The Adventures of Indiana Jones DVD: Review By SupermanEmpire

These movies have a special place in my own personal perspective of cinematic history. It was the summer of 1989 when I saw my first Indiana Jones film, and it was the third installment, The Last Crusade. It may seem funny that the first one I saw was the last in an ongoing series (until now of course) but I was only eight, and if you remember the video rental business was just getting revved up at this time so it wasn’t as easy as going to your local Circuit City and purchasing your favorite film on DVD, oh no if you were lucky enough to have a Beta or VHS player you were doing pretty good. After that it was trying to find a video store that had the rentals you were looking for. So it just so happened that the only venue I had to see films consistently was the theatre, and I just so happen to have been lucky enough for my Uncle to take me to this film. What an experience it was. I had never scene anything like it. The tanks, the explosions, the fights, the zeppelin, I was truly an eight year old taking a trip to imaginary heaven. As you can imagine after seeing this installment, it wasn’t long after that I got to see the other two films in the trilogy, the first of course being Raiders of the Lost Arc, and the second The Temple of Doom. These three films are amongst those that define the childhood of my generation. That first trip to the theatres to see Last Crusade probably made me the fan I am of film today. It introduced the concept of a hero that could be very intelligent, seemingly infallible and invincible, but also very flawed and sometimes vulnerable. Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones. He made the character his own, and unlike James Bond or Jack Ryan, if any other actor tried to portray Indiana, I would personally protest at the theatre doors. This character is iconic, it’s a true symbol of America, both our ideals, and our bravado. Harrison played him with such wit and charisma, that if any other even tried to fill the iconic fedora or wield the memorable bull whip, I think most as Americans would cry foul. These films were made with such care and attention to detail as a collaboration by writer/producer George Lucas (Movie Industry God), and director Steven Spielberg (Movie Director God) that they more than hold up, and in so many ways surpass today’s standards of Blockbuster status films. As a matter of fact it’s safe to say that along with the other accomplishments of these movie masters up to that point (Jaws, E.T., Star Wars) these films define the pop-corn blockbuster genre of today. The Indiana Jones films have been mimicked time and time again (the Mummy films, Tome Raider films, National Treasure films, The Davinci Code) all of these films in some way or another are indirect rip-off’s. Another thing this film captured with such perfection is its status as a “period” film. All three of these films span the 1930’s. Everything about these films to define the period is there down to the most finite detail, and it’s due to perfectionist Steven Spielberg. The track record on his other Period films is impeccable when it comes to establishing the backdrop (see Empire of the Sun, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, The Color Purple, and Catch Me If You Can just to name a few). When you watch these films you truly feel like your transported back to the 30’s. About a year ago I purchased the Indiana Jones Trilogy Special Edition on DVD. The package included the three films digitally re-mastered and of course upgraded by the geeks over at George Lucas’s Skywalker sound to incorporate THX Certified 6.1 Surround Sound. Well this DVD re-release was, putting it simple, amazing. I felt like I was re-discovering these films all over again. I had the iconic Indiana Jones theme song stuck in my head for days. I found myself whistling it our checkpoints I kid you not. This are films that will never go away, they will be watched and rediscovered probably for all time. That being said, if you haven’t already, rediscover these amazing adventures with your kids, your nieces and nephews, or anyone else who wants to be dazzled by films that not only keep the action, adventure and comedy coming, but also throw in the quality, great storyline, and gorgeous “real” back drops that the popcorn fair of today seem to lack. Then only thing I would caution you on is don’t be fooled by the PG Rating. These films were rated in the 1980’s, and since then the MPAA has tightened its rating criteria. As a side note, when Speilburg submitted Temple Of Doom to the MPAA for rating, they were teetering on giving it an R rating (at the time PG-13 didn’t exist), in the end they gave him the PG, but Spielberg admitted that the movie needed a harsher rating and threw out the idea of a middle ground, a possible rating that would prohibit 13 or 14 year olds without parental guidance. The suggestion was taken, and it resulted in the PG-13 rating we have today. I would say the films are fine for a nine year old and up to see. The only reason I say, is because the Indy films have some violent scenes, images of gore, a content I would consider pretty scary as a nine year old or otherwise. So all that being said, when you do rediscover these classics again, take a deep breath, get in your car with your family or friends and go see the fourth and next installment of Indiana Jones, called The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He may be older, but judging by the previews, it’s the same “old” Indy, and that’s all I need to know, and judging by the creators track records, I’m sure it will be something to behold indeed.

UPDATE: This review was obviously written before the release of TKOTCS, and wow did I guess that one wrong, maybe we all did…it had moments, but I gotta say, what a peace of sh*t, oh well at least I have all the classic Indy films ready on the shelf.

SPECIAL FEATURES: The special features portion of this Trilogy is on a separate fourth disk. The features include a made for the collection doc*mentary with recent interviews of Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and other various members of all three Indy films that worked both in front of the cameras and behind. The disk also contains “making of” doc*mentaries for all three films that included sets, sound-design, and special effects, not to mention the original theatrical trailers. All in all the special features are awesome, if you have the time to sit through all six hours of special features it certainly holds your interest, and also maintains great production quality as far as its content. It would have also been nice to see Harrison Ford training on how to take gun out of someone’s hand with his bull whip, but then it would have been four and half hours (that might be pushing it).