver screens around the USA. The Indy 4 fever is already spreading:
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    March 8 at 7 p.m.
    Succasunna, New Jersey - Clearview Cinema
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    March 8 at 8 p.m.
    Visalia, CA - Regal Sequoia Mall 12

  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    March 9, 10 & 11 at 10 p.m.
    Succasunna, New Jersey - Clearview Cinema
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
    March 22, 23, 24 & 25 at 10 p.m.
    Succasunna, New Jersey - Clearview Cinema

Thanks to Spielbergfilms.com and Geoff Jones for the screenings info.

 

Another Indy fan film director 'On The Lot'
01/03/07, 4:27pm EST

Not only Indy fan film director Jonathan Lawrence had submitted a trailer of his impressive Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Templars film to On The Lot. Our friend Fran Casanova has also submitted an original short film entitled "Merry Christmas" to Spielberg's new reality TV show.

Fran Casanova's Indiana Jones and the Hidden Treasure was the very first Indy fan film to appear on the internet in 2001. Since then Fran has filmed three more Indy adventures - Memories from the Past, In Search of the Lost Dream and Dagger of Hell - which makes Fran the most creative dedicated Indy fan film director around. Plus he has proven his film talent in many other original short films.

And today you can enjoy his latest short film "Merry Christmas" at the On The Lot website. Show your support for a fellow Indyfan and place your vote on the film and leave a message to director Fran Casanova.

 

More Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
01/03/07, 5:18pm EST

Two new screenings of the cult film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation have been announced:
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - Riverview Theater
    - Thursday, May 31
    In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
    Riverview Theater

The screening in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will be an unique,
special event as Raiders: The Adaptation makers Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala will be re-united with their lead actress who played Marion - Angela Rodriguez -- onstage for the first time in nearly 20 years!

Note: (For Minnesota screening only): Songbird, a six minute short film by Minneapolis native John Thompson which showed to critical acclaim at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, will show before Raiders. Please note that some of the Songbird subject matter may be considered inappropriate for children. For those who prefer to watch only Raiders, you will be able to take your seat after Songbird has finished.

Click here to view a list of all confirmed Raiders: The Adaptation screenings scheduled for 2007.

Thanks to Chris Strompolos for the news.

 

Jack Bauer vs. Indiana Jones
18/03/07, 4:03pm EST

Bullz-Eye.com is currently running a feature called the Bad-Ass Bracket, where they're pitting 32 of the biggest bad-asses of movies and TV against each other to see who comes out victorious.

Round 1 has begun this week in which Indiana Jones is battling Jack Bauer... so if you want to enter the fray, head over Bullz-Eye.com and give Indy some help in this round, and hopefully also the big finale.

Thanks to WiLL for the Bad-Ass Bracket link.

 

Harrison Ford leads immigration drama cast
07/04/07, 4:54am EST

Variety announces that Harrison Ford and Indy 4 producer Frank Marshall team up for another film before they start shooting the fourth Indiana Jones installment.

With an ensemble cast that includes Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Sean Penn, The Weinstein Co. has set an April 11 start date on Crossing Over, a drama that covers the controversial topic of immigration and those who'll do anything to enter the U.S.

Scripted and directed by Wayne Kramer (The Cooler), the drama shoots in L.A. and examines illegal immigrants the way that Traffic did the illegal drug trade, with intersecting storylines threaded through the film.

More cast will be added and will be shuttled in and out. Penn, for instance, has only a cameo in the film, sources said, and he'll spend three days shooting a small role as a border patrol agent.

Ford plays an enforcement agent who stages raids designed to corral illegals, while Liotta plays a USCIS district adjudicator, a bureaucrat dealing with the problems of illegals.

Frank Marshall, Kramer and Gregg Taylor are producing.

 

Special Raiders screening this Friday
10/04/07, 4:14pm EST

The Somerville Theater - in Somerville, MA - will have a special screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark this Friday, April 13th.

Important to add is that this Raiders screening is a fundraiser to benefit Humanity Corps. And for once the price is $20 per ticket.

Humanity Corps is dedicated to helping the poor in developing countries become self-reliant through education, business development, and health services.

So remember that you will not only enjoy an entertaining evening with Raiders of the Lost Ark, you're also supporting a good cause at the same time!

More info on Humanity Corps here.
And visit the Somerville Theater site for location & screening details.

 

Indiana Jones still proves to be Badass
13/04/07, 6:25pm EST

Doctor Indiana Jones is getting old but he's still badass! So far "underdog" Indy has kicked the asses of Jack Bauer, Doc Holliday and John McClane badly in the epic Badass Bracket at Bullz-Eye.com.
But today he's facing the fearless "General turned gladiator" Maximus in the semi-finals!

A martial artist, a superhero, a gladiator, and…a college professor? The temptation to cue the "Sesame Street" song, "One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other," has never been stronger, but as has been proven week after week, it doesn't pay to underestimate anyone in this bracket. (It seems like a lifetime ago that Indiana Jones entered the competition as the low-seated underdog; somehow, we never saw it coming that he'd take that omnipresent bullwhip of his and use it to whip the asses of all comers.)

These four guys have fought a lot of hard battles to get to where they are today, but after several weeks of sparring, we're finally down to the four biggest, baddest badasses of the bunch, and it's anyone's guess which pair will end up in that final match. Batman and Lee would certainly appear on the surface to be the more evenly matched - two masters of hand to hand combat, each with their own arsenal of bad-ass moves - but as far as Indy versus Maximus…well, we've seen brawn triumph over brains in the past, but, then, we've also seen Indy triumph over everybody.

And you can help Indy getting into the final matchup by voting for him everyday, through April 18, online at Bullz-Eye.com.

Thanks to Patrick and Steve for their badass emails.

 

New Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
18/04/07, 3:03pm EST

Two new screenings of the cult film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation have been announced. Its creators Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala will be in attendance at both screenings.

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA - Center for Contemporary Arts
- Sunday, April 29
CCA Santa Fe (not updated yet)

 
St. Louis (Webster Groves), Missouri, USA
Webster University Film Series

- Friday, May 4
Webster University Film Series (not updated yet)

Chris & Eric will also offer a lecture on independent filmmaking for junior and high school film students and aspiring filmmakers on April 28th, from 1-4 pm at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH, USA.
To register (cost is $25), call (216) 421-7461.

Click here to view a list of all confirmed Raiders: The Adaptation screenings scheduled for 2007.

Thanks to Eric Zala for the news.

 

Batman vs. Indiana Jones
21/04/07, 8:19am EST

Who is the biggest badass in entertainment history? It's the kind of hypothetical that could keep a group of guys up until the wee hours of the morning, with plenty of booze fueling the debate, of course.
Bullz-Eye.com settled on a group of 32 entertainment tough guys (and gals) who've spilled way more than their fair share of fake blood. Some walk the righteous path, some walk the wicked, and some travel both, but they're all worthy entrants in the Badass Bracket.

Now, after weeks of battling, we finally know the 2 most favorite badasses; caped crusader Batman versus archaeology professor Indiana Jones! But which of them will win the already legendary final match?

