If production values where the only standard, nothing done before or since on television can come close. Shot around the world, with a famous and would be famous international cast and crew. Giving us a fully orchestrated score, 16mm film, 100's of extras, period costuming and set design. Utilizing digital effects (when that was a brand NEW technology) for every episode. The list goes on. Come on what film/television maker or studio would ever back a project as bold and EXPENSIVE as this, except George Lucas?
These episodes begin with a 9 year-old Indy, played by Corey Carrier, starting out on an around the world trip with his parents. They pick up again with a 16 year-old Indy, played by Sean Patrick Flanery, starting out with a simple trip to Mexico and ending up with him in the Belgium army fighting against Germany in World War I. Eventually, these around the world adventures end up with Indiana Jones back home in America shortly before he starts college--"Dr. Jones, I presume;)"
However, the fact is that many of the episodes have more in common with Discovery Channel Docu-Dramas than Indiana Jones movies. The inclusion of famous people every episode is not so bad--it was started with The Last Crusade (remember Hitler's cameo?). It is the almost grade school like history lessons we are treated to EVERY episode that tests one's patience. In some of the episodes the lessons are well placed. In other episodes, the story must stop completely while we LEARN.
Adventure should have been presented first. History's lessons should have been in the context of the story and characters. Instead the story and characters are simply along for the ride. It seems, at times, like Indy is simply watching the TV like the rest of us.
Originally aired as 1 hour episodes, out of sequence I might add, the series varied its style and structure very well. We got a Corey Carrier episode, less adventure more cultural information. And then we got a couple of the more adventurous Sean Patrick Flanery episodes. And lets not forgot the wonderful performance of George Hall, playing a 90+ year old Indy and acting as book-end narrator for most of the first two seasons.
Now a comment on these 2-episode feature length VHS/DVD cuts. The episodes have been spliced together, also out of sequence. Extra footage was shot to merge the episodes together. The added footage shows different hair styles, different costumes, and Corey Carrier's age changes between episodes. Where's George Hall in these DVD's?--his portrayal has been completely removed, as though it never existed. If George Lucas wanted a true representation of this series, he should package them complete, both as they aired and also, in feature-length presentation. DVD's have this ability, two separate versions of the same film/show.
In the end, the audacity of the series, the production, and larger than life stories that Indiana Jones experiences win out. History 101 aside, these episodes are well shot, acted and produced. As the series progressed the character Indiana Jones grew closer to the one we all know and loved in the films. If you can manage to get through the less adventurous episodes, you'll find a grand introduction to one of motion pictures BEST characters.
Now lets hope Lucas has learned some lessons from this show in the creation of his new Star Wars live-action TV show. Like this Indiana Jones series, the Star Wars series is being self produced by Lucas, without a network and without limits. If he focuses on entertaining us FIRST, he'll be able to put in whatever life's lessons he wants SECOND, we might not even mind their presence.
These episodes begin with a 9 year-old Indy, played by Corey Carrier, starting out on an around the world trip with his parents. They pick up again with a 16 year-old Indy, played by Sean Patrick Flanery, starting out with a simple trip to Mexico and ending up with him in the Belgium army fighting against Germany in World War I. Eventually, these around the world adventures end up with Indiana Jones back home in America shortly before he starts college--"Dr. Jones, I presume;)"
However, the fact is that many of the episodes have more in common with Discovery Channel Docu-Dramas than Indiana Jones movies. The inclusion of famous people every episode is not so bad--it was started with The Last Crusade (remember Hitler's cameo?). It is the almost grade school like history lessons we are treated to EVERY episode that tests one's patience. In some of the episodes the lessons are well placed. In other episodes, the story must stop completely while we LEARN.
Adventure should have been presented first. History's lessons should have been in the context of the story and characters. Instead the story and characters are simply along for the ride. It seems, at times, like Indy is simply watching the TV like the rest of us.
Originally aired as 1 hour episodes, out of sequence I might add, the series varied its style and structure very well. We got a Corey Carrier episode, less adventure more cultural information. And then we got a couple of the more adventurous Sean Patrick Flanery episodes. And lets not forgot the wonderful performance of George Hall, playing a 90+ year old Indy and acting as book-end narrator for most of the first two seasons.
Now a comment on these 2-episode feature length VHS/DVD cuts. The episodes have been spliced together, also out of sequence. Extra footage was shot to merge the episodes together. The added footage shows different hair styles, different costumes, and Corey Carrier's age changes between episodes. Where's George Hall in these DVD's?--his portrayal has been completely removed, as though it never existed. If George Lucas wanted a true representation of this series, he should package them complete, both as they aired and also, in feature-length presentation. DVD's have this ability, two separate versions of the same film/show.
In the end, the audacity of the series, the production, and larger than life stories that Indiana Jones experiences win out. History 101 aside, these episodes are well shot, acted and produced. As the series progressed the character Indiana Jones grew closer to the one we all know and loved in the films. If you can manage to get through the less adventurous episodes, you'll find a grand introduction to one of motion pictures BEST characters.
Now lets hope Lucas has learned some lessons from this show in the creation of his new Star Wars live-action TV show. Like this Indiana Jones series, the Star Wars series is being self produced by Lucas, without a network and without limits. If he focuses on entertaining us FIRST, he'll be able to put in whatever life's lessons he wants SECOND, we might not even mind their presence.