HTF DVD REVIEW: Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection - Page 2

mike kaminski · 05-04-2008, 11:47 PM

I don't think Spielberg is hard to work with because everyone does their best to kiss his butt and give him what he wants. Not that I'm saying thats bad, because clearly he is one of the few directors that deserves such status, but when you get a director as powerful as he theres usually no problems because no one is there to oppose him in the first place, and his films generally run smooth because he usually gets what he asks for. On the crew its very draining behind closed doors because everyone works twice as hard because no mistake can be made and one slip up and the production manager fires you, but as far as personal issues I've never heard of anything. Actors are usually the most unpredictable factor but its not like people keep quiet about tensions because a director is powerful, if theres yelling and screaming it usually comes out. I think Spielberg just knows how to get the job done.

TonyD · 05-05-2008, 12:23 AM

that is a 7 minute making of poltergeist

here is another.
at about 50 seconds it changes from the first video above to what appears to e TCM footage.

then about 65 seconds in the doule hat is there on Speilberg, really hard to see what it says.

Corey3rd · 05-05-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyD

whats that/

he had a cap on with a front and a back brim?
a 2 sided cap?

so he could turn it around depending on what he was doing at the time?

kidding?

or what condition a certain director was in.

Patrick H. · 05-05-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

...its not like people keep quiet about tensions because a director is powerful, if theres yelling and screaming it usually comes out. I think Spielberg just knows how to get the job done.

This has always been my impression as well. James Cameron's on about equal status, but there's a been a lot more said about his on-set behavior. Of course, some of that might just be the overall ordeal of some of his productions, but that's another thing about Spielberg...I think he learned enough from his first couple films not to stretch himself or his crews to the breaking point. Later on, when he started producing, it took him another couple films to figure out what that role was (compare the stories behind 'Poltergeist' to those from 'Back to the Future'). The 'Twilight Zone' incident, though, is it's own whole mess that involves a LOT of people.

Anyway, back to the discs at hand, I know I'll probably end up getting these. The Lucas camp seems to have this annoying-yet-consistent methodology of "pay twice and build your own comprehensive boxed set."

TonyTone · 05-05-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillG

Personally, I don't care if I can see them on my cable/satellite service in HD. If they are cropped from 2.35 to 1.78 they're useless to me. Not to mention they will be shown edited and with commercials. However, doensn't Lucas insist on the proper 2:35 ARs for HD broadcasts. I believe this was the case with the Star Wars films.

Dunno about that last part but FWIW--SpikeHD showed SW Ep.3 last night...picture was shown at 1.78. Maybe it's OAR only when broadcasted on premium channels (e.g., HBO)?

Jonathan_Clarke · 05-05-2008, 11:31 AM

As worked up as I am over the new film, I'll give this set a pass. Here's hoping the Blu-Ray set comes out this Christmas with all four films (like the Batman Blu-Ray set WB has promised when Dark Knight hits dvd).

Douglas Monce · 05-05-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyD

whats that/

he had a cap on with a front and a back brim?
a 2 sided cap?

so he could turn it around depending on what he was doing at the time?

kidding?

Not kidding at all. Tobe Hooper didn't direct a foot of Poltergeist according to the Production Designer of the film. The story goes that Hooper was having personal problems at the time, and Spielberg didn't want to fire him and ruin his career because they were friends. Also union rules wouldn't allow Spielberg to finish directing one film, E.T. and start on another, Poltergeist, less than a week later and take credit for both.

Doug

Douglas Monce · 05-05-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyD

that is a 7 minute making of poltergeist

here is another.
at about 50 seconds it changes from the first video above to what appears to e TCM footage.

then about 65 seconds in the doule hat is there on Speilberg, really hard to see what it says.

Its very telling that in all of that video, you never see Hooper telling anyone to do anything.

Doug

Douglas Monce · 05-05-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick H.

This has always been my impression as well. James Cameron's on about equal status, but there's a been a lot more said about his on-set behavior. Of course, some of that might just be the overall ordeal of some of his productions, but that's another thing about Spielberg...I think he learned enough from his first couple films not to stretch himself or his crews to the breaking point. Later on, when he started producing, it took him another couple films to figure out what that role was (compare the stories behind 'Poltergeist' to those from 'Back to the Future'). The 'Twilight Zone' incident, though, is it's own whole mess that involves a LOT of people.

Anyway, back to the discs at hand, I know I'll probably end up getting these. The Lucas camp seems to have this annoying-yet-consistent methodology of "pay twice and build your own comprehensive boxed set."

I think if Hooper had been a functioning director on the set on day one, Spielberg would probably have let him alone to do it. After all Spielberg had produced 3 films for other directors before that and had never taken over the production. But he wasn't about to let the production come to a halt because the director was having personal problems, so he took over. I don't know what else he could have done other than fire him and hire another director, which would have killed Hooper's directing career.

Spielberg had almost no involvement in the Twilight Zone accident at all. Landis and his producer were totally in charge of that part of the production. There is a very good book about the incident called Special Effects by Ron LaBrecque that really gets into the details of that production.

Doug