It'd be nice to write something original for once, but the fact remains - Indiana Jones has surprised us yet again. After upsetting #1 seed Jack Bauer in the first round and then steamrolling over the likes of Doc Holliday, John McClane and Maximus, the archaeologist-turned-adventurer will now face off against his most formidable opponent yet: Batman. Sure the Dark Knight has been just as much of a wild card in this competition as his challenger, bouncing the bracket's other #1 seed Dirty Harry in the Sweet 16 while also knocking off staff favorite Tony Montana, but he hasn't advanced to the final match quite as easily as Indy. It'll be interesting to see how the two iconic heroes match up, specifically because they're so similar in so many ways. And before you declare shenanigans on this whole bracket, remember one thing: none of us ever thought either one of these guys would get this far.

You can now vote for your favorite badass every day through Thursday, April 26.

Thanks to Ian and Michal Szóstka for the update.

 

Running the London Marathon dressed as Indy
23/04/07, 5:47pm EST

BBC News
True hero Lloyd Scott!
The 27th Flora London Marathon has been held yesterday, April 22nd, in London, UK. And every year some eccentric or inspirational participants stand out. One of them is the courageous Lloyd Scott who ran the full 26.2-miles dressed as film legend, Indiana Jones!

Leukaemia survivor Lloyd Scott first proved his mettle to a bemused audience in 2002 when he crossed the finishing line more than five days after he set out dressed in a 130lb deep-sea diving suit.

Last year, he faced the challenge on St George's Day, in a suit of armour, complete with model dragon in tow.

And this year, the accomplished fundraiser is hauling an 8ft-wide, 300lb boulder around London, in a re-enactment of a famous scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

"No matter how hot it gets, the hat is going to stay on," he told BBC News.

Lloyd, who expects to complete the marathon at 0800 BST on Monday, is raising money for the Unicorn Theatre for Children and First Step charities.

Read more about the London Marathon online at BBC News.

Thanks to Nicolas, Tim Wilson and Mike Hicks for the news.

 

Indiana Jones Trilogy screening in San Francisco
02/05/07, 4:32pm EST

'The Castro Theatre' in San Francisco is showing all 3 Indiana Jones films this Sunday, May 6th!
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark - 2pm & 9pm
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 4:10pm
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - 6:30pm

Visit the Castro Theatre website for more info on these screenings.

Thanks to Geoff Jones for letting us know.

 

Lucas' documentaries are History
03/05/07, 5:07pm EST

The Hollywood Reporter announced earlier this week that The History Channel is launching five original series on its Web site and has acquired a collection of 94 historical documentaries from George Lucas based on his The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones series.

The network, which makes its upfront presentation to advertisers Tuesday in New York, has acquired the rights to a collection of 94 never-before-seen docus that are a companion to the "Young Indiana Jones" TV movies. The docus, created and executive produced by Lucas, are based on events that took place during the early part of the 20th century and provide context to the fictional adventures of the young Jones. Topics range from the history of slavery to biographies of Al Capone and Ernest Hemingway.

"The association with George Lucas and his passion for history is one we embraced with open arms," said Nancy Dubuc, executive vp and GM of the History Channel. "We really believe in his mission to help future generations find different ways to learn about history."

The docus will premiere on History.com in late 2007 and also will air on History International and History Classroom. The "Jones" TV movies will air on the History Channel and History International.

These must be the same 94 The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones DVD bonus documentaries that will be released just before Christmas this year; as was earlier mentioned by Rick McCallum.

Click here to find out more about the five original series The History Channel has acquired.

 

What is your favorite movie?
08/05/07, 2:06pm EST

The American Film Institute is asking stars their "Favorite Movie of all time" whenever the AFI gets them in front of a camera. This is in support of the AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies - 10th Anniversary Edition that will be broadcast in June.

Among the stars telling their favorite films are Clint Eastwood, Tim Allen, Helen Mirren, etc. And just last week the AFI added a video of Harrison Ford talking about his favorite movie... click here to find out which it is!

Visit AFI's YouTube channel to view all the actor videos.

But "What is your favorite movie?" Visit AFI's 100 Movies blog and share with everybody which your favorite film is and why!

 

Happy birthday George Lucas & Cate Blanchett!
14/05/07, 3:36pm EST

George Lucas' legendary tale once began a (long) time ago on a walnut ranch far far away in Modesto, California, where he dreamed about epic star wars, noble knights and fearless adventurers!
Today, at the age of 63, he has become one of the most influential, wealthy, and most powerful people in the entertainment industry. Not bad eh!

But today is not only George Lucas his birthday. Today we may also celebrate the birthday of Indy' s most likely new leading lady in the upcoming fourth Indiana Jones film; Cate Blanchett!
This most talented and beautiful actress was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on May 14th 1969. That makes her only 38 years young today.

On behalf of the whole TheRaider.net crew and its visitors, we would like to wish Cate Blanchett & George Lucas a very happy birthday today and many more years of success!

 

Superb new article on Raiders: The Adaptation
25/05/07, 4:06pm EST

I guess that every Indy fan who visits TheRaider.net now and then has already heard about the incredible Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation fan film. And if this is the first time you hear about this film; we have a complete section dedicated to Raiders: The Adaptation right here.

Or, you can also visit Wired.com as they have recently given Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation and its makers Eric Zala, Jayson Lamb and Chris Strompolos some truly great press!

On the verge of the Indiana Jones 4 hype; Wired Magazine has published a new article about ultimate Indy flick Raiders: The Adaptation with new info and quotes by Eric, Jayson & Chris.

The small-town filmmakers, now all grown up, should feel emboldened. With cameras about to roll on Spielberg's Indiana Jones 4, interest in all things Raiders will soon explode.

A Paramount film about the boys, produced by Scott Rudin (The Truman Show, The Queen, The Hours), with a screenplay by Oscar-nominated scribe Daniel Clowes (Ghost World, Art School Confidential), is well on its way to production. And with DIY-filmmaking mania at its YouTube-inspired heights, the backyard epic that was shot by three kids in the county seat of Gulfport is well positioned to become a pop phenomenon.

Wired.com's Raiders: Adaptation article also features new clips and a slideshow of pictures of which some have never been seen online before! So be sure to check it out!

 

Three new Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
27/05/07, 2:13pm EST

Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation had its world premiere at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in 2002 after a copy of the film fell into the hands of director Eli Roth (Cabin Fever). And next month Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala & Jayson Lamb return to this same theater where their Raiders: The Adaptation film became a legend!

Also confirmed are two Raiders: The Adaptation screenings in the state New York in July.

  • Austin, Texas, USA - Alamo Drafthouse Theater
    - Saturday, June 9
    In attendance: Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala & Jayson Lamb
    Alamo Drafthouse Theater
  • Long Island, New York, USA - Cinema Arts Centre
    - Thursday, July 5
    In attendance: Eric Zala
    Cinema Arts Centre
  • New York, New York, USA - Anthology Film Archives
    - Friday, July 6th & Saturday, July 7th
    In attendance: Eric Zala
    Anthology Film Archives

Click here to view a list of all confirmed Raiders: The Adaptation screenings scheduled for this year.

