Like most mega-pathetic movie spazzes, I bought this box set the day it came out. (Actually I bought this version, got home, freaked out, and brought it back to the store to exchange for the correct one.) The first "Adventures of Indiana Jones" package came with a fourth disc that has a two-hour documentary on the whole series, plus a handful of brief featurettes on stunts, sounds, magic, and music. Definitely some good stuff, but the movie discs (NOT sold separately) were entirely bare-bones affairs.

So there are two things that are welcomely different about the second Indiana Jones box set: A) Now you CAN purchase the movies individually, and B) there's no extra disc: This time around the extra features are on the "main feature" discs. This sounded pretty good to me, as I've been hoping for more "flick-specific" supplements on the re-issue ... but here's where I get a little annoyed: Obviously the new goodies are of a very high quality (given that they were overseen by DVD magic-man Laurent Bouzereau), but ... why so skimpy? I'll offer a few nerdy gripes and then offer a theory as to why this stuff happens, followed by a complete list of all the new features found on the latest Indy DVD set...

Indiana Jones -- The Adventure Collection
... or any of the three special editions -- Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade

We're just over a week and a half away from seeing Harrison Ford run around as Indiana Jones for the first time in almost twenty years in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and hopefully not collapse in an arthritic fit. Of course, that means putting out a collection for Indy buffs to buy -- just in time for a late-night triple feature before the big release. However, unlike the Die Hard re-do, which stripped tons of extras away, and other releases that just fill up landfill space, there is a perk in this whole money-grab: aside from getting them as a collection, you can pick them up for the first time separately.

That's music to my ears, since I detest Temple of Doom, and would be happy not to see it again. Pick up one, pick up a few, or pick them all up in the Adventure Collection, which is just the three special editions in a fancy cardboard box. Each disc has a bunch of extras -- intros, interviews, special effects, storyboards, and more. Some is old footage, but there's lots of new bits as well -- including a look at Skull on the Last Crusade DVD.

Buy the Collection | Buy Raiders | Buy Doom | Buy Crusade

You never know who is in the audience!

There is a letter that is going up for auction on eBay tomorrow, written by J.D. Salinger in 1981 to Janet Eagleson, a woman he had an affair with. (And this isn't the first time this has happened.) It's not a tumultuous letter of passion, but rather a catch-up note that includes his thoughts on a few films he had just seen.

First up, there's The Last Metro, which inspires him to say that it "wasn't exactly indelibly fine, but Deneuve herself maybe was, or came close... I'll coast on the Deneuve performance the rest of the summer. She was always a good actress, but had never seen her with all this much restraint and finesse."

But his thoughts on Raiders of the Lost Ark weren't so nice: "I got hooked into seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark, which might be excused for its unwitty, unfunny awful socko-ness if it had been put together by Harvard Lampoon seniors."

How fitting that someone decided to auction this puppy off as Indy gets ready for his next adventure on the big screen. I guess Salinger won't be going to see this latest installment. Should you want a letter typed by the famous recluse, bidding will start at $1,250.00.

[via Empire]

With Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull due out on May 22, George Lucas wants everyone to know that it's "just a movie." I did think the unused tagline "This will be the greatest piece of visual material your eyes will ever witness" was just a tad too much. Instead, I like "George Lucas says 'it's just a movie'" a whole lot better. USA Today sat down with The Lucas to talk about the hype surrounding this fourth installment, and how similar hype (with regards to those newer Star Wars flicks) has hurt the way fans have viewed the films in the past.

He says, "When you do a movie like this, a sequel that's very, very anticipated, people anticipate ultimately that it's going to be the Second Coming. And it's not. It's just a movie. Just like the other movies. You probably have fond memories of the other movies. But if you went back and looked at them, they might not hold up the same way your memory holds up." Really? Sure, I'll give you Speed 2: Cruise Control, but Raiders of the Lost Ark holds up quite well, IMO. He continues, "We came back to do (Indy) because we wanted to have fun. It's not going to make much money for us in the end. We all have some money. ... It would make a lot of money if you weren't rich. But we're not doing it for the money."

