Good Indy-type movies, but not rip-offs

[Kumba]

Now, i know i'm notorius for OT things, but this one should be a good one. Alright, there are a lot of movies that are complete rip-offs of the Indy films. Has anyone ever seen "Operation Condor"? Yeah, that jackie chan film. I like the rush hours movies, but operation condor was just a complete ripoff of RotLA. Just watch it and you'll see. Now, some movies pull off the adventure genre pretty nicely. "Romancing the Stone", now that was a great movie. Havn't seen "Jewel of the Nile" yet, but i'm sure that's good too. Now "the mummy", eh, it's ok. Has bad acting i think, but i wouldn't say it's a ripoff. Oh well, i'm not really complaining here but i thought i just present a point that if you're going to do an adventure movie,be original. Parodies on the other hand are completely different. Like that thing in 'The Simpsons' and 'Malcolm in the Middle'. Those were hilarious. Also, has anyone ever seen that episode of "Magnum P.I.", the show that stars Tom Selleck, where it's just like raiders in some aspects? I think it was suppose to be like Indiana Jones cuz of that whole ordeal with Selleck playing Indy.

[Kill Cavalry]

I'd say that "Romancing the Stone" and "The Mummy" are really the only two good adventure flicks that aren't rip offs. If there are any others, just let us know!

[ROTLA]

Sadly, I too have seen "King Solomon's Mines" in which Richard Chamberlain plays Alan Quatermain. It was a very bad Indy rip-off. But, what makes things even worse is the fact that, just two years later, they released the follow-up "Alan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold" with Chamberlain, Sharon Stone (also in "KSM"), and James Earl Jones.

By the way, "King Solomon's Mines" didn't stop at the plot when trying to rip off Indy. John Rhys-Davies, known to most of us as Sallah, was in the film as Dogati.

Another not-so-good Indy rip-off was "Firewalker" with Chuck Norris as Max Donigan. Louis Gossett, Jr. played Leo Porter and Melody Anderson was the "Willie" as Patricia Goodwin.

[spohlso]

It's kind of sad that no one remembers "High Road To China." It was Tom Sellecks big screen 'Raiders' rip-off. It wasn't a bad film, it just suffered from really bad timing. Considering how much Tom Selleck regretted the contractual obligations that made him miss his shot at 'Raiders' makes it even worse.

In it Selleck played a WWI flying ace (no, not Snoopy) who is hired by a rich girl (Bess Armstrong) to find her missing father. Bess Armstrong played a fiesty kind of girl, so it was much more of an Indy/Marion vibe than an Indy/Willie one. Add that to the fact that it was a rugged adventurer looking for something (or in this case someone) just before WWII and you can see how it got compared to 'Raiders' a lot.

[Tennessee Buck]

Then there are films that are not really rip-offs yet they try to capture the same spirit. I recall SWORD AND THE SORCERER with Lee Horsley as one of them, not to mention NATE AND HAYES with Tommy Lee Jones. Not very good films but they did try to invoke the same spirit, set in different time periods, with middling results.

A nice precursor to RAIDERS is THAT MAN FROM RIO with Jean Paul Belmondo. That is one of the best action-adventure films ever, with an ending that closely resembles RAIDERS apocalyptic finish. Made back in the late 60's, starring Francoise Dorleac as Belmondo's female love interest. Do check it out.

[Canyon]

Has anyone seen an Australian film called Sky Pirates? (Not to be confused with Rob MacGregor's book). :D

I saw it a few years ago and the style is a lot like Indy and even the love scene is reminicent of Raiders.

Check it out:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1800118286&cf=info&intl=us

[Kumba]

Hey! I did see that movie called "Alan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold" ! It was on HBO a couple weeks ago! That was such a ripoff almost busted a gut laughing! The main character is, errr, i can't even describe it. It's very retarded, haha.

[Duguay]

Sky Pirates? (Not to be confused with Rob MacGregor's book)

I thought it was Martin Caidin that wrote IJ: Sky Pirates.

[Finn]

Originally posted by Kumba
Hey! I did see that movie called "Alan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold" ! It was on HBO a couple weeks ago! That was such a ripoff almost busted a gut laughing! The main character is, errr, i can't even describe it. It's very retarded, haha.
Yeah, and I know what you mean... and it actually was a sequel to "King Solomon's Mines" (another remake of the classic film and <i>John Rhys-Davies</i> played villain in it).

Wonder what got good actors like JRD and James Earl Jones waste their time on such films anyway! :D

[Canyon]

Originally posted by Duguay
Sky Pirates? (Not to be confused with Rob MacGregor's book)

I thought it was Martin Caidin that wrote IJ: Sky Pirates.

