Summer of Movies #92: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Today's movie is a classic that almost everyone has seen and everyone has at least heard of. A movie that was the "Machete" or "The Artist" of its time, a movie that helped put Spielberg even more on the map, and made Harrison Ford's career even more than "Star Wars". I'm obviously talking about...

 Let's Begin

PLOT

Indiana Jones is a 1936 college professor/archeologist/adventurer extrodinar. One day, he's asked to find one of the biggest and most sought after religious items on the planet; the Ark of the Covenant.  Why?  Because Hitler and the Nazi's want to use its devastating power for evil Nazi stuff.  Jones than sets off on a quest for glory, love, and more exhibits that belong in a museum!

PROS

Harrison Ford is great as Indiana Jones, I mean, I don't even need to say this, you already know he's great. He has so much charisma and energy that it makes him a likable character and someone for whom you want to root.

The action and chase scenes are top-notch. It's astounding to watch some scenes knowing they didn't have the safe luxury of CG back in the day.

The film has a great sense of adventure, which is what Spielberg was going for since this was a love letter to the 40's adventure serials of his childhood.   The movie's tone is fun and light-hearted, until, well you know, the face melting...

The special effects for the more gruesome moments (Do I need to mention them?) are great. They seem frighteningly realistic and caught me off guard, even though I've seen those scenes a hundred times.

Marion, Indie's love interest, is a great character who doesn't fall in the "Damsel in distress" category too often and can really hold her own. 

Paul Freeman as the evil Nazi with the glasses steals every scene. His just so slimy and diabolical, you have to love him.

CONS

No major problems here, I mean, did you really expect me to find one?

CONCLUSION

Now, I hadn't seen this since I was young, like maybe 7 years old, so it was great to revisit this classic that I'm still surprised didn't scar me as a kid. It's got fun, action-adventure, face melting, what more could you ask for! If you or your youngins have yet to see this masterpiece, well what are you waiting for? Go watch it now...like right now....GO!

RATING

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