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Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation

Posted by michael on from the why'd-it-have-to-be-snakes dept.

jonerik writes "Ain't It Cool News has an article on one of the more fascinating fan film projects ever conceived: A shot-for-shot remake of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" filmed in Biloxi, Mississippi between 1982 and 1988 by Eric Zala, Jayson Lamb and Chris Strompolis. What's particularly amazing is that the trio began filming the project when they were twelve and finished six years later when they were eighteen. Now, fifteen years after the project was completed, word of the film's existence has gotten out and audiences who have seen it have reportedly been stunned by the trio's ingenuity, with none other than "RotLA" director Steven Spielberg giving Zala, Lamb, and Strompolis a big thumbs-up. The complete film isn't available online, but a trailer that gives a bit of the feel of the finished project can be viewed. The Austin Chronicle also has a story on the project."

39 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. How about a DVD? by alain · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe the DVD to the adaptation will be out before the original version's. I certainly have stopped holding my breath for RoT and the original Star Wars series on DVD.

    1. Re:How about a DVD? by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't know about you, but I can't hold my breath 5 months

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    2. Re:How about a DVD? by dimator · · Score: 3, Funny

      Thumb your nose at the MPAA and get what you want at the same time
      ...

      Of course, if the "real" versions ever come out, I'll get them as well

      A real rebel, you are!

      --
      python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
    3. Re:How about a DVD? by Grax · · Score: 2, Funny

      ah. so you'd think it humorous if you didn't make the decision to not think it humorous. you sure are going to a lot of trouble to be unimpressed.

      --
      Coding Blog
    4. Re:How about a DVD? by taernim · · Score: 5, Funny

      I believe the term is: rebel scum
      ;)

      --
      "PC Load Letter? What the $@#% does that mean?!"
    5. Re:How about a DVD? by Idimmu+Xul · · Score: 4, Funny

      What sort of format is a laserdisc? Something non-digital?

      Yeah, a laserdisk is technically just an analogue record, but instead of being made out of vinyl, it's made out of titanium cut with a laser (hence the name, laser disk). It is the same size as a record, but needs a special record player with TV out, and a slightly thinner needle to read the grooves as they are a lot thinner on the laserdisc as you need to put video on it as well as sound!

      --
      The problem with slashdot is that most of its users were bullied and stuffed into lockers as kids!
    6. Re:How about a DVD? by CausticPuppy · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't know about you, but I can't hold my breath 5 months

      It's only hard for the first 4 or 5 minutes.

      --
      -CausticPuppy "Of all the people I know, you're certainly one of them." -Somebody I don't know
  2. I'm sick by Swayne+Shabazz · · Score: 5, Funny
    This sounds funny....sort of. Watching three guys progress through puberty isn't exactly what I would call "entertainment".

    I was gonna throw in a "now three young girls progressing through....." punch line....but....nahhhh, even I'm not that perverted.

    1. Re:I'm sick by GimmeFuel · · Score: 5, Funny
      but....nahhhh, even I'm not that perverted.

      ...but I am!

      "Now three young girls progressing through puberty, that's a different story! I'd sure like to raid their arks!"

      --
      live(free) || die;
    2. Re:I'm sick by Savatte · · Score: 4, Funny

      If they remade the other two, you could make a joke about finding the holy grail, trying to drink from it, but ending up in the temple of doom.

  3. Woah by zptdooda · · Score: 5, Funny

    Man they'd have to have big balls to attempt that scene!

    --
    Esteem isn't a zero sum game
  4. 6 years. by _RidG_ · · Score: 5, Funny

    6 years of doing this. Now that's dedication. My interest in re-enacting scenes from Indiana Jones waned after a heated August afternoon with a bunch of friends, following which the guy who played an evil German had to be rushed to the hospital.

    Ahh...good times.

    --


    "The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it." - G.B. Shaw
    1. Re:6 years. by EverDense · · Score: 4, Funny

      6 years of doing this. Now that's dedication. My interest in re-enacting scenes from Indiana
      Jones waned after a heated August afternoon with a bunch of friends, following which the guy who
      played an evil German had to be rushed to the hospital.

       You should have used those little plastic army men, a cigarette lighter and an aerosol can, for
      the "melting german soldiers" scene.

      --
      http://jesus.everdense.com/
  5. Too many acronyms... by csguy314 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Am I the only one who saw 'RotLA' and thought:
    "Rolling on the laugh ass", what the hell?

    --
    This is left as an exercise for the reader.
    1. Re:Too many acronyms... by BrynM · · Score: 4, Funny

      Better to roll on the laugh ass than have the laugh ass roll on you.

      --
      US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
    2. Re:Too many acronyms... by fireman+sam · · Score: 2, Funny

      RotLA so close to LotR, I thought it was Ring of the Lord A. Damn, too much pr0n

      --
      it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.
  6. Re:Ah yes.... by ender_wiggins · · Score: 5, Funny

    I got it at 100kbps too. And I dont subscribe. Ah it pays to keep your money in your pocket.

  7. aye aye... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    this is all to the good, but I'm going to wait ten years for the "director's cut" with gratuitous CGI, unnecessary scenes, etc..

    It would be in keeping with the Spielberg spirit, after all..