(Of course, I knew that!) Eek! Don't ask! I think I was having one of those days yesterday! :D

[Duguay]

(Of course, I knew that!) Eek! Don't ask! I think I was having one of those days yesterday!

I've been there, I know how that can be. :)

[Skeletor]

I haven't seen it in years but at the time I thought Jake Speed was pretty good.

[Bullwhip 19]

The Mummy seemed very similar, it took place around the sme time as Indiana Jones, and it took place in Egypt.It was mostly shot in a ruins like area. Its main character, Rick O'Connel, played by Brendan Frasier, had the same kind of character.

[Kumba]

Originally posted by Bullwhip 19
The Mummy seemed very similar, it took place around the sme time as Indiana Jones, and it took place in Egypt.It was mostly shot in a ruins like area. Its main character, Rick O'Connel, played by Brendan Frasier, had the same kind of character.


ACTUALLY, The Mummy takes place in the 1920s, if i'm not mistaken. HA! Finally got to contradict somebody. Although, if you're referring to The Mummy Returns, I believe that takes place in 1933 or 1936, but who cares! If it's 1935 or lower, you're waaaayyyyy off, because everyone knows Temple of Doom doesn't count! LOL! j/k!. However, does anybody dare to instigate further into this mysterious mystery?! I dare ya! C'mon! Oh, and don't even mention The Scorpian King, no no no! I didn't even bother to see it. In fact, i would've rather of seen AI (no offence to Mr. Spielburg) again!

[monkey]

I like beer.
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.(much whistling and looking away by the Raven faithful as they disern that monkey has finally gone over the edge........he's a loon after all.)
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No but seriously, I really am a conniosseur of fine brews. HOWEVER, if I can't get hold of any Becks, or Kirin, or Singha, Heineken, Tiger, Asahi, or any other of the world's best beers, well then......pass me a bud, or a coors light.

Sure there were many Indiana Jones ripoff movies made in the eighties, but so what. Some of them were downright entertaining. The formula is a good one (just like the formula for beer). those kind of movies were the 'flavor of the month' back then. They're fun to watch still today. I'm glad they made them.

[Kill Cavalry]

uh....okay...i guess...

[monkey]

Sorry for that indulgent post.

But hey, I don't have a signature, so I've saved up a lot of space on my posts, I was due a little.

OK, OK,..... OT, OT,.... (I hear them coming for me)

Sorry

[Kumba]

Haha, i think this is a new record! This post isn't locked yet! Anyway, about beer, i personally don't like the taste of any alcohal. I due however like a frozen margarita, now that's good. But Monkey, let's try and submit replys while we're not intoxicated, ok? lol!

[Nate Christen]

Here is a list of the titles that I've seen:

The Secret of the Incas (1954)
The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Mother Lode (1982)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
King Solomon’s Mines (1985)
Firewalker (1986)
Allan Quartermain and the Lost Cities of Gold (1987)
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
The Serpent of Death (1989)
River of Death (1989)
Operation Condor (1990)
Congo (1995)
The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
The Touch (2002)
Bulletproof Monk (2003)
Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life: Tomb Raider 2 (2003)
Welcome to the Jungle--formerly Helldorado (2003)

Some of these are listed in the "Indy's Influences" section of TheRaider.net. The issue of whether or not they are rip-offs is arguable, since Raiders was clearly influenced by previous films. I've only seen half of them, and therefore cannot vouch for all of 'em.

-Nate

[Sundance]

Originally posted by Nate Christen
Here is a list of the titles that I've seen:

The Secret of the Incas (1954)
The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Mother Lode (1982)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
King Solomon’s Mines (1985)
Firewalker (1986)
Allan Quartermain and the Lost Cities of Gold (1987)
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
The Serpent of Death (1989)
River of Death (1989)
Operation Condor (1990)
Congo (1995)
The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
The Touch (2002)
Bulletproof Monk (2003)
Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life: Tomb Raider 2 (2003)
Welcome to the Jungle--formerly Helldorado (2003)

Some of these are listed in the "Indy's Influences" section of TheRaider.net. The issue of whether or not they are rip-offs is arguable, since Raiders was clearly influenced by previous films. I've only seen half of them, and therefore cannot vouch for all of 'em.

-Nate

What about Die Hard?

