Sahara - most obvious Raider rip off EVER??

[soapboxtop]

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/mmpo/503378.jpg

View the trailer here:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/sahara

Even the slogan on the poster is "Adventure has a new name.."!!!!!

Like the certain Raider slogan 24 years ago?

I don't know what to think of it. Even by watching the trailer I can tell just how much it's been inspired by Indy...to the point of being a real rip off...yeesh. Only difference is this one is set in modern time.

[Jay R. Zay]

if you'd be honest to yourself, the thing that told you "hey i'm the most obvious raiders rip off" was the tagline. this tagline is not a rip off, this is called "allusion" or reference. it is a joke. actually the story has nothing to do with Raiders except for the fact that it's an adventure movie. do you think Raiders was the first movie of it's kind? it wasn't. there are hundreds of rip offs that you don't notice because they don't have a tagline like this... only because it's obvious to you as you don't know the movie, it doesn't have to be the most obvious rip off.

and by the way, this "if adventure has a name" tagline isn't from raiders... nobody would have understood it.

[soapboxtop]

I was referencing to the scenes in the trailer and the general feel of it..it screams of Indiana Jones. NOT the story, of course they're not going to look for an Ark! :rolleyes:

In fact, I searched a little more about it and read this from Matthew Mcconaughey:

"Part of the reason I got into this movie in the first place is because I was looking for my franchise character, my Indiana Jones or James Bond. So, I hope to come back and do some more and that's kind of up to y'all."
http://www.raisethetitanic.com/sahara/movie/production_news.html

I guess I don't need to say more.

This looks like it is going to be something like the Mummy franchise (which I didn't like for the very same reasons..but I'll go watch this one just to see).

[Jay R. Zay]

you still don't get the difference between an hommage and a rip off. is Scary Movie a rip off from many famous horror movies? is Mars Attacks a rip off from Independence Day? isn't "Indiana Jed" the most obvious raiders rip off?

why not? see?

[soapboxtop]

Scary Movie is a parody. Maybe I'm being too harsh and I'll wait to see the movie to say more, even if the movie is a hommage as you say, it looks just too close to its source of inspiration to be fresh IMO. But we'll see.

[Jay R. Zay]

Scary Movie is a parody. Maybe I'm being too harsh and I'll wait to see the movie to say more, even if the movie is a hommage as you say, it looks just too close to its source of inspiration to be fresh IMO. But we'll see.

i know what scary movie is ;) same as for M.A. and indiana jed.

i just don't like this most...ever best...ever worst...ever stuff. people usually don't know many different movies, usually they only know what's in their cinemas at the moment. and then they talk about "best ending ever" or "most surprising twist ever" or "most unusual story ever" or something. when you've seen a broad spectum of movies, you don't usually find these attributes in modern mainstream movies. they don't have the most unusual stories, the worst actors or the most obvious rip offs. all of these you usually find in the less well-known sections. apart from this, it's a bad habit to exaggerate. if you want to say "this looks very much like raiders" say "this looks very much like raiders", don't say "this is the most obvious rip off EVER". that's pretty strong. this sounds like you know most of the movies from 1981 to 2005. do you? it doesn't even help underlining your idea. this is a worn out phrase. less sometimes is more. say what you mean and people will understand. use a phrase and they'll smile at you - and your basic observation, which might actually be right, could deserve something more than that. ;)

[soapboxtop]

Well, I'm not going to say I'm a movie expert, I'm not. I don't review movies professionally. However, I'm a movie enthusiast and I have seen more than I care to share since 1981 :)
I suppose I used harsher words than is needed. But what do you know? I don't see Saraha with a good eye right now. I'm seeing it like yet another blockbuster of mild quality hitting the screens like the Mummy movies did. Yes, I guess this would be my honest point of view without embellishment ;). I probably wouln't have been so sceptical had the movie been made in the 80s for example...

[Indy Parise]

Actually the Indy slogan is......
If adventure has a name.....it must be........INDIANA JONES

[soapboxtop]

Actually the Indy slogan is......
If adventure has a name.....it must be........INDIANA JONES

All right, well then now Adventure has a new name...DIRK PITT

:eek: :sick:

[Canyon]

I agree.

This film looks like a rip off, but even so, I'm going to see the film because I'm curious.

