Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)
In 1982, three 11 year-olds in Mississippi set out to remake their favorite film: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It took seven turbulent years that tested the limits of their friendship and nearly burned down their mother's house. By the end, they had completed every scene except one... the explosive airplane scene. 30 years later, they attempt to finally realize their childhood dream by building a replica of the 75 foot "Flying Wing" plane from Raiders in a mud pit in the backwoods of Mississippi... and then blow it up! This is the story behind the making of what is known as "the greatest fan film ever made."
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Wonderful character development!
SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Boring
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
It's not too many docs that can pull at the heartstrings when the paraphrased edict "the sincerest form of flattery is imitation" is evidenced in this, the ultimate piece of fan worship. Who would've known that a shot by shot "adaptation" of Raiders of the Lost Ark made by teenagers would be the guiding nexus for 35 years of their lives. Though I grumbled to myself, maybe their time would've been better spent doing something original, I can't deny the audaciousness of the enterprise. Not many of us can say they've lived their dreams to fruition, these Raiders kids can & they have the VHS to prove it.
Around the 2000s, I've always been interest in watching the "Indiana Jones" because I've never watch them or own them on tape during the 90s. Now I am a fan of the series, that includes the fourth one (in my humble opinion); there was another version of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," that I have came across on the internet and started to learn on how another version was made as it wasn't made in Hollywood. Instead, it was made by the three guys from Mississippi as they remade this movie for the course of seven years, and has now become a cult classic. I've never seen the fan film, but I have been desperate in wanting to see it; the fan film is now available on DVD, and hoping to get a copy of it one day; just had to get it on their website: www.raidersguys.com or their Facebook page. Also, I have a copy of the book which it features the same title as the documentary, and I really loved it as it reminds me of a Richard Linklater movie that I loved "Boyhood." I imagine if Linklater makes a movie out these guys that made the fan film. With that said, I was really amazed by to hear their story as the filmmakers had to go in depth with by interviewing the three guys that worked on the fan film Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb. They also interview their family and friends as well as Harry Knowles from Ain't it Cool News, and filmmaker Eli Roth who was well known for "Cabin Fever" and the first two "Hostel" movies. The documentary does not only gives us about their experience on making the fan film, but sharing about what their childhood is like where they share about their parents getting a divorce, and the downfall of their friendship. Of course, they get reunited as they become themselves again as everyone was extremely positive on the fan film they made, and meeting Steven Spielberg for the first time as he also loves their fan film and how it inspire Spielberg too. The documentary also features Zala and Strompolos with the help of Lamb as they are working the airplane scene that they couldn't do, since they were kids during that time. When you watch the end credits of the documentary, you do see the airplane scene where on top is the fan film, and on bottom is the actual movie with Harrison Ford and Karen Allen in it. "Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made" is an insightful and fascinating documentary of the greatest fan film ever made; I've watched this four times on Netflix, and it does get better as I watch it. I still want to see their fan film, if I ever get a copy it and I would love to own this documentary on Blu Ray (which is now available). If you haven't see it, check it out, I strongly recommend this documentary. If you don't have a copy of the documentary, then feel free to watch on Netflix. I am giving this documentary a powerhouse 10 out of 10.
Inspiring, often times funny documentary about a trio of eleven years- olds who set out to do Raiders Of The Lost Ark- they didn't remake it, they *made* Raiders Of The Lost Ark- in its entirety, in the homes and cellars, with next to no money, and over the course of several summers in the 1980s. Four documentary film crews then followed them in 2014, as they filmed the sole scene they could not film originally. This doc includes new interviews with them, along with clips from the film itself, and a few blooper reel scenes and outtakes, and original, hand-drawn storyboards (of which there were 602, as explained in a film festival Q&A session after the screening, and before showing Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation) and people like John Ryhs-Davies, who have publicly commended the film.Required viewing for fans of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, film buffs, and anyone who ever dreamed and fantasised about making a film.
'RAIDERS!: THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE': Four Stars (Out of Five)A documentary on the making of the fan film 'RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION'; which is a shot-for-shot remake of the classic 1981 Steven Spielberg movie. It was made by two 11-year-old Mississippi boys, and their friends, over the course of 7-years. They finished the entire remake, except for the final airplane battle sequence. The friends reunited, 30-years later, to finally film that one missing scene (and finish their movie). This film documents that process. It was directed and written by first time filmmakers Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen; and it was based on the book by Alan Eisenstock. Being a past childhood filmmaker, myself, and a huge movie nerd, as well (to this day), I really enjoyed this documentary.Two 11-year-old childhood friends, Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos, setout to remake their favorite movie, 'RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK', in Mississippi in 1981. The film was not available on video yet; so they had to rely on a lot of other resources to pull it off (like a published script, and magazine articles), as well as their friends and memories. They completed filming every scene of the original movie, over the next 7-years, except for the landing pad battle sequence. 30-years later, the friends finally reunited; and raised the money they needed (through a Kickstarter campaign) to finish their childhood dream.I've never seen the fan film, this movie is about, but I have (of course) seen Spielberg's 1981 masterpiece (multiple times). I love the original film still, and I'm sure I'd probably like the kids' remake too. Spielberg has seen it (and he loves it), so have many others; like filmmaker Eli Roth and film critic Harry Knowles (who both appear in this documentary). Even though I haven't yet seen the beloved fan flick 'cult classic' (this is based on), I could still really appreciate this documentary; because it beautifully captures what a 'love for movies' is all about. I was a childhood filmmaker, and I still try to make movies (today); so I definitely found this film inspiring and relatable (to say the least).Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/_3w7EWxV5vg