Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made Review

Raiders!is a fascinating illustration of the power of film and why movies can be magical, making a statement about why the art form is important.

Raiders ! : The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Madeis a documentary that chronicles the product of the well known fan - filmRaiders of the Lost Ark : The Adaptation . After seeing Steven Spielberg ’s germinal action / adventure blockbuster and falling in beloved with Indiana Jones , childhood friend Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala devise a squad and set off to film a shot - for - shot remaking of the picture . Beginning in 1982 , the project consumed seven years of their life-time as they fastidiously recreated the sophisticated successiveness to the just of their power . The chemical group wrapped in 1989 , complete every single tantrum except one : the famous plane engagement on the landing pad .

days later as adults , Strompolos and Zala put together a Kickstarter cause to raise funding so they could go back and finish what they started as pre - teens . In 2014 , they attempt to pull the plane sequence off , looking to overcome the various obstacles life ( and nature ) threw their way out of a labor of love .

Like most documentaries , Raiders!is sartor made for a very specific audience : cinephiles andIndiana Jonesfans . That order , Raiders!is a fascinating illustration of the power of film and why picture can be magical , making a statement about why the art manikin is important . theatre director Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen use Strompolos and Zala ’s nearly 35 year odyssey to show how film can contribute people together - even when things come down apart in truly devastating ways - and why it ’s always worthwhile to fulfill dreams .

Keanu Reeves looking over one shoulder as John Wick in Ballerina

Focusing primarily on Strompolos and Zala ( fellow cohort Jayson Lamb is also predominantly have ) , the documentary film ’s greatest strength is provide the viewer with insight into the film producer . Detailing troubled youth underscore by divorces ( several of the kids ' parents secernate in the 1980s ) , it becomes apparent why the team was so consecrated and invest to working on theirRaidersremake . They used flick as a mean value of escapism and refuge , cast off themselves in a fun fantasy where the only concern was how to nail a stunt just right . There were plenty of ritual killing made along the way ( see : a brief section on birthday and Christmas gift ) , butRaiders!does a fantastic job of highlighting the sense of comradeship as the radical of outcasts band together to make their aspiration a reality . The documentary has a nice aroused hook that carry the audience through to a last that proves to be rewarding .

The consultation bit are interspersed with a behind - the - scenes seem at how the plane fight came together . It ’s here where Strompolos and Zala ’s deathless passion for the undertaking is most prevailing , as they take to go all out to make the final scene look as large as possible ( with a full exfoliation carpenter’s plane bodge up ) . There ’s a palpable " will they or wo n’t they ? " sense of tension as the shoot turn into a torturous social occasion mutilate by inclement atmospheric condition and mounting personal pressure . The uninitiated may not interpret why someone like Zala would be so unforced to literally put on the line his job for the rice beer of finish a fan film , but those along for the drive will thoroughly enjoy these segment and root for the team to get the job done . Aspiring filmmakers will recognise Strompolos and Zala as kindred flavor passionate about their imaginativeness who wo n’t rest until they ’ve achieved what they typeset out to do . There ’s something inspiring about these portions , showcasing everyday multitude making one last energy to fulfil their wildest finish .

Raiders!actually has an challenging arc that arguably keep abreast the classic three act structure of a narration film . There ’s an interesting collocation when Coon and Skousen move to when theRaidersremake accomplish cult status on the black-market video food market . As the fan film reach out fresh acme of popularity ( in with child part because of a screening at Harry Knowles ' " tush - numb - a - thon " ) , the friendship of the people behind it had splintered due to a variety of circumstances . After year separated , Strompolos , Zala , and Lamb are reunited at a premier result at the Alamo Drafthouse , spearheaded by Knowles and music director Eli Roth . The surrealism of watching a plate movie ferment into a phenomenon that made its way to Spielberg is perhaps the best highlighting of the documentary ’s underlying themes and message . Because of this undertaking , onetime booster were able-bodied to reconnect and bury the past as they reflected on an incredible journeying .

Josh Hartnett looking shocked in Fight or Flight

As stated in the beginning , Raiders!is designed with a sealed consultation in mind , making it difficult to recommend the infotainment for looker who are n’t photographic film buffs . Those who have no attachment to theIndiana Jonesfranchise or filmmaking in general may find it gruelling to see the appeal . While the underlying point of the documentary ( people should pursue their dreams ) is general , the death penalty of the infotainment probably pushes it into a niche corner where it wo n’t vibrate witheveryone . That state , it ’s a minor quibble that in the end does n’t undercutRaiders ! . Evan a casual lover of the " official"Raiders of the Lost Arkshould get a bitch out of seeing ambitious kids play out many noted moments and discovering how the whole musical theme total together back in 1982 .

In the conclusion , Raiders!is a warm documentary covering the origin , sweat , and tears that were put into making a measure of fan finish . Coon and Skousen merit a lot of credit for allowing the hearing to learn who Strompolos and Zala are as people , making them as relatable and sympathetic as protagonist in a Hollywood motion picture . It ’s a must - see for someone with even a passing stake in theIndiana Jonesseries or hopes of making their own film one day . Spielberg has made a career out of touching viewers with echt movie legerdemain , so it ’s only meet that a docudrama about a group of self - described Goonies remaking one of his most famous cause can leave the same wallop .