The Real Tomb Raiders: Snakes, Curses, and Booby Traps

The popularity of intrepid fictional archaeologists Indiana Jones and Lara Croft obviously served as the catalyst for this feature-length History Channel documentary, which repeatedly refers to the daring duo while recounting the adventures of actual explorers both past and present. Narrated by Josh Bernstein—who dresses in Indy-inspired garb—The Real Tomb Raiders offers colorful recollections from contemporary researchers who reminisce about instances in which they faced dangerous circumstances (and sometimes deadly threats) while going about their work. But more interesting is the historical information in which archival materials (especially period stills) are used to engagingly introduce some of the most notable figures of the “early modern” era of discovery, as well as briefly covering the unearthing of the Egyptian tomb of King Tut (and the supposed curse that struck the interlopers). Particular attention is paid to three remarkable men: American Roy Chapman Andrews, considered the template for Indiana Jones, who explored the Gobi Desert in the 1920s and was the first to find dinosaur eggs; American Sylvanus Morley, who excavated important Mayan sites and was involved in espionage work for the U.S. government during World War I; and John Stringfellow Pendlebury, a British archaeologist instrumental in organizing resistance to the Nazi assault on Crete in 1941, who was executed by the Germans during the battle. A slick documentary that uses pop culture figures to introduce audiences to real-life explorers whose exploits—while not quite so audacious—helped inspire them, this is recommended. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)