Indiana Jones Off the Beaten Path: An Unofficial Expedition

It the book hadn't turned out to be better than I'd expected, I'd be tempted to dismiss it as yet another crass attempt to cash in on the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For the most part, the book reads like an extended "fanzine" giving brief overviews of the plots of the movies, talking (in very general detail) about some of the locations the films took place in, discussions of the various Disney ride and shows, and so on. The book wanders from topic to topic across the vast subject matter that intrigues your average Indy Fan. As if to underline the book's "unofficial" status, there's not a single copyrighted photo anywhere in the book (the Vanity Fair cover page perhaps being an exception.) All of the photos are either pictures taken at the various Disney theme park rides, Disney Worlds "Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular", prop "reproductions" by Anthony Magnoli or some fairly crude sketches that remind me of the illustrations you got in the very first Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game TSR rule sets. That's roughly the first two thirds of the book. The final third reprints a couple of fairly good articles by actual archaeologists, though only the first is credited, to Dr. Eric Cline (who also writes the Introduction.) Dr. Cline is the author of some really interesting works, From Eden to Exile, The Battles of Armageddon and Thutmose III: A New Biography. So the book rambles from place to place; the writing in uneven in spots (and in need of editing in some areas) and there's only one picture, that I could find, of the theoretical subject, Indiana Jones. So why give this book five stars? Because I really liked it. It's casual and lacks the occasionally strident hero worship you get from other fan-driven books. It approaches some familiar topics with a fresh (or at least better explained) perspective and sold me, for the first time, on obtaining The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. When the series was actually on TV, I dismissed it as thinly disguised attempt to squeeze the last possible penny out of the recently completed Indiana Jones Trilogy. George discusses each episode, pointing out the related documentary material added into the remastered DVD versions. So, now I know what my Wife can get me for Christmas! To finish up, I liked the book. I wouldn't take it along on my next trip through the airport (the book is very brief, 175 pages) but it made for more than one pleasant evening in front of my fireplace.

With the upcoming release of the newest movie, Indiana Jones has found himself back in the mainstream once more. "Indiana Jones Off the Beaten Path: An Unofficial Expedition" is a completely unauthorized handbook taking a complete look at the series and the phenomena behind it, with a focus on the reality that inspired the series of movies, visiting the real locations depicted in the movie. Enhanced with black and white photos, illustrations, and more. "Indiana Jones Off the Beaten Path: An Unofficial Expedition" is the perfect gift for any fanatic for the series, and a nice addition to community library collections dedicated to cinema.

George Beahm has taken nearly 30 years of Indiana Jones history and turned into a great traveling companion for Indy fans! This book covers everything Indy from the films, TV series, locations, Disney rides, to websites like "[...]", it has photos of prop replicas and looks at the truth behind some of Indy's legendary quests. From the Ark of the Covenant to Crystal Skulls, this book touches on all things Indiana Jones. The best part of the book is a look at what life is like for real archaeologist with Professor Eric Cline, and readers see the difference between academics and adventure. All in all a great review of the world of Indiana Jones and a good preparation while waiting for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" to open on May 22nd, 2008.

Another fun adventure with George Beahm! The highlights of this book: a fact or fiction section unveiling truths about things we always wondered about in the movies (e.g. "What are the chances that Indiana Jones would correctly guesstimate the proper amount of sand to be put in a bag to replace the weight of a golden statue so that it would not set off any booby traps?" and "Did the Nazis have a dig near Cairo for a lost city named Tanis where they expected to find the Lost Ark of the Covenant?") as well as the inclusion of a foreword and essay by (true) archaeologist Dr. Eric Cline, an insightful and smart addition. As always, Tim Kirk provides exciting artwork that enhances the presentation of the book. Overall, Off the Beaten Path is a great "refresher course" (before the next movie) that also seeks to remind us why we were so excited by Indy in the first place. A great gift for any Indy fan as well. My young daughter (who received this as a gift) adds: "It's great that he's written this - it answers so many questions about the movies. And the pictures are beautiful . . . "

I'm the author of the book, and to make sure you know what you're buying (or thinking of buying), here's what you need to know: 1. This book was NOT, as the sales copy says, written for children ages 9 to 12. Although I agree that a child of that age could read the book, it's intended for older audiences: say fifteen up through adults of any age. 2. The book is unofficial. This means that what you're reading is not politically correct. It means I call the shots as I see them: the good, the bad, and the ugly. (In fact, with the exception of my thoughts on the second Indy movie, I'm pretty positive and upbeat throughout the book.) 3. Regardless of what you may read elsewhere, there is NO full color 16-page insert of photos in this book, which was pulled out of the book at the 11th hour. Why I wrote this book: Given the long interval since the appearance of the last Indiana Jones movie --1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, and the president was George Bush (the senior) -- I felt it was probably a good idea to reacquaint seasoned fans with a recap of the Indiana Jones phenomenon, and to give an overview of what new viewers can expect. For those reasons, the book covers a lot of ground--some familiar, and some clearly off the beaten path. The introduction is by an honest-to-goodness archaeologist, a professor at George Washington University, Dr. Eric H. Cline. (In the summers, you can find him on an archaeological dig in Megiddo, which is the site of biblical Armageddon). Dr. Cline explains that Indy is really more adventurer than teacher, which is reinforced in the trailer to the forthcoming movie when Shia Le Beouf asks Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) if he's a teacher, and Indy replies: "Only part-time." Dr. Cline explains that he uses the opening scenes of the first film to introduce archaeology to his freshman students, and then explains what archaeology is all about. Part one explores the fictional world of Indiana Jones: his history, the principal cast (in all the films), a film-by-film look (to get everybody on the same sheet of music), and a discussion of the critical but not financial success that was "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," which Lucas said failed to get its deserved audience because people were always looking for the runaway boulder from the first film--action adventure, when this series is more about a walk through the 20th century, and the key figures that defined it. Part two looks at what's in the movies and whether it's Hollywood fantasy -- or fact. For instance, in the first film, Marion Ravenwood is at a bar at a drinking contest, and she drinks her opponent, a fairly large guy, under the table. Is that possible? Or, in the second film, did Willie (played by Kate Capshaw) really see vampire bats--or was it another species? What about Indy surviving a sub run to a remote island off the coast of Italy, without being detected or drowned? This is where I have fun playing Mythbuster. Part three looks at the connections