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a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
Back in 2003, I remember seeing the review from Ain't It Cool News? regarding the adaptation. I shifted through the internet looking for a download. It wasn't until years later I found one, watched this glorious piece of work, I saved it to a disc to have and to hold forever. Was it my love for Indy - raised on the films since I was a babe? Or was it that I always wanted to do the same thing? Create an ~amazing fan film~ like they did?
Whatever the reason, it was amazing finding what I could on the internet. But I hungered for more, I wanted to know more about what went on behind the scenes between takes, the 'creation' of the sets, the overall experience leading up to now.
Being that I created a group on fb for the film, and being that Chris is a part of said group, when a link was posted (by him) about this book: I knew I had to have it. So I ordered it and quickly began to read it.
I gotta admit, I was pretty entertained. I felt by the end of the book I knew them. I think the author did a good job of working together with Chris and Eric in getting a constancy that did not feel unreal or 'fake'. Though I kind of admit, I was a bit skeptical of the the conversations (of how much dialogue one could recover from years ago). Overall, I felt that it kept in tone what the kids would think of or say during that time.
The only reason I did not give the book a full five stars is that the pieces of the notebook wasn't scanned into the book, or other pieces of their work (like storyboards, drawings, etc.). Seems other people felt saddened by that decision (or lack of) as well.
I think the book was a great read. I can easily see this as being the precursor to the eventual film. :)
Whatever the reason, it was amazing finding what I could on the internet. But I hungered for more, I wanted to know more about what went on behind the scenes between takes, the 'creation' of the sets, the overall experience leading up to now.
Being that I created a group on fb for the film, and being that Chris is a part of said group, when a link was posted (by him) about this book: I knew I had to have it. So I ordered it and quickly began to read it.
I gotta admit, I was pretty entertained. I felt by the end of the book I knew them. I think the author did a good job of working together with Chris and Eric in getting a constancy that did not feel unreal or 'fake'. Though I kind of admit, I was a bit skeptical of the the conversations (of how much dialogue one could recover from years ago). Overall, I felt that it kept in tone what the kids would think of or say during that time.
The only reason I did not give the book a full five stars is that the pieces of the notebook wasn't scanned into the book, or other pieces of their work (like storyboards, drawings, etc.). Seems other people felt saddened by that decision (or lack of) as well.
I think the book was a great read. I can easily see this as being the precursor to the eventual film. :)
hayleybeale's review against another edition
5.0
This kept me laughing the whole way through. It's the incredible true story of three middle school boys re-making Raiders of the Lost Ark over the course of seven summers. Their ingenuity and can do attitude is inspiring and the movie (which you can watch online) is amazing as well as amazingly hilarious. As nonfiction, it leaves a little to be desired - but as memoir it's cracking.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun book. I thought at first there was too much about the divorces and messy parts of life, but then realised it is just a true story and that happens.
The enthusiasm and energy for the project comes through and the us and downs become your ups and downs. Very fun book.
The enthusiasm and energy for the project comes through and the us and downs become your ups and downs. Very fun book.
mirable's review against another edition
5.0
SLJ starred review:
EISENSTOCK, Alan with Eric Zala & Chris Strompolos. Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made. 320p. Thomas Dunne. 2012. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-1-250-00147-4. LC 2012035374.
Adult/High School–When two pre-teens decided to re-create the iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark movie, they had no idea what they were getting into, or that they were forging a friendship that would last long past the cut of the camera. Zala used his role as director to explore his abilities to prepare and be ready for any situation while Strompolos worked through his insecurities and body-image doubts by inhabiting Indiana Jones. Stubbornly, they spent each summer between 1981 and 1989 conceiving, casting, and recasting parts, filming and substituting when necessity demanded. Where were they going to get a submarine in gulf-coast Mississippi? They literally grew up on camera as their friend Jayson Lamb documented everything. Their sheer determination to finish is inspiring and a little frightening, skirting the edge of obsession. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, Eric and Chris and Jayson did what they set out todo: remake Raiders of the Lost Ark, shot for shot. Surprisingly, creating the boulder became one of the production’s biggest sticking points, working as metaphor for Eric and Chris’ lives, friendship, ambitions, and love, and illustrating their struggle to get one of the lynchpins of the entire project to work, but never giving up. Raiders! has a great narrative flow that reads like fiction and would make an excellent choice for teens interested in filmmaking, pop-culture history, and those who just enjoy a good story.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
EISENSTOCK, Alan with Eric Zala & Chris Strompolos. Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made. 320p. Thomas Dunne. 2012. Tr $25.99. ISBN 978-1-250-00147-4. LC 2012035374.
Adult/High School–When two pre-teens decided to re-create the iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark movie, they had no idea what they were getting into, or that they were forging a friendship that would last long past the cut of the camera. Zala used his role as director to explore his abilities to prepare and be ready for any situation while Strompolos worked through his insecurities and body-image doubts by inhabiting Indiana Jones. Stubbornly, they spent each summer between 1981 and 1989 conceiving, casting, and recasting parts, filming and substituting when necessity demanded. Where were they going to get a submarine in gulf-coast Mississippi? They literally grew up on camera as their friend Jayson Lamb documented everything. Their sheer determination to finish is inspiring and a little frightening, skirting the edge of obsession. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, Eric and Chris and Jayson did what they set out todo: remake Raiders of the Lost Ark, shot for shot. Surprisingly, creating the boulder became one of the production’s biggest sticking points, working as metaphor for Eric and Chris’ lives, friendship, ambitions, and love, and illustrating their struggle to get one of the lynchpins of the entire project to work, but never giving up. Raiders! has a great narrative flow that reads like fiction and would make an excellent choice for teens interested in filmmaking, pop-culture history, and those who just enjoy a good story.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
gimchi's review against another edition
3.0
so fun! and how can i get to watch this film?!
