Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman

In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before Adolf Hitler’s Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.

There’s so much here to love and so much to loathe. Much of what happens can only happen in a comedy and not a serious action adventure. Too much is unbelievable and for effect and the convenience of the story only.

Harrison Ford is perfectly cast as Indiana Jones and makes a likable hero. The only problem I have with this character, is how easily (and seemingly mercilessly) he randomly kills people. Interesting, considering he is a professor. Marion (Karen Young) just as easily kills people left, right and centre without blinking an eye. But then again, we don’t really know her background, so she might be a cold-blooded killer for all I know.

The slapstick humor at times ruins the suspense and excitement of the film, but I suppose Spielberg didn’t want to make the film too serious (interesting then where all the killings fit in if not to be taken seriously…).

The action and adventure is non-stop and it truly is entertaining. I love archeological action adventure films. I thoroughly enjoyed the locations as well, and the fact that the film was shot on location – a term that might be a phenomenon in the near future no thanks to CGI. I also enjoyed all the practical effects and the loads of stunts the film has to offer. They also used 7,000 real snakes for the film, instead of CGI. That’s what I love about films from the 80’s. This was still real film making, instead of doing (almost) everything from behind a desk!

If you don’t take the film too seriously and overlook the many plot flaws (and that very weird ending) then this is a film to enjoy again and again purely for the adrenaline rush. They simply don’t make them like this anymore…

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ won 39 awards including 4 Oscars. It was also a huge box office success, raking in nearly $390 million on an $18 million budget. Wow!