Individual Indiana Jones Special Editions on DVD

Bastards at Paramount should have released this on HD DVD and Blu-Ray as well...

Freakin' Lucas keeps cashing in on the same movies over and over again. I have three sets of the original Star Wars Trilogy because of that bast***, lol. You know that after he makes bunches and bunches of money he will release the Blu Ray version. I already have the VHS and DVD trilogy of Indy. I'm not falling for his "extra features" mumbo jumbo. When he releases Hi Def that will be a different story since they are beautifully remastered. For now, my DVDs look awesome upconverted. Hard to believe that the first movie is that old when it looks that good.

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Freakin' Lucas keeps cashing in on the same movies over and over again. I have three sets of the original Star Wars Trilogy because of that bast***, lol. You know that after he makes bunches and bunches of money he will release the Blu Ray version. I already have the VHS and DVD trilogy of Indy. I'm not falling for his "extra features" mumbo jumbo. When he releases Hi Def that will be a different story since they are beautifully remastered. For now, my DVDs look awesome upconverted. Hard to believe that the first movie is that old when it looks that good.

Agreed. I find it extremely hard to believe there won't be day and date Blu Ray releases of these. The only possible way it makes sense is if all four films are coming to hi def around Christmas. These movies on BD would be HUGE sellers unless I miss my guess.

Jason

Extras not worth it, specially because of no commentary...

Spielberg has never done a commentary, so I don't expect one from him on any release, even something like Schindler's List.

Jason

Paramount will release the new Indiana Jones movie on May 22. It only makes sense for them to capitalize on that opening by re-releasing the previous three movies for the first time individually.

However, since they have not announced any Blu-ray titles yet and probably aren't sure when they will announce them, we'll have to wait and see when the Indy films come to BD. Surely, they will come, though, if at the latest about the time Paramount release the newest Indy film to DVD, probably in the fall.

John

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Freakin' Lucas keeps cashing in on the same movies over and over again. I have three sets of the original Star Wars Trilogy because of that bast***, lol.

Yup, I totally agree...Lucas is a greedy bastard. He IS however a smart businessman, even if he isn't consumer friendly. I refuse to buy any of his boxsets until they are out on HD.

The guy is such an ass, he'll probably wait until Blu Ray is being replaced by some other future format before he releases in HD. I remember DVD was out for YEARS and he was still putting out crap VHS Star Wars box sets instead of DVD.

Lucas can do the commentary...

But yeah, he is a great businessman.

Exactly Bosshog, he rereleased vhs versions for so long that we had to wait forever for the dvds. I love his movies but his money making milking mayhem has to end. Hes pillaging his fan's wallets. Yes, I do understand that its smart business but come on!! Make the HD disks while the format is still around, lol.

You know, wekeep complaining abotu lucas and his rereleases, but if people didn't buy them, he wouldn't do it. I for one am not rebuying anything until its on blu ray, and only then if the features are good.

It isn't just Lucas's rereleases how many other movies have been double dipped on DVD? Now of course some are warranted as their original version was subpar (Highlander) but take a look at something like the Princess Bride, that's been rereleased like what? 20 times? Or T2. Lucas is just an easy target because he's a face we can put to a property. Whereas these other movies it's just a big faceless studio but they're just as greedy.

[Post edited by Movielover316 on Mar 4, 2008]

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It isn't just Lucas's rereleases how many other movies have been double dipped on DVD? Now of course some are warranted as their original version was subpar (Highlander) but take a look at something like the Princess Bride, that's been rereleased like what? 20 times? Or T2. Lucas is just an easy target because he's a face we can put to a property. Whereas these other movies it's just a big faceless studio but they're just as greedy.

That is so true! You guys really need to layoff Lucas as though he's the grandfather of greed. All of Hollywood is greedy by nature, it isn't as if Lucas cornered the market on the whole debacle. Look at Disney for example -- you can't tell me they haven't been milking it to the public over that last 30-years in the home entertainment market!

[Post edited by Tim Raynor on Mar 4, 2008]

The thing that makes me laugh about Disney is the whole "we're putting it back in the vault" so buy it soon crap. Like they actually have a vault with stacks of Unsold Aladdin and Beauty and the Best DVD's. With a guard out front saying "No, no we can't sell these, they've been put in the vault!"

And let's not forget when Disney first released DVDs back in 98, they were double the price of any other studio! Yeah, like "Snow White" is so much better than classics from WB/FOX/Universal! Talk about greedy!