The most obvious rip offs are the tagline and the bit in the trailer which takes places when the sun is setting - very much like Raiders.

Remember something though. How many people will remember this film as a classic in years to come?

When I saw Raiders on the big screen last year, loads of people turned up and were very enthusiastic. They laughed at all the funniest lines, and even lines that I myself didn't consider to be funny. :D

I have to say, I really resent that tagline. It's almost trying to say that Indy is forgotten. Well, in 20 years, this film will most likely be forgotten, but in another 20, Indy won't be. :)

[soapboxtop]

*clap clap* exactly my thoughts Canyon. Indy is a classic, that's why I feel so protective of it. I will contribute to the box office on this one, but only because I'm curious about it (like the new Star Wars movies...and booh I don't like them as much as the originals :( ). I did the same for many other movies inspired by -but never outdoing- Indy and I've been disappointed everytime. When I saw the trailer I saw so much that was directly inspired from Raider it bugged me.


Now for something else, call me crazy but what do you think of this trailer shot...it only lasts a second? No introduction to the character, nothing...but is this person looking eerily familiar? Almost subliminal hey :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/soapboxtop/sahara.jpg

[soapboxtop]

and if I'm nitpicking

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/soapboxtop/jones2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/soapboxtop/jones1.jpg

Outfit, people?

I'm not being overly serious but this is material to pick out :)


Ok, and what else, the well of souls....Cruz the "Marion" with the skeletons, the dusk scene with the sihouettes, the turbans, the stunts with the high speed boats, the tanks, the scene with the helicopter knocking a bad guy out in the head...


And this car even though it's set today
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/soapboxtop/car.jpg

aaah I'm biased.


Hommage, yeah.

[Jay R. Zay]

well if this suit makes it an indy rip off, the guy on his left must be james bond ;) seriously to me this movie looks like just cheap action. i'm not going to watch it, at least until they have it on tv.

[Stoo]

Even though the book for "Sahara" came out in '92,
the character of Dirk Pitt has been around since the
mid-1970's, well before Indy...

As someone who appreciates all things of the "Indy Genre",
I am looking forward to seeing it because until we have
more bona-fide Indy movies/TV, all we're going to get
are the rip-offs! So, I enjoy them, whether good or bad.

"Raiders" is the BEST but is itself an homage/rip-off.
Who was it that said, "imitation is the highest form of flattery"?

[intergamer]

Good post Stoo.

[westford]

I can't decide if I'll see this film. I enjoyed the book, but I've heard bad reviews of the film. Plus Steve Zahn as Al Giordino?!? Nope, sorry... I still can't take that in... And didn't Dirk have a beard? There's no way I could watch the film without losing my sanity!!!

[Ska]

I will definitely see this movie, hopefully in theaters...and I will buy the DVD to add to my "Indy-like" movies. Stoo knows what I mean! :)

I own the book, but I haven't read it yet. I think I'll wait until I see the movie...

[00Kevin]

I Agree that it is a Rip Off, but to be, the most rip-offish is Tomb Raider, the series was made because they couldn't get the rights to do Indiana Jones. Having said this, not all Rip-offs are bad, this one may or be not be good, but I probubly won't see it none the less. I'm only ganna go to the movies for REALLY good ones

[Jay R. Zay]

well tomb raider at least wasn't even THAT bad when it wasn't for angelina jolie... seriously she doesn't look like lara and i don't like her looks anyway. :( plus i don't like her character in the movies but the movie itself (the first one, i didn't see the sequel yet) was quite okay. not a masterpiece but.. well okay. some nice locations etc. . but this scene where the evil guy (too lazy to look up his name now, sorry) throws his knife at lara's friend forcing her to help him really was more than a slight knockoff from the szene where donovan shoots indy's father forcing him to help him. almost the same thing.

well it may be an allusion but i think they just stole the idea. don't know. :)

[Finn]

Okay, that possible proof we've seen of a "rip-off" here is called "homages". It's practically a good thing to have some honest acknowledgements for the ancestry.

Besides, lift the tip of your fedoras a bit and notice that outside this little world of ours, Indy isn't a franchise big enough to seriously try to herd in the dollars. Ask the MTV generation.

And Westy... Pitt doesn't have a beard (or at least I can't recall a notion to one), he's just a lazy shaver. Clive has one, though.

