So, unless you’re my grandma and you’re looking forward to seeing that new E.T. VHS that everyone in the nursing home has been buzzing about, you know that the next Indiana Jones flick, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, comes out this Summer on May 22.

Which inevitably means that Paramount will “celebrate” (read: cross-promote) the event by releasing a special edition collection of the first three Indy movies on DVD. Behold: Indiana Jones - The Adventure Collection.

Paramount graciously sent me a review copy of the DVD set. As “Special Edition” dictates, the collection overflows with extras. And some of the extras actually merit your attention:

• Introductions. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas talk about their inspirations, thoughts, notes, and approaches for each film. Not that I care what George Lucas has to say. But still… it’s revealing. And all the old behind-the-scenes footage (especially from Raiders) makes the viewing exercise doubly worthwhile.
• Documentaries. Here’s where you’ll find the real value in this edition. Each of these approximately-ten-minute documentaries features loads of behind-the-scenes footage and commentaries from the original players who oversaw some defining aspect of one or more of the Indy films. The creature wranglers who handled the snakes, bugs, and rats. The location planner who reveals where each of the supposedly-exotic locales was actually shot. (Hey, did you know that the canyon where Indy pointed the rocket launcher at the Ark was the same canyon where Jawas carried R2-D2 away?) The special effects designers who “melted” the Nazi face at the end of Raiders.
• Galleries. I enjoyed seeing high-rez still shots of many of the sets and special effects models, plus loads of images of promotional posters from around the world. (It’s nice to see that foreigners have the good sense to appreciate our classic cinema, even if they don’t have the sense to speak American.)

On the other hand, plenty of chaff occupies valuable digital space on these DVDs:

• Indiana Jones - An Appreciation. Appreciation would be one way to put it. Insufferable, self-congratulatory stroke-fest would be another. Ten minutes of Spielberg, Lucas, and the actors from Indy 4 (note that they couldn’t be bothered to gather up any of the other actors from the first three movies) sit around and talk about what a phenomenon the first three movies were. Yes, we know. Also? Shia LeBeouf? Worst. Haircut. Ever. I hope it’s worth it. P.S. Shut up.
• Storyboards. Thanks to this “extra,” you can compare a finished scene with the original storyboards. Guess what? The finished scenes are a lot more interesting, thanks to all the motion and acting and such. (Curiously, the storyboard artist portrayed Karen Allen’s role with cartoonishly huge boobs. Wishful thinking, I guess.)
• Indy’s Women - The American Film Institute Tribute. The leading ladies of the Indy movies sit around with the AFI and talk about their roles. Maybe I’d be more interested if they had their shirts off. Boring.
• Indy’s Friends and Enemies. Spielberg, Lucas, and other producers smugly pat themselves on the collective back for such developing such wonderful characters and for casting such perfect actors. Oh, and then they segue nicely into shamelessly shilling for Indy 4.
• LEGO Indiana Jones video game trailer and demo. Each disc features the very same trailer and demo that will surely be available online around the release date of the DVD set.

Considerable filler material aside, this special edition DVD set does offer several extras that will bring the original Indiana Jones trilogy even nearer and dearer to your heart. The Dolby Digital soundtrack doesn’t hurt, either.

Indiana Jones - The Adventure Collection hits the streets on May 13. You can win your own copy here on GWS.

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