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The thing that makes me laugh about Disney is the whole "we're putting it back in the vault" so buy it soon crap. Like they actually have a vault with stacks of Unsold Aladdin and Beauty and the Best DVD's. With a guard out front saying "No, no we can't sell these, they've been put in the vault!"

Like the LOTR, "thou shall not pass!"

I believe this new SpEd release news about 'INDY' is a CONFIRMATION that work on new hi-def masters has now been done, and these new SD-DVD are an improvement over the earlier box set (which some people were not happy with that set's A/V quality).

And which means that we might see the Blu-ray Hi-Def release within the next year or so, too, perhaps by the Christmas season when Indy 4 probably is released to home video.

So, whether you are planning on buying the new SD-DVD set, or wait for a Blu-ray set later, it's great that the films have been remastered.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Another fine trilogy re-release A Must Have

Hey LH, you gotta admit that the 2003 high-def remastered Indy set looked pretty darn good. I don't even think it needed to be improved for a Blu-ray release.

Hey gvortex... they've always looked fine to me (I have only the Widescreen LaserDiscs in my collection), but I remember some viewers gave complaints when the set hit DVD, but don't remember anything specific.

Until Dec 2005, my TV was a non-HD 27" Sony Wega CRT [flat screen], so the LaserDisc was fine enough. Since then I've own both a 32" Sharp LCD HDTV, and now (since 12/07) a 50" Pioneer KURO plasma HDTV - but have never rented the INDY movies on DVD, so I've personally never seen the movies on DVD yet!

But I'm going to buy the 'RAIDERS' when the new DVD edition arrives, and then buy the whole set of 4 (for sure) once the Blu-ray editions are released.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Mar 8, 2008]

I figured you'd have that 2003 Indy boxset LH. If I were you I wouldn't waste money on the upcoming DVD re-release. I can almost guarantee you that you'll see them on Blu-ray when part 4 is released on home video around Christmas.

IF any of you expects these new editions to contain a new restored and/or remastered transfers of the movies, the answer is NO. From the press release at the official site, indicates that these new individual editions will contain the same audio and video transfers of the movies already included in the past 2003 Trilogy DVD box set.

That leaves us with the "All-new bonus content" but from what i read from the press release, it doesn't offer anything appealing or exclusive, that hasn't been addressed on the past 2003 DVD boxset, unless you think that introductions and interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and the cast and crew of Indy 4 talking about the previous films, even image galleries and storyboards are worth your money.

The bonus content in the previous Trilogy DVD boxset, has behind the scenes and interviews of the cast and crew from the movies, trailers, outtakes, screen tests, production drawings and photographs, also featurettes about the stunts, sound, music and special effects in the movies... therefore there's nothing new and exclusive on these new individual releases, that the previous Trilogy DVD boxset didn't cover superbly... even the covers look better on the 2003 Trilogy DVD boxset, and matches the design of the Adventures of Young Indiana Jones DVD boxsets.

Honestly i expected something like this from George Lucas, the precursor of movie marketing, of making a profit from rereleasing the same movies over and over again, and responsable of Hollywood's greed, as movie studios have followed his example, but i can't believe that Steven Spielberg agreed to do this, finally we're to blame as we continue to double dip for the same movies we already own, just for the sake of getting petty cash for our money.

[Post edited by genbar dardren on Mar 9, 2008]

"...we're to blame as we continue to double dip for the same movies we already own, just for the sake of getting petty cash for our money." --genbar

Well, there is a simple solution to this non-problem: Don't buy them if you already own them. Of course, Paramount would love for people to double dip, but these new releases are aimed primarily at people who haven't already bought them and who may be reminded to buy them because of the publicity surrounding the new Indy movie coming out.

No one's forcing anyone to buy anything over again. Now, when the movies arrive in high-def, that's another story. Many of us will want to own them on Blu-ray HD. But for now, reissuing movies (like music studios reissuing music) is business as usual and makes perfect financial sense.

John

I totally agree with you John, the problem is that some people tend to buy the same movies over and over again, just for the sake of owning them... Lucas has released SIXTEEN versions of the Star Wars Original Trilogy (1 on Beta, 1 on CED, 5 on VHS, 5 on LD, 1 on VCD and 3 on DVD) and i'm sure there're fans who own most of them (if not all) when one version on each format should had been enough, and within every new edition it seems that Lucas intencionally always leaves something wrong or unfinished, so that he'll keep releasing new editions for the rest of his life, and therefore fans will continue to buy the same movies, with the premise that the new edition will be the final one, and that everything will look and sound perfect.

