Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
See individual titles for their synopses.
Adventure | 100% |
Action | 91% |
Period | 36% |
Supernatural | 21% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
See individual releases
English, English SDH, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Russian, Swedish, Thai
Blu-ray Disc
Five-disc set (5 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Paramount has widely released the 'Indiana Jones' films to the UHD format and also released this Best Buy exclusive SteelBook packaging variant. The disc and digital content are identical to what's found in the general release. See the 'Special Features and Extras' portion of the review below for more on the SteelBooks', and the outer packaging's, look and feel.
For full UHD video reviews, please click through the following links:
For full UHD audio reviews, please click through the following links:
Indy's 4K SteelBook collection ships in a rather flimsy outer slip box measuring approximately 7" tall, 5.5" wide, and just a shade over 3"
deep.
The box doesn't seem particularly robust; it's not as bas the CBS/Paramount Mission: Impossible box but it's a wonder why Paramount didn't offer
something more elegant along the lines of the Batman series SteelBook sets. Regardless, the box's and the
SteelBooks'
primary color scheme is orange on (off) white. The front of the box depicts Indy in an orange forward facing silhouette with the unmistakable fedora
and flinging
whip
giving away the character's identity. He's presented as if made up of an orange map; edges are jagged and some small "islands," also orange, float
around
him. There's a light gray real-world map filling the background behind him, situated inside a couple of concentric circles with some straight lines
jutting out in
every direction from center. The series title sweeps across the front in familiar color and script; the orange-on-orange doesn't blend together. In
black below are the words "4-movie collection" while "4K Ultra HD + Digital" appear at the top. The back of the box carries over the same
background
layout but ditches the main text and replaces Indy with a collage of the key items of interest from each of the four films: the Ark, the stones, the
Grail,
and the skull. Small studio logos and legalese line the bottom. The spine brings over a squashed version of the map, the film's title as presented on
the
front, and a handful of studio and format logos top and bottom. The top is the same as the spine minus the studio and format logos. The bottom is
blank. The SteelBooks all slide into a very cheap and flimsy removable cardboard flap that allows each SteelBook to slide into its own nest. It's
functional, as is the entire package, but it's not sturdy and not all that attractive.
The SteelBooks all share a common aesthetic and it's better to just provide a simple visual breakdown and allow the photographs to fill in the
blanks. Each follow the same basic color pattern from the exterior box, with shades of orange on a white background. Each features the film's title at
the top in that familiar Indy color and script and a waist-up depiction of the title character as depicted within the movie in question. The
middle part of the each front panel is like a swath of orange color with a large depiction of the key relic from each film within. The rear panels are
simply white with an orange-tinted depiction of the exact same relic, center, with some studio logos and legalese at the bottom. Each spine follows
the same
pattern with the film's title center, a blank top, and Paramount and UltraHD logos in light gray at the bottom.
Inside each SteelBook is a two panel hand drawn character collage depicting key players from each film. Again backgrounds are shades of orange and
there is no opportunity for expressive color beyond shades of brown and beige. The digital copy sheet is tucked into the Raiders SteelBook.
Raiders, Temple, and Crusade are all one disc sets and feature the disc on a center right hand hub. The bonus disc is packed in with
The Crystal Skull in staggered-stacked formation on the right.
For a full breakdown of the included on-disc supplemental content, please click here.
Note that this collection does not include the double sided poster bundled in with the wide release.
One gets the distinct impression that this SteelBook set was a bit rushed. To this reviewer's eyes it's not at all visually appealing, at least to the level of excellence to match the movies, and the outer box feels very cheap. There's just no real creative spark here. At least the films are terrific and the UHDs are first-rate. Recommended.