Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures (Raiders of the Lost Ark / Temple of Doom / Last Crusade / Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) [Blu-ray]

I have to say that the new Blu-ray box was worth the wait. The opportunity to see the older Indy adventures in HD at long last certainly justifies the upgraded price.VIDEO QUALITY:Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)Score: 4.5/5Replace the original production year of 1981 with 2012, show the Blu-ray, and those not in-the-know would not be any the wiser. Raiders of the Lost Ark looks like a brand-new movie. The frame-by-frame restoration is nothing short of a minor miracle for film fans and, if there was ever a list compiled of movies deserving -- demanding, even -- of the purest, most precise restoration possible, Raiders would be amongst them. The restoration, and its presentation on Blu-ray, does wonders for the film. Those who grew up watching it on television or on VHS in particular will be in for a treat, and even fans who purchased the DVD trilogy set from a few years back will instantly recognize the gargantuan improvement in picture quality. The movie plays even better with a clear, well-defined picture. Seeing it big and seeing it with this much attention to detail and with such a pure film-like picture quality is nearly akin to seeing it for the first time. The movie begins with arguably its weakest visual sequence. The adventurers traverse through dense jungle defined by bright green foliage and dark, sometimes overwhelmingly so, shadows. Blacks fluctuate a bit, appearing a bit too overpowering in some places and a touch too gray in others, but the push towards either side is minimal. Low-light detail isn't extraordinary, but the image is crisp and accurate, despite some soft-focus shots. Errant noise is introduced into a few shots. The cave interior offers some fabulous textures as seen on stone floors and walls, natural woods, and the crisp lines of the idol itself. The subsequent chase scene -- Indy running from the Hovitos -- reveals the film's brightest and most well-defined shots yet; the clarity and colors dazzle, and the crispness and definition of grasses, leaves, and even the plane will startle longtime viewers. The following stateside classroom scenes offer naturally warm and well-defined woods and a stability and evenness to the image that breathes new life into the film's calmest stretch and one of its most critical establishing sections.It's when the movie begins its second act and the action shifts to Cairo that things truly begin to dazzle. The transfer is at its absolute demo-worthy best as Indy runs through the city, trying to rescue Marion before she's placed in the truck packed with explosives. The intricate detailing on the earthen colored façades, the sandy terrain, the wicker baskets, and the dusty clothes is nothing short of mesmerizing. Every last finite element is brought to dazzling life with the sort of clarity and perfect resolution usually reserved for the newest and finest Blu-ray titles. Colors are every bit as impressive. The aqua-colored doors and various shades of tan and white dazzle in their natural accuracy. The image springs to life like never before, or at least not since its theatrical screenings. The interior of the map room is equally stunning; close-ups in those shots of Indy dusting off the floor reveal every last grain of sand with a breathtaking tactile appearance, not to mention the rough stone work revealed underneath. The darkened Well of Souls location reveals wonderful shadow detail and stability, and the final sequence displays all of the gory after-effects of the Ark's opening with face-melting and head-exploding precision. It's a breathtaking transfer that will leave fans with a permanent smile and eager to watch it again. The downsides are few. There's the occasional white speckle, infrequent but present and most readily evident in the film's early classroom sequence (with the "Love You" girl). There's also a fingerprint-like smudge visible on the Cairo sky around the 58-minute mark, seen at the top of the screen and just center-left of the middle of the screen. Still, despite a few minor hiccups, this is Raiders of the Lost Ark as it was meant to be seen and one of the finest catalogue Blu-ray transfers on the market.The Temple of Doom (1984)Score: 4.5/5The Temple of Doom looks just as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's a warmer picture, with reddish flesh tones and a whole lot of fiery highlights in its second half. Red is definitely the predominant color throughout -- from Willie's ornate red dress and Indy's red lapel flower in Shanghai to the hellish depths of Pankot -- and it can be a bit bold, but the color palette in total is quite impressive, from the yellow raft to the blue turban riflemen seen at film's end. The palace's rich red and gold adornments and the mine's steamy blacks and grays are represented with pure, accurate shading. Black levels are rock-solid, too, critical down in the lower depths and darker realms and bug-infested rooms that are so prominent in the film's second half. Detail is striking. From the beginning during Indy's lounge confrontation with Lao Che and on through to the final action scene on the bridge with Mola Ram, the image offers dazzling clothing and facial textures that reveal every skin crease, bead of sweat, and clothing stitch with pinpoint precision. The decorative