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Showing posts with label Raiders of the Lost Ark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raiders of the Lost Ark. Show all posts

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Some Iconic Additions to the “Indiana Jones: Adventure Series”

 written and photographed by Jonathan Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 31, 2023

 

Despite the box office performance of Dial of Destiny, the Indiana Jones merchandise train seemingly continues full steam ahead. 



The Adventure Series, a line of 1:12 scale highly detailed action figures in the same vein as Hasbro’s other toy lines, Star Wars: Black Series and Marvel Legends, features Indy and his surrounding cast of characters depicted in plastic form. The first wave, which DisneyBizJournal already covered, was mostly made up of characters from Raiders of the Lost Ark. With a new set of releases, the Adventure Series covers some familiar ground, as well as expanding into new territory. 



The least interesting of these new releases must be the Indiana Jones Temple Escape figure. Now, to clarify, this is not a bad release. In fact, it’s the same original (very good) Raiders of the Lost Ark Indy that was released by himself in the first wave. The “new” draw for this version is the inclusion of the pillar that holds the fertility idol from the opening of that film along with a few additional accessories. The problem with this figure is the price point. Retailing for $39.99, this release of Indy is almost double the price of the standard Raiders Indy. If that figure was hard to come by this might be a good release for those who missed out on the standard Indy. However, you can currently find that Indy for its retail price, so the “Temple Escape” release has a few interesting additions, but I would say it is not worth it given the price point. If this set eventually comes down in price, it might be worth picking up for a standard Indy and a small diorama piece. 



The only other new figure from Raiders is another variant of Indy. This is the Cairo version of Indy that appears during the iconic swordsman “fight” and chase for Marion throughout the streets of Cairo. This is a great figure. It does not seem like much at first – another slightly different version of our protagonist. But once you get it in-hand, there is a certain rugged quality to this particular version of Indy. It’s Indy in the midst of an adventure – not all cleaned and polished. This figure comes with a few alternate hands, the standard whip and gun, and a repack of the Raiders monkey that was originally released with Marion. Once again, the only thing keeping me from recommending this figure is the price point. Even more so than with Temple Escape Indy, the “extras” here do not justify (in my mind) the additional cost. Cairo Indy retails for $33.99 which is almost ten dollars more than the standard “Adventure Series” release.

 

Now, to move on to the positives (which is virtually everything else), this most recent wave of figures has dialed in on Temple of Doom as the movie that comprises most of the release slots. Three of the five figures are all from Temple of Doom. Two of those three are different versions of Indy. 




The first is the iconic look that most people will associate with that awesome theatrical poster for Temple of Doom, you know the one where he’s holding the machete and his shirt is all torn up. Awesome. It is also the same look that is featured at the end of the film on the bridge where he says, “Prepare to meet Kali…in hell!” Iconic. This figure is a fantastic representation of that look, coming with previously mentioned machete so you can recreate your own bridge scene. The other Indy look is the hypnotized Indy that I feel most people will simply deem shirtless Indy (ooh lala). Made for only completionists and Calista Flockhart, the shirtless Indy is an iconic sequence from Temple of Doom, but is still sure to give you some odd looks when purchasing or displaying. 




Finally, to add to the character roster beyond Doctor Jones himself, the final character from Temple of Doom is the best Indy sidekick: Short Round. Short Round is one of my favorite releases from all of the Adventure Series. Not just because I think he is one of the best parts of Temple of Doom (if not the best part), but also because they make up for the small stature of the figure by packing the box with accessories: removable jacket, removable New York Giants (not Yankees, sorry) hat, the first removable Indy fedora of the figure line and a whole host of other little additions that make the purchase well worth it. 



The other two figures in this most recent wave are both from the fifth and final Indy film, Dial of Destiny. One, of course, is Indy in his main look from that film. It’s an update on his iconic look from all films, except the figure is notably detailed to be older. This Indy does not feature the gun holster, and the whip has changed from the other releases to reflect the movie, but otherwise it is mostly similar to the standard release Indy. He comes with the adventure backpack (the one Disney got sued over) and a flashlight, both of which are featured in the third act of Dial of Destiny



Also from that film, the final figure in this wave is Helena Shaw – Indy’s goddaughter and adventurer in her own right. Like the release of Indy, they used the look she has in the third act of the film for the basis of this figure. She also comes with her own backpack and flashlight. Both are solid figures and, in my mind, the main figures people will want from Dial of Destiny

 

To go back to Temple of Doom, this wave’s build-an-artifact is the skull structure that houses the Sankara stones (note: if you pick up the whole wave you can get both the standard Sankara stones and glow-y orange scary ones). Not as impressive as the original wave’s Ark of the Covenant, this is still a worthwhile reason to pick up the whole wave and adds some life to your overall display. 




