Indiana Jones - The Adventure Collection (Special Editions of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark / Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom / Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)

Look, if you just want to watch the three movies then buy this set because it's great. The graphics are beautiful and packaged in a smaller dvd box. If you want the sneak peeks and all the other special scenes, just find it and watch it online. I wouldn't reccomend you to buy this if you want the new extras, sneak peeks or things like that.

If you just want to watch the classic trilogy again, then i suggest you to buy this because its wonderful.

Will you bitter people please stop trolling with bad reviews. Double dipping does suck but it's not like it's an unheard of concept. It was even praised in the recent Ultimate Collector's Edition Blade Runner. Although in this case it's a more modest double dip. The new extra features aren't a big deal, they're just fluff conjured up for this new release to coincide with the movie and nothing to get so fussed up over. People new will be able to get this set and if they want the better special features from the last set they can buy that disc used for a buck.

I've not seen these movies in years but decided to subject my wife to a 7 hour Jones marathon over the weekend. Now I can't get that damned John Williams music out of my head.

It's amazing how the plots don't make any sense whatsoever. I totally missed that as a child, which probably explains why the Harvard scholarship eluded me. Actually, not only are they completely nonsensical, but actually the plot jumps wouldn't be tolerated in a movie today. Cases in point:

1. How in the hell did a former girlfriend have the bronze amulet that gains access to the Ark? (And she was wearing that around her neck.)
2. How did the Nazis follow Jones or find her 5 minutes after he arrived?
3. Indy only helps the Nazis to find the Ark more quickly, and then the Ark kills them all anyway (this problem was repeated in the first Tomb Raider, weirdly enough).

... and it goes on and on. You could write hundreds of these.

The screenwriting process here is like two caffeine-fueled comic book fans in competition to produce the most outrageous 'and-then' moment:

#1: "Now he gets shot in the arm by a Nazi!"
#2: "Yeah but now he gets punched out of the windshield of the car!"
#1: "BUT he crawls under the moving car and climbs up the other side!"
#2: "And then THE NAZI gets thrown out of the windshield!"
#1: "BUT only out of the side that's not already broken!"
#2: "Yeah but HE gets run over the truck he was driving!"
#1: "GREAT! More double-whip no-chai extra-shot latte?"
#2: "Sure. Have we mentioned any aliens yet?"

But who cares because they're fun movies and Jones is such a good screen character that it's a joy to watch all the BS. I mean, compare these to The Mummy movies, and it's obvious which series people will watch in 10, 20, 30 years time.

Doom is the weakest of the three - uncharacteristically dark and sadistic - with the story only kicking off after the midpoint of the film. The sidekick and romantic interests are annoying, and they don't have the 'Champagne bad guy', so the main villain seems very flat. The Last Crusade is clearly when everyone got comfortable with the formula, and is the most expertly made in terms of balance of action scenes, humor and mild drama.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by how much sheer fun I had rewatching the set after 15 years - I'm looking forward to #4. It's actually great to see films without CGI in every damned scene... it reminds me of why hanging off a bridge seems like a dangerous idea.

PS - The extras are so-so. Don't buy this set if you've already got the films since the 10-15 mins of extras on each disc are disappointing.

Before I begin, let me note there are THREE different Indiana Jones' sets. Two of them came out in 2003 (one was full-screen, the other widescreen). The one discussed in my review will be the newest one.

All the films are in widescreen format and each come with a behind the scenes look at each film along with other extras too numerous to mention here.

Now, for my opinions of each:

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - Indiana Jones races to get the legendary Ark Of The Covenant from the hands of the Nazis. Along the way, he encounters an old flame from the past which is revisited in the fourth film "Kingdom Of The Krystal Skull."

TEMPLE OF DOOM - After nearly escaping death from a chinese gang, Indiana Jones crash lands in India with singer Willie Scott and a little chinese kid named Short Round. Seeing the plight of these people, he agrees to help them save their children from slavery and recover their Shakara stone from an occult group.

It should be fair to note that this film, while fun, is the darkest of the three that are out so far and some parts may not be suitable for kids.

THE LAST CRUSADE - While trying to find his missing father (played by Sean Connery), Indiana Jones becomes involved in a chase for the cup of Christ. The very cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper before his crucifixion. Again, he goes against the Nazis in this two mission race.

All three films are great thrill rides in my view! I am personally biased towards Temple Of Doom but all of them are great. I also think these film put Harrison Ford's name on the map, moreso than Star Wars did (only my opinion).

Anyway, if you haven't bought the original box sets, then pick up the new one! Worth the buy!

Despite what the advertisements say, this is not the first time these movies are on DVD. It's a shameless double dip only being released to cash in on the new Indy movie. It's insulting that the studios think we're stupid enough to fall for it, although many people are apparently being suckered into buying it.