Indiana Jones re-release a worthy adventure
"Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection" -- Seeing "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was one of the great movie-going experiences of my childhood, ranking just a hair behind "Star Wars."
The other two Indiana Jones films? Not so much.
Because I'm not wild about the Indy sequels, I never purchased the trilogy box set that came out in 2003. Thankfully, with the fourth Indiana Jones movie about to hit theaters, Paramount is releasing the first three films on DVD again, and this time, they're available separately as well as together. Here's a rundown of the films:
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bull; "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981): For me, "Raiders" remains one of the best action-adventure movies ever made. Harrison Ford is brilliant as daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones, who is trying to beat the Nazis to the fabled Ark of the Covenant in 1936. George Lucas (producer, story) and Steven Spielberg (director) pay tribute to the adventure serials of their youth while delivering a contemporary action spectacle that has few peers. Special props should be given to Karen Allen, who plays Indy's sexy and smart love interest. Her absence in the next two films proves to be a huge loss.
bull; "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984): Set shortly before the events in "Raiders," this sequel features a dreary children-in-jeopardy storyline and two of the most annoying characters to ever appear on screen: screechy nightclub singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and wisecracking youngster Short Round, who was the Jar Jar Binks of the 1980s. There are some fantastic action set-pieces here, though.
bull; "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989): Indy again battles Nazis, this time for possession of the Holy Grail. The big addition is Sean Connery, who play's Indy's father. Connery is OK, but everything else feels too familiar.
The new DVDs feature the same remastered video and audio found on the 2003 discs; the films look and sound fantastic. The bonus material is new and pretty good, though not quite as extensive as what was offered in the previous set. Lucas and Spielberg provide candid introductions to the films. We also get storyboards from key scenes and numerous in-depth featurettes that explore the characters, effects and other aspects of the trilogy. While not worth a purchase by those who already have the 2003 set, these new special editions are an excellent buy for those who don't have that earlier set or, like me, want only one or two of the films. (Paramount, $26.99 per movie, or $49.99 for the set)
"The Great Debaters" (two-disc collector's edition) -- Just when you thought it was safe to kill off the Inspirational Sports Story genre once and for all, "The Great Debaters" proves that it still has some life. Set during the 1930s in the Jim Crow South, the movie tells the based-on-fact story of the debate team at Wiley College, a small black school in the heart of Texas. All the elements of the sports movie formula are present, right up to the Big Game -- or debate, in this case -- against the white debaters of Harvard University at the end. But the smart script and excellent acting lift the movie above the cliches of the genre. The excellent two-disc DVD set includes a commentary with director Denzel Washington (who also stars in the film) and a slew of good featurettes. (PG-13, Genius Products, $32.95)
"Saturday Night Live: The Complete Third Season" -- I love these "Saturday Night Live" complete season sets! The first five years of this show make up one of the most groundbreaking and influential runs in American TV history, and it's a pleasure to have them available on DVD. This set includes all 20 episodes of the 1977-78 season, complete with musical performances. Among the highlights of the third season are the debuts of the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi), who would later skyrocket to Hollywood glory, and Father Guido Sarducci, a hilarious character performed by writer Don Novello. The season also contains Elvis Costello's legendary performance, when he stopped a song midway through in order to play "Radio, Radio." The more topical humor doesn't age well, and these shows had their share of weak spots. But overall, this set offers a funny and fascinating glimpse at the best of SNL's long history. (Universal, $69.98)
"The Car": I highly recommend you take a trip back to the grindhouses of old by watching "The Car," a 1977 B-movie cult favorite that has gotten a solid re-release on DVD. The star of the movie is a souped-up muscle car that appears to be possessed by a demon and goes on a killing spree in a California desert town. It's not as polished as movies like "Duel" and "Jaws," to name two obvious influences, but the movie supplies a healthy dose of cheesy, 1970s fun. And here's a DVD tip: If you watch with the English subtitles on, every time the car kills someone and blows its horn, the subtitle will read "Car blows horn triumphantly." Somehow, that just enhances the movie. And the DVD includes the wonderfully cheesy trailer. (PG; Universal, $19.98)