Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection (DVD)

If you like movies and are a person, you probably have at least some fond memories of the Indiana Jones trilogy. True to his money-grubbing ways, George Lucas aims to capitalize and conveniently push the new Indy joint with Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection, the new, nicely-priced box set that includes the original films for what is presumably their last time as a trilogy. This sound good in theory, but is it really worth it? Yes and no.

Watching these movies for the first time in years has been a truly enjoyably experience for me. Like many film-buffs I have very pleasant childhood memories of just how awesome Indy's adventures were, and am ecstatic to tell you that they mostly hold up extremely well. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is the only entry in the series that has not aged too well and, while still fun (and the first Indiana Jones movie I ever saw), its meandering, grotesque spectacle simply does not hold up to tight, fast-paced brilliance of Raiders of the Lost Ark or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. As much as I've criticized Spielberg as a director in the past, I must say he did a fantastic job with those two.

These movies are pure entertainment at their finest and never lose their wit, despite having been conceived of as cheapie B-movies. I'll even say Raiders may be Spielberg's finest filmmaking achievement ever, including his "serious" movies like Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan or Munich. It's infinitely more inventive than those efforts, and obviously much more rewatchable. Come to think of it, all of the Indy movies possess these qualities. I may have my gripes with Spielberg, but these films are clearly the work of a man at the peak of his powers, and are inarguably great. Watching these for the hundredth time is just as exciting as seeing them the first, and they just don't get old (except Temple of Doom, that is). Whenever I make the time for Indiana Jones I find myself filled with a sense of childhood awe I rarely feel, and I'm sure I'm not alone. These movies are still incredible, and probably always will be.

Unfortunately, the special features do not live up to the movie. They're of the generic variety, and tend to have more of the cast from The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull than the original movies. That said, the featurettes would be much more watchable if they did not include Shia LaBeouf. Actually, the world would be a better place without Shia.

I don't care whether you're a snobbish, jaded Spielberg/Lucas basher like me or an easy-going thrill seeker that loves everything. It doesn't matter. These are movies to be owned and cherished, but not necessarily in this set. While I can say it's fairly well packaged and the price is unbeatable, those who think they may like The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull should hold off until they see that, and decide if the inevitable four-movie collection will be worth their money. For everyone else, though, enjoy Indy the way he's meant to be enjoyed while you still can. One awesome trilogy, nothing extraneous, no Shia.