Thanks to Eric Zala for the news.

 

Indiana Jones Special at Studio64.nl
30/05/07, 3:15pm EST

Be sure to visit Studio64.nl for their new Indiana Jones Special featuring interviews with 7 actors from the Indiana Jones Trilogy including Wolf Kahler, John Rhys-Davies and Karen Allen!

The full list of actors interviewed for this Special:
- Karen Allen (Marion)
- John-Rhys Davies (Sallah)
- Wolf Kahler (Colonel Dietrich)
- Paul Weston (stuntman)
- Barrie Holland (small roles in all 3 films)
- Kiran Shab (Jonathan Quan's stunt double)
- Derek Lyons (Nazi soldier)

Click here to read their Indiana Jones Special. The introduction is in Dutch but all interviews are in English.

Thanks to Dennis from Studio64.nl for the link.

 

New Haven to celebrate the filming of Indy 4
10/06/07, 9:58am EST

The New Haven Register posted new info on the Indiana Jones celebration the city is planning two days before the Indy 4 crew start filming an action scene in downtown New Haven, Connecticut.

The celebration, which will be held on the Green and along Temple Street between Chapel and George, will kick off at 5 p.m. June 26, two nights before the fourth "Indy" movie starts filming downtown.

"It's a way of the city welcoming the production crew and the production crew being excited by the city," said Barbara Lamb, director of the city's Office of Cultural Affairs.

Lamb said there will be carousel rides, the New Haven County Cutters' mascot and lots of fun family stuff. Her office also is booking the Aerial Angels, a female acrobatic act from Michigan.

Meanwhile, many of the restaurants and clubs on Temple, led by Diner 21 and Katz's II on Temple, will entice people with promotions, possibly including a laser show.

Some plans will depend on whether the city can close Temple between Crown and George.
The holdup is the owners of the Criterion Cinemas, who are objecting to closing the block and are unhappy about the free movie, according to a discussion Lamb and business owners held at a planning meeting Tuesday.

Paramount Pictures will shoot a chase scene from the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie, starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett and Shia LeBeouf from June 28 to July 7.

Head over to the New Haven Register to read the full article.

And thanks to Stefan Zwanzger and Mitchell Hallock for the heads up.

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark turns 26 years today!
12/06/07, 6:09pm EST

Raiders of the Lost Ark first appeared in theaters on June 12, 1981.

On behalf of the whole TheRaider.net crew and its visitors, we would like to thank George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, and all the producers & crew members of Raiders of the Lost Ark for making the greatest adventure film to date.
I say "to date" as they are currently working on the second sequel to Raiders as we speak. -- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was a prequel! -- And we all know Indiana Jones 4 will top everything we have seen to date. ;-)

Happy birthday to those raiders of that Lost Ark and we wish everybody working on the fourth Indiana Jones film all the best!

You can read about the Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark online on TheRaider.net here.

 

Petition: Bring Back Sean Connery!
17/06/07, 4:14am EST

Due to the recent announcement that Sir Sean Connery won't be back for Indy 4, a few huge fans of the Indy series felt compelled to do something and began a petition to "Bring Back Sean Connery".

We at BringBackConnery.com urge you to join our "crusade." All we are trying to do is convince both Lucasfilm and Sir Connery to, at the very least, appear in Indy 4. We are doing this simply because Dr. Henry Jones Sr. is our favorite film character of all time, and we firmly believe that a new Indy adventure would be incomplete without the presence of his dear ol' dad (even if just for a cameo).

We are not doing this for any sort of profit, just a bunch of guys and gals that loved his character and do not want him to be ignored. We just threw the website up this weekend, but have a web developer putting something sleeker together.

May the person who illuminates this cause…illuminate me.

You can sign the petition at BringBackConnery.com.

Thanks to Jeff for the heads up.

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark is still great!
21/06/07, 3:51pm EST

Ten years after the American Film Institute released the very first list of "The 100 Greatest American Films of All Time" AFI's experts have taken another look at the old and new films and gave their exclusive list an update.

Raiders of the Lost Ark was No. 60 In the original list from 1997. Today, Raiders has dropped down a bit and is now positioned as No. 66, right after Humphrey Bogart's The African Queen.

Other films were even less fortunate. 23 films were removed from the original list including Doctor Zhivago, which had been No. 39 on the 1998 list, Dances With Wolves, which had been No. 75 and Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which had been No. 64.

Steven Spielberg can still celebrate as one of the only four films released between 1997-2006 that got added to the list is Saving Private Ryan.
Plus Spielberg is the director who has the most films on the list with five. Other film legends Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Billy Wilder each had four.

Spielberg's films that made the list:
- Schindler's List at No. 8
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at No. 24
- Jaws at No. 56
- Raiders of the Lost Ark at No. 66
- Saving Private Ryan at No. 71

And the AFI top ten films are:
1. Citizen Kane
2. The Godfather
3. Casablanca
4. Raging Bull
5. Singin' in the Rain
6. Gone with the Wind
7. Lawrence of Arabia
8. Schindler's List
9. Vertigo
10. The Wizard of Oz

You can view the full list online at AFI.com. And you can read more about the list at CNN.com.

Thanks to Jeremy Kosmin for the CNN link.

 

Indiana Jones and The Temple Street Festival
24/06/07, 1:41pm EST

INFONewHaven.com published the schedule for the special Indiana Jones 4 celebration event on June 26th. Two days before the crew start filming in downtown New Haven, Connecticut.

The City of New Haven Welcomes The Crew and Cast of the New Indiana Jones Film To New Haven. All are invited to come celebrate. We will have activities in three venues throughout downtown.

5-9 PM on The Green:

  • Featuring the "Aerial Angels" acrobatic troupe
  • climbing wall
  • bounce house
  • carousel
  • fast pitch
  • food vendors
  • "Uncle Chip" the entertainer

8:15 PM - Enjoy the Indiana Jones Symphony Orchestra featuring members of SYO, DPops and the Civic Orchestra of New Haven performing the music of John Williams.

9:15 PM
- Free showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark on the big screen with free popcorn. Don't forget your lawn chairs and blakets.

In Temple Street Plaza:

  • Ultra Radio's 6th Birthday Celebration featuring the live music of Wasco 6-0 with Cocktails and Drink Specials.

On Temple Street:

  • Indiana Jones Themed Contests
  • Restaurant food and Drink Specials
  • Facepainters
  • Balloon Animals.
  • Chalk artist demonstration

Free for the Entire Family
Presented by the City of New Haven Office of Cultural Affairs.

All Ages

Performance Times:
5pm - 9pm

Thanks to Adam Ouellette for the heads up.

 

New Haven's Indiana Jones street festival report
27/06/07, 3:32pm EST

Indyfan Mitchell Hallock returns with another report from New Haven, CT. Last night was the special Indiana Jones street festival in the Elm City and Mitchell joined the festivities!