Indeed no one's forcing anyone to buy anything over again, but in the case of these new individual Indiana Jones releases, the answer is YOU SHOULDN'T even if you don't already own them. ¿Why should anyone pay US$60 for 3 individual DVD releases when you can buy the Trilogy DVD boxset for US$30? Both editions provide the same audiovisual transfer, and as for bonus content the Trilogy DVD boxset provides better and much more content than the individual releases.

As for when the movies arrive in HD, that's yet to be seen if it's worth spending on them again. I'm sure some look forward for them on Blu-Ray, but the mayority is very pleased with the quality of the transfer in the Trilogy DVD boxset, which is excelent and looks superb upconverted, besides with Super Upconverting DVD players around the corner, you'll watch your already onwed DVD movies even better than you do now and within HD standarts. The bottom line is that if you already own the Trilogy DVD boxset KEEP IT, if you don't have the Trilogy DVD boxset then GET IT while you still can, and as for these new individual releases AVOID THEM.

[Post edited by genbar dardren on Mar 9, 2008]

genbar dardren... I went to the Paramount website today, and it's states these are "new, remastered" versions -

-RAIDERS-

BONUS INTERVIEWS! Includes interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford. YEAR: 1936 - AMAZON / TIBET / EGYPT

Chapter 24 in the complete adventures of Indiana Jones has more heroics than you can crack a bullwhip at! The trendsetting movie that put adventure on the map now comes your way in a new, remastered version that enhances the final scenes with dazzling state-of-the-art special effects. Whether you're seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark for the 1st or 101st time, you're in for thrills as Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) confronts snakes, Nazis and one astonishing cliffhanger after another -- all topped off by the discovery and opening of the mystical Ark of the Covenant. It's one of the great adventures of all time. And now it's even greater.

So... how do -you- know if making the claim that these are the SAME masters from many years ago when the Trilogy was first released? In my opinion, Paramount, like other studios, has stepped up production of newer "HD MASTERING" (see their wonderful HD-DVDs as an example), and that this new 'INDY' set is in that vein - newly remastered from a high-definition source - and hopefully will be a further improvement over the previous DVDs, and come to Blu-ray after the initial DVD promotion is over and done (and with the arrival of the 4th film's home video release later).

So I still believe these are indeed NEW masters, especially since they come from the likes of Spielberg (director) and Lucas (producer). And will probably break all sales records for the Blu-ray format once available!

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Mar 9, 2008]

gvortex followup comment -

Quote:
"you gotta admit that the 2003 high-def remastered Indy set looked pretty darn good. I don't even think it needed to be improved for a Blu-ray release."

DVDVerdict.com stated 'Raiders' is not of the best quality mastering...

The image quality is not perfect. There is some edge enhancement, but it is neither assertive nor detrimental to the enjoyment of the films. The detail is impressive. There are instances of oversaturated color, most noticeably blues in The Last Crusade and red in The Temple of Doom.

The two biggest flaws in the image (most noticeable in Raiders) are crushed blacks and 3:2 pulldown errors. The crushed blacks render the image too dark, so that you must strain to catch shadow detail. This leads me to question whether Raiders was supposed to be darker than we're accustomed to seeing it. In any case, the over dark scenes are watchable and brief, so this does not negatively affect the experience. Perhaps more distracting are the incorrect flags that lead to 3:2 pulldown errors. Incorrect flags make it seem like the camera is moving in and out of focus, or make people transform from normal to skinny and back. The misflags seem to be worst in the tarantula nest in Raiders, making Alfred Molina oscillate. Every studio is guilty of incorrect flags, and most people will not notice them because new DVD players correct for improper flags. Those such as myself who watch movies via home theater PC will notice many more problems.

Also, many of the 3-star, 2-star, 1-star Amazon reviews gripe about small changes of the film's original content! A scream by Marion (when first seeing the large snake in the Well of Souls) is removed (no sound) as Indy pulls here away - according to one reviewer.

