Branding
It apparently happened a while back, but I’ve only noticed that with the most recent release of the first three (hmmm, still seems slightly odd saying first three) Indiana Jones films on DVD, the powers that be have decided that the 1981 original is now called Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. At least on the packaging.
Oh, wait a moment… That would now seem to be the official title of the film, according to the little munckins in Lucas Films. I don’t think they’ve gone quite as far as redoing the title sequence — yet. But given Lucas’s record when it comes to fiddling with his own work — which I don’t mind — and then trying to suppress the earlier versions — which does annoy me — it’s surely only a matter of time.
I can see, from a purely marketing sense, why it could be argued that having one film without Indiana Jones and the… in the title looks a little untidy, but that’s why I liked it. Indeed, I never quite understood the need to put the lead character’s name in the film titles that came later. Why not just have Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade and whatever the new one is.
After all, the makers of the James Bond films haven’t tried to keep a common name in their titles. And everyone still knows a Bond film when they hear the title…
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