Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Anthony Higgins and Denholm Elliot.

Director: Steven Spielberg

Release Date: 1981

Running Time: 1hr 55 minutes

Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Format: DVD

Synopsis:

Indiana Jones, archaeologist and adventurer, is hired by the US Government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the German's do. 

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark! Set in 1936. Archaeology professor Indiana Jones is in the jungles of South America searching for a mysterious golden statue. Accidentally setting off traps, and entering a world of creepy crawlies, he manages to make it out alive. After returning back to America, Jones hears from museum creator Marcus Brody about a biblical artifact the Ark of the Covenant, the US Government want to make sure he gets his hands on it before the Nazis do! Searching across Nepal and Egypt, he must find the hidden artifact. The adventure that unfolds around him is deadly exciting! A little bit of romance is thrown in for good measure too! Who would of thought archaeology could be so dangerous ah? I sure hope my brother-in law knows what he's letting himself in for! Moving on....Director Steven Spielberg delivers one of the most famous action movies of the early eighties.

Although most will refer to this as an action movie, it really is an adventure film! Harrison Ford is fabulous as raving adventurer and famous archaeologist Indiana Jones. Ford has truly immersed himself into the role of Indiana. A ladies man at heart, Harrison has just the right persona for the role. Fantastically enthusiastic, Ford's performance is excellent. Of course Indiana never goes on an adventure on his own, in Nepal he teams up with bar owner Marion Ravenwood, after finding she has an important artifact he's after in helping him find the covenant. Karen Allen is brilliant as Marion, the chemistry on screen between them both is tremendous. Of course, no good adventure would be complete without a bad guy! Major Arnold Toht (Lacey), is also after the covenant, a vicious man, always dressed in black, even in the hottest of weathers! Karma certainly has a nice way of keeping up with him though! His character is very interesting. Ronald Lacey's performance is wonderful!

Magnificently directed by Steven Spielberg and beautifully written by George Lucas, the storyline never bores it's audience. Exciting and intriguing from the very beginning. The action sequences are exquisite. The storyline has the perfect balance of action and comedy, with the use of an incredible score by fantastic composer John Williams, it makes for some pretty memorable scenes. What's remarkable is that George Lucas manages to discuss religion in his story without forcing it down his audience's throat. Religious or not, the storyline is very interesting. I love that you generally don't know what's going to happen, until it actually happens! The trailer is a dead giver away unfortunately, however even then it's only snippets of what's to come!

Director Steven Spielberg really knows how to make a movie look good! This film is first rate. Stunning moments of cinematography by Director of Photography Douglas Slocombe, who also worked on "The Italian Job" and James Bond's "Never say, never again", the film barely looks a year old! At 36 years, it looks incredible! 36 years, can you believe that? Why does Indiana Jones have a fear of snakes you say? You may just have to watch the other two films, to have that question answered. Unfortunately for Jones he stumbles across them a few times through out the course of the movie. I really love the authenticity, the setting matches the storyline perfectly. Shot in Tunisia, California and France, the setting looks surprisingly convincing! John Williams exciting score works fantastically alongside the storyline and the setting.  A very nice looking movie! Exciting and thrilling, Raiders of the Lost Ark is film you don't wanna miss!

5/5 stars




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