Indiana Jones, famed archaeologist, fights Nazis, fires, and snakes to stop Germany from finding the Ark of the Covenant, a biblical relic which holds awesome powers. His travels take him from America, to Nepal, to Cairo, to a secret Nazi base.
Availability:
VHS: Pan and Scan only
Cast/Crew:
George Lucas
Producer
Star Wars Trilogy
The Radioland Murders
Howard the Duck
American Graffiti
Steven Speilberg
Director
ET
Jaws
Schindlers List
Jurassic Park
Lost World: Jurassic Park
Amistad
Saving Private Ryan
Harrison Ford
Indiana Jones
Star Wars Trilogy
The Fugitive
American Graffiti
Witness
Air Force One
Six Days, Seven Nights
Regarding Henry
Clear and Present Danger
Patriot Games
John Rhyes Davies
Sallah (Raiders, Crusade)
The Living Daylights
Sliders (television)
Star Trek: Voyager (television)
Miscellaneous:
The name Indiana came from George Lucas' own dog, Indiana (interesting tie in with The Last Crusade)
Followed by two sequels: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
Ford was not Lucas' first choice to play the character. Originally, Tom Selleck was hired to play Indy, but he gave it up to work on Magnum P.I. (it is best not to even try to imagine what the film(s) would have looked like had the filming gone that way.
In Raiders, a sword wielding arab is shot by Indy. The main reasoning behind it? The script orginially called for Indy to use swords as well. However, the training would have taken several more days. The suggestion was made that they just shoot the guy, and the rest is history.
The films also inspired a series of attractions in Disney theme parks; In Walt Disney World, there is an Indiana Jones stunt show. In Disneyland Paris, there is a roller coaster (with an upside down loop) based on an Indy adventure (I don't know the name of the ride itself), and in Disneyland Anaheim, there is the ride Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye ( a great ride if I say so myself).
LucasArts, the video game division of Lucasfilm, has created a set of great computer games based on the films and character. Of greatest note are Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, and coming soon, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, which looks like it will be a keeper!
A fourth Indiana Jones film is in the works. Lucasfilm execs have officially confirmed it. While there is not a specific script worked out yet, rumors fly that it will take place in the fifties, involve aliens and atlantis, and will have Sean Connery returning as Indy's father.
MPAA Rating:
PG -- fist fighting, scary moments
when bodies seem to grab a person and when ghosts destroy . . . that'll
give the ending away.
My Rating:
Indiana Jones is one of my favorite characters. Here's this guy who has no special powers, yet has a firm set of beliefs as far as ancient artifacts are concerned. I guess you could call him an American James Bond.
****