And can't say much about the movie as I've not seen it, but go read the book. It's worth your time. I hope.

[Stoo]

...the most rip-offish is Tomb Raider, the series was made because they couldn't get the rights to do Indiana Jones.

Really? Any more details?

I will definitely see this movie, hopefully in theaters...and
I will buy the DVD to add to my "Indy-like" movies. Stoo knows what I mean! ;)

You can bet your boots on that, SKAb. :cool: May I call you "SKAb"?

I just found out that in one of the first Dirk novels, his name is Dirk Pittman.
Is this true? If so, then he's one of my clan. I'm a Pittman. (Say my name
quickly and you get "StupidMan"). :D Any Cussler connaisseurs out there
who could confirm this crazy coincidence?

So, has anyone seen "Sahara" yet? I think it started this past friday.

[Finn]

"Pittman"? Hmm. All I have to say is that it's one against 18 other books that say it's just "Pitt". So I'm led to believe it's the latter case. Sorry.

[Stoo]

The book in question is "Vixen 03" which is apparently the 5th in the series.
My question is purely whimsical. (I realize that Dirk Pitt is *the* character but
Cussler seems to play with names as there is also a supposed Dirk Cussler).

It was only a playful remark and not to be taken seriously :)
I'm still curious to know what his full name is in "Vixen 03".

[Finn]

Dirk Cussler... yep, that's the name of CC's real-life son.

And don't you worry... I have a problem with taking anything seriously. ;)

[Ska]

You can bet your boots on that, SKAb. :cool: May I call you "SKAb"?

Call me whatever you wish...but for my knowledge, would you pronounce it:

1. skahb - this would be my take, as the SKA in SKAbatula refers to ska music, and my last name is Sabatula.
2. skaab - sounds too much like a healing wound.

So, has anyone seen "Sahara" yet? I think it started this past friday.

I wanted to see it so bad this weekend! My fiance and I were gonna go Saturday night, but her brother works at Hollywood Video and brought us Oceans Twelve. She wanted to watch it instead, so Sahara will have to wait until next weekend.

BTW, we both fell asleep watching OT.

[Joe Brody]

BTW, we both fell asleep watching [Ocean's Twelve].

I'm not surprised. How was Catherine Zeta-Jones?

[Ska]

I'm not surprised. How was Catherine Zeta-Jones?

Hehe...she was in the movie?! Seriously...I must not have made it that far!

[00Kevin]

Really? Any more details?

this is probubly more for the video games table, so I'll make it quick.

The People who made Tomb Raider origonally intended to make an Indiana Jones Video game. Unfortunitly Lucasarts was stubborn and didn't give up the rights to an indy game. So the group decided to make an entirely new series for the game, thus lucasart's stubbornish creates an indy rival, thanks alot.

in interviews years later, the makers of the video games admitted that it was an indy rip-off.


I have heard this around the forum a couple times, I thought it was public knowledge.




perhaps sahara and nation treasure would not have happened if not for tomb raider, so you can take this as a good thing or a bad

[Tennessee R]

I liked Sahara. The whole feel was really light, while nice and tense.
One association I saw was a classic drink scene, when everything had failed, when the girl was gone, and he had to bring the boat back, and his source was dead, and he couldn't find any clues, he sits down, (Although not alone) and has a drink in a public place with foreigners walking all around him.

I'm going to watch Romancing the Stone tonight, I think.

[Zharah]

Well, I really enjoyed the book, even though I read it a few years ago. Still fresh in my mind.

I'm going to go check out the movie tonight... I've heard some excellent remarks on it. Plus, have to match it up against the book. :)

[Colonel Vogel]

It wasn't bad at all, and quite campy. I liked it because it didn't make the mistake of taking itself too seriously, a la Tomb Raider, and because it wasn't a complete rip off a la King Solomon's Mines; it was very much an homage to old adventure films, and it pulled it off well, because "coolness" was not exactly the goal. Fun, instead, was the goal. The movie managed to be incredibly funny at times. :cool:

[00Kevin]

it did pretty well in the box office, a surprise top spot in week 1, 2nd in week 2.

still, just 36 M, not very legendary

[ElodieJones]

I will see this movie !
But I don't know when it comes in Switzerland............

