Raiders of the Lost Ark

"Raiders of the Lost Ark", more commonly referred to as "Raiders" (and more modernly titled, "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" on many DVD covers) is quite possibly the perfect adventure film. What makes it so good? Well, to answer that question, let me start by asking you what's bad about the movie? Can't think of anything, can you? That's right, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" has a lot going for it.

There's the fact that Steven Spielberg directed it, and on top of that, he directed it early in his career. That makes a big difference, because as most directors and artists do, Spielberg turned his attention to more serious drama films and darker subject matter as his career progressed. So the film is filled with all the visual energy of a young man still in love with adventure movies.

Second, the plot of the film is highly entertaining and unpredictable for those who haven't seen it. The script was written by Lawrence Kasdan, a well known writer and director. Kasdan wrote a film with the perfect bad guys, Nazis. (Everybody hates Nazis, that's why they're still used as villains in many films today.) Second of all, the film was dreamed up by George Lucas, the same man responsible for the Star Wars films.

Third, the film carries a certain emotional weight. Some of this is due to John Williams' brilliant film score. Everybody knows the theme music for Indiana Jones, and some of the most famous themes come from the original film, which just happens to be, "Raiders of the Lost Ark". The film has been so popular for so long that Walt Disney World in Florida still maintains a daily stunt show in the film's honor over at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The show recreates moments from the film such as the giant rolling boulder chasing Indy, the marketplace scene and kidnapping of Marion Ravenwood, and the fight scene on an airplane tarmac between Indy and the Nazi plane mechanic.

Speaking of Marion Ravenwood, she is hands down one of the feistiest and strongest action heroines ever to appear on film. Played by Karen Allen, Marion Ravenwood accompanies Indiana Jones on his adventures for the duration of the film. But she doesn't simply sit back and play the role of the helpless woman. She fights, she participates, and her actions make a big impact regarding what happens in the story.

Aside from all the thrills (the impressive stunts and exotic locations) and chills (all those squirming snakes and corpses) of the movie, there's something entirely unique about it. The film takes place in a universe where the Hebrew God is part of reality. The "Lost Ark" that the title refers to is the Ark of the Covenant that appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. The movie treats the notion of God as a real fact, uses historical information, actual locations of interest pertaining to the Ark, and real passages from the Bible as the basis for its story. I find it interesting that this is the case with this film and can't think of another film to duplicate this formula and get the same type of box office success since. (Barring the other Indiana Jones films, of course.)

It's not that the film does any one thing perfectly; it's that it does so many things so very well. From the film score to the writing to the visuals, adding in Harrison Ford and Karen Allen's performances, and factoring in the raw talent of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, this movie is like the perfect storm of cinematic greatness. It inspires feelings of excitement as you watch which is hard to do in this day and age. It doesn't feel like an eighties movie. It just feels like the best adventure ever made. It's one of my all time favorites, and I know it will be one of yours too if you give it a shot.

It's good enough that you should consider skipping the rental and buying yourself a copy...try any of the following links to get your own.

http://www.amazon.com/Raiders-Lost-Ark-Harrison-Ford/dp/6300214060

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207468267&listingid=23111861&dcaid=17902

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3650565&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=TBBTkwCjCVyBpAgf%20mwzygtCjCVRqCjCVRq

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=42597&skuId=8773179&type=product&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8773179

http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark-SE-DVD/3041467/product.html?cid=123620&fp=F&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11182868