Steven Spielberg Producers Guild Award to David O. Selznick

When the Producers Guild of America doles out its laurels at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 21, a special honor will be bestowed to Steven Spielberg: the David O. Selznick Award.

The prize recognizes "a producer's outstanding body of work in motion pictures," notes the press release. "The honor has a rich and distinguished history with past recipients including such legendary producers as Stanley Kramer, Saul Zaentz, Clint Eastwood, Billy Wilder, Brian Grazer, Jerry Bruckheimer, Roger Corman, Laura Ziskin, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, John Lasseter and last year's 2011 recipient Scott Rudin."

Before his death in 1965, Selznick reigned as one of Hollywood's greatest producers, working at MGM, RKO and independently. He produced two Oscar best picture champs: "Gone with the Wind" (1939) and "Rebecca" (1940). Spielberg's long list of producing credits includes "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial" (1982), best picture winner "Schindler's List" (1993), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) and "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005).

Producers Guild Awards co-chairs Paula Wagner and Michael Manheim issued this comment: "As one of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, Steven's continued genius, imagination and fearlessness in the world of feature film entertainment is unmatched in this industry. Steven has produced some of the most iconic films in the history of cinema and we have no doubt he will continue to bring thrilling adventures, emotionally moving story lines, thought-provoking characters and cult classics to audiences across the globe. We're extremely proud to recognize Steven's contributions to the producing craft as well as the entire film industry with the David O. Selznick honor."

Raiders of the Lost Ark [VHS]

Detailed information on new DVD editions of the classic three classic Indiana Jones movies in an all new special features have been published. They are available separately for the first time on DVD, or set. They were previously only available in a DVD series.

New coincides with a new movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which comes out May 22 Day. These are the new special features designed for the new Indy fans of old movies, old and introduce new fans of the film.

Indiana Jones movies are George Lucas' refresh / update the serialized adventures of 1930 and '40. The first three were in the '80s and 30 years together. They Harrison Ford as a professor of archeology as well as going on the moon as an adventurous seeker of priceless antiquities. This leads him to exotic locations around the world, and makes him a very tight spot, the kind that only a hero of the film can be, inside or out. It is always opposed the dangerous plans of the wicked, powerful objects only he has the ability to recover. Is to develop scenarios in which the creepy creatures, ancient traps, fights with weapons, unarmed aircraft and tanks, and sometimes supernatural. Along the way Jones manages some romance too.

Raiders was the first in the series. In 1936, having barely survived a failed attempt to find (OK) and bring them home (whoops!) a former idol of Peru, Indiana Jones is recruited in a race against the Nazis to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant (yes, the one mentioned in the Bible, but with a lot of added mythology) who is reputed to have the power to make an invincible army. Ark is located in the well of souls somewhere in Egypt, the key to the exact location is a medallion located, naturally, in a seedy lodge / bar in Nepal, in possession of former lover of Indy. All kinds of sparks, literally and metaphorically, as a couple, joined by another confederate in Egypt, use their knowledge of ancient myths and pure bravado for the work under the noses of the Nazis find the Ark and the safe removal security. Almost.

There are several setbacks on the road, near escapes, a fabric huge quasi-final, and Icky - especially spiders and snakes, thousands of them, unfortunately, Indy has a bit of phobia.

Some of the most memorable moments are mixed with humor, if not outright hilarity. Indy reactions are snakes as entertaining as they are frightening. We see how the fight a swordsman expert, if you're in a hurry. How the Nazis got a copy of the (half) the medallion is painfully funny. The fate of the arch is an ironic commentary on the bureaucracy of Washington.

Raiders became an instant classic. I'm sure there are people who do not like it, but I've never met anyone. It is fine for most children (violence and mild sexuality PG), and it is probably smart enough to all but the most pretentious adults.

The original title is just Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is retained in the film itself. As the title, it is easier to market as part of the franchise.