Finally, also from Temple of Doom, is the Club Obi-Wan Indy figure. This was not part of the most recent wave, but was instead a Target exclusive release. I had pre-ordered mine months ago, but Target inevitably cancelled my order. I was not alone in this, as it seems that Target is particularly terrible in terms of randomly cancelling people’s preorders. I still got the figure, but it was through a third party and was not officially through Target. It’s a shame that Target botched the release of this figure for so many because it really is an interesting addition to the line. Indy is sporting that inspired-by-Bond look from the best opening to any Indy film. The Club Obi-Wan Indy is a figure that is visually different in a sea of browns and tans.

 

There are still plenty of Indiana Jones Adventure Series figures slated to be released, but with the box office performance of Dial of Destiny I do wonder if this line is long for this world. Despite the mostly positive fan reception (myself included), does Indy still have the financial draw to sustain an entire collectible toy line? Hopefully the answer to that question is yes, but only time will tell.

 

The figures that are announced, but have yet to be released, include: Indiana Jones (Map Room), Marcus Brody & Rene Belloq (Ark Showdown 2 pack), Doctor Jurgen Voller, Renaldo, Dr. Elsa Schneider, Grail Knight, Henry Jones Senior, and Indiana Jones (Last Crusade). These figures can be pre-ordered virtually wherever you get your collectibles, with the exception of Map Room Indy which is another Target exclusive. 

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Jonathan Keating is a contributing writer and photographer to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Sunday, July 2, 2023

“Indiana Jones: Adventure Series” Has “For Fans, By Fans” Feel

 written and photographed by Jonathan Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 2, 2023

 

Back in 2008, to coincide with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hitting movie theaters, Hasbro released a line of 3¾ inch scale action figures. While this line of products actually extended beyond action figures to include playsets, vehicles, roleplay items and larger scale “doll-like” figures, it mostly revolved around those 3¾ scale figures that were extremely popular at the time. Hasbro released figures from all three of the previous movies (at the time), in addition to new figures and characters from Crystal Skull

 


Fast forward to present day and the new film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Hasbro once again has taken a crack at a similarly structured line of Indiana Jones figures. However, this time it is in the 1:12 (or 6-inch) scale that now dominates the collector toy market. These figures are similar to Hasbro’s other collector action figure brands “Marvel Legends” and, more directly with a Lucasfilm tie, “Star Wars: The Black Series.” The similar scaling between all three lines allows us all to ask the question: What if Indiana Jones met Han Solo, and Captain America was also there, too? 

 

Like the 2008 toy line, much of today’s line is comprised of figures from the first three movies, with a few figures sprinkled in to tie into the new film’s release (note: there have been no figures released or announced for Crystal Skull in this new “Adventure Series” line). 



The figures actually released so far are mostly made up of characters and appearances from Raiders of the Lost Ark. This first line of figures included the titular Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood (in her Cairo market attire), and Sallah as the first “good guys” of the line. On the villains end, the first wave also included René Belloq in his ceremonial robes, as well as Major Arnold Toht with his iconic black trench coat and hat combo. If one buys the entirety of the first wave of figures, you can assemble a build-an-artifact of the Ark of the Covenant. In fact, many of the figures come with individual artifacts such as the fertility idol from the opening of Raiders, the Grail diary, the false cup of Christ, and more. 



The other figures that have seen a wide release so far include two additional characters and one different appearance for Indy, all from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Walter Donovan, the main antagonist for Last Crusade, is immortalized in plastic and comes with the previously mentioned fake cup of Christ, as well as a scary-decaying swappable head for when he drinks from said cup. The other additional character from Last Crusade is Kazim (a Target exclusive figure), in his iconic fez and suit from when he tries to hunt down Indy before their misunderstanding is rectified. Indy’s new appearance in plastic is his professorial look from the beginning of the film. He comes with the Grail diary (mailed version), and the torch he makes in the catacombs of Venice, as well as the shield he and Elsa find in said catacombs. 



