Customer Reviews

Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Chapter 15 - Daredevils of the Desert [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Of all the War Years videos, this one is the most wholly satisfying. A healthy mixture of adventure, espionage, beauty, character development and history keeps us thoroughly engrossed from the opening titles.

The plot is deceptively simple: Indy and his colleagues need to take a town in the desert. Liberated by the straightforwardness of the plot, the writers of the episode thus had ample opportunity to work on characters, suspense, drama, and comedy to produce a film that could easily have been a successful theatrical release. As in other episodes of the television series, there are associations with historical figures, but they don't overburden the plot. In particular, "Ned" Lawrence (of Arabia) has a logical presence in Indy's life--thanks to Indy's father's archaeological career. Not only that, but the inclusion of this historical figure actually has an impact on the development of Indy's character. His reference to making amends with the elder Jones is an extremely welcome inclusion, making us hungry for similar moments elsewhere in the series.

We can only hope that the episodes currently being filmed will continue in the vein of this recent series entrant.

This is an amazing Young Indy episode not previously aired on television. Like the whole series, this episode balances history with adventure in a way that is entrancing and exciting. It co-stars Catherine Zeta-Jones. You'd be surprised to see the list of once little-known actors who appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles who later became big-time stars.

A great yarn with a little bit of poetic licence. Although based on a true theatre of operation in the Middle East, Indy gets involved with the Aussie "Diggers" of the Australian Light Horse. He befriends them and become great mates. A ripping yarn with great excitement and well put together. The action could have been a little more intense as it was in the Australian Movie "The Lighthorsemen". Albeit, I enjoyed it and found it pretty accurate for its historical content. The only thing thing it doesn't show is how the British stuffed up, like they did everywhere else during WW1.

One of my favorite of the Young Indy videos. Flanery does a wonderful job making us believe this is Indiana Jones, and the supporting cast is especially fine. Also, it has terrific, unforced, references to other Young Indy adventures, giving you a better feel for Indy's growing maturity, without making you feel you're missing crucial information.

There's a good deal of humor throughout and the end manages a real tension and sense of danger.

Why doesn't Paramount convince Lucas to let them make more?

This fine epic episode of Young Indy shows how George Lucas could make such a spectacle on a TV Budget...he obtained much of the action, horse riding, and the massive attack on Beersheba from another film! There is an excellent Austailian film from 1990-91 called THE LIGHTHORSEMEN. I can't remember the Director or Cast, but chunks of footage from this film have been "borrowed" by Lucas' team to flesh-out this Indy Adventure. I am sure that George L., with his connections in the film world could obtain the rights to the footage from THE LIGHTHORSEMEN...Actually, the whole plot of the Aussies talents being neglected by the British, the excursion to leave the false maps, the calvary-trek with no water, and the Aussie's once in Beersheba tracking down the wires to the switchboard to stop the destruction of the Wells...all in the Austrailian Film. I've looked for a "thank You" note at the end of this Indy's credits, but have yet to spot it.

this is my second young indy-movie(my first was treasure of the peacock's eye),and i have all the 3 Harrison ford Indiana movies,and i must say that this movie is a well acting adventure,with nice action,and a exciting fight between Indy and Schiller,the German's officer at the end. Indy must save the live's of a troop of Australian's Horseman,by keep the drink-places saved,in the WW1. Indy meets a dancer(C.Zeta Jones)who is a German's spy,but he don't no this. here in holland are not all Young Indy movies for sale,but the 2 i have are so exciting,that you will never forget this history adventure!

This episode was part of the George Lucas series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles-Palestine 1917. It has been expanded into a two hour movie from its original one hour length. Having seen both versions, I enjoyed this longer version better not only because the plot was paced out better, but it expanded more on characters like Lawrence whom Indy had met in earlier episodes of the series. The highlight of the movie is the final charge on Beersheba, using footage from Simon Wincers earlier film The Lighthorsemen. While The Lighthorsemen is arguably the better retelling of this historical tale, the scale and depth of the Young Chronicles, as a whole, makes it every bit as good.

What timing! I just watched this Indiana Jones adventure on cable this afternoon. This is a good story, and a nice introduction to the Australian Light Horse and their attack on Beersheba during WWI. It also features a cameo appearance by T.E. Lawrence (the legendary Lawrence of Arabia). Plus, this episode co-stars the alluring Catherine Zeta-Jones. But if you want to see a great portrayal of the Battle of Beersheba, skip this video and pick up "The Lighthorsemen" instead. How good is this little-known Australian film? Good enough that its director, Simon Wincer, later made this Young Indiana Jones adventure - and lifted some great battle scenes from his earlier film!

One of the characteristics of the "Young Indiana Jones" series of television movies is that it is largely historical fiction. While the producers naturally take a great deal of poetic license with the story, enough historical facts remain to make it educational as well.
In this episode, young Indie is attached to an allied expedition that has moved from Egypt up the coast of the Eastern Mediterranean towards Palestine. However, the allied attacks on the German supported Turkish forces at Gaza have been repulsed with heavy losses. In an attempt to break the stalemate, a daring plan is conceived where the allied forces will move across the waterless desert and attack the fortress of Beersheba. The journey will take 48 hours and the horses will be without water during the journey and the men will have only their canteens of water.
Therefore, it is critical that the attack be a surprise and that the wells at Beersheba not be destroyed by the retreating Turkish forces. Indie is recruited to travel in disguise to Beersheba with a belly dancer so that he can convince the defenders that the next attack will once again be at Gaza. Furthermore, Indie must make sure that the wells remain intact for otherwise even if the attack is successful the allied forces will die of thirst.
Indie is initially aided in his mission by Lawrence of Arabia and the belly dancer is very well played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. She is also a very capable intelligence agent; Indie and the belly dancer have many adventures before they arrive at Beersheba. One of the best aspects of this story is the human side of war. Indie befriends a unit of mounted Australian infantry that have largely been kept in reserve. They are frustrated by their lack of action yet express a great deal of homesickness for their girlfriends and wives. They are eager to go into the danger of combat, yet very much want to be back in the arms of their native Australia and their chosen women.
This is an exciting adventure, with a great battle climax where the commanders show a surprising amount of flexibility. World War I was a war where the military leadership showed a lack of imagination and originality, human wave attacks against fortified positions was often the only battle plan. In this case, the commander was willing to try something new, a rare thing in that brutal war. This is one of the best episodes in the "Young Indiana Jones" series.

While the adventure elements were quite well handled, the scenes of Indy doing a bad Arabian accent left a bad taste in my mouth. Him leaving his female partner in the lurch didn't exactly sit well with me either. I found the plot to be a bit confusing, but on the whole the action was quite good and the scenery was worthy of Lawerence of Arabia. I found the added extra bonus interviews with both Lucas and Flanery to be quite informative. But where was George Hall?!?