I absolutely love the line ... "it would make a lot of money if you weren't rich." Yeah, thanks George for reminding us that half a billion dollars (or more, probably) is, like, the equivalent of a couple nickels and dimes for you. Indiana Jones and the Quest for More Money No One Needs arrives in theaters on May 22.

p.s. Is it just me, or is anyone else dying to spot Lucas wearing a "Don't Believe the Hype" t-shirt?

Hey movie fans, here's a question: Do you presently own that 4-disc Adventures of Indiana Jones box-set? The one with all three movies and an extra disc with a bunch of supplemental stuff? And if so, are you pleased with this possession? Do you feel it somehow demands an upgrade?

Then here's some good news: Just in time for the theatrical release of Indiana Jones and the Location of an Amazingly Wordy Relic ... new DVDs! Yeah, I'd probably be a little more excited if someone had forced George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford to sit down and record some audio commentaries -- but I guess those will have to wait for Indy's 50th Anniversary Collection.

According to DVDActive, the new Indy DVDs (available separately or as a box-set) will arrive on May 13, and as far as "new goodies" are concerned, I'm not overtly impressed. You won't find a bigger Indy fan than yours truly, and I highly doubt I'll be investing another $50 on this set. I'll just wait for the next one. (After the jump: All the extra features!)

Have you had your fill of Indiana Jones IV spoilers yet? Well, if you can tolerate one more, keep reading. I've got a new one for you. But first, I would like to direct your attention an amusing report from the Associated Press. It's about how the Indy production has moved shop over to Hawaii's Big Island, specifically to the Hamakua Coast, north of Hilo. It also reveals that, according to the Aloha State's film commissioner, the production is still going by the name "The Untitled Genre Project." Okay, here's the funny part: the report contains the following misspellings: "Raiders of the Lost Arc," "Shia LeBeouf," and "Cate Blanchet." I know, I shouldn't talk, because I've been known to confuse the spellings of Columbia (Pictures) and Colombia (the country). And I must forgive the fact that LaBeouf and Blanchett do have difficult names. If I was to ever misspell Raiders of the Lost Ark, though, I would hope to get a million comments calling for my resignation from blogging about movies (that would be about a thousand more than I currently get, right?).

Anyway, now that I've given enough filler, I can get on with the spoiler. The Honolulu Advertiser claims (via IGN) Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford are shooting the opening sequence near a Hamakua waterfall. This scene involves Indiana Jones fighting with Russian soldiers. If this is correct, it could be similar to the opening sequence of Raiders, the only other Indy pic that starts in a jungle setting. So, is everything about this sequel going to evoke the first movie? We've already heard rumors that the plot again revolves around the Ark of the Covenant. Personally, I'd rather see Indiana Jones in Jurassic Park than a repeat artifact. With Spielberg and George Lucas now in Hawaii, he can still change his mind and go in that direction. Since the Hawaii location will probably be harder to find for fans and paparazzi, I expect fewer images and videos from the latest sets, but maybe we'll at least get something official from Lucasfilm one of these days. In addition to Hamakua, shooting will take place near Keaau at a secluded piece of Shipman Estates property, which is also being used for equipment storage and set construction.

I'll admit that as much as I love Indiana Jones and his cinematic adventures -- Raiders is one of my all-time favorite movies -- I wasn't in love with his TV incarnation known as The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Maybe its because the show didn't have Harrison Ford as Indy or that it featured Indy as a kid or that it tried to make me learn something when all I wanted was a little adventure? I don't know for sure but something about it made me not love it at the time. Fortunately, it appears I'm going to get another chance to try and appreciate the series come October.

How, you may wonder? Well, according to TV Shows On DVD, Volume One of the "groundbreaking" TV series is finally on its way to store shelves and your DVD library. According to the site, the DVD collection, which was supposed to be released five years ago, will finally see the light of day on October 23rd. In case you've forgotten (or never knew in the first place), the series followed the adventures of Indiana Jones as both a young and older man "growing up and experiencing his early adventures, where he gets into trouble, learns life lessons and encounters various historical figures along the way."