Overall, the figures released so far are very impressive, especially for the price point. Despite the increasing prices of Hasbro’s various lines, most figures in the “Adventure Series” price at $24.99 retail. While this price may be a turn-off for some, comparative to other action figure offerings, like NECA, Mezco Toyz and various import companies, Hasbro still tends to be the (relatively) budget option for most. 

 

Personally speaking, I feel that the “Adventure Series” is more definitive than the previously mentioned “Marvel Legends” and “Star Wars: Black Series.” Those lines have had extended decade-plus runs, in which every conceivable version of every character in the universe will inevitably be produced (sometimes just updated versions of the same character with the same exact look). The “Adventure Series,” on the other hand, has felt more definitive in its releases so far. There likely won’t be multiple attempts at the same look for one character, and while the same character might receive different appearances from various scenes and films, I won’t be obligated to update my Marion figure in a year’s time. 

 

This also speaks to the strength of the overall line. Hasbro is covering a wide-range of characters from the films. While they have yet to announce figures from Crystal Skull in any capacity, you get the sense that there is a love and passion behind the line from the designers and other architects behind the “Adventure Series.” Each figure is almost perfectly crafted to their on-screen appearance, and usually comes with accessories that fans of the Indiana Jones franchise will become giddy as a schoolboy over (even if they never were giddy, even when they were a schoolboy). While you may achieve a higher quality with more expensive figures through various import companies, the “Adventure Series” has the advantage of a much cheaper price point, as well as a large cast of characters that other companies will simply never be able to compete with. 

 

Speaking of other characters, there is a long list of solicited figures that have not yet seen a wide release (i.e., coming soon). These include: 

 

• From Raiders: Indy in both his Cairo and map room appearances, a small diorama set of Indy and his temple escape, a two-pack of Marcus Brody & René Belloq.

 

• From Temple of Doom: Three different Indy appearances including his Club Obi Wan look, hypnotized and ripped-shirt from the final act, and Short Round.

 

• From Last Crusade: The Grail Knight, Henry Jones, Sr., Indiana Jones with his black tie, and Elsa Schneider.

 

• From Dial of Destiny: Old man Indiana Jones, Helena Shaw, Renaldo and Jürgen Voller. 

 

Virtually all of these figures are up for pre-order at various websites and will be distributed over the course of the next year. Hopefully, the “Adventure Series” will continue to cover various characters from Indy’s history. Obviously, Crystal Skull is the most lacking, but Temple of Doom also has some obvious key characters that have yet to be announced. So far, the line seems to be made for fans by fans, and I can’t wait to see what characters, films, and appearances they cover next. 

 

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Jonathan Keating is a contributing writer and photographer to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Monday, June 26, 2023

My Indy Adventure, Part IV: New Reviews of "Raiders," "Temple of Doom," "Last Crusade" and "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 26, 2023

 

Like a book, a film deserves to be reviewed on its own. But that, of course, gets more difficult when a book or a movie is part of a series. When it comes to the fifth movie in the Indiana Jones series – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – landing this week, the challenge is particularly daunting.

 

After all, James Mangold is stepping in to direct the fifth Indiana Jones movie, with the first four films helmed by one of Hollywood’s greatest directors, Steven Spielberg. Oh, yeah, and Indiana Jones ranks as one of the most iconic characters in movie history. For good measure, Dial of Destiny is Harrison Ford’s final bow as Indy.



Given this give-and-take between individual movies as parts of a series, I decided that part of my Indy adventure was to re-watch and write new quick reviews of the first four movies, that is, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).

 

So, Sunday was Indiana Jones day in the Keating household. First, we enjoyed various Indiana Jones-related food and drinks. How about the Blood of Kali Ma Cocktail, which features white rum, blood orange soda, lime juice and mint leaves? And then there’s the Nasty Mummy, a mix of tequila, passion fruit juice, fresh lime juice, fresh orange juice, simple syrup, and cayenne pepper. However, we shied away from delicacies like snake surprise, chilled monkey brains, and bad dates. Although, we did have stuffed dates, which were quite tasty.



Comfortable seats were chosen. Blu-rays were loaded, and the cinematic adventure began…

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark

★★★★★

 

Is there anything to not like about Raiders of the Lost Ark? Upon another re-watch, I failed to find any real faults. 