[westford]

I caved and saw it on Friday. OK, so Steve Zahn looks nothing like the Al of the books, but I couldn't help liking him in the film. Just don't go to see this expecting the book, cos loads of stuff has been missed out (as with most film adaptations), locations have been changed, etc, etc. It's still enjoyable though, and I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to make a sequel.

[Heliograph]

Treasure, history, diving, explosives, classic cars, ships, and brunettes to die for. Oh yeah, and the fate of the world rested in the balance.

It doesn't get any better than that.

My wife and I enjoyed it emensely. Al was classic.

I've met Cussler and pointed out some technical errors in one of his books. This movie had some technical flaws, but what the heck, it was a decent adventure story and the characters were likeable. :)

[Canyon]

I finally got to see Sahara yesterday and really enjoyed it.

Dirk reminded me a lot of Indy. A treasure hunter, adventurer, linguist, popular with the ladies, looks good in an arab disguise, has nice eyes...I could go on. :D

Seriously though, it was extremley entertaining and Dirk's sidekicks were hilarous! :)

[Colonel Vogel]

Although I liked the film it certainly won't be remembered as a classic like Indiana Jones. I can now say that soapboxtop's prediction was correct; as it was the biggest Raiders rip off I’ve ever seen. :rolleyes:

[westford]

I've been running a poll about Sahara on Indy-Net.co.uk (http://www.indy-net.co.uk) and currently the results are: 27% say it's an Indy rip-off, 27% say it's an Indy homage, 36% say it's nothing like Indy, and the remaining 9% have no opinion/don't know.

[Aaron H]

Being that I am a BIG HUGE fan of the books, I really, really, liked this film. Yeah, it had its flaws, yeah the characters were a bit off base (and where the heck was Abe Lincoln?!).
But other than those minor nitpicks, it was a great adventure romp. I hope to see more movies...it just better be another love interest like the books.;)

[Finn]

Well, the novel purists don't certainly like some of the changes* that were unfortunately rather essential to make the film more enjoyable for average viewer w/o going through heck lotta backstory, it was quite a joyride... and one of the best ones in a while. Too bad Indy actually causes some backdraws to modern adventure flick by being superior... perhaps if there never was RotLA, this one could be the flick adventure geeks would look upon. (Okay, if there never was RotLA, we wouldn't have this jolly little community of ours, so I better stop complaining...)

<small>*NUMA a private company instead of gov. agency, D&A being ex-navy SEALs, not former Air Force officers (to explain people's ability to do the action thingies in the flicks, give them a spec-ops backround... that's sooo seagal) and making Rudi Gunn a geek (guess they just combined Gunn & Hiram Yaeger, classic trick as well giving one char the core characteristics of two minor ones).</small>

[Gilles V]

Thought you guys and gals might be interested in TheRaider.net's review of Sahara (http://www.theraider.net/information/influences/sahara.php).

Thanks to Mike French! :)

[Joe Brody]

Good review by Mr. French -- in my opinion, the best part of the film was all the on-location scenes in Africa. I've never been lucky enough to travel there and it really gave me a sense of the what present-day Africa is like (which seems to be the flavor of the month right now given the very good opening scene in The Interpreter).

[Prophecy Boy]

I was at the theater the other day to pick up my Star Wars tix, when I saw the poster up in the lobby. They've changed the tagline.

It now says:

Adventure has a destination... Sahara

I have no idea if this is a coincidence or maybe someone felt it was too close to Indy.

[Indyfan28]

Guys, before you go off and start claiming its an indy rip-off, I wanted to let you all know that the character of Dirk Pitt actually was in a book in 1973, 9 years before Raiders! Before ROTLA even came out there were 6 Dirk Pitt novels already published! So its not like Sahara is a rip-off on Indy. Like many people have already said, its more of homage.

[ClintonHammond]

And well, it's not like Indy isn't a 'rip-off' too.....

[Jay R. Zay]

somebody hit the "replay" button?

[ILLINOIS]

Hi all,

new here.

Not a big movie fan; if I go twice a year, it's a
lot.

After reading a book, I have never appreciated the
movie that followed it.

Cussler did not care for the first movie they made;
wonder what he will say about this one?

Cussler is interesting. Got into a few of his DP books;
it's a read, way to spend time.

Doing his "Sea Hunters" books now, and have problems
with them. Some facts he puts out seem way off
base.

all have a good un....
ILLINOIS