The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones - Volume Three - The Years of Change

For those who are anxiously waiting for the new Indiana Jones movie to hit theaters next month, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Volume Three: The Years of Change is a nice treat that can make your hunger abate for a while. This last set completes "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: series' move from ABC's cancelled show archives to DVD for all to enjoy, and is no less packed with action, adventure and extras than the first two.

"The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Volume Three: The Years of Change" sets up themes and storylines that are seen throughout the original Indiana Jones trilogy, such as his interest in archeology, the path that led him from his globetrotting adventures into the classroom, and some of the supernatural elements that surround his later expeditions.

There are many storylines included in this set, beginning at the close of World War I and moving forward through time. Many of the tales intertwine young Indy's life (played flawlessly by Sean Patrick Flannery) with those of major historical figures. Hemingway, Ho Chi Minh, Paul Robeson and Lawrence of Arabia are just a few you'll see on these DVDs.

The writers have included such characters throughout the series as a way to give viewers, particularly the younger set, an entertaining way to learn about history, and it certainly achieves its purpose. You can thank George Lucas himself for that brainwave.

In addition to the seven feature-length episodes included in the set (each of which are two of the original one-hour episodes combined), there are a ton of extra documentaries that take you behind the scenes, not of the making of the episodes, but of the history involved. Told through interviews with scholars and historians, these documentaries are nothing short of spectacular. They add a unique dynamic to the viewing experience, more than a making-of featurette could ever accomplish.

This set alone has more than 30 companion documentaries. When all is said and done, the number of new documentaries created for the whole three-set collection is more than double the original number of episodes in the series. That in itself makes these DVD sets stand apart.

If that weren't enough, the tenth disc in the set makes the Young Indy experience interactive. Featuring a timeline that details the history and locations of Indy's adventures, footage of the companion documentaries and a game you play with your remote, this also adds significant value to any Jones fan.

I am definitely one of those people who is counting the days until "Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Crystal Skull" is finally released. But in the meantime, my three volumes of "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones" will keep me in good stead. And to anyone who counts themselves a true Indy fan, this series is a MUST.