If you are at all like me you purchased the Indiana Jones Trilogy on DVD when it was released back on October 21, 2003
. Also, if you are like me, you still haven’t watched the special feature disc. I mean to watch it, but I just haven’t yet.
Al
so, if you are like me, you won’t be buying the newly announced special edition DVD releases of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade. The discs will be released on May 13, 2008 and boast new special features. Of course this is all in preparation of the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on May 22. However, the question is, what happens when Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is announced on DVD, and most likely Blu-ray?
The answer to that question is that you are going to have to either buy the DVD/Blu-ray release of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, or the complete series on DVD and Blu-ray which is sure to be released, or (along with your purchase of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) you will have to buy the sure-to-be-released Blu-ray editions of the original three films. What it boils down to is that you are going to be forking over a lot of money if you are a supporter of Blu-ray and decide to buy these special edition releases. That’s a quadruple dip isn’t it? I am so lost…
However, maybe these are worth it. Let’s see what they include.
Raiders of the Lost Ark Special Features:
- Raiders of the Lost Ark: An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas
- Indiana Jones: An Appreciation—The cast and crew of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull pay tribute to the original trilogy.
- The Melting Face—A recreation of the amazing physical effect of the villain’s melting face in Raiders of the Lost Ark, including
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas commenting on the evolution of visual effects and CGI. - Storyboard Sequence—The Well of Souls
- Galleries
- Illustrations & Props
- Production Photographs & Portraits
- Effects/ILM
- Marketing
- Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Game Demo and Trailer
Temple of Doom Special Features:
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas
- Creepy Crawlies—Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Frank Marshall reminisce about snakes, bugs and rats.
- Locations—Travel across the world to discover where the films take place and where they were shot.
- Storyboard Sequence—The Mine Cart Chase
- Galleries
- Illustrations & Props
- Production Photographs & Portraits
- Effects/ILM
- Marketing
- Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Game Demo and Trailer
The Last Crusade Special Features:
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas
- The Women: The American Film Institute Tribute—The three Indiana Jones women (Karen Allen, Kate Capshaw and Alison Doody) reunite for a discussion.
- Friends and Enemies—Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Indiana Jones writers discuss how they created the most iconic characters in film history, including a look at new faces in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
- Storyboard Sequence—The Opening Sequence
- Galleries
- Illustrations & Props
- Production Photographs & Portraits
- Effects/ILM
- Marketing
- Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Game Demo and Trailer
If you ask me they don’t look like they are worth it to me, at least not right now. Once the complete franchise is available in one set or in a complete Blu-ray box set I really don’t think it is worth it. And that day can’t be too far away as a Blu-ray Indiana Jones box set just in time for Christmas has such a nice ring to it.
