when the director is reeeally good at their job

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Dude turned it into an “indie” film

The shot where Indy is chasing after Marion who's in the basket, and he stops dead, perplexed at the myriad of people carrying baskets, any other director would have cut from the close-up of his eyes to what he's seeing. Speilburg didn't cut, just stayed on his eyes, then swung the camera around as Indy starts tipping the baskets over. Genius.

It’s actually crazy how precisely composed every shot is and I didn’t even notice until seeing the black and white versions!

I love Spielberg's composed, unflashy oners. That sequence in Indy's apartment with Marcus is one of my all-time favorites.

His compositions reduces the need for cutting and close ups. Makes the audience feel like they're in the room with the actors. Makes the audience feel like they're a part of the action. Spielberg puts his audience in the movie.

I also like the desaturation, because it's a tribute to the films that inspired Indian Jones. All of those were in B&W, too, so it makes huge sense that you want to watch Indy in that tone, to see how well it holds to the ideals. This is very clever.

When watching these film analyses I often wonder if these directors actually put near as much thought into framing these scenes or if they just naturally do it the way they do because it’s a natural gift, and the scene plays out in such a way that it’s great because it seems natural, not because they dotted the i’s and crossed the T’s on every little thing.

I didn’t know that this version of Raiders existed, or really that Soderbergh did this stuff but it’s a really cool insight (and great technique) into how directors study and learn from each other.

I think Spielberg once advised “if you want to learn about shooting just watch with the sound turned off”.

I would love to see a black & white version of Raiders with the dialogue and score intact. This is visually gorgeous.

I love Steven Soderbergh, but every time I saw his name I found it a bit funny because you see “Steven S” and your mind immediately goes to Spielberg. But oh, nevermind, it’s just Soderbergh.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Raiders is the zenith of action/adventure films and a damn near perfect picture.

I've always noticed the blocking in Raiders, the Casablanca nods, especially with the Belloq and Indy cafe convo. But my all time favourite blocking scene of his is from Jaws. After the 'mother's slap' scene, where the chief, wife, and youngest son are at home. No words. Just dad exhausted. The son following every move until dad picks up on it. And the beauty of the mom looking on, so tiny in the shot, yet ever watching her two boys bonding. Every time I see that scene I think, even then, he was putting in moments and shots that had no right being in what others were just considering a get-it-in-the-can b-flick. Hence my name. - chef's kiss

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how masterful Douglas Slocombe's cinematography is? It's even more apparent in the desaturated footage. Perfect light/dark composition.

As a casual audience member, we don't know WHY we are so amazed by Spielberg's work - until you make a great video explaining WHY we are so amazed by Spielberg's work. Thank you

I feel like I learned more about filmmaking in a few minutes watching this than in the rest of my life.

The commentary around Spielberg these days is fascinating. Oddly underrated and criticised given how scrutinising modern viewers like to think they are. But there is simply no one close to the consistent brilliance Spielberg has delivered for the last 40+ years. The output is extraordinary.

This reminds me of the Criterion Collection release of THX-1138. There's an option in the special features to watch the film with only the sound effects turned on. The sound design is so amazing you don't even notice the music and dialogue are missing.

In his inside the actor’s studio interview, Spielberg says that he always tries to block his scenes with these long, moving, medium frame shots because it gives his actors room to work. They have to hit their marks, but they can gesture, they can move, they don’t have to stay perfectly still to stay in the shot, in short they can act. It’s one of the reasons that Spielberg both gets consistently great performances from actors that go on to be in nothing else, but actors love working with him.