[Ska]

Here's my compiled list. It posted somewhere else on the boards a while ago:

V is VHS, D is DVD, T is TV, * I personally own

1937
King Solomon’s Mines (VD)*
Zorro Rides Again (V)

1939
Gunga Din (V)*
Only Angels Have Wings (VD)
Stagecoach (VD)*
Zorro’s Fighting Legion (V)

1941
The Maltese Falcon (VD)

1943
Casablanca (VD)*
China (V)*

1948
Treasure of Sierra Madre (V)*

1950
King Solomon’s Mines (V)*

1954
The Secret of the Incas (T)*
Valley of the Kings (V)*

1962
Lawrence of Arabia (VD)*

1963
Maciste in King Solomon’s Mines (T)

1964
That Man From Rio (V)*

1968
Dalle Ardenne All’Inferno (V)

1975
Inside Out (V)

1981
Sphinx (V)

1982
Hunters of the Golden Cobra (V)
The Scarab (V)
Tales of the Gold Monkey (V)
Treasure of the Four Crowns (V)

1983
Ark of the Sun God (V)*
High Road to China (V)*
Mark of the Scorpion: Better Kiss a Cobra (V)*
Nate and Hayes (V)

1984
King Solomon’s Mines (VD)*
The Pearls of Gwendoline in the Land of the
Yik-Yak (V)*
Romancing the Stone (VD)*
Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold (D)

1985
The Goonies (VD)*
The Jewel of the Nile (VD)*
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins… (VD)*
Young Sherlock Holmes and the Pyramid of
Fear (VD)*

1986
Jake Speed (V)*
Jungle Raiders (T)*
Operation Condor 2: The Armour of the Gods
(VD)*
Sky Pirates (V)
The Tomb (V)

1987
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold
(VD)*
Bloodstone (VD)*
Firewalker (V)*
Jane and the Lost City (VD)
Magnificent Warriors (VD)*
The Mines of Kilimanjaro (V)*

1988
The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck (V)
King Solomon’s Treasures (V)*
Magnum P.I.: Legend of the Lost Art (T)*
The Quest for King Solomon’s Mines (V)*
Vibes (V)*

1989
Great Adventurers and Their Quest: Indiana
Jones (The Making of the Last Crusade)
(V)*
Great Movie Stunts and the Making of Raiders
of the Lost Ark (V)*
The Serpent of Death (V)
The Spring (V)*
The Treasure of the Amazon (V)*

1990
Duck Tales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost
Lamp (V)*
Operation Condor (VD)*
River of Death (V)*
River of Diamonds (V)*

1991
The Rocketeer (VD)*

1992
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones
My First Adventure (T)
Passion for Life (T)
The Perils of Cupid (T)
Travels with Father (T)
Journey of Radiance (T)
Spring Break Adventures (V)
Love’s Sweet Song (T)
The Trenches of Hell (V)
Demons of Deception (T)
Phantom Train of Doom (V)*
Oganga: The Giver and Taker of Life (V)
Attack of the Hawkmen (V)
Adventures in the Secret Service (V)*
Espionage Escapades (T)
Daredevils of the Desert (V)*
Tales of Innocence (V)*
Masks of Evil (V)
Treasure of the Peacock’s Eye (V)*
Winds of Change (T)
Mystery of the Blues (V)
Scandal of 1920 (T)
Hollywood Follies (V)*
Four Junior Detectives (V)*
The Secret of the Incas’ Empire (V)*

1993
Double Blast (V)*
800 Leagues Down the Amazon (VD)*

1994
MacGyver: Lost Treasures of Atlantis (T)
Operation Golden Phoenix (V)*
The Seventh Coin (V)*
Stargate (VD)*

1995
Congo (VD)*
Max is Missing (VD)*

1996
The Phantom (V)*

1997
Legend of the Lost Tomb (V)*

1998
Tarzan and the Lost City (VD)*

1999
Forgotten City (VD)*
King Solomon’s Mines (Animated Version) (VD)
Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island (VD)*
The Mummy (VD)*

2000
Guardian (VD)*

2001
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (VD)*
The Body (VD)*
The Diamond of Jeru (VD)*
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (VD)*
The Mummy Returns (VD)*
Sea Wolf: The Pirates’ Curse (VD)*
Secret of the Andes (V)*

2002
The Scorpion King (VD)*

2003
Lost Treasure (VD)*
The Medallion (VD)*
The Rundown (VD)*
Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life (VD)*
Veritas: The Quest (T)*

2004
Hildalgo (VD)*
King Solomon’s Mines (D)*
Looney Toons: Back in Action (VD)*
Secondhand Lions (VD)*
National Treasure (Theater in November)
Sahara (Theater in ?)

