The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert

A revisit to the past with some good old Idana Jones young edition. This episode was just not that interesting until it was. It is an episode remembered to me by its climax and not much else. It doesn't have a lot going on but overall was entertaining enough. I am still not sure what the conflict is about and I am afraid to ask.

Indiana Jones is asked to go undercover in the middle eastern city Beersheba in the fight between the Turks and the British. He is assisted by a female agent.

The climax of this movie is great. It is fun to see a show/TV done on this huge scale. Guns, a lot of people, horses, explosions, stunt men, fighting. In a time where the question is, "how cheap can we make it?" it is refreshing to see a time where the question was rather "how do make this authentic and awesome?". This is a great and satisfying ending but the way to get there is long and meandering. There is just a lot of nothing going on with some basic feeling set up that has a rather tame pay off, but it works in terms of basic storytelling.

I was surprised to see Catherine Zeta-Jones here playing the agent and Daniel Craig playing a German villain. The acting is overall fun and charming, a bit camp but it works for Indiana Jones no doubt.

It is a rather basic plot stretched over 1 hour 20 minutes and the telling can't really hold that. With some comedy that works in between and some fun enough start interactions the episode just don't have a lot going on for it. When you are doing something this basic it doesn't really hold up. Speaking of the plot I am not quite sure what conflict we are exactly witnessing. As soon as I saw "Gaza" pop on screen I thought to myself....topical, in the year 2025. I am not sure who is fighting for what here and I am afraid to ask to know what side of the conflict Indi is on. Plus some awkward Arab facing and this episode did not age well.

The score is very John Williamsesc and it works for the episode. It is a great William feeling score and that is meant as a compliment, it fits the Indiana Jones score to a tee, done well by Laurence Rosenthal.

Overall a pretty fine episode but sadly boring and meandering most of the time. The climax is worth checking out though but you have to sit through nearly 40 minutes of this 89 minutes movie to really get to what I consider the good parts.

I cannot agree with Jellyneckr....the Young Indiana Jones films are excellent, full of good stories, good music and good acting, l think Sean Patrick Flannery does a great job.

Jellyneckr says this kind of film will appeal to the very young nly...well thanks for the compliment l`m over 50, and l have about 16 of the Young Indiana Jones films.....so l will give them all a good mark because l think they have kept the period and action up to par with the main films...do watch them if you can



8/10

Cheers...

Enjoyable hokum and a throwback to the days of Saturday morning serials at the local cinema. A young hero, evil baddies and a dastardly plot that must be foiled! If you like the old type Boys Own adventures, this will be lots of fun. Just don't expect all the nuances of today's modern film making. This is all action, seat of your pants stuff for almost 80 minutes.

I felt transported back to my youth and can recommend this series of films, some are better than others and others are worse, but they all have a sense of fun.

Also nice to spot all the faces from British television, one actor from long running UK soap, Coronation Street, plays a German World War 1 officer. Quite a change of pace!

A young Catherine Zeta Jones plays a Mati Hari spy before she went on to Hollywood blockbusters and marriage or vice versa....

As young Indy, Sean Patrick Flanery makes an engaging hero and like the rest of the cast in this, looks to be enjoying himself.

Although not big budget, this betrays it's straight to video origins and plays like a good Hollywood blockbuster and I've seen far worse films with much more money spent on them.

And not much to say bad about it. Very interesting plot, and has a magnificent ending. I like Indy as a spy, it seems so appropriate to him that relates to his later life. The Australians have an interesting trek of their own. T. E. Lawerence has interesting points and is portrayed well. I recommend this to any person who likes Young Indy.