  8. I have mod points! by calethix · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... if any karma whore out there has a bittorrent of it or something ;)

    1. Re:I have mod points! by TrekkieGod · · Score: 3, Funny
      Yeah...and I would do it, if you hadn't posted the request, making your ineligible for giving me that mod point.

      Now there's just no more incentive :)

      --

      Warning: Opinions known to be heavily biased.

  9. Cool by The+Bungi · · Score: 1, Funny

    But I do hope the quality is slightly better than the one with the Star Wars kid...

  10. Young Whippersnappers by daeley · · Score: 5, Funny

    Back in my day, we didn't have all that new-fangled technology to put ourselves in our favorite movies. We did it all in our minds! Uphill! In the snow! Through barbed wired and acid pits! And we liked it!

    --
    I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
  11. Ha! I did something similar! by Tin+Weasil · · Score: 2, Funny

    Only it wasn't quite "shot for shot". ...and it was called "Raiders of the Burning Bush." ...and it starred "Idaho Smith" not "Indiana Jones." ...and "our hero" ended up with 1st degree burns after digging up the bush (he was subsequently beaten by Nazi Ninjas.

  12. Re:Awesome news! by sridev · · Score: 3, Funny

    A really cool thing to do... I didn't realize Mississippi was so boring!

  13. Re:They ruined it! by raduga · · Score: 4, Funny
    Actually, they replaced the scimitar with a walkie-talkie.

    --
    First, nothing begins if not opening
  14. In other news, three teenagers were arrested... by Qzukk · · Score: 4, Funny

    for violations of Der Kopiright Akt. Herr Ashkroft announced that these economic terrorists will be stripped of their citizenship and summarially tortured for days without sleep until they confess to their vile plans of toppling the government-approved media.

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  15. Re:Awesome news! by Davak · · Score: 4, Funny

    We use to be boring...

    now we have all kinda stuff to do.

    And that's just a sampling of biloxi...

    Here's a sample of Tunica's boats! Of course, here is a whole web site dedicated to Mississippi's new found wealth.

    If you enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, Elvis, the blues, college sports, famous authors--then you might rather visit this site.

    Anyway, trying to get Mississippi a few props... and I have a few Karma points to burn.

    Davak

  16. Re:NAKED PROSTUS!!!!!! by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1, Funny
    how do we know you're naked?

    Keeping in mind the majority of /. readers, I really really hope that they don't post proof.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  17. Re:Awesome news! by sridev · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nothing personal against Mississippi (damn.. it takes forever to type M i s s i s s i p p i !).

    You should be proud that it inspired these guys to do something cool... :)

  18. Re:others were supressed, nice to see this one liv by gsfprez · · Score: 1, Funny

    this is amazing - everyone here needs to understand.. THESE BOYS ARE LIABLE FOR IP THEFT.

    Now, its fine, dandy, and wonderful that Spielberg is not being an asshole.

    What is wrong is that the ONLY reason that these guys are not behind bars already is that Spielberg appears to not be an asshole.

    "Asshole-ness" should not be the reason one is or is not legitimately liable for IP "theft"... even if they are never charged for it.... they should live in fear, because maybe, someday, Spielberg may change his tune, or one of his lawyers may make him change his tune (a la trademark infringement rules)

    and that is why i contribute to the EFF and gave to Eldred. Damnit, people. This nation is coming unglued, and you're glad that one dude is not a dick.

    --
    guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat.
  19. Re:Okay, I managed to snag a copy. by Polyphemis · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sometimes I wonder if moderators mod up posts like this simply because they find it amusing seeing other peoples' servers burst into flames and die. :)

  20. No spoilers please! by pzilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey! Don't spoil it, I've never seen Raiders of the Lost Ark.

    I'm still waiting the DVD release anytime now.

    --

    --
    Karma is overrated, whoring is ok.
  21. I'm inspired by vaylen · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think I will remake Andy Warhol's 8 hour epic "Empire" SHOT-FOR-SHOT!

    --

  22. They should pull a Lucas by chia_monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    They could make so much more money if they were to put up a web cam that shows them working on the film. Yeahh...that's the ticket. And every 12 hours shut it off and recycle old footage. Yeah. $20 a subscriber.

    I think I should get $5 just for suggesting it.

    --

    "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
  23. Use it as a tool by coldmist · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think more than anything else, people are cheering it on because of the ingenuity displayed by these amatuers in writing this OS. Low budget software like that are far more impressive than stale Microsoft remakes precisely because they are low budget - people have to improvise. Surely you would not see the remake for the interface or anything new - it's a remake, you've seen it before. It's just something that makes me step back and marvel at what can be accomplished if you are dedicated enough.

    Cheers ;)

    --
    Don't steal. The government hates competition.
  24. Re:Okay, I managed to snag a copy. by BrainInAJar · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't know, but I know I'm doing my part by downloading it every few mins or so

  25. My idea by bmantz65 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm currently in the pre-production stage of a shot by shot remake of Star Wars OT. It finally took six years and three second degree burns, but I made a functional light saber. Also, any female /.'rs who have a C-cup chest or bigger can audition for the roles of Leia and Oola ;)

  26. hmm by conform · · Score: 2, Funny

    can i suggest a remake of john cage's 4'33" instead?

  27. Re:Copyright Violation! by spongman · · Score: 2, Funny

    A week for a LucasFilm DVD? You're kidding, right?