i'm super impressed that they were able to complete this fan film after 7 freaking years. that's some serious dedication.
i have hopes that the two friends who have gone on to make a film together in their adult years will succeed, but i have to admit my doubts.
i'm super impressed that they were able to complete this fan film after 7 freaking years. that's some serious dedication.
i have hopes that the two friends who have gone on to make a film together in their adult years will succeed, but i have to admit my doubts.
imrogers's review against another edition
5.0
As a fan of the documentary about the Raiders of the Lost Ark adaptation, I absolutely loved this book. You probably already know the story: Chris Strompolous and Eric Zala, two kids from the Mississippi Gulf coast, set out to remake Raiders of the Lost Ark shot-for-shot over seven years in the early 1980s. Their movie was eventually discovered, which led to wider releases and a meeting with Steven Spielberg himself.
While the documentary covers the basics of how the kids pulled off filming, the book takes the documentary's detail to the next level, with play-by-plays of how they figured out (or, sometimes, failed to figure out) hugely complicated effects like the boulder, Belloq's exploding head, the burning Nepal bar, and even the moving red line on the map. It's a treat for those who wondered how they did it, especially with their limited resources.
But beyond the fandom aspect, in this book author Alan Eisenstock tells a story centering not only on Strompolous and Zala's tumultuous but powerful friendship, but on their grapples with the creative process and an enormous film project they started when they were in middle school and grew to resent at times. Their mixture of pride, excitement, embarrassment, and in one critical scene, utter disgust with the project will no doubt resonate with creative people who've felt frustrated with their own projects after long periods. Unlike in the documentary, the jealous love triangle that drives Strompolous and Zala apart is vividly told with nothing held back, creating a gripping subplot, and the book's most powerful section, "Ice," chronicles the years after the movie was finally finished and the two friends began drifting apart. This recounting of the boys' later years stands out as a cautionary tale about the tumultuous paths that so many aspiring filmmakers, writers, and musicians experience in adulthood as they face the twin hazards of selling out to a corporate job (Eric) or descending into the miasma of unfocused laziness (Chris), and is something that everyone looking to forge a creative life should read.
This is a riveting, powerful, inspirational book for both adolescents and adults -- anyone who's either looking to follow a dream, or already has.
While the documentary covers the basics of how the kids pulled off filming, the book takes the documentary's detail to the next level, with play-by-plays of how they figured out (or, sometimes, failed to figure out) hugely complicated effects like the boulder, Belloq's exploding head, the burning Nepal bar, and even the moving red line on the map. It's a treat for those who wondered how they did it, especially with their limited resources.
But beyond the fandom aspect, in this book author Alan Eisenstock tells a story centering not only on Strompolous and Zala's tumultuous but powerful friendship, but on their grapples with the creative process and an enormous film project they started when they were in middle school and grew to resent at times. Their mixture of pride, excitement, embarrassment, and in one critical scene, utter disgust with the project will no doubt resonate with creative people who've felt frustrated with their own projects after long periods. Unlike in the documentary, the jealous love triangle that drives Strompolous and Zala apart is vividly told with nothing held back, creating a gripping subplot, and the book's most powerful section, "Ice," chronicles the years after the movie was finally finished and the two friends began drifting apart. This recounting of the boys' later years stands out as a cautionary tale about the tumultuous paths that so many aspiring filmmakers, writers, and musicians experience in adulthood as they face the twin hazards of selling out to a corporate job (Eric) or descending into the miasma of unfocused laziness (Chris), and is something that everyone looking to forge a creative life should read.
This is a riveting, powerful, inspirational book for both adolescents and adults -- anyone who's either looking to follow a dream, or already has.
in2reading's review against another edition
4.0
The closing film of the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2015 was a documentary titled Raiders! which told the story of a youthful attempt to make a shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the struggle to shoot the last scene more than two decades later. It was hugely interesting and fun and led to my wanting to read this book, which fleshes out the backstory of how the film came to be made. I really enjoyed reading this book and sacrificed some sleep to finish it. I'm glad I got to read it before seeing the actual remake of the film, which I will be receiving shortly in the mail after making a donation to the filmmakers. I guess you could say I'm a fan!
kfrench1008's review against another edition
5.0
I tore through this book in two days. I was fascinated by the story of these guys and their wonderful little movie.
n8duke's review against another edition
3.0
This book was quite good. If I hadn't already seen the film AND heard the makers speak about it, I definitely would have liked it a lot more.
rudi's review
3.0
I've been a huge fan of the (fan)movie for a long time, but I did not learn about this book before last year's kickstarter to finish the movie. The story of how they made their fanmovie is super interesting, and it's the reason why I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The people involved must have been really honest, as the author does not seem compelled to only show them at their best.
I do, however, disagree with how the story is told. By writing the book as a novel, it feels like the author allows himself to fill in missing parts by making stuff up, and making the story more interesting by adding some dramatic flair. The same things can be said about someone's memoirs - memories are just as untrustworthy. But adding this extra "level of seperation" from the actual story lessens the story itself. To me, at least.
I haven't seen the documentary (yet!), but I'm sure this story is better told in that format.
I do, however, disagree with how the story is told. By writing the book as a novel, it feels like the author allows himself to fill in missing parts by making stuff up, and making the story more interesting by adding some dramatic flair. The same things can be said about someone's memoirs - memories are just as untrustworthy. But adding this extra "level of seperation" from the actual story lessens the story itself. To me, at least.
I haven't seen the documentary (yet!), but I'm sure this story is better told in that format.
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