Here follows Mitchell's "Indiana Jones Day" report:

The excitement was building, dozens of tractor trailer trucks bearing the name Paramount Pictures, New Haven, CT lined the streets of New Haven, signs and pamphlets from Genre Productions on every lamp post telling about an upcoming chase scene and do not leave bicycles unattended this Thursday, Friday and Saturday as they will be removed, carpenters and painters are working overtime, lamp posts and fire hydrants being repainted, shop windows taking a trip back in time, why? Because Indian Jones is coming to New Haven!

Rock climbing
For the kids!

But before that; it's Indiana Jones Day in the Elm City and tons of fans, and city residents turned out to take part in the fun all compliments of the New Haven Cultural Events Committee and a little company called, Lucasfilm!
For the kids there were face painters, sidewalk drawings, balloon animals, carousel rides, moon bounces, rock climbing walls, and more - all free! And for the adults, food and drink specials, music, entertainment, and contests from the "We Named the Dog, Indiana" (which we won - as that IS my
dog's name - for real) and everywhere you heard John Williams "Raiders" theme echoing all around. We were entertained by the bull-whipping, fire eating and aerial acrobatics of the Aerial Angels!

Fellow Indyfans
Mitchell and fellow Indyfan Ben.

The local symphonies had a salute to John Williams and played music from the Indy trilogy - and it was capped by what else - a free outdoor showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The crowd gathered applauded, after Mayor of New Haven, John DeStefano thanked everyone for coming to New Haven and then the movie started - as the credits appeared, (it was on the screen backwards - but fixed in seconds) and REALLY wild as Indiana Jones entered the screen, after whipping the gun from his turncoat guide. Indiana Jones was back in action once again and the crowd loved it! Across the streets at the offices at Genre Productions, the lights were on and the door open as staff members busily prepared for the upcoming shoot.

I met tons of fans including the fellow who was first in line at the casting call, who was also not picked, but we had a great time and promised to meet up on Thursday and watch the chase scene down College and Chapel Street!

Brody's Barber Shop
Brody's Barber Shop

The new "old" buildings
Adding to the Woolworths, newsstand, and men's clothing store was now a pawn shop (that had a tenor sax in the window - maybe Indy sold his old music instrument to buy a new fedora - fans of the Young Indy Chronicles, may
remember last time Harrison Ford played Indy in 1993 - he played one), a bridal/groom shop, a bakery, and more - but the best is Brody's Barber Shop - is that a nod to the dearly missed friend, Marcus Brody (played by the late, great Denholm Elliot or Sheriff Brody from Jaws). It was nice to see
it - maybe Marcus gave up the museum and started cutting hair!

I spoke with a fellow painting the lamp posts with grey wall paper paste - (it looks clean on film and washes away with plain water). He pointed out all the parking meters were down, and hydrants painted grey and black - the Yale doors were being finished before they are wrecked by a truck, too. More
construction is going on all night with doors open to old buildings filled with carpenters and craftsman.

Filming on York Street tonight
We were excited to see a sign on a Yale building and a production assistants asking folks to be quiet - it was a film - but we were told it was a Leonardo DeCaprio film shooting and not Indy IV - but they did a chase scene last night according to my "inside" friends.

Mitchell Hallock promised to be back later this week with another report from the first actual shooting day in New Haven. Be sure to view his photos from New Haven at Mitchell's MySpace page.

 

Reintroducing Indiana Jones
03/07/07, 4:59pm EST

Yesterday Mitchell Hallock mentioned in his Indiana Jones 4 in New Haven: Day 4 report that the young kids of today no longer know Indiana Jones and his adventures. The Marketing Consultant in Mitchell couldn't resist to brainstorm about the young audience problem/challenge and wrote down some possible marketing solutions of his own. Enjoy:

Raiders of the Lost Generation: Reintroducing Indiana Jones

Okay, this is not a set report or me waxing nostalgically about New Haven and Indiana Jones. Rather some friends and I (all in marketing and all fanboys) started throwing ideas to promote Indian Jones to a younger audience. You know when you see guys arguing about baseball or boxers in a bar? Well, this is the type of stuff you'd hear in a comic book shop. It may not be earth-shattering, but it was a lot of fun - so if you are bored or curious - read on!

Cartoons: If nothing else will introduce Indy to a younger crowd it could be a series of 3 minute cartoons ala those brilliant Clone Wars by Genndy Tartakovsky that aired on the Cartoon Network. Nothing would work better than Indy chasing down a treasure and narrowly escaping death every chapter, just like the old serials that inspired all this to begin with. There has been some artwork on sites like the Raiders.net that looks similar to this artwork style so the template is set. The only problem on this is timing - there is no time to produce such a series in less than a year. Oh well, maybe down the road.

Websites/Blogs/WebKinz: Face it, kid's are more technically savvy than their parents and the web is where its at. A series of online documentaries, games podcasts and webcasts in the making of Indy IV would be great as we get closer. My kids are currently addicted to WebKinz, these stuffed animals with codes that allow you play with the character in an online community. How about an exclusive stuffed dog named Indiana, the kids can outfit online with a hat and whip and look for treasure. Let me tell you Indiana Jones may be good, but let him hunt down the latest WebKinz - now that is a real quest!

DVDs: Let's get a re-re-release of all the films with deleted footage as a bonus. From "Raiders" - Sallah's escape from the Nazis, Indy scaring the worker when he pops out of the Well of the Souls, from "Doom" - Willie Scott's encounter with Chattar Lal and Major Blumburtt after Indy and Short Round get caught by the Thuggees -(You hear Shorty yell "Run, Lady, Run", and there was a scene in the novelization), and from "Crusade" an exchange between the Knight and Indy's dad (there are stills with him standing near the group). Even better outtakes and behind the scenes footage - did Sean Connery and Harrison really do scenes in the desert in their boxer shorts because it was too hot? - Let's see the proof! Reissue many of those great making of documentaries, especially one that includes Harrison Ford's immortal words when asked about being dragged behind a truck that is was "just one more useless experience". Whatever they do - PLEASE do not digitally alter these classics like "Star Wars" - they are perfect as is! Fans couldn't stand if Indy was neutered like Han Solo was with the whole "Greedo shot first" nonsense. I can hear the screams now if we ever saw that the Arabian Swordsman in "Raiders" threw a sword and Indy's gun discharged by accident!

Young Indiana Jones Chronicles DVD: These seemed like a great tool for getting the kids into it. If you missed it, this was a series that ran on and off for several years in the early 1990s, tracing the adventures of a 9 year old and teenage Indy as he traveled the world meeting historical figures. However, as well intentioned, and well made as they were, they never sparked the same excitement as the feature films. I have tried to show these shows to my kids, and while they were somewhat interested in the young Indy shows when he was 9, they were soon bored.