palace dazzles, the bugs appear sharply defined and are as shapely and creepy as ever, and the underground chambers offer refined and natural shapes. The film's best scene comes at the end during the battle on the bridge. The worn-down wood and frayed rope textures are absolutely striking, never mind the sweaty and filthy and tattered clothes worn by a tired and banged-up archaeologist. The image enjoys a light but critical grain structure that provides the finishing touches to a superb film-like image. Transfers like this are why Blu-ray was made!The Last Crusade (1989)Score: 5/5Just as The Last Crusade might be the best movie of the bunch, its 1080p video transfer may be the finest in the collection. It's an extraordinary example of an older film appearing on Blu-ray with the looks of a brand-new movie. There's nary a flaw to be found, save for another random smudge or two (and these are verified on two televisions), most evident at the 5:15 mark, seen on a blue sky in a shot of young Indy about to jump down on his horse. Otherwise, this one's flawless. It's sharp and extraordinarily crisp, with every element supremely defined, from the rocky Utah mountains to the cobweb-infested final resting place of the Holy Grail. Those rocky textures are striking to say the least, complexly detailed even at a distance and with such precision and that viewers can nearly feel the rough surface just by looking at it. Clarity is so precise, in fact, that even close-ups of the Grail diary are easily read, and the introduction of the half-piece of the stone tablet offers startling detail across its well-worn surface. From the streets of Venice to the shadowy underground chamber located beneath the church-turned-library where "X" actually does mark the spot, from within the airship over Germany to the sandy beaches below, there's not a detail that's not brilliantly captured and beautifully displayed. Colors are equally brilliant, appearing even and accurate from the lightest earthen hues to brightest of red Nazi flags and armbands. Black levels are wonderful and flesh tones are even. The image is solidified by a steady layer of grain that puts the finishing touches on one of the best-looking Blu-ray releases ever, catalogue or otherwise.The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)Score: 4.5/5Once again, Indy shines on Blu-ray. This time, the results are not at all surprising. It's the newest picture in the set by nearly twenty years and the only one with a previously released Blu-ray to its credit. As expected, the image dazzles. Not one of the previous three films yield an overpowering grain structure, but all three are a bit more obvious to the eye than the one in The Crystal Skull. The film's grain is fine to say the least, and the picture has a slightly smoother, sometimes overly bright and nearly blown-out sheen about it, but there's no evidence of harmful scrubbing. Details are extraordinary throughout the film, revealing the most complex textures this side of The Last Crusade. Facial textures are nothing short of fantastic, whether Indy's weathered and worn mug or Spalko's ultra-smooth skin that by design reveals not a single line or pore. The image is crisp and so well defined that some shots are just starling in their stability and natural accuracy, from the warm wooden accents within Marshall college to the dense jungles of Peru. It's during a truck chase in the latter that the film finds its single-best scene. Beat-up trucks, complex vegetation, and all of the dusty clothing details come together for a sparkling sequence that produces some of the finest film-like textures in the entire series. Colors are equally brilliant. Whether those rich green leaves or the pastel rainbow that defines the homes and accents around the nuclear family test town, the transfer handles each and every shade with striking realism. Even red and yellow ketchup bottles appear so natural that viewers might be momentarily mistaken into believing they're in a retro diner with Mutt and Indy and not in the comforts of the ultra-modern home theater. Black levels are superb and skin tones largely natural, though sometimes slightly pushing towards a gentle red or orange shading. This ranks right up there with the rest of the Indy Blu-ray presentations in terms of raw visual excellence. It's a somewhat different sort of look to be sure but certainly no less impressive.AUDIO QUALITY:Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)Score: 5/5Raiders of the Lost Ark has never sounded so good. Paramount's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack dazzles with every explosion, all the supporting sound effects, and of course each note of John Williams' acclaimed, classic, and instantly recognizable main theme. Right from the get-go -- the Paramount logo that dissolves into a similar-looking Peruvian mountain -- the track introduces deep bass notes into the soundstage that are potent but not unnaturally so, strong enough to give a good, steady shake but not tear the theater's foundation apart. The audience is simultaneously immersed into the jungle environment; striking ambience gently surrounds the listener, and the cacophony is made complete with the precise inclusion of Williams' opening notes that are both foreboding and fun. Bass continues its even and natural assault as the temple collapses and the boulder rolls through the soundstage, all but destroying the couch and television in its path. As