I really hope this release in May will truely be remastered, so as to get the best possible versions.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

JIMI, you're posting information from the Paramount site about the VHS release!... remember that many years ago Indiana Jones movies were promoted as Chapters 24-26, when some of the Young Indiana Jones chapters were released on VHS as well. But if you read the press release at the official movie site (even here at DVDTOWN) informs you that the movies included in these new individual releases were originally restored and remastered in 2003, which is the same that the Trilogy DVD boxset already has.

I honestly haven't seen any of the flaws that DVDVerdict.com mentions, then again i wouldn't rely blindly on their reviews, it seems sometimes they just transcript what is written in the back cover of the releases, since in occasions they have claim a movie is widescreen anamorphic when is not, or that it contains a specific language, subtitle or bonus content that actually is not present. Regardless of that, the point is that the new individual DVD releases will contain the same master already offered in the Trilogy DVD boxset.

Again as for when the movies arrive in HD, that's yet to be seen if it's worth spending on them again. I'm sure some look forward for them on Blu-Ray, but the mayority is very pleased with the quality of the transfer in the Trilogy DVD boxset, which is excelent and looks superb upconverted, besides with Super Upconverting DVD players around the corner, you'll watch your already onwed DVD movies even better than you do now and within HD standarts.

[Post edited by genbar dardren on Mar 9, 2008]

genbar... can you provide a link or quote from this press release?

I went to their site again, under "studio" and "2008 press releases" - and there's no announcement about the 'INDY' DVD set for May(?).

If these are NOT going to be a new remaster, I'll pass until they do one for the Blu-ray, as other than 'Raiders' I'm not interested in buying a SD-DVD set, and would want Blu-ray HIGH-DEF, not a 'super-upconversion' Toshiba player later.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

I just checked the original DVDTOWN link (above) for this set, and the press release has been added below the main site announcement. It if it's the same edition from 2003, I will await a review as to it's quality. I have all 3 movies on Widescreen LaserDisc (425i, not anamorphic), but would rather make the jump to a future Blu-ray set, than get the DVDs (if of the same mastering quality as before). It's a hi-def world now, and I want the best (Blu-ray), rather than an upconverted DVD for a time before the eventual Blu-ray later.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Repeat after me, LUCAS is a CREEP a money hungry creep.

Quoting the press release for the 2008 individual Special Edition DVDs: "boast all-new, exclusive bonus features that dig deeper into the making of these cinematic milestones than ever before. All three were originally restored and remastered in 2003"

What does that tell us? That they're trying to sell us the same transfers of the movies, that they made in 2003 for the Trilogy DVD boxset, along with "new exclusive bonus features" that are mainly storyboards, image galleries, and interviews of the cast and crew of Indy 4 talking about the previous films, with minor clues about the new film... like we didn't have internet, newspapers, magazines and entertaiment TV shows to get such information, which will be outdated and obsolete once the film is released in movie theaters on May 2008.

And this is confirmed when the press release indicate that: "previously available only in a trilogy box set, the three films of "The Adventures of Indiana Jones," were restored and remastered to deliver an exceptional viewing experience to existing enthusiasts and a whole new generation of fans. All-new bonus content delves into the making of the legendary series as the filmmakers and cast look back and a new world of adventure opens up with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and others offering hints about what to expect in the newest installment."

If you want to know about the quality of the movies, you can read John J. Puccio comments on his review for the 2003 Trilogy DVD boxset. I understand and respect that you may want to wait until a Blu-ray edition eventually comes out, but that doesn't mean that everybody should or is willing to do the same, specially considering that millions of fans worldwide already own the Trilogy DVD boxset, which already provides high quality in picture and sound, which looks superb upconverted and since its first week of release in October 2003 to this date, has been very accesible in price so that everybody can purchase their own boxset.

If they indeed produce a new restored and remastered transfer for the movies when they release them on Blu-ray, no doubt they'll re-release them on DVD as well with that new transfer, because no movie studio is going to release movies exclusively on Blu-ray, and refuse to make a profit from the far greater number of DVD consumers out there, but since they made an excelent job restoring and remastering the movies in 2003, most likely they'll use that same transfer for Blu-ray, and since the movies were filmed in the 1980's with a soft natural look, i think most viewers will not notice a substancial difference or improvement from DVD to Blu-ray, when both are presented with the same transfer.

