One of the many reasons I find myself invested in films of all types is the grand spirit of adventure many of them have to offer. The thrill and excitement of being on the edge of your seat whilst scarfing popcorn comfortably in your theater seat (or couch whichever you prefer) is one reason I get so much enjoyment out of just one sitting of just about any exciting, action-packed thrill ride I encounter. Whether it's through cinemas or the small screen at home, I'm just about down for anything regarding the adventure genre. And that, my friends, is what holds true about my interest in the Indiana Jones films still to this day. They're fun, enjoyable action adventures that keep me wanting more and tell brilliant stories based around real history. But do they hold up still to this day? Let's start by looking at Lucas and Spielberg's original classic Raiders of the Lost Ark.
*MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD* (then again it's an old movie so it's no big deal)
The film's major inspiration consisted of film serials among other things similar to what Lucas had in mind for Star Wars years before. As a result, the plot is very reminiscent of a classic 1930s-40s adventures movie; world-renowned archaeologist Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) in his attempts to acquire artifacts for a museum, crosses paths with the Nazis in their quest to uncover the long lost Ark of the Covenant. Among them, French archaeologist René Belloq (played by Paul Freeman) is most eager to find the Ark for himself so that he may present its capabilities to Hitler -- who desires to utilize its power to make his armies invincible. In the midst of the tangle, Indy's ex-girlfriend, Marion Ravenwood (played by Karen Allen), holds a valuable piece of the puzzle, which ultimately renders her a high-value target. Together they, with the help of their friends, must navigate various locales, dodging booby-traps and baddies along the way in order to preserve the Ark for the museum before it is used for evil intentions.
What makes the adventure so thrilling is the amount of iconic moments and things it created. The classic boulder chase at the start of the movie is just one of the many set pieces that gives the movie the adrenaline boost for the remainder of the run-time. In addition to straight up action bits, there's plenty of well done humorous bits in which the action seems to get tense before the unexpected happens. For example, the part of the Egyptian market chase in which the swordsman, after showing off his tricks with the sword, gets shot by Indy, always gets a good laugh from me -- and for that matter, I think it's one of the best ad-libbed scenes in all of moviedom. Then there's the outright tense scene in which Indy comes face-to-face with a venomous cobra down in the Well of Souls without it even biting him. Even just the mere silhouette of Indiana Jones makes him instantly recognizable to general audiences and moviegoers anywhere.
Unlike most other films I've reviewed up to this point, the characters aren't exactly the strongest component to carry the story in Raiders. The characters are more explored through dialogue than story and it's fun to hear the well-written banter play out between them, the best example being, of course, Indy and Marion. Marion has this feisty attitude that perfectly plays into Indy's get the job done attitude and their chemistry, while not essential to the story, made for quite possibly the best pairing in the franchise's history. If anything, the film is well-acted with other decently known names such as John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman, and Ronald Lacey portraying well their roles of Sallah, Belloq, and Major Toht respectively. One example is when Toht has a funny gag moment where he appears to be pulling out an interrogation tool to threaten Marion with only for it to turn up to be a coat hangar all while keeping a straight, but menacing face. It's little moments like this that make me appreciate the fun writing and spectacular script all the better.
What sells the movie most for me is the art direction and special effects it managed to have for its time. The various locations (whether that be South America, Marshall College, or Cairo, Egypt) are all very much lively and portrayed in a way that feels as though the viewer truly has stepped back in time to 1936 -- they even had to manually remove all satellites and things from the rooftops of Cairo to make the initial wide-shot more era-accurate. They may not necessarily be flashy, but they definitely maintain a sense of authenticity throughout. The special effects, on the other hand, may not be the most realistic given the time in which this was made, but are, overall, masterful craftings of onscreen imagery. I, of course, cannot go on without mentioning the famously freaky opening of the Ark at the climax of the film; the VFX in that are absolutely wonderful! Between the storm flashing in the sky, the ghosts swirling around the ritual area, and (who could forget) Major Toht's melting face, I am more than glad that neither Spielberg nor Lucas decided to tamper with these films using modern CG effects and, instead, allow me to see how much sophistication went into the process of making this iconic movie. And, finally, who could forget the phenomenal score by John Williams? I still have many songs from the movie playing in my head as I type this review for crying out loud!
In the general sense, this movie is another one of those that I just can't say anything negative about. Not nearly as perfect as some other noteworthy subjects, but it certainly warrants the critical acclaim it got back in the day. From the many iconic adventure film moments, to the well-written segments, and astonishing special effects for its day and age, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of those films that ought to be preserved and can't be ignored for the same reason that it's in the National Film Registry for being so "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant." As a final say, I give the film a solid A and consider it a must see movie before you die.
Thanks for reading y'all and I will see you in the next review!
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