If you just want Raiders and do not want to wait until May to get a copy of the old Raiders DVD (people sell them out of the series). The difference is the additional features. Bonuses are set in their old album, so what you get when you buy just an old Raiders DVD is pretty bare. The new version, however, is the following, all new:

- "Raiders of the Lost Ark: An Introduction" by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

- "Indiana Jones: appreciation," where the cast and crew of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull pay tribute to The Original Trilogy

- "The face of the merger," a recreation of the effects of that famous scene that culminates certainly left an impression on me (which was new at the time), with Spielberg and Lucas on the evolution of visual effects and CGI

- The storyboards for "The Well of Souls" sequence

- DVD galleries of images, props, production photographs and portraits, FX / Industrial Light and Magic stuff, and promotion / marketing materials

- "Lego Indiana Jones", a demo and a trailer for a game based on the trilogy

If you like extras, as is probable that this new DVD, but perhaps not enough to move from the old one, or wait until May. I like audio commentaries, myself, and since they are easy to produce and tend to highlight the points not included in other functions, I subtract a star of a special edition without any, but I hope the rest . If you do not care about reviews, it might be a five star DVD for you.

There have been rumors of deleted scenes, but are not included.

Some people prefer to wait for high-definition release, which can be useful if you have the equipment or are planning. Many speculate that the Blu-ray release will be out for Christmas, but it is conjecture.

There is also some speculation that the edition of all four films will be published by Christmas. They can be connected to one of four to one, but I doubt that there will be a better edition of this film soon, if ever, is the standard DVD. Keep in mind that the previous series was published four years ago, and if not a new movie, which would probably be released during the decade, but only a standard DVD. The next update might be a high definition, and it can happen some time.

If you want the whole trilogy (highly recommended), the new entity is there, the old series is here. If you want to take any of the other members of the new series, the new edition of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is here, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade here.

I was in college when Raiders came out. There was great anticipation for the people associated with him after the great success of Star Wars. A group of us went to the hall of the center to see full size old first, waited outside for hours. We were not disappointed. It was a wild ride, exciting from beginning to end, a lot of excitement, great characters, smart moments for Comic Relief, and romance. More memorable than some entire semesters!

steven spielberg biography

The fickle world of cinema, there are very few names, you can splash the size of a billboard to ensure the economic success of the film. Harrison Ford, perhaps, or Julia Roberts. George Lucas, if the movie Star Wars. Tom Cruise seemed certain to Eyes Wide Shut. These names will probably millions, but there's only one sure guarantee - Steven Spielberg. As a director, his most successful period. His films were so popular, so consistently funny that people will rush to see anything marked as a production of Steven Spielberg's film that the only source of funding. No one else is not so muscular. No one else ever has.

As a filmmaker, he started early. He was born Steven Allan Spielberg at the 18th December 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Arnold, was an electrical engineer involved in the development of computers, while the mother of Leah, a concert pianist, took care of four children - Steven, the eldest, the others being Annie, Sue and Nancy. The family soon moved to Scottsdale, Arizona - Steven would attend Arcadia High School in Phoenix - and that's where his love for movies (and his financial acumen) began to flourish. Perhaps unusually fast if reports that Spielberg suffered from Asperger syndrome, is to be believed. This is a mild form of autism that leads to obsessive interests - often with very positive results.

Leah being as indulgent as Arnold was emotionally distant (several parents in the films of Spielberg, missing or remote), Steven's interest in cinema is encouraged. At 12, he had his first amateur film, a western entitled 8 minutes past gun Steven funded by a tree planting company. He was charged for admission to the movies at home, Annie is selling popcorn, and quickly became most ambitious scale and scope. In 14 years, had made a war movie of 40 minutes, Escape To Nowhere, 8 mm, and a short battle gear, which is mixed with footage from World War 2 images he shot the Phoenix airport. Even the young, who had learned to still appear as if they moved at supersonic speed. Within two years he was working in the firelight, a 140-minute science-fiction epic based on a story of his sister Nancy had written about a UFO attack. It would, as everyone knows, returning to issues of war and alien life forms.

There would be an emotional side to his story, too, and keeps an autobiography. Many films of Spielberg to have children in need, and the father above distance. It reflects own relationship with Steven Arnold - not a good idea. On one occasion, Arnold made a tiny transistor home, showed it to Steven and said the future.