Originally posted by: Karyudo
I'll bet you five bucks that when Spielberg finally noticed the reflection of the glass in the Indy cobra scene, it was way too late to reshoot. I'll bet it's a total "d'oh!" moment (even though "d'oh" wouldn't be invented for another eight years or so). That method is probably exactly what they'd do today: it's a cheap, effective, practical effect. It just had a tiny flaw. It's obviously preserved someplace in all its reflective glory (I have it in HD, for example), so I don't mind it being digitally fixed up for the DVD box set.
That's not the only change, I notice almost every single change they made, and for me it makes the film unenjoyable because I know how it used to be, and when I don't see what I'm expecting I feel it's an insult to my intelligence. They didn't have to do any digital fudging - but instead they chose to fix the things they couldn't fix before due to technology - like the blue-screen shots. One of the things about watching older movies is you know it's a blue-screen effect if there's a blue-cast on the characters (especially hair, etc). To take that out makes it look like a modern effect, which is a lie because it's an old movie. They didn't have to change anything, they shouldn't have digitally fudged it - and I refuse to purchase their fudged version. The unaltered Indy trilogy, along with the SW Trilogy is one of the things on DVD I have waited for for the longest time, and I continue to wait - and I know Lucasfilm never will release unaltered indy. The very least they could have done was seamless branching so you watch the original - but they didn't even do that. The changes are no bigger then the changes they made to The Lion King - but you check it out Lion King fans are outraged by the changes - and I for one agree. Movies should not be modified - and if they are, the original should always be available.I'll bet you five bucks that when Spielberg finally noticed the reflection of the glass in the Indy cobra scene, it was way too late to reshoot. I'll bet it's a total "d'oh!" moment (even though "d'oh" wouldn't be invented for another eight years or so). That method is probably exactly what they'd do today: it's a cheap, effective, practical effect. It just had a tiny flaw. It's obviously preserved someplace in all its reflective glory (I have it in HD, for example), so I don't mind it being digitally fixed up for the DVD box set.
"But didn't Spielberg release the untouched version at the same time?"
Yes, but I don't think we ever got an official domestic release - and i'm pretty sure australia didn't either.