Based on how Blu-ray movies are priced currently, i think it will cost US$70 at least to buy the 3 Indiana Jones movies if they're released on Blu-ray, that's more than twice of what the 2003 Trilogy DVD boxset costs currently, on which they already did a excelent job restoring and remastering the movies. Therefore if most consumers already own these movies on DVD with high quality, they'll think twice before repurchasing them at such high expense, specially since a lot of people can't afford or isn't willing to spend more than US$10-15 for one movie.

[Post edited by genbar dardren on Mar 9, 2008]

Genbar... thanks for the follow-up points, and I understand your opinion better now. Will assume you are correct that these forthcoming May DVDs are the same master, so I'll wait for reviews (and probably just put 'Raiders' in my Netflix rental queve just to check out).

For myself, I've never owned these films on DVD [LaserDiscs only], so even with a higher cost (Blu-ray), I'd rather wait for a new HD remastering and the eventual Blu-ray set anyway (of all 4 in the series). And I'm patient too. Box Sets ALWAYS go down in price substantially within 3 months of release, so even when the Blu-ray set is released, I can wait awhile before purchasing at a discount (and can also rent these as well).

SPIDER-MAN Trilogy on Blu-ray was released last November, and after waiting a few months, the set was on sale a month or so ago for just $39.95 at my local Fry's - which I used their ad and did a price-match at Best Buy (and earned dollar values toward my regular Reward Zone cash-back coupons).

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

I don't like the "double-dipping" crap, either, but, what it comes down to is, don't fall for the new catch line, or new disc cover they use to lure you in with. If you don't like "double dipping", then stop buying when they come out with a shiny new bell or whistle to put on the discs. If you don't buy it, they'll stop selling it.

Case in point, I was looking through the standard DVD Section at Circuit City the other day, and found a Spielberg movie I've always wanted, but hadn't gotten around to buying yet, "Close Encounters". Of course, it's some new special edition with all kinds of features, and discs and a book of some kind, for something like $32!! As much as I want that movie, I'm just not going to pay $32 for a movie, especially when it's only standard definition.

Don't be a "compulsive buyer", I know what it's like, I still do it from time to time, but, if you ask yourself if the "new improved" version of the movie is really better, or if it's just a new DVD cover and 5 minutes of special features "never before seen". Is it really worth double-dipping the movie? More often than not, the answer is no.



- Josh

http://hddvdreviews.blogspot.com/2008/05/indiana-jones-adventure-collection.html

I saw the commercial for these individual new Indiana Jones DVD's today. What a joke. Does anyone really enjoy bonus content THAT much?

Get real, the remastered ones released in 2003 came with a bonus disc with a whole bunch of extras.

Good Old George, always finding a way to S-Q-U-E-E-Z-E a few more nickles from peoples pockets.

falcon,

i remember seeing blockbuster and hollywood video stores selling the discs from the previous box set separately (previously-viewed). if one could get a hold of the bonus disc, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to get the new set for the extras.

of course, there will be a four-movie box set down the line (in time for thanksgiving or christmas), but will all of the extras so far be available? what about the 1981 "making of" featurette for "raiders" that was available only at best buy for a limited time?

i'm tired of making these decisions...



eddie

I gotta remember to snap up the DVD's this time around...I love these movies but have never bothered to actually buy them on DVD or VHS.

FYI... Update

-Looks like Paramount made a smart decision in re-releasing the latest DVD editions of the Indiana Jones series...

> REPORT - DVD 'Spurred' INDIANA JONES Box Office Haul - a report from Home Media Daily

Nearly 30% of moviegoers who attended the May 22nd opening weekend release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull watched at least one of the original three installments on DVD in the preceding two weeks, according to a new report.

The fourth installment from director Steven Spielberg, nearly 20 years after the release of the third film in the series Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, generated more than $150 million at the U.S. box office in its first four days of release.

The study, conducted by Integrated Media Measurement Inc., a San Mateo, Calif.-based data tracking company, found that among moviegoers, 5.3% watched the three previous titles: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade 12% watched at least two of the movies.

The data was obtained via research panels whereby participants were given mobile phones that track (through digital signatures) all audio media (TV, radio and movies) to which they are exposed. -[END]-



Bonus Info - SOUNDTRACK REVIEW of the John Williams musical store for the latest Indiana Jones film - from the Admiral's Corner blog site (DVDTOWN member Eddie Feng).

_____________
-JIMI McLovin (the Voodoo Child)

I did actually watch Raiders two days before I watched KOTCS...but I had bought my set when it was first released, on 2003 I think...