Shia LaBeouf: The biggest draw for the younger crowd is this fantastic, talented young actor. From firsthand experience, my two sons were hoping to meet and get an autograph from him rather than Harrison Ford. As shocked as I was, he is their new screen hero, as Ford was for me and my generation a few decades ago ("decades" - God that hurt to write). The first thing that the kids were really excited about was seeing Shia LaBeouf ride by on that motorcycle last Friday. I must admit I only knew him from "Project Greenlight". But as excited as the adults were to see Harrison Ford in New Haven these past few days, my kids were telling everyone about Shia! All the kids knew him - from "Holes", something called "Even Stevens"?, and the voice of Cody from the new "Surfs Up" movie, and the eagerly awaited "Transformers". When they told their friends that Shia LaBeouf was in Indy IV they were all hooked.

Merchandise: Just like the ongoing James Bond series, have a dedicated, built-in, older audience, we started talking about what was out there to get the kids into the Indiana Jones films. Over the years, movies like, Bond, Star Wars, Spider-Man, X-Men, BatMan and all the rest are constantly infront of the younger audiences through toys, video games, and DVDs. So what merchandise can reintroduce him to the younger audience?

Comic Books: I would say comic books in that mix of video games and toys to appeal to kids too, but that's a small market. The folks I know who own The Alternate Universe comic shop on Chapel Street, a few blocks away from the Indy IV filming will tell you kids don't buy comics anymore. The days of selling millions of copies of Superman are long over, as they are very pricey at an average of $2.50 a book. In fact, most titles are continually published so that the publishers retain the copyright on the characters. They don't make money on selling the comics, but rather on merchandise and possible movie and television deals. But what about reprinting all those Indiana Jones comics that came from Marvel and Dark Horse Comics and putting out graphic novel collections. It's a start, not only was there some great storytelling from comic legends like John Byrne, but dazzling covers from Hugh Fleming, and art from greats like Dan Spiegle (which I am fortunate to own some original pages of art from "Indiana Jones and the Spear of Destiny").

Video Games: Lego has announced sets based on the films featuring the characters from the Indy series. They have had great success with Harry Potter and Star Wars, and that is a great start. But what would be even better, is a Lego Indiana Jones video game, similar to the ones that were released based on Star Wars. Those games have been unbelievable staying power and my kids and their friends continually go back to them again and again - even after two years! Creating a comical, Legoish Indy and mixing in all his film adventures into a family friendly video game would be a huge hit. If they can make the immolation scene of Anakin Skywalker seem rated G - maybe they can lighten up the heart ripping action of Mola Ram (or maybe not). Plus, using the Wii controllers like a whip would be kind of cool, too! No doubt there will be other video games based on Indiana Jones, but a kid based one would open those doors. Perhaps Ford could even do the voiceover just like Connery did for the James Bond game based on "From Russia With Love". Nowadays, that type of work isn't beneath anyone - its all part of the marketing package - the "Spider-Man" and "Pirates" games have the voice talents of Maquire and Depp.

Toys: I remember finding the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" action figures for .99 in a place called Odd Lot back in 1982. I did buy one Indiana Jones figure and put it on the shelf, but if I had foresight, I would have scooped them up and unloaded them for several hundred dollars each on ebay. But there was no internet and I was more interested in girls than plastic toys back then. Let's face it, these toys or "collectibles" today are designed for collectors, fans and maybe they get opened and played with by kids. Like I said they had Raiders toys, and a few on based on Temple of doom, but none for Last Crusade. It's hard for modern day kids to get into beating up Nazis action figures. When we were in New Haven looking at the prop Indy IV pamphlets on Chapel Street, my son asked, "what's a Commie", and that's a problem. Trench coat wearing bad guy Commie action figures may not fly off the shelf. If they focus on Indy and his jungle adventures in hidden temple, booby traps, like a modern day G.I. Joe, they will sell great and kids will play with them. Maybe there will be a really cool villain in Indy IV that will be evil incarnate, but spies just don't seem to strike the fear into kids, just like the Nazis or Thuggees figures didn't twenty years ago. When my 9 year old son read a sign and said, "Is an "atom bomb" really scary, you realize kids don't scare easy nowadays. Put on "Jaws" and they say, "You were scared of that"?

Games: I have a friend who makes board games (he just created a "Raider-ish" card game called Stolen Treasures by Reveal Entertainment) and I have been to the International Toy Fair in New York with him many times. I can see an Indiana Jones SceneIt DVD or Indiana Jones Monopoly game - but what about a reissue of a game from the 1970s called The Mummy's Tomb - rebranded to be an Indiana Jones game. Whatever they do - just make it cool.

That's all from the brainstorming at the Alternate Universe Comic Shop and yours truly - Today was a great day in New Haven as reports of Mr. Star Wars himself came in. That's right , George Lucas himself - and I always thought if there was a bright center to the universe - New Haven was the place it was farthest from. Who would imagine the man who wrote that line, would be here to brighten it up and show me just how wrong I was!

Thanks to Mitchell Hallock for this fun article.

 

Raiders: The Adaptation is coming to New York
05/07/07, 4:12pm EST

Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is hitting Long Island, New York, this weekend as two rare screenings are planned at the Anthology Film Archives on Friday July 6th and Saturday, 7th.
Eric Zala, the director of the adaptation, will be in attendance at
all screenings.

Because of these rare screenings in New York this weekend, The Village Voice has published a new article about the making of Raiders: The Adaptation. Here follows an except:

Though The Adaptation has no pretensions to such artistic depth, it creates an unintentional disjunction between the innocence of its all-kid production and the unwittingly adult undertaking they literally grow into—in the course of the video, we watch the cast shoot up from squeaky-voiced children to high school seniors. Perhaps this is why it's affecting viewers in ways its makers wouldn't have expected. At screenings, Zala says, they're "approached invariably by folks our age, who say basically: 'I understand. I played Indiana Jones in my backyard with a bull whip and hat, but you guys did it.' One guy had tears in his eyes-—because, he said, 'you kind of did it for all of us.'" A touching story, but slightly disturbing as well: It's a vision of Hollywood as a never-ending existential loop—children playing at being adults, and adults never quite emerging from childhood dreams.

In addition, ComingSoon.net posted a new and surprisingly extensive interview with Raiders: The Adaptation director Eric Zala today. Definitely worth checking out!

Click here to view a list of all upcoming confirmed Raiders: The Adaptation screenings scheduled for this year.

Thanks to Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala for the news.

 

Raiders of the Lost Toys site is back online
08/07/07, 2:32pm EST

LEGO IndyRaiders of the Lost Toys - the oldest Indiana Jones action figure and toy archive on the internet - is back in business! The website has moved to a dedicated independent domain located at RaidersoftheLostToys.com. The site also opened a new dedicated forum named The Hovito's Lair which is certainly worth checking out if you wish to talk about fellow Indy toy collectors about your hobby.

In addition, Raiders of the Lost Toys also published a new photo of the upcoming Indiana Jones LEGO figure!

Many thanks to Innis Mason for bringing back Raiders of the Lost Toys!

 

New Raiders screenings in the USA
13/07/07, 4:14pm EST

The Chicago Park District will be holding a free outdoor screening of
Raiders of the Lost Ark on Tuesday July 17 at Erie Park, 630 N. Kingsbury St. in Chicago, IL. as part of its Movies in the Parks
program. A second screening will be held on August 8th.