Other than the street date and the description of the show, the studio was pretty vague about other details concerning the box set of DVDs. However, seeing the treatment given to the DVDs of the three Indiana Jones films and the fact that a fourth feature -- currently known as Indiana Jones and the City of Gods -- is in the middle of shooting, I would bet the upcoming TV show DVDs will end up looking and sounding good and come chock-full of extras and bonus features -- factors that will definitely help earn the series a second look by me when it becomes available.

As I said just the other day, before the actual movie comes out, a lot of us are going to know way too much about Indiana Jones 4. If you are one of those who don't want to know possible plot spoilers, you should definitely stop reading right now. Even though the following is just a rumor, it could be true. And just the chance that it could be true might have you thinking about it for the next year or so.

According to Quint at Aint it Cool News, two separate sources have revealed that the next movie brings the franchise full circle by returning focus to the Ark of the Covenant. Yes, just like in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy will be searching for the Ark, but this time he will be saving it from the hands of the Russians rather than the Nazis (remember, this film takes place in the '50s). Also mentioned is the connectable tidbit that John Hurt is playing Abner Ravenwood, who is referenced in Raiders as Marion's father, who had supposedly died while searching for the Ark. Now, I'm really disappointed Sean Connery isn't doing this; we could have had both of Shia LaBeouf's character's grandfathers in the same movie. I don't know why that would be interesting, but wouldn't it be?

So, never mind that chronologically the next Indiana Jones movie doesn't bookend with Raiders. Why not have him go after those rocks from the Temple of Doom again? (Besides the fact that that would suck). Anyway, Quint doesn't really think this could be the actual plot, and he claims to have other sources giving him other information. Personally, I'm hoping for the Chariots of the Gods storyline that we've heard about in the past. I liked imagining Indiana Jones and the Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This new plot rumor sounds more like Raiders of the Lost Ark II, which goes completely against what I love about the franchise -- that each adventure is pretty much a stand-alone story. We must remember how disappointing and redundant Spielberg's last sequel was (and that it was also written by David Koepp), so maybe this one could be somewhat of a retread. Or, it could be all about Indy's search for The Great White Pyramid. Hopefully we'll keep getting more of these rumors so that we have no idea which one to believe and then can still be surprised come Memorial Day 2008.

According to a recent report that surfaced over at Dark Horizons, stalwart Indiana Jones sidekick Sallah, played by John Rhys-Davies in both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade will not be appearing in the fourth installment of the franchise. I'm not sure if this exactly qualifies as a "travesty" or not, but it is a little disappointing, especially as Sallah was a very important part of Raiders and provided the film with some of its best lines, like: "Snakes, you go first" and the classic "Bad dates." So, why is he reportedly not being included in Indy 4?

According to the site, Rhys-Davies was asked about his appearance in the film at a recent Sci-Fi convention in New Zealand. He answered that, through a third party, he was told his character was written out of the script in favor of "a younger cast." If that's really the reason he was given for not being in the film, I have to wonder a little about it. And, if his character was "written out," could it be that at one point it was "written in?" Not to be a nit-picker but according to IMDB, Rhys-Davies is actually two years younger than Harrison Ford. Although, I guess you can't really have an Indiana Jones movie without Indiana Jones. Plus, Lucas and Spielberg probably decided that one old guy running around getting into fights, swinging from a bullwhip, shooting bad guys and protecting antiquities was enough for one movie. Thinking about it like that I guess I can't really blame them. Still, what's next, no Short Round either?

I don't care what George Lucas has to do, but Sean Connery must appear in the new Indiana Jones film. Also, I want him to get Karen Allen, Kate Capshaw, John Rhys-Davies and Jonathan Ke Quan. Heck, while he's at it, I want him to bring Denholm Elliott back to life. River Phoenix, too. Because, see, this film is such an important event that it needs to feature all the major players. It will be a huge success anyway, but just think of how satisfied audiences will be if there's at least a cameo from each of the familiar characters? Lucas knows the significance of nudging the fans -- it is one of the few things he did right with his Star Wars prequels. I'm going to go ahead and assume this will be the last time we see Indy's life on the big screen, so I think it makes sense for Lucas to go all out, spend a fortune and secure the goods we want, including Connery. Ten months ago, Lucas expressed interest in Connery's return, and as of this week he's still trying to get the actor to agree to reprise his role of Henry Jones.