[Sundance]

Crocodile Dundee and Die Hard

[Tennessee R]

I thought that the new King Solomon's Mines was pretty good. It had some aspects of Indy, and at one point, I thought it had a bullwhip, but, it was fairly original, and pretty nice. Alison Doody is good, too.

[Indyfan82]

I'm not sure that all of those movies can be considered Indiana Jones rip-offs. As someone else has noted, the Indiana Jones movies themselves were inspired by earlier adventure movies and serials anyway. The 1980s movies with Richard Chamberlain that were mentioned (King Solomon's Mines and Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold) are actually quite good. Allan Quatermain is a classic literary adventure hero and is one of the heroes featured in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, both the comic book and the 2003 movie. Both those 2 Richard Chamberlain movies I mentioned were actually books by H. Rider Haggard many years before the Indiana Jones movies were made. (In fact, I'm thinking they were written right around the early 1900s, perhaps even the 1930s.) So technically, those movies were based on books that came before Indy. However, I can definitely see a lot of things that may have been inspired by Indiana Jones. Yes, I'll admit there were a lot of attempts at cashing in on the success of Indiana Jones with cheap knock-off movies throughout the 1980s and the 1990s. And The Mummy movies seemed to be a good example of Indy rip-offs.
But it's hard to say that every movie or TV show with a dashing, daring adventurer is automatically an Indy rip-off. For the poster who mentioned the 1994 TV-movie MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis, I just thought I'd point out that there are also quite a few episodes of MacGyver that have Mac on treasure hunts. Two of them ("Legend of the Holy Rose" (Parts 1 and 2) and "Eye of Osiris") are very Indiana Jones reminiscent, but only because MacGyver escapes temple traps and recovers lost treasure. Especially "Eye of Osiris". I just saw most of that episode yesterday and there was the whole first scene I'd forgotten about because I hadn't seen it in so long. There's a fight scene very reminiscent of the bar fight scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark and there's an escape from Alexander the Great's tomb similar to Indy's escape from the temple housing the Hovitos' Golden Idol at the start of Raiders of the Lost Ark and there's a lady friend who betrays MacGyver at the end and is similar to Elsa in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. However, Mac's friend remains a friend at the end, sort of like Elsa became Indy's friend again at the end too. I can't think of a similarity to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom right now, although there probably is one. Anyway, definitely check out that episode of MacGyver. It's definitely a great one and it's not a total rip-off of Indy. In fact, in "Legend of the Holy Rose" (Part 1), MacGyver is asked by a friend named Zoey to help her find the Holy Grail. MacGyver replies, "Indiana Jones already did that! I saw the movie."

(For anyone interested, here's a list of great MacGyver episodes to watch that deal with a treasure hunt of some sort:
"Mask of the Wolf", "Gold Rush", "Legend of the Holy Rose" (Parts 1 and 2), "The Black Corsage", "The Madonna" (ok, it's the Christmas episode, but Mac is hunting for a statue of the Virgin Mary, mother of the Christ child), "The Treasure of Manco", "Harry's Will", "Eye of Osiris", "Good Knight MacGyver" (Parts 1 and 2) (where MacGyver's not just on a hunt, but a quest! to clear his family name and rescue Cecilia and - well, just watch it.), and "The Mountain of Youth". And of course, the 1994 TV-Movie "MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis".)
For more info on MacGyver, you can also check out MacGyverLand at http://MacGyver.250free.com
As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of the series, so I'd say just to go ahead and watch all of the episodes because they're all good! You can catch MacGyver on Spike TV and TV Land.

Anyway, in conclusion:
Yeah, some movies do rip off Indiana Jones. But a lot of them are still fun to watch. It's all good.

[Luckylighter]

I just read that this movie will be airing on TCM in October:

Legend of the Lost (1957) Three adventurers search for a treasure in a forbidden desert temple. John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi. D: Henry Hathaway. C 108m. LBX

Sounds like a goodie!

[Joe Brody]

Good headsup Lucky. I couldn't stick with Legend of the Lost until the end . . . but boy didn't Rossano Brazzi's look seem very familiar. . . . .

[Ska]

For the guys:
http://us.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1092/Mptv/1092/0959_0010.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0050629

For the gals:
sorry...couldn't find any! (I really did try)

[Original Raider]

You guys all forgot Ducktales the Movie, how could you :)

[Ska]

Originally posted by Original Raider
You guys all forgot Ducktales the Movie, how could you :)

Oh, it's on my list (under 1990). I actually own the movie. The first 20 minutes are good Indy adventuring. But then it gets a little childish back at the mansion.