Here follows a full list of known Raiders of the Lost Ark screenings for the rest of this summer:

  • July 17:
    - Raiders of the Lost Ark at 8:30 p.m.
    Movies in the Parks at Erie Park, Chicago, IL
  • August 3 and 4:
    - Raiders of the Lost Ark at 12 a.m.
    Garland Theatre, Spokane, WA

  • August 8:
    - Raiders of the Lost Ark at 8:30 p.m.
    Movies in the Parks at Erie Park, Chicago, IL

Thanks to Elliott Serrano and Geoff Jones for the screenings info.

 

Happy birthday, Harrison Ford!
13/07/07, 4:50pm EST

'Indy 4' Ford
Harrison Ford on the
set of Indy 4.
Born in Chicago, Illinois on July 13, 1942, Harrison Ford is today better known as that legendary hollywood actor who played Han Solo in Star Wars, Deckard in Blade Runner, Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive, Jack Ryan in 2 Tom Clancy films and so many more unforgettable parts.
Oh right, he also played (no, still plays!) that adventurous film hero named after a dog; Indiana Jones!

On behalf of the whole TheRaider.net crew and its visitors, we would like to wish Harrison Ford a very happy birthday today and lots of fun on the set of Indiana Jones 4!

 

Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory
16/07/07, 8:26am EST

A unique Indiana Jones fans gathering will be held at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday July 28, between 6:00 and 7:00 pm! And everybody who can come is invited.

6:00-7:00 Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory— Indiana Jones fans unite! Join the fans from the upcoming documentary Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory as they "moderate" this one-stop Indiana Jones information center for all the fans! Various "experts" will be on hand to embark on discussions about all things Indiana Jones, including the upcoming fourth film. And don't miss out on the Indiana Jones Trivia Contest; the winner will receive an Indy Magnoli Ceramic Holy Grail. Room 24A

Visit the Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory page at MySpace for more information & videos about this event and documentary.

Special thanks to Brandon Kleyla for organizing this event & making this Indyfans documentary.

 

More Indyfans at the San Diego Comic-Con
18/07/07, 11:14am EST

Thanks to the guys at Slave Boy Films, you can now find Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory at the Comic-Con booth 3849 on Saturday, July 28th!

There will be all sorts of Indy events at that booth the whole day:

11am-5pm: Every Hour there will be an Indy Trivia Contest. 5 Questions will be asked, two people will be picked, one will win! Prizes will include dvds, t-shirts, and more. Make sure you yell and scream and make your presence known, and you just might be chosen.

4pm: stop by the booth and get your postcards signed by the director of Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory.

6pm: The excitement moves to room 24a for the Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory panel and fan meeting area. Fans can talk about their love for Indiana Jones, and so much more. Also, the trivia contest finals! We will be picking contestants out of the crowd to test their knowledge. The winner will receive an Indy Magnoli Ceramic Holy Grail.

Throughout the day, get interviewed for the documentary. Each person who gets interviewed will receive a limited edition, comic con exclusive, postcard. Collect all 3. Sets of 3 will also be available at the Indyfans booth for a very limited time!

Visit the Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory MySpace page for more information & videos about this event and documentary.

 

Cameron Diaz's Indiana Jones obsession
25/07/07, 3:42pm EST

Here's a funny Indyfan story found at UGO.com today!

Actress Cameron Diaz was so obsessed with Raiders of the Lost Ark as a child she watched it over and over again every day.

The star loved the 1981 action movie about intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones, and genuinely believed her life would turn out to be just as exciting as his.

She recalls, "When I was younger, I used to watch it every day, and sometimes even twice a day."

"That was how I thought people lived their lives - traveling and having adventures."

Cameron Diaz deserves a cameo in Indiana Jones 4 for this!

Thanks to Mitchell Hallock for the heads up.

 

Check out the new IndianaJones.com!
26/07/07, 8:23pm EST

The official Indiana Jones website has a completely new look and new features! All attention now goes to the fourth Indiana Jones film which is planned to be released worldwide on May 22, 2008.

The new features include a news system, an Indy 4 photo gallery and a video clip section. The official website now also has a downloads page with Indiana Jones desktop wallpapers and buddy icons.

Visit the new IndianaJones.com and see for yourself!

 

Six New Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
23/08/07, 3:28pm EST

Director Eric Zala has let me know that all six new screenings of his cult film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation have been finalized for the rest of 2007. Here follows the complete schedule:

Galesburg, Illinois, USA - Black Earth Film Festival
- Friday, September 21st, 2007
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
Black Earth Film Festival

Boise, Idaho, USA - Idaho International Film Festival
- Friday, September 28th & Sunday, September 30th, 2007
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
Idaho International Film Festival

Athens, Georgia, USA - CINE
- Saturday, October 6, 2007
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
CINE

Boulder, Colorado, USA - International Film Series
University of Colorado, Boulder

- Friday, October 19th, 2007
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
International Film Series

Olympia, Washington, USA - Olympia Film Festival
- early November, 2007 (exact date TBD)
In attendance: Chris Strompolos
Olympia Film Festival

New York, New York, USA - Anthology Film Archives
- Thursday, November 15th & Friday, November 16th, 2007
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
Anthology Film Archives

At the Idaho International Film Festival in September, Chris Strompolos & Eric will also offer Indy-pendent Filmmaking: How 3 Teenagers Remade a Hollywood Epic For Next to Nothing, a 3-4 hour-long seminar (with an hour lunch break at the halfway point) on independent filmmaking for junior high through college film students and aspiring filmmakers on Saturday, September 29th. Details to register will be posted here.

Click here to view a list of all confirmed Raiders: The Adaptation screenings scheduled for 2007.

 

FoxTrot comic strip parodies Indiana Jones 4
03/09/07, 4:01pm EST

The latest FoxTrot comic strip parodies Indiana Jones 4 and Harrison Ford's age. It's an old joke already but FoxTrot creator Bill Amend just made it funny again!

Click here to view FoxTrot's Indy 4 parody.

And thanks to Jared Barrett for the link.

 

UPDATE: Raiders: The Adaptation screening
13/09/07, 4:32pm EST

A small update on on the planned Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation screening in Olympia, Washington in November. The screening has been confirmed and will take place at the Olympia Film Festival on Saturday, November 3 at Noon and 9:30 PM.

Visit our Raiders: The Adaptation section for more information on future screenings.

 

All time greatest movie hero poll at AMC
11/10/07, 2:21pm EST

UPDATE: Indiana Jones is now #1. Indy was several thousand votes behind Captain Jack when I wrote the original story. Now he is about 4 thousand votes ahead. Nice!

Greetings Indy fans. Yes, it's that time again... Another "all time greatest movie hero" poll is on the web and is being held by none other than AMC.
As of right now, our beloved adventurer/archaeologist, Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. is ranked #2 behind scallywag/pirate Jack Sparrow. Together, we have the power to correct this early voting oversight. So take a moment of your day and vote for Indy.

