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These re-packaged DVD boxsets include 90-minute chapters with this Volume exclusively featuring Sean Patrick Flanery,
an actor who made his mark by showing Indy as a dashing and adventurous
young man. Because only Flanery appears as Indy (rather than with
the 10-year old actor featured in the first Volume), the
joining-together of individual TV episodes into longer chapters is
almost seamless.
The first two chapters of Volume Two deal with
Indy’s experiences with trench warfare at the Somme and Verdun
(Flanery’s favourite episode). These chapters show just how brutal
World War I was. One particular quick scene of rats scampering over
dead bodies on the battlefield is particularly shocking, but give the
series some real substance.
The special effects team did a great
job with the WWI planes and bomb blasts as they are very effective and
realistic. Less realistic perhaps was the rather improbable affair that
Indy has with Mata Hari – but then again Harrison Ford’s Indy always
did have a way with the ladies too!
Chapters Three and Four
stood out as firm favourites for mine, as they made very impressive and
colourful use of on-location shots of the African landscape. Truly
breathtaking.
The air warfare chapter (with Baron von Richtoven)
featured an impressive opening bombing sequence and exciting air battle
scenes which gives Pearl Harbour a run for it's money.
Although
its the less interesting of the chapters, the second segment of the
“Adventures in the Secret Service” shows the same St Petersberg streets
that would later appear in the amazing tank chase scenes from the James
Bond Goldeneye film - this deserves extra brownie points if only because it's a movie nerds dream!
“Espionage
Escapades” has a real comedic and sometimes slapstick feel about it,
primarily due to it being directed by Terry "Monty Python" Jones.
Despite a few laughs, it's somewhat out-of-character with the rest
of the episodes, but was reportedly one that Flanery really enjoyed
filming.
Overall, the way in which Indy’s travels are weaved
into settings where he meets historical figures is informative,
entertaining and interesting.
Another highlight is
watching out for some high profile actors like Daniel Craig and
Catherine Zita Jones in early roles and actor icons like Christopher
Lee making rare television appearances.
A must have for Indy fans!
EXTRAS
Once again, the special element of these Young Indiana Jones boxsets is the carefully researched featurettes about the people and incidents Indy is exposed to in the stories.
I
especially enjoyed the documentary on Selous, a real-life adventurer
who was the model for many fictional adventure characters, as it
included some great early film of Africa and game hunting. The
featurette on Baron von Richtoven was also really interesting with
plenty of real-life footage of the famous aviator.
Despite this, I must say that I glossed over a lot more of the featurettes in this boxset than I did in Volume One as they are generally less engrossing for those of us who are more interested in watching Indy’s actual on-screen adventures.
This is another very impressive DVD package which continues to fill the void until the much anticipated release of the new Indiana Jones movie.
Conclusion: Episodes 90% Extras: 60%
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