Indiana Jones--Off the Beaten Path: An Unofficial Expedition
by George Beahm
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Book Summary Information
Author: George BeahmIllustrator: Tim Kirk
Foreword: Dr. Eric H. Cline
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-04-18
ISBN: 1571745580
Number of pages: 175
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company
Book Reviews of Indiana Jones--Off the Beaten Path: An Unofficial Expedition
Book Review: A new (and old) fan's passport to the explored (and unexplored) world of Dr. Indiana Jones!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm the author of the book, and to make sure you know what you're buying (or thinking of buying), here's what you need to know:
1. This book was NOT, as the sales copy says, written for children ages 9 to 12. Although I agree that a child of that age could read the book, it's intended for older audiences: say fifteen up through adults of any age.
2. The book is unofficial. This means that what you're reading is not politically correct. It means I call the shots as I see them: the good, the bad, and the ugly. (In fact, with the exception of my thoughts on the second Indy movie, I'm pretty positive and upbeat throughout the book.)
3. Regardless of what you may read elsewhere, there is NO full color 16-page insert of photos in this book, which was pulled out of the book at the 11th hour.
Why I wrote this book: Given the long interval since the appearance of the last Indiana Jones movie --1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, and the president was George Bush (the senior) -- I felt it was probably a good idea to reacquaint seasoned fans with a recap of the Indiana Jones phenomenon, and to give an overview of what new viewers can expect.
For those reasons, the book covers a lot of ground--some familiar, and some clearly off the beaten path.
The introduction is by an honest-to-goodness archaeologist, a professor at George Washington University, Dr. Eric H. Cline. (In the summers, you can find him on an archaeological dig in Megiddo, which is the site of biblical Armageddon). Dr. Cline explains that Indy is really more adventurer than teacher, which is reinforced in the trailer to the forthcoming movie when Shia Le Beouf asks Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) if he's a teacher, and Indy replies: "Only part-time." Dr. Cline explains that he uses the opening scenes of the first film to introduce archaeology to his freshman students, and then explains what archaeology is all about.
Part one explores the fictional world of Indiana Jones: his history, the principal cast (in all the films), a film-by-film look (to get everybody on the same sheet of music), and a discussion of the critical but not financial success that was "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," which Lucas said failed to get its deserved audience because people were always looking for the runaway boulder from the first film--action adventure, when this series is more about a walk through the 20th century, and the key figures that defined it.
Part two looks at what's in the movies and whether it's Hollywood fantasy -- or fact. For instance, in the first film, Marion Ravenwood is at a bar at a drinking contest, and she drinks her opponent, a fairly large guy, under the table. Is that possible? Or, in the second film, did Willie (played by Kate Capshaw) really see vampire bats--or was it another species? What about Indy surviving a sub run to a remote island off the coast of Italy, without being detected or drowned? This is where I have fun playing Mythbuster.
Part three looks at the connections between Indy and the Walt Disney theme parks, notably Disneyland (the Indiana Jones Adventure ride), and Disney World (the not-to-be-missed Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular). If you've never been to either of these great attractions, make sure you go this summer to see what all the excitement is about.
Part four looks at all the films and explains the real-world places where they actually shot on location. (I did add the info for CRYSTAL SKULL, but it was cut for space considerations, alas.)
Part five is more Dr. Cline's stomping grounds that mine. I begin by explaining exactly what archaeology is -- and what it isn't. Then Dr. Cline's illuminating article, "Raiders of the Faux Ark," talks about the interlopers and get-rich-quick con artists who have infested archaeology with bogus searches for mythical artifacts as a way of raising money by pandering to the general public's seemingly unending fascination with the unlikely, the improbable, and the impossible, like searching for Moses' ark and finding it on top a remote mountain top. Dr. Cline skewers the charlatans. Then, in an profile piece I conducted, he explains what an actual day in the field is like for an archaeologist; and it's nothing like what you see in an Indiana Jones movie, but it's rewarding in its own right. Finally, I talk about some of the fabled places around the world that people are curious about -- from Atlantis to the Tower of Babel -- and discuss whether they exist, or not.
Part six provides a wealth of resources for fans who want to go off on their own. I recommend books, websites, and stores where you can find all the Good Stuff: the tailor-made period clothing, the 12-inch articulated Indy figurines, the authentic, signed memorabilia (as opposed to the forged stuff on eBay), etc.
In short, I've unearthed a lot of information about archaeology and hope it's an entertaining look at the most popular action-adventure film figure of our time.
The book's been illustrated by veteran Disney Imagineer Tim Kirk, who was involved at both Disneyland and Disney World on Indiana Jones-themed projects. There's also dozens of photos I took at both theme parks, to whet your appetite before you take a trip. And there's photos of prop replicas hand-created by "Indy" Magnoli, whose work is astonishingly good.
I hope you have as much fun reading the book as I did in writing it.
PS: Do disregard the star ranking for this "review." There's no option to put a neutral ranking, so it leaves me with no choice.
Summary of Indiana Jones--Off the Beaten Path: An Unofficial Expedition
Indiana Jones the adventurous archeologist dons his trademark Fedora, straps on a holstered pistol, and coils his bullwhip as he gets cracking on a new movie adventure. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set against the backdrop of the Cold War and this time, Indy is fighting the Soviets.
Just in time for the movie s release, pop-culture chronicler George Beahm explores the uncharted territory of Indy s world exotic ports of call worldwide, lost worlds and legendary cities, real-world film locations for the Indiana Jones films again separating fact from fiction.
Longtime fans will welcome the look back at the Indiana Jones phenomenon that includes an overview of the character and an in-depth look at each of the films. Also included is a synopsis of each installment of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, how to dress like Indy, and much more!
Indiana Jones--Off the Beaten Path is the perfect book for the armchair traveler or the more adventurous who wants to follow in Indy s footsteps; it transports you to places unimagined, well off the beaten path, where danger lurks around every corner! For fans of all ages
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