Posted by Jayson Crittenden

 

Does the Wilhelm scream sound familiar?
16/10/07, 3:41pm EST

Ever heard of the "Wilhelm scream"? You may not have heard about it by name but you've definitely heard the scream when you saw Star Wars, Toy Story, The Lord of the Rings, and all Indiana Jones films plus The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles tv-series.

ABC News has published a very interesting article on the history of Hollywood's best know sound effect and how it ended up in films like Star Wars, Batman Returns, The Lord of the Rings, Toy Story, Madagascar, all Indiana Jones films (including multiple Young Indy tv-episodes) and many more films.

So click here to read ABC's article and view their "Wilhelm scream" video report.

And here follows one of many Wilhelm scream montages found at YouTube.

Thanks to Mitchell Hallock for the news.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Indiana Jones-themed home theater
17/10/07, 5:53pm EST

How do you prefer to view an Indiana Jones movie? Projected on silver screen in a large public theater, surrounded by dozens of excited strangers? On DVD at home in your living room with a Cola and a bowl of chilled monkey brains in your lap? Or in your own private Indiana Jones-themed home theater decorated with hieroglyphics and prop replicas? The Halliday family prefers the third option.

Electronic House
Indy Home Theater.
A few years ago, Larry and Colleen Halliday were looking to add a little excitement to their home theater and asked installer Dough Charrois to help build it so adventurer Indiana Jones would feel right at home.

"Larry saw the torches in a store and came up with the idea it would be cool to have a theme of Indiana Jones in the theater they were going to build in their up-and-coming new home," says Charrois, who was up for the design challenge.

And challenge it was. Much like Indiana, Charrois worked solo at the time of the installation, going by the company name Jade Security. "I found them," he says. "Working on my own, I would have to drum up my own business driving around new construction areas. Once I found a good size home going up, then it would be my sparkling personality that would take over."

Charrois may not be as suave as Indiana, but in six short weeks he did all of the design and construction that would bring this theme theater to life...

You can read the full article and view photos of this cool Indy-themed home theater online at Electronic House.

Thanks to Chris Strompolos for the heads up.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Harrison Ford crowned with first ever Hero Award
21/10/07, 8:59am EST

Spike TV put on an out of the world performance bringing together the world's of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and comic book industries this evening to honor the genres' outstanding accomplishments over the past year. Featuring appearances by Harrison Ford, Alice Cooper, Hayden Panettiere and many others, SCREAM 2007 did not fail to disappoint the audience with its wide array of talent and ground breaking performances.

The night opened with a bang as Shia LaBeouf honored Harrison Ford with Spike TV's first ever Hero Award for his cumulative work in such films as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Fugitive. The Hero Award is given to a true superstar - an icon in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere, a living legend, whose body of work inspires all those with a love of the fantastic.

The summer blockbuster Transformers blew away the competition winning several honors, including Best Sci-Fi Movie and Best F/X, while star Shia LaBeouf was named Sci-Fi Star and co-star Megan Fox walked away with Sci-Fi Siren. The stunning Jessica Alba was awarded Best Female Superhero and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere was recognized as Breakout Star.

You can read the full SCREAM 2007 press release at Quote.com.

Thanks to JoseLuis Baylon for the heads up.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Young Indiana Jones in the Los Angeles Times
21/10/07, 9:01am EST

The Los Angeles Times has published a major article, written by Geoff Boucher, about The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones today. Here follows an excerpt from Boucher's article:

SKYWALKER RANCH, MARIN COUNTY -- There may be nothing that George Lucas enjoys more than watching someone's jaw drop in an expression of marvel. That explains the existence of this leafy 5,200-acre retreat, which has a hilltop observatory, a vineyard (the grapes are trucked over to Francis Ford Coppola's winery) and its own fire department, which presumably blares heroic scores by John Williams on its way to brush fires.

And then there's his stunning collection of pop-culture artifacts. The man who once aspired to be an anthropologist now has a personal Smithsonian of sorts here in Marin County. In the Victorian-style main house, for instance, you can find Charlie Chaplin's cane and slightly dimpled bowler sharing a bookcase with the badges worn by the Keystone Kops. Norman Rockwell paintings hang on the walls and Rudolph Valentino's whip is perched on a shelf near the parlor. Remember how hard it was for Indiana Jones to track down the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail? Now they're safe and sound here in an immaculate warehouse along with R2-D2 and C-3PO, all museum pieces in a museum that never opens to the public.

But the loneliest artifact of Skywalker Ranch -- or, to be more precise, the most underappreciated treasure that belongs to Lucas -- is the one that could be seen a few weeks ago flickering on the screen of the plush theater inside the main house. When Lucas spoke of it, he even sounded a bit like an archaeologist cradling a long-lost relic.

"We have another chance to let the world see it," he said, "and that's exciting for me."

The artifact in need of rescue is an early 1990s television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which is, by the stellar standards of the 63-year-old filmmaker's career, a beautiful loser. It was also, he says, "the single most fun I ever had with any project." For both of those reasons, he is back for more.

Click here to read Geoff Boucher's full article for the Los Angeles Times.

Posted by Gilles V

 

New Raiders: The Adaptation screening
30/10/07, 3:28pm EST

All fans near Springville, New York, will be able to attend a screening of the cult film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation on Saturday, December 8th. The film's co-creator and star Chris Strompolos will be in attendance at the screening.

Click here to view a complete list of all confirmed Raiders: The Adaptation screenings scheduled for November and December 2007.

2008 screenings to be announced later.

Thanks to Eric Zala for the news.

Posted by Gilles V

 

New look for the official Indiana Jones site
31/10/07, 2:55pm EST

The official Indiana Jones website has been updated with a great new look that promises many new features, info, games and downloads in the near future!

Including is a brand new "That's a Wrap!" video clip taking a look back at the wrap shots for each of the Indiana Jones films including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

Also new are extensive photo galleries quality photo's of all previous Indiana Jones films with room left for more photos of The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
And don't forget to visit the new downloads section as it contains a whole new series of themed wallpapers from the Indy Trilogy and the upcoming Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

Go see it all at IndianaJones.com right now!

Posted by Gilles V

 

The Adventures of little Indy
05/11/07, 5:59pm EST

Mitchell Hallock, good friend and contributor to this site, created this fun "little Indy" photo comic with his two creative sons and their dog named Indiana! Here follows Mitchell's own introduction:

Since my son Owen, 7, wanted to be Indiana Jones this Halloween -- we decided to take full advantage of the costume. Together with his older brother, Spencer, 9, and our loyal family dog, Indiana, we set out to make our own version of little Indy!

I think this is their way for making up not getting picked for Indiana Jones IV extras when it was filming in nearby New Haven this past spring.

Mind you the concepts and story come mainly from the minds of children -- it is entertaining for fans of all ages who love action and excitement -- maybe they are the future Lucas and Spielberg! And until the world premiere of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - this will have to suffice.

I just wanted to pass it on to other film fans to check it out!