 

From the iconic opening in South America in 1936 – including Indiana Jones running from a giant, rolling, booby-trap ball – to the ending when the Nazis open the Ark of the Covenant with frightening, face-melting results, moviegoers in 1981 and today are thrown into a film featuring breathtaking adventure, unrelenting suspense and danger, humor, snappy dialogue, twists and turns, puzzles, mysteries, fisticuffs, and more. 

 

And the audience even gets to take a breather on occasion to meet engaging characters.

 

At the top of the list, of course, is being introduced to one of the great characters in movie history. Harrison Ford is simply perfect as Indiana Jones – university professor, adventurer and acquirer of rare antiquities. Ford captures Indy’s intelligence, wit, charm, bravado, over-confidence, myriad skills and abilities, occasional bumbling, vulnerabilities (including snakes) and swashbuckling nature. And Indiana Jones’ tools of the trade, if you will, are quickly established, including the fedora, the whip, the jacket, and the gun. 

 

Also, Karen Allen is ideal as Marion Ravenwood, the tough, beautiful, hard-drinking, wise-cracking, past and current love interest and partner for Indy. 

 

Toss in John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, and Denholm Elliott as Marcus Brody, to round out Indy’s friends, and Belloq (Paul Freeman), Toht (Ronald Lacey), and Dietrich (Wolf Kahler) to play the Nazi or Nazi-related heavies, and the supporting cast excels.

 

Oh, yes, and from the perspective of 2023, it has to be said that Spielberg, and the film’s writers – Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, and Philip Kaufman – managed to tell a story that made sense, entertained and provided plenty of blockbuster thrills. At least today, that can’t be taken for granted.

 

And finally, regarding Spielberg, even this early in his career, his brilliance as a director are on full display, including in terms of pacing, lighting, shadows, and getting the best from his actors. 

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark set the bar very high for telling a great adventure story on film, and few have come close to reaching Spielberg’s excellence as set out in this movie. But, again to the credit of Spielberg, Lucas and the other writers, and Ford, the following three Indiana Jones movies either matched or came close to what was achieved in Raiders.



Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

★★★★1/2

 

Indiana Jones returned three years after Raiders in a prequel – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – and it shows an ability on the part of director Steven Spielberg to make a bit darker Indy movie, but still without losing assorted humor and charms.

 

In this prequel, set in 1935 and starting in Shanghai, Harrison Ford works with a different set of supporting characters.

 

I’ve long loved the opening to Temple of Doom. It begins by featuring a ‘30s-style musical number set in a nightclub with Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) singing “Anything Goes” in a mix of Chinese and English. Capshaw shines as the wildly funny, gold-digging, out-of-place Scott, who amidst peril is annoyed by dirt, breaking nails, getting wet, and just being outside. At the same time, she has a streak of fierceness. 

 

And we are introduced to Ke Huy Quan as Short Round. To the great credit of Quan, Spielberg, and the writers (Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and George Lucas), Short Round is funny and endearing, as opposed to being a drag on the movie as too often happens when children are introduced into a film in which they might not necessarily be expected. Short Round is to be enjoyed and appreciated as essential to the story, rather than merely being tolerated. 

 

This time around, Ford again ably portrays Indiana Jones, including over-confidence in a comical way, charm, waggishness, compassion, determination, courage, and improvisation – all with fedora and whip at the ready.

 

Complaints that Temple of Doom is too dark are overblown. This is an Indy tale that, with a dark, brutal cult as his opponents, serves up plenty of adventure (at times, journeying into camp), jeopardy, fights, daredevil escapades, gross bugs, romantic flirtations, and smart banter.

 

While Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom does not reach the adventure highs of Raiders, it comes darn close.



Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

★★★★★

 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade not only reaches the heights of Raiders of the Lost Ark, it just may reach slightly beyond. A bold take? Maybe, but the case can be made.

 

After all, there’s so much to love about this movie set in 1938, with the early Indy opening occurring in 1912. During that opening, we learn how Henry Jones Jr. became Indiana Jones, including from where his fedora, whip and fear of snakes came.

 

And throughout the movie, we get treated to classic Indiana Jones action via horseback, cars, boats, a train, planes, and motorcycles, along with a tank and camels.

 

There are evil traitors and Nazis – as Indy proclaims, “Nazis, I hate these guys” – as well as reminders that valuable archaeological finds belong in a museum. 

