Something seems familiar as we take a look at some essential Indiana Jones rip-offs from the 1980s…
In cinema, if something works once, studios will naturally assume it could work again. Die Hard, aside from spawning four sequels, also inspired innumerable rip-offs. The same goes for Mad Max, Conan the Barbarian, Jaws, The Terminator, Alien, Star Wars, and more.
In many cases, the films that proved to be the genesis of these knock-offs (occasionally very good ones) in the blockbuster movie and home market generation weren’t even that original themselves. Star Wars wasn’t the first space adventure; it just happened to come after the genre was in a slump, and of course, completely changed the course of cinema forever. Then, there’s Indiana Jones, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s love letter to pulpy serials of the 30s, through to adventure B pictures of the 50s.
Much like a number of all-consuming blockbusters of the time, Raiders of the Lost Ark wasn’t just a hit; it was a mega hit. It had legs, continuing to pull in audiences throughout its run, even in the face of competition from Superman II, which was expected to dominate the season.
Inevitably, it meant sequels beckoned, but right from the breakout success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the B-movie-inspired action-adventure film template became a regular fixture in cinemas and on the home video market. In the ’80s alone, they were all over the place. Here are ten essential Indiana Jones Clones from the 1980s…
Magic Crystal
This Hong Kong action comedy starring Andy Lau, Cynthia Rothrock and the late great Richard Norton is a cheesy slice of fun. Why it’s also particularly relevant, aside from questing across the globe in search of an alien crystal, is how the plot crosses paths with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull quite noticeably. So this could well have been an Indy adventure.
Hong Kong police, Russian gangsters and um, Cynthia Rothrock, chase a mystical rock (of Alien origin) which can gift people strange powers. The rock needs to be reunited with a dormant Alien in stasis, hoping to return home. Cue some glorious Greek locales where Lau, Rothrock and Norton unleash some enjoyable fight sequences, all put together with director Wong Jing’s trademark high energy, dynamic style.
The Golden Child
Magic Crystal also crossed over somewhat with Eddie Murphy’s (initially) maligned dud, but actually pretty enjoyable adventure film, The Golden Child. Imagine if the guy from 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop found himself an unwitting Indiana Jones. These days, these goofball adventures that thrust unlikely heroes into the mixer are a dime a dozen, which has given the film some reappraisal.
You’ve got Murphy, Charles Dance and the inimitable James Hong. There’s plenty of fantastical sets and eye-catching locations, and Murphy’s awkwardness actually adds something to the film. He finds himself perusing the kinds of underground, trap-laden tombs that Indy himself often found himself in.
The Goonies
One consistent aspect of Indy and his many misadventures is following maps to buried treasure and artefacts. Turning 40 this year but losing none of its fresh, vibrant sense of fun, The Goonies thrusts a bunch of small-town kids (facing being pushed out by developers) into a treasure hunt, in search of One-Eyed Willy’s lost ship, carrying untold riches. All whilst being chased by hapless but ruthless criminals.
The young cast includes Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin and Ke Huy Quan as Data, who is also a big part of the Jones legacy, having played Short Round in Temple of Doom the year prior. It’s got several Indy staples, such as journeys through underground caverns and caves, facing deathly traps and puzzles that need solving in a race against the clock to beat the bad guys to the treasure. It’s masses of fun, and the more I watch it, the more I realise that Jeff Cohen as Chunk is the MVP. The guy went all in.
River of Death
Coming a couple of years after Cannon’s glory years under Golan and Globus, River of Death kept faith in the notion that Michael Dudikoff was a poster boy movie star. In fairness to the Dude, he had the looks, charisma and physical adeptness to be a star, but as far as a box office performer, he couldn’t build on the success of American Ninja (which ironically didn’t show the best of him).
River of Death, based on the Alistair MacLean novel, certainly takes more inspiration from Indiana Jones, as an adventurer finds himself facing a (post-war) Nazi threat. The cast includes Robert Vaughan, Donald Pleasance and Herbert Lom, and Dudikoff (needless narration aside) is on good form. Like many Cannon films, it’s a strange contradiction. At once feeling undercooked and underfinanced, but still including some impressive pyrotechnics and some solid technicians in the crew, not least cinematographer Avraham Karpick, who makes this look great (it really has benefited from its recent Blu-ray restoration). It meanders, much like the river of its Amazonian setting, but it’s pretty underrated for a Dude and late era Cannon picture.
Firewalker
On the subject of Cannon, Dudikoff was seen as a fresh face who might take on the mantle of poster boy from Charles Bronson and Chuck Norris. In fact, one of Dudikoff’s best, Avenging Force, was originally earmarked for Norris as an Invasion USA sequel.
Norris did certain things very well. Like roundhouse kicking mofos in the face. What he didn’t do quite so well was being a kind of Harrison Ford-esque, charismatic and charming hero (he fit the stoic Eastwood mould more). That was the requirement for Firewalker, with Norris playing a knock-off Indiana, but he’s given good support from Louis Gossett Jr. Veteran director J. Lee Thompson provides solid (if unspectacular) direction.