Unfortunately, Connery quit the movie business. But he could come out of retirement for the right price. We know this is true because of two things. Number one: he told reporters in January that he would "perhaps" be in the film but was waiting to see the script. Number two: he told reporters in March that he would also play James Bond's father if offered enough money. So, it looks like he'd do just about anything depending on the size of the check waved at him. So, the question is, can Lucas afford him? Despite all my sarcasm in the paragraph above, I think that Lucas should just leave Connery be and rework whatever is in the script that's calling for his character. After all, the films are called Indiana Jones and ... , not Henry and Indiana Jones and .... Yeah, it was a blast seeing Indy and his father, but surely we can move on to whatever or whoever else is introduced to us in the fourth installment. Like that son we keep hearing rumors about.

Does Speed Racer have what it takes to go against Indiana Jones? I doubt it, but at the moment the cartoon adaptation is scheduled for the same weekend as the next sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Paramount Pictures has gone and narrowed down the previously reported release target and announced that it will open what it is now only referring to as "The Fourth Installment of Indiana Jones" on Thursday, May 22, 2008, which is one day before Warner Bros.' release date for Speed Racer.

Sure, Memorial Day weekend is long enough for multiple new releases, but not usually for two tentpoles. So, obviously, Speed Racer is going to have to move out. Sure, the film is the Wachowski Brothers' official follow-up to The Matrix trilogy (the unofficial was V for Vendetta), but it would take a lot to convince audiences to avoid the first Indy film in nearly 20 years. It will already be hard enough for Speed Racer to attract the audiences away from Iron Man (I'm looking forward to this and I never even read the comic) and the second picture in the Narnia franchise, which will open May 2 and May 16, respectively.

Of course, we're talking about a time that is 15 months away. Anything can happen to any of these movies in that time. But everyone needs to keep in mind that Indiana Jones will rule the summer. Even if it sucks, it will still outperform the rest -- remember the last time George Lucas released a disappointing sequel?

So after years of waiting, wondering and whining, now we get the word from George Lucas himself. The as-yet-untitled Indiana Jones 4 will begin shooting next year. Seems that Lucas and Steven Spielberg have finally signed off on a screenplay they like, and Paramount has already circled May 2008 for the release date. Obviously Harrison Ford will be returning to play the globe-trotting troublemaker, most likely for one last hurrah ... but boy it'll be fun, I bet.

That's all the real news we've gotten so far, but stop by ComingSoon.net to see their full report.

For those who've been living exclusively in the arthouses for the past twenty years, Indiana Jones is the swaggering hero found in three Steven Spielberg films: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). All three flicks represent a whole lot of old-fashioned adventure-time fun, but it's the original that still holds up as maybe one of the best movies ever made. (It just never gets old. Trust me.)

Long in development, the fourth chapter has been semi-promised for ages, and the lengthy screenwriting process has involved the likes of Tom Stoppard, M. Night Shyamalan, Chris Columbus, Frank Darabont, Jeff Nathanson and David Koepp -- although I bet there were even more than that. Rumors have been running rampant about the project for years (Kevin Costner as Indy's brother!?!) but just last week Lucas said "It's going to be the best one yet."

Yeah, we'll see about that.

Want to know what Karen Allen is up to these days? Ask her yourself. Want to know what it was like working with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford? Ask her yourself. Want to know if the rumors are true about her showing up in Indiana Jones 4? Ask her yourself. Seriously. Karen Allen is doing a Q&A at the Paris Theatre this weekend after screenings of Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which she co-stars as love-interest Marion Ravenwood. The screenings take place Friday night and Saturday night at 10pm and tickets are $10.50 (order them on Moviefone now, before they sell out).

Even if Raiders wasn't such a great film, and a huge blockbuster hit, Allen would still be an interesting actress to go and see. Other seminal films she's starred in include Animal House, Starman, Scrooged and The Sandlot (if you don't believe The Sandlot is a seminal film, you don't know enough people under the age of 25). She'll probably be limiting the discussion to Raiders, though, so make sure to think of questions about that film only. Don't worry, I'm sure you can prepare a bunch.