 

And Marcus Brody and Sallah return to Indy fans’ delight.

 

But it’s the fact that Sean Connery portrays Indy’s father – Professor Henry Jones – that makes this a sublime action-adventure film, with more heart and a bit more depth than the two previous films in the series. 

 

Connery, as a brilliant, older, kind of bumbling, spectacled professor of Medieval Literature, is revelatory. The moviegoer has no thoughts based on his performance that this guy played James Bond. Rather, we are pulled in by his humor, touch of intellectual arrogance, wisdom and insights. And revelations about the father-son relationship amidst conflict and danger are powerful and heartfelt.

 

One my favorite lines in these films is when father and son are talking about what Indy’s childhood was like, and Henry Sr. proclaims, “You left just when you were becoming interesting.”

 

And being that the story is focused on the Holy Grail, director Steven Spielberg and the writers (Jeffrey Boam, George Lucas, and Menno Meyjes) make Henry Sr. a devout Christian who has pursued the Grail over most of his life. This combination adds some depth regarding matters of faith. Indeed, there are a few analogies to aspects of Christianity, including Holy Communion. That last point hadn’t fully clicked during the many times I’ve watched this film previously. And along these lines, when Indiana is trying to figure out which cup or chalice is the Holy Grail, he points to one, and says, “That’s the cup of a carpenter.” I love that line.

 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade delivers on everything one would expect from an Indiana Jones movie – such as action, adventure, humor and a great, well-thought-out story – with some added emotional punch and deeper reflection. 

 

Finally, I will ask the same question that I’ve been asking since I first saw this film in 1989: How the heck did Sean Connery not win a best supporting actor Academy Award for this marvelous portrayal of Professor Henry Jones?



Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

★★★★1/2

 

Stop the hate, and embrace Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for the excellent movie that it is. Should we be surprised given that Steven Spielberg once more was in the director’s chair?

 

Since I first saw this film on its release date in 2008, I’ve always enjoyed it. But even coming out of the theater with friends that first night, the attacks were under way. The main beef? What was the deal with the aliens? After all we saw Indiana Jones deal with in the three previous films – from Nazis being wiped from the earth by spirits emerging from the Ark of the Covenant; to voodoo and an evil cult leader ripping a beating heart from a candidate for human sacrifice, leaving the victim still alive; to the horrific results when water was drunk from a cup mistaken to be the Holy Grail, and the miraculous healing power that came via the actual Grail – audiences somehow decided that interdimensional aliens were just too far. Why – especially since both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas said that the film would be inspired by 1950s sci-fi movies? I have no idea.

 

Others complained about Indiana Jones resorting to hiding in a lead-lined refrigerator as an atomic bomb was going off. The term “nuking the fridge” came into being to describe moments in movies that simply go too far in terms of camp. Hmmm, did these critics forget about jumping out of a crashing plane in Temple of Doom in an inflatable raft and Indy and Company living to tell the story? Or, when a plane crashes into a tunnel in The Last Crusade, and the wingless burning plane comes along side Indiana Jones and his father in a car, and they exchange goofy glances with the pilot? The point is that over-the-top, varying-degree-of-campy action has a robust history in Indy films.

 

It’s actually hard to figure out why Kingdom of the Crystal Skull failed to receive the critical love that the previous three movies did, other than that perhaps critics forget what was in the earlier films, especially if they saw those at a much younger age.

 

There’s so much to like here. The film takes place in 1957, and the opening offers teenagers racing along in a hot rod, while they are urging the lead car in an apparent military caravan to drag race. It’s very George Lucas!

 

It turns out that the military personnel are Soviet agents in America, and they get into Area 51. And who is their prisoner? Indiana Jones.

 

The film proceeds to offer some great Indy-like action, with some amusing checks given that he is nearly 20 years older since we last saw him, and he has experiences of fighting and spying during World War II, and afterwards. That action includes a fun motorcycle chase, a race and fight through the jungle (including the appearance of some massive, man-eating ants), some sword fighting, and assorted narrow, harrowing escapes.

 

The mysteries, puzzles and searches related to the crystal skull possess typical Indiana Jones interest.

 

For a long time, I did think that the third act needed some tighter editing, but upon this re-watch, I’ve changed my mind. No such need exists.

 

For all of this, we have some real heart added to this movie as well, with the reappearance of Marion (Karen Allen) and her son, Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf), who turns out to be Indy’s son – to the surprise of Indiana Jones.

