The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: The Phantom Train of Doom

Posted in 12.06.2009 ¬ 22:16h.adminNo Comments »


Title: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: The Phantom Train of Doom
Year: 1999
Directors: Peter MacDonald
Writers: Frank Darabont (writer)
Actors: Sean Patrick Flanery | Ronny Coutteure | Lynsey Baxter | Tom Bell | Ronald Fraser | Paul Freeman | Freddie Jones | Norman Rodway | Julian Firth | Mac McDonald | Abdullah Sohado | Perry Davey | Graeme Crowther | Roger Haller | Frederique Lemaire
Rating: 5.9 | 197 votes
Languages: English | German
Color: Color
Country: USA
Company: Amblin Entertainment
Genres: Adventure | War
Plot:
1):
November, 1916. Indiana Jones and Remy Baudouin have managed to get a transfer from the European trenches to the plains of Africa. On arrival they both receive a promotion to the rank of lieutenant in the Belgian Army. When they take the wrong train they end up in Moshi. Desprerate to join their unit in Lake Victoria, the two men bump into the 25th Royal Fusiliers, a unit of cranky old men led by Indy’s old acquaintance Frederick Selous. Indy’s passing knowledge of trains and fluent German comes in handy for the Fusiliers, who are about to go on a mission to find and destroy a Phantom Train that carries an enormous German artillery gun. After accomplishing their goal, Selous tricks Indy and Remy into joining his unit for another caper involving the capture of the German military strategist Colonel Von Lettow-Vorbeck.
Trivia:
  • Frederick Selous (played by Paul Freeman) was the real life basis for H. Rider Haggard’s fictional hero Alan Quatermain, who in turn inspired the character of Indiana Jones.
  • Selections of Joel McNeely’s score, some of which is inspired by John Williams’s scores for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Hook (1991), can be heard on the Varese Sarabande CD “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Volume Four” (1994), produced by Robert Townson. This was the first full length score performed and recorded by The Western Australian Symphony Orchestra.
  • When Big Mac calls Indy ‘Mr. Train Expert’ a snippet of the train music from John Williams’s score for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) can be heard.
  • The German commander, Colonel (later General) Lettow-Vorbeck (played by Tom Bell), kept his army intact and fought a guerrilla campaign for the duration of the Great War. His achievement became the stuff of legend, though in military terms, his epic campaign had only the smallest impact on the course of the Great War. Lettow-Vorbeck’s small army agreed to a cease-fire at the Chambeshi River on November 14, 1918, after given a telegram informing them that Germany had given up fighting on November 11. The formal surrender took place on November 23, 1918 at Abercorn. It is said that Lettow-Vorbeck’s army was never defeated in battle, though it had retreated from many engagements.
  • WILHELM SCREAM: First when a German soldier is shot and falls of the train, later another solder running along side is also shot.
Comments:
1) In this installment, Young Indiana Jones (Sean Patrick Flanery) setsout with what appears to be a gang of extremely old hoboes in anattempt to find what is called the Phantom Train. Though the adventureitself was enjoyable enough, the content almost seemed intended forchildren. It carried on for longer than it had to, and then had anabrupt end where it seemed like they just ran out of time. There wasn'treally much action, but the dramatic music made it seem like it wassupposed to be the most exciting thing you've ever seen. In reality, itwas just extremely anti-climactic. All this is not to mention theextremely unbelievable, laughable, childish solving of the conflicts.

However, if the show itself bores you as much as it did me, take a lookat that Sean Patrick Flanery. What a stud. A big piece of eye candy,that one is.

So, to sum it up, mildly entertaining, but extensively childish.

2) I really love the Young Indiana Jones videos, and this one is one of thebest!I never used to watch them when they were a series but its been great togoback and watch them as feature films.George Lucas has just built the shows on such a great foundation withamazing locations, great casting and fun stories which are actually veryeducational because they are close to the truth.In The Phantom Train of Doom, Sean Patrick Flannery plays Indy probablythebest in the series. Paul Freeman who plays Selous is great and well imightbe biased but i just loved most things about this video. The only con ihavewith this movie and the whole series in general in fact is the abruptendings they all have. but hey, we cant have everything!

anyway go out and get The Phantom Train of Doom because its a great Indyadventure and loads of fun to watch.
Adventure, War

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