Indy, Jock, and Reggie soar into the sky in escape, so too does Williams' music soar, playing clearly, crisply, loudly, evenly, and with positive surround support. The roar of the engine is heard and felt as the plane carrying Indy to Nepal takes off, and the gunfire inside Marion's bar that follows explodes into the stage; automatic weapons chatter erupts from all over the listening area and Indy's pistol shots boom with heavy authority. In Cairo, the track continues with its excellence, immersing the listening audience into the environment and providing clear and potent explosions and gunfire. Even subtleties such as gently blowing wind chimes heard when Indy and Sallah take the headpiece to be translated will amaze audiences with the lifelike sound. Action scenes, even under blaring music and heavy effects, manage to incorporate pinpoint sound elements. A squeaky door hinge during the truck chase sequence sounds so real that listeners might turn their heads to see who's opening the door to the home theater. The swirling spirits and gusty winds at film's end penetrate the listening area with frightening accuracy. Dialogue is even and never lost under surrounding music or effects, though there are a few quieter moments where it could benefit from an uptick in volume, such as the scene in which Indy and Marcus meet with Army Intelligence in the college lecture hall. Overall, this is one impressive soundtrack, a complete and wholly satisfying listening experience from start to finish. Like the video, it's as if it were recorded yesterday. This is movie buff and Blu-ray audio heaven rolled into one.The Temple of Doom (1984)Score: 5/5The Temple of Doom roasts sound systems with a superb DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Once again, music startles with its clarity and precise spacing. It spreads evenly and with tremendous room-filling balance, including a healthy and seamless surround sound integration. Williams' score is the sonic highlight in a movie with a number of wonderful sound elements, beginning with a precise and smooth dance number. Willie's vocals aren't piercing or intrusively sharp but rather lifelike. Her singing subtly and effectively drifts off to the side when she moves towards the right side of the soundstage (from the audience's perspective), but the effect is short-lived and the vocals remain naturally focused in the center. The ensuing chaos is nicely delivered, with plenty of fast-moving sonic niceties filling the stage but doing so with a natural presence that places the listening audience in the middle of the night club. When the heroes escape, Lao Che's plane whirs across the stage with good power, and the coming crash and sonic assault that sees Indy and company slide down a mountainside on an inflatable raft is met with loud but balanced and seamless power. Village exteriors and a nighttime camping scene offer fabulous natural ambience, the kind that effortlessly encircles the audience and perfectly recreates the natural sounds of life. Paramount's track handles the heaviest final act action moments with the precision listeners demand. The clanking around the mining site is true, and the sense of power delivered by both the rushing water and the shrieking, rattly ride through the mine's cart system places listeners in the midst of the underground action. It's a demo-worthy stretch that throws a whole lot of sound at the audience but does so with clarity even through the most challenging sound elements. Rounded into shape by pitch-perfect dialogue reproduction, The Temple of Doom's lossless soundtrack comes through in every scene.The Last Crusade (1989)Score: 5/5It might feel like old hat to read the same sort sorts of insights into these audio tracks, but one will likely never grow tired of listening to them. In short, this is another rip-roaring, all-in, completely satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. It's every bit as good as both Raiders and Temple in its fullness, spacing, bass, and clarity. Musical delivery is typically stunning, whether fast-paced action notes or more gentle dramatic elements. Spacing is true, the surrounds are used to marvelous effect, and the clarity of every note through the entire range is perfect. The Action scenes tell the same kind of story. Every moment is energized and precise, whether something as simple as a galloping horse across a pebbly Utah terrain or bursts of automatic weapons fire all but tearing the listening area to shreds. The heaviest elements -- waves crashing and rain pouring and thunder booming in a nighttime, ship-top fight sequence early in the film -- offer unbeatable clarity and precision even through the most potent and sonically intense assault in the movie. Later, a raging fire engulfs the listening area, planes zip from one speaker to the next, and an artillery shell zooms across the stage and impacts in the rear with nearly frightening accuracy, never mind the low end sensation that is the impact and explosion. A single gunshot near film's end that puts a bullet in one of the characters bangs with effortless power and reverberates through the cavernous locale for some time, yielding a believable lifelike effect. Gentle ambience defines many of the quieter scenes and always plays seamlessly and clearly, placing the listeners in each of the film's numerous locations. Lastly, dialogue is true and pure, delivered faultlessly from the center. The Last Crusade, considering the quality of the film and its amazing video and audio presentations, just may be the year's reference catalogue title.The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)Score: 5/5This has been a set of revelatory audio. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull's soundtrack is just as good, but not at all unexpectedly so. It's made the switch to DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless from the 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track from the film's original Blu-ray release. Both are expert sound presentations. As with the other films, this DTS track absolutely dazzles from the opening shot to the end credits with its impressive, immersive, and infallible sound presentation. Music is one again brilliantly reproduced, with crisp, detailed notes through the entire range and a pleasing low end that's the right balance between "strong" and "overpowering." Music drifts to the sides and into the backs with a natural flow that effortlessly envelops the listening audience with John Williams' wonderful score. Gunfire is rhythmic and strong, from the opening barrage of automatic weapons fire at the military checkpoint that sounds and feels like it's ripping through the stage from front to back and on through to the rattling and ricocheting of the various shots heard during the jungle chase sequence. Even the whooshing sound of a rocket-propelled grenade ripping through the listening area will leave listeners slowly getting back off of the floor from in front of or behind the couch, having taken cover from the incoming explosive. In the nuclear test town, an alarm klaxon blares in the distance with great strength and sonic foreboding. The nuclear blast itself isn't quite as rumbly and potent as some listeners might expect -- it's more about strong winds than it is sheer force and bass -- but the cumulative effect will leave listeners all but feeling the heat and the blast's concussive power. The track does find plenty of energy in the triple water fall scene, where the crashing liquid surrounds the stage and delivers so much power that the neighbors won't fall back asleep for a week. Even better, the clarity of the moment is unbeatable; it's not just a barrage of sound but a barrage of accurate sound. Even the more subtle effects impress in placement, spacing, and movement. Floating gunpowder (it makes sense in the movie) flies from one speaker to the next with seamless precision. Lifelike ambient effects surround the viewer, whether the din of a hectic crowd of teenagers waiting to visit with Dr. Jones or the cacophony of Peruvian wildlife heard in various exterior scenes. It's a wonderful track, and with its pitch-perfect dialogue reproduction, it's at the very least as good as the rest of the Indy listens, if not the best and most finely detailed of the bunch.

It was great to see that 4 of the 5 Indiana Jones movies are available in this package. I was hoping for all 5 to be available, but it's ok. The packaging is beautiful and even comes with an extra disc loaded with the 'making of' features. This is definately for the Indiana Jones collector. It's a treasure!

CONTENT:Disc One: Raiders of the Lost ArkTeaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer, Re-Issue TrailerDisc Two: The Temple of DoomTeaser Trailer, Theatrical TrailerDisc Three: The Last CrusadeTeaser Trailer, Theatrical TrailerDisc Four: The Kingdom of the Crystal SkullTheatrical Trailer (3)Disc Five: Bonus FeaturesOn Set with Raiders of the Lost ArkFrom Adventure to LegendMaking the Films:The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)The Making of Raiders of the Lost ArkThe Making of The Temple of DoomThe Making of The Last CrusadeThe Making of The Kingdom of the Crystal SkullBehind the Scenes:The Stunts of Indiana JonesThe Sound of Indiana JonesThe Music of Indiana JonesThe Light and Magic of Indiana JonesRaiders: The Melting Face!Indiana Jones and the Creepy CrawliesTravel with Indiana Jones: LocationsIndy's Women: The American Film Institute TributeIndy's Friends and EnemiesIconic PropsThe Effects of IndyAdventures in Post ProductionWell, what can I say? These are, all four, great enjoyable movies. I would rate them in this order: Last Crusade, Raiders, Crystal Skull/Temple of Doom (a tie). Unlike "reviewers" who dislike the fourth movie, I am happy to have all the movies in one place. And the price, $39.99, is unbeatable. I'm a lazy reviewer. If you want the detailed, technical review, go to xxx-xxx.xxx. (Amazon doesn't allow external urls. Suffice it to say, the name of the media format, BLU-RAY, is the name of the site.)The packaging isn't the best. I would rate it 3 out of five stars. If you are careful, you shouldn't have any problems. I would suggest getting a good 5 disc holder and putting the movies in there. Do a search here on Amazon for EMPTY BLU-RAY CASES. You should find something you like.Overall: This is the best version of these movies currently available. At a reasonable price, you shouldn't be disappointed with this set.

This is a nice compact set in a fun book format. The cinematography of these films is so amazing and the quality of these DVDs is possibly better than I remember. Haven’t looked at any of the "extras" yet.

The best movies

I plan on watching theses again and again. I did my hard copies. Where did they go? Anyway, best type of summertime popcorn flicks ever. Great everything. Oscar eating popcorn, nothing better.