Right click here to "save as" and download their Little Indiana Jones comic story. (2.8 MB .pdf file)

You can still read Mitchell Hallock's popular set reports of filming Indiana Jones 4 on the streets of New Haven day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Spielberg gets Cecil B. DeMille Award
16/11/07, 1:58pm EST

Next year Indiana Jones will not be the only one to be capturing an elusive prize. Indiana Jones co-creator, Steven Spielberg, will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field" at next year's Golden Globe Awards. Congratulations!

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said the legendary director would be honored at the awards show on January 13 in recognition of a career that has seen him make some of the highest-grossing films of all time.

It is the latest honor in a long list for Spielberg, 60, who has already received six Golden Globes for films including Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial, as well as three Oscars.

Source: HFPA

Posted by Mitchell Hallock

 

Indiana Jones Trilogy screening in Florida
19/11/07, 2:03am EST

Casselberry Recreation Center - in Casselberry Florida - will be screening all three Indiana Jones films every night from Nov. 19th till the 21st for free! Meaning it starts tonight with a free screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
  • November 19:
    Raiders of the Lost Ark at 8 p.m.
  • November 20:
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at 8 p.m.
  • November 21:
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at 8 p.m.

Casselberry Recreation Center is located at
200 N Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707

Visit the official Casselberry site for more info.

Special thanks to Don Dowd for letting us know.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design
26/11/07, 3:31pm EST

Deborah Nadoolman Landis, costume designer for Raiders of the Lost Ark and president of the Hollywood Costume Designers Guild, returns with a new book named Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design in which she showcases one hundred years of Hollywood's most tantalizing costumes and the characters they helped bring to life.

Drawing on years of extraordinary research, Landis has uncovered both a treasure trove of costume sketches and photographs - many of them previously unpublished - and a dazzling array of first-person anecdotes, including a forword by Anjelica Huston, that inform and enhance the images. Along the way she also provides and eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the costume designer's art, from its emergence as a key element of cinematic collaboration to its limitless future in the era of CGI.

Deborah Nadoolman Landis recently completed her second term as president of the Hollywood Costume Designers Guild, of which she has been a member for nearly thirty years. Her costume design credits include Animal House,The Blues Brothers, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Three Amigos and Coming to America, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Landis has a Ph.D. in the history of costume design from the Royal College of Art and lives with her husband, director John Landis, in Beverly Hills, CA.

During the coming three weeks, Deborah Nadoolman Landis will be signing her new book on multiple locations in New York and Southern California. Starting tomorrow Nov. 27th at the 'Barnes and Noble' (Chelsea) in New York City.

Visit the official Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design website for more info including a full list of book signing appearances.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Raiders' boulder an homage to Uncle Scrooge?
15/12/07, 5:48pm EST

Always huge fans of Disney, particularly the Carl Banks' Uncle Scrooge character, Indy creators George Lucas and Steven Spielberg paid homage to the feathered miser in a classic scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Or did they? Let's at what the folks at the Comic Book Resources website had to say on this "urban legend":

The fact that George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg's Indiana Jones was at least partially inspired by Carl Barks' classic Uncle Scrooge comics is fairly evident, as Indiana Jones' globe-trotting searches for lost artifacts are extremely similar to Uncle Scrooge's similar trips (along with his nephew Donald and his other nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie). This fact was made quite clear when George Lucas wrote the introduction to the 1980's collection of Carl Barks' comics, Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge McDuck: His Life and Times, and spoke directly about the influence.

Click here to read the full article and view the Uncle Scrooge comic page that was an inspiration for the Raiders scene.

Posted by Mitchell Hallock

 

Five new Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
17/12/07, 4:53pm EST

The first five screenings of the cult fan film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation for 2008 have been confirmed! Here follows a list of all known upcoming screenings so far:
  • San Francisco, California, USA - SF Indie Film Fest
    - February 8-10, 2008
    In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Jayson Lamb
    SF Indie Film Fest
  • Fargo, North Dakota, USA - Fargo Film Festival
    - March 4, 2008
    In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
    Fargo Film Festival
  • Washington, D.C., USA - Smithsonian Institute, Hirshhorn Museum
    - March 13, 2008
    In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
    Smithsonian-Hirshhorn Museum
  • St. Petersburg, Florida, USA - Sunscreen Film Festival
    - March 19-22, 2008
    In attendance: Eric Zala
    Sunscreen Film Festival
  • Houston, Texas, USA - Aurora Picture Show
    - March 29 & 30, 2008
    In attendance: Chris Strompolos
    Aurora Picture Show

Visit our Raiders: The Adaptation section for more information about this special film and to view a full list of all upcoming screenings.

Special thanks to Eric Zala for the update.

Posted by Gilles V

 

Happy birthday, Steven Spielberg!
18/12/07, 3:17pm EST

Today the whole TheRaider.net crew and its visitors would like to wish Steven Spielberg a very happy 61st birthday!

Have a great year and many more to follow.

 

Harrison Ford receives Lifetime Achievement Award
20/12/07, 3:15pm EST

With a film career that began in 1966 as a bellboy in Dead Heat on a Merry Go Round and going onto bigger and better endeavors like creating some of Hollywood's greatest screen heroes, Harrison Ford will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cinematography Guild. Past lifetime award recipients include Julie Andrews, Clint Eastwood, and President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and former Lucasfilm producer Sid Ganis (who made the making of Raiders and Temple documentaries and appears as a missionary worker at the airport in Temple of Doom).

This isn't the first time, Mr. Ford, has been bestowed with an award honoring his work in films, as he was recipient of the 2000 American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award (as have been fellow Indy cohorts, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Sir Sean Connery).
As Indy fans well know, Mr. Ford will next be seen in this summer's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and the Wayne Kramer-directed film Crossing Over.
The ceremonies will be held at the Beverly Hilton hotel on February 5th.

Congratulations to Mr.Ford on this latest award - from everyone at TheRaider.Net; our hats (especially the fedoras) are off to you!

Reported in Variety.

Posted by Mitchell Hallock

 

Cate Blanchett receives two SAG nominations
22/12/07, 11:45am EST

Indiana Jones stars seemed to be receiving accolades all over the place these days. First it was Harrison Ford with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cinematography Guild and now his new Indy co-star, Cate Blanchett has received honors as well.

Nominees for the 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced on Thursday and amongst the list of actors and actresses was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull actress Cate Blanchett. Ms.Blanchett received two nominations, one for outstanding portrayal of England's Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and the other for Supporting Actress in I'm Not There.

Congratulations from TheRaider.net.

Source: Newsweek

Posted by Mitchell Hallock

 

Entertainment Weekly's 10 More Awesome Websites list
23/12/07, 1:56pm EST

Entertainment Weekly not only published a list of the 25 Essential Fansites in their latest magazine but also an honorary list of 10 more awesome fansites.

And awesome they are indeed as they include two sites every Indiana Jones fan might/should know! A big congratulations to our old friend Eileen from Harrison Ford Web and Steven Awalt from SpielbergFilms.com for making EW's 10 More Awesome Websites list.

I would like to wish Eileen, Steven, EW and especially all visitors to TheRaider.net a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Best wishes for 2008!

Posted by Gilles V