 

LeBeouf actually ably portrays Mutt, with Spielberg and the writers (David Koepp, George Lucas, and Jeff Nathanson) doing a nice job of some Indy-Mutt parallels to actions between Indiana Jones and his father in The Last Crusade. Indeed, the only moment or scene that I would criticize in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is when Mutt is swinging through the jungle with monkeys. Weird.

 

As for the ending, I’ve read criticisms on this as well, and quite frankly, that is completely bewildering. The ending to this movie is ideal. It brings the entire four films around so nicely, with Marion and Indy finally getting married. As people are leaving the church, Mutt goes to put on Indy’s fedora, but just before he does, Indiana Jones comes along, reclaims the hat, smiles, and they all leave the church. That’s near perfect. So, give Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the love it deserves.

 

That brings us to looking ahead later this week to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. I hope and pray for another wonderful adventure. But make no mistake, if this film falls short – the reviews have been widely mixed (now leaning slightly positive based on the Rottentomatoes.com measure) – the following question will be reinforced in my mind at least: After that fitting ending in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, why come back to do another? But, again, I hope that I’m not asking that question, and instead, I’m proclaiming: Wow, what a great send-off for Indiana Jones.

 

Previously…

 

My Indy Adventure, Part I: Visiting the Indiana Jones Den of Destiny” by Ray Keating

 

My Indy Adventure, Part II: Indiana Jones and the Hawaiian Shirt” by Ray Keating

 

My Indy Adventure, Part III: Indiana Jones and the Search for the Comfy T” by Ray Keating

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. You can order the latest book in the series – Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of DisneyFree Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

My Indy Adventure, Part II: Indiana Jones and the Hawaiian Shirt

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 21, 2023

 

Since the fifth movie in the Indiana Jones series – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – arrives on June 30, I’m partaking in my own Indiana Jones adventure.

 

The first entry in “My Indy Adventure” was a visit to Den of Destiny pop-up bar in Hollywood Studios to sample some Indiana Jones libations.



Now, I’m getting into Indiana Jones attire – specifically, Indiana Jones Hawaiian-style shirts.

 

Kudos to Disney for partnering with the right businesses in creating these Indy shirts. I’m a longtime fan of the Hawaiian shirt, and the two best creators or suppliers of such garb are Reyn Spooner and Rsvlts.com. Reyn Spooner has been creating an “Aloha State of Mind” since 1956, while Rsvlts.com came on the scene in 2012.

 

The Reyn Spooner shirt is a celebration of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The shirt is soft, breathable, runs on the large side, and ranks as wonderfully eye-catching. And the number of scenes from Raiders is impressive. Check out our shirt photos, as well as the graphic from Reyn Spooner’s website that explains exactly what scenes are displayed. 










The Reyn Spooner Indiana Jones shirt is here, and it gets a big thumbs up. It also happens to hang in my closet right next to my Reyn Spooner “Beach Boys Good Vibrations” shirt.

 

Meanwhile, Rsvlts.com is trouble – and I mean that in the best possible way. This company combines pop culture collections with an incredibly stretchy and comfortable material (KUNUFLEX) to create must-have shirts. (Indeed, my wife will tell you that they’ve created too darn many of these must-have shirts.)

 

Their Indiana Jones collection is impressive. I grabbed three shirts. The “Boulders, Snakes, And Idols” shirt focuses on the opening scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The “It Belongs in a Museum” shirt features “every priceless relic tracked down by Indy,” including the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, the Sankara Stones and the Crystal Skull. And the “Choose Wisely” shirt offers great scenes from the movies “as you might discover them recorded on an ancient wall, stone or parchment.” 

 

But there are more in the collection, including the “Tikiana Jones” shirt, the “It’s the Mileage” shirt, and “A Hero’s Glyphs” shirt.

 

These shirts are clever, comfortable, and have you ready for action and adventure. By the way, Rsvlts shirts tend to be so popular that they periodically run out of stock, so don’t hesitate. But if you miss one, they seem pretty good at getting them back in stock. Check out photos of our shirts.








What’s next on the Indy adventure? Whatever it might be, I’ve got the right shirts.

 

Previously…

 

My Indy Adventure, Part I: Visiting the Indiana Jones Den of Destiny” by Ray Keating

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. You can order the latest book in the series – Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of DisneyFree Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.