My dad showed some interest in these, but they were so much he didn't bother. Father's Day is coming up and I thought I'd get him one. I myself am not a huge fan of the show but will probably wind up watching them too. Which is tonally most like the Indy films?
I've seen Phantom Train of Doom, Peacock's Eye (they were both rather decent), and one with Vlad the Impaler (horrible, horrible, horrible). He owns Daredevils of the Desert (not as good as Phantom Train or Peacock's Eye) and Mystery of the Blues (apart from Harrison Ford in the beginning and end, utterly unwatchable for me). So you YIJC fans, what do you suggest?
I've only watched up to Phantom Train of Doom (on a marathon here ) and I have to say that Volume 2 is more like the movies due to the war and the action scenes and the Germans and Indy being an expert in everything.
I'll take a stab at this via an arbitrary Indy-O-Meter rating of one to five stars (* to *****). Note that five stars doesn't mean "captures the films perfectly" but is relative within the YIJC series. I also don't attempt to rate the "importance" of an episode, and this diverges quite a bit from my personal rating
Vol 1:
1: My First Adventure - Egypt - 1908 - **
2: Passion for Life - Paris - 1908, Kenya - 1909 - **
3: The Perils of Cupid - Florence/Vienna - 1908 - *
4: Travels with Father - Greece/Russia - 1910 - [Haven't watched yet]
5: Journey of Radiance - India/China - 1910 - **
6: Spring Break Adventure - Mexico - 1916 - ****
7: Love's Sweet Song - Ireland/London - 1916 - **
Vol 2:
8: The Trenches of Hell - Germany - 1916 - ***
9: Demons of Deception - Verdun/Paris - 1916 - ***
10: Phantom Train of Doom - Germany/East Africa - 1916 - *****
11: Oganga: The Giver and Taker of Life - Congo - 1916 - ***
12: Attack of the Hawkmen - Austria - 1917 - ****
13: Adventures in the Secret Service - Austria/Russia - 1917 - ***
14: Espionage Escapades - Spain/Prague - 1917 - ***
15: Daredevils of the Desert - Palestine - 1917 - ****
Vol 3:
16: Tales of Innocence - Monaco/Italy - 1917 - **
17: Masks of Evil - Istanbul/Transylvania - 1918 - ***
18: Treasure of the Peacock's Eye - Egypt/Java/South Pacific - 1919 *****
19: The Winds of Change - Paris/Princeton - 1919 - ***
20: Mystery of the Blues - Chicago - 1920 - **
21: Scandal of 1920 - New York - 1920 - **
22: Hollywood Follies - Hollywood - 1920 - ***
Volume 2 is the clear winner on the Indy-O-Meter. Phantom Train is my personal favorite and I would argue that it's the most like the films - loads of over-the-top action, clear bad guys (not quite nazis, but you can squint), sweeping vistas (albeit mostly desert/scrub), awesome score, character development for both Indy and the supporting characters, Indy being "almost competent", and so forth.
I never saw Peacock's Eye when it first aired; given the high praise of "most Indy-like episode" I was disappointed, although it's still good; it earns an equal score to Phantom Train because it takes Indy on a globe-spanning adventure.
Attack of the Hawkmen and Daredevils of the Desert come in very close behind. They're much "smaller" stories than Peacock's Eye or Phantom Train, but are still feature action, espionage, great settings, and so forth. The two halves of Spring Break Adventure each make good stories meriting high rating for that episode.
It's funny I've seen the two you consider to be the best. I too preferred Phantom Train of Doom to Peacock's Eye, though I didn't hear the hype around Peacock's Eye at all.
How are the documentaries? Who's in them? I like history, but generally hate the History Channel. Is it along those lines or more "fun?" I suppose I'll find out soon enough!
It's funny I've seen the two you consider to be the best. I too preferred Phantom Train of Doom to Peacock's Eye, though I didn't hear the hype around Peacock's Eye at all.
How are the documentaries? Who's in them? I like history, but generally hate the History Channel. Is it along those lines or more "fun?" I suppose I'll find out soon enough!
I have enjoyed the documentaries. But I like the History Channel, as long as it is something I enjoy, ie things with a mystical or weird element. I don't enjoy shows on weapons or the Old West.
I have not seen all the documentaries yet, but I am pacing myself, since I often have insomnia and it is wonderful to have things I haven't seen to watch late at night. The people they talk to seem to know what they are speaking of and a passion for what they are speaking of. I am a WWI buff and learned new things from the plane doc. The Stratemeyer, Edison, and Hemingway ones were very interesting to me as well. I can't think of any others that I have watched yet. And I think too that Lucas was able to get archive footage that other documentarians may not have had access to.
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katarn07
How are the documentaries? Who's in them? I like history, but generally hate the History Channel. Is it along those lines or more "fun?" I suppose I'll find out soon enough!
The documentaries are great. While very much in the History Channel style, they are (predominantly) crammed with information.
The only interviewee that bothers me is Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me/30 Days) for the Prague episode. WHAT?!?!?
Anyway, I hope this Sunday your father enjoys his gift!
) and I have to say that Volume 2 is more like the movies due to the war and the action scenes and the Germans and Indy being an expert in everything.