How else can you give the film an unmistakable taste of Indy? Pull over a cast member from the trailblazing OG, coming in the form of John Rhys Davies. Then there’s Sonny Landham, who is typically imposing. It’s not great by any means, but this has some enjoyable set pieces, even if it’s one of the more cynical copycats. They copied Lucas’ homework and changed a few words around.
King Solomon’s Mines
Based on the iconic literary adventurer, this Cannon special is unsurprisingly not a patch on its source material, but it’s a rollicking enough adventure. In addition, where Norris didn’t quite capture the easy grinning charm of Ford, Richard Chamberlain as the legendary Quartermain got the memo and delivers. He’s an actor well-versed in the epic adventure genre. It certainly mines a lot from Lucas and Spielberg, but given Quartermain’s adventures were part of the inspiration for Jones, it’s a little more full circle than full-blown rip off.
A pre-super stardom Sharon Stone just lights up the frame. It’s not the most three-dimensionally written role she’d get by any stretch, but she’s just got presence to burn and throws herself into a fun and physically challenging role. J. Lee Thompson once again provides functional but competent direction, but there are times Spielberg’s natural zest would undoubtedly have enlivened scenes far more.
As said, Cannon didn’t hire mugs, and there’s even an enjoyable Jerry Goldsmith score that’s perfectly rousing. This one, again, features John Rhys Davies and Herbert Lom for good measure. Chamberlain et al returned for a sequel, which saw a significant drop in quality (certainly missing even the functionality of Thompson behind the camera).
The Ark of the Sun God
We can’t cover knock-offs and not dive into the treasure trove of low-budget Italian-made copycats. They didn’t just churn out Mad Max and Conan riffs; they made grand (maybe an overstatement) Indiana Jones homages like this somewhat cynically titled film.
This one I had vivid memories of watching on VHS back in the day, and like many of its ilk, the VHS artwork was far more lavish than the actual film, but this one certainly eeks out plenty of adventure and eye-catching locations from its limited budget. It’s also findable on YouTube if you want to pass 90 minutes and enjoy some cheesy Spaghetti Adventure guff, and it’s also had (surprisingly) a very lavish 4k upgrade thanks to 88 Films. There are some affably ropey practical effects (which I’ll take over CGI every day of the week and twice on Sundays). It has it all, from a poor man’s Indy to cynical attempts at mimicking Sallah to snake-filled sequences. Set pieces are varied, occasionally feeling a little more James Bond than Indy, but a lot is going on here, and it definitely feels grander thanks to its recent restoration.
Armour of God
Want more Indiana Jones adventuring with furious Hong Kong-style action? Then look no further than Armour of God. Jackie Chan is a treasure-hunting wheeler-dealer tasked with finding missing pieces of the titular Armour of God and rescuing his friend’s love from a mysterious cult.
This, as many Chan films of the era did, rockets by with wild set pieces, crazy stunts and riotous physical comedy. Chan, as Asian Hawk, plays his hero as a little seedy and morally obtuse, but charming too. Sure, he’s a hero who’ll do the right thing eventually, but he might also sell his granny. The sequel, Operation Condor brought Nazis into the equation and is equally brilliant.
Gwendoline
Gwendoline – a.k.a. The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak – is another flawed but fun 80s adventure that’s recently received an HD glow-up that really does elevate it. Tawny Kitaen goes to Hong Kong in search of her missing father, meets a roguish Jones-esque anti-hero (played by Brent Huff) and goes in search of a rare butterfly.
It’s an odd film, but it looks great; the Philippine locations (often doubling for Hong Kong) are beautiful. It’s less a family adventure and pushes into the realms of exploitation B-movie with an R rating. Kitaen wasn’t exactly Meryl Streep, but she certainly had presence. This one throws plenty of trashy thrills and spectacle on the screen.
Romancing the Stone
If there’s one thing the better Jones riffs had, it’s the benefit of solid direction. Goonies had Richard Donner to really bring the adventuring up to par, and Romancing the Stone benefits from the Spielbergian skills of Robert Zemeckis.
Kathleen Turner plays an adventure novelist whose Quartermain-esque literary hero is in the midst of having his latest adventure written when she has to travel to Colombia to find her missing sister, plunging into an adventure all of her own and encountering Jack Colton (Michael Douglas), who is basically Jones, but a slightly more roguish mercenary. Armed with a treasure map with criminals on their tail, Colton reluctantly agrees to help Wilder (Turner) find her sister, whilst traversing dangerous Colombian landscapes. Douglas and Turner are brilliant as a pairing, matched well by Danny DeVito and Zack Norman as the villains. The follow-up, Jewel of the Nile, was sadly beholden to the law of diminishing returns.
What’s your favourite Indiana Jones rip-off from the 1980s? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Tom Jolliffe
