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Ranking: 5 out of 5
An adventurer is running through the depths of the jungle in Peru while being chased by natives. He has stolen an ancient idol from a substantial trap temple. The adventurer flies to the ice caps villages of Nepal, reuniting with a lost love. Soon the adventurer walks among the blistering heat and sun of the ancient city of Cairo in search of one of the most significant biblical artifacts ever known. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the ultimate adventure and experience all adventure junkies would like to do. A movie that lets the wonders and imagination of a little kid playing on a playground explode onto a theater screen. Not letting up with pace, excitement, and dangers until you are left exhausted but with a smile on your face knowing that you are the hero of your epic adventure.
Raiders of the Lost Ark features Harrison Ford as Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. An archaeology professor, who spends his free time embarking on dangerous and life-threating adventures to obtain rare artifacts.
Directed by Steven Spielberg. A screenplay was written by Lawrence Kasdan. A story from George Lucas and Philip Kaufman presents an action-adventure story that every kid’s imagination could run with. It is a movie where the hero goes on adventures around the world, saving the world while defeating an evil empire and getting the love interest while having death-defying threats, epic fights, and wonderful exploits.
In the first 10 minutes, Spielberg presents the audience with a situation knowing that an epic adventure is about the happen. Spielberg starts his film off with a group walking through the jungle. One of the group members looks at a statue as bats fly out. Spielberg expertly uses his film making abilities while keeping the main character face and voice off-screen. He gives a sense of mystery to the character as his group walks through the jungle. One of the group members pulls a gun when the main character pulls out a bullwhip and, with a mighty crack of it, disarms the villain at hand. What hero has a bullwhip as a weapon? Indiana Jones, that’s who! Spielberg literally seems to ask a kid what he expects out while going through a tomb while trying to get an idol. Literally, in 10 minutes, Spielberg presents Indiana with first being covered in tarantulas. The traps continue by having Indiana stay out of the light as trap spikes come out the wall. Let’s not forget swinging over a pit to get to his prize. The prize of a golden idol only to have the floor rigged with pressure plates that send out spikes, and let’s not forget a giant bolder that might crush him before he gets out. That’s the first 10 minutes, and the movie is 2 hours long.
The main story happened in 1936. After coming back from the adventure in Peru, Indy is summoned by the American government. He learns that the Nazis are in search of the headpiece for the Staff of Ra. They believe that they have found the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, the golden casket used by the ancient Hebrews to hold the Ten Commandments. The government recruits Indy to find the Ark first and bring it back. As Marcus put it, “An army which carries the ark before it is…invincible.” Remembering where he last saw the headpiece, Indy flies to the cold land of Tibet. He looks for his ex-love, Marion, to collect the headpiece that holds the exact location of the Ark’s location while trying to invade and outsmart the Nazis at every turn.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” does a lot of amazing things. One of the main areas that Spielberg and Lucas do is with the plot. As stated before, it seems like they asked a little kid to explain the most excellent adventure, they could go on and jotted down notes. They expertly put those thoughts together and came up with a story that not only made sense but was an adventure one would go on. The action sequences fit perfectly and add more excitement to the overall story. Indiana, along with Marion, seems to find a way out of any situation at the last possible moment. One example is they survive a pit full of poisonous snakes. Those cobras didn’t look too excited. They were in their territory. They make it out somehow by pushing a stone column in a wall to breakthrough.
Another example is the best fight scene. Indiana fights against three Nazis close to an airplane that has its propellers spinning. Indy manages to fight off two of the Nazis until a Nazi that towers over him come along. Somehow he beats him with some “propeller” help.
Spielberg showed his craft with his use of pace, stunts, special effects, and imagination. One of the things Spielberg and the movie does so well is the pace. The film is a constant go, go, go. One minute, Indy is trying to fight off somewhere, then he seems to take a break when he is off again trying to outsmart the villain. The use of special effects is top-notch, but they also give some foreshadowing. Two examples prove this. The first is when Indy finds where the Ark is. When his group finds the tomb, a storm starts to happen with heavy winds and lightning. You just know that you shouldn’t be messing with it.
Another example is the final scene when the Ark is finally open will leave your heart pumping. At first, you think everything will be okay. Then the sky because dark and a low-level fog slowly seeps from the Ark. Ghosts appear, and an ominous glow comes from the Ark. Then all hell breaks loose, and your mouth drops open at the sight of what just happens.
With any great movie, the actors need to make the story happen. Harrison Ford does a great job. Rather than being Han Solo, he makes this character come to life. He is stubborn, brash but also a quick thinker that adds humor to his role. He has one of the best theme songs a person has. When it plays, you know he is going to do something amazing. The character has some of the best styles for an adventurer. The big fedora, satchel, and a bullwhip. Once again, who runs around with a bullwhip, satchel, and fedora? His “love” of snakes is incredible. His best scene was with the sword fighter. The fighter spends his sword around in a pretty impressive display. You sit and think, “How is Indy going to make it out of this?” His solution is priceless and what you think the character would do in that situation.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is one of the best adventure movies. If you looking for a film to entertain you, this is the one. If you are looking for a movie that will make you laugh, this is one. If you are looking for a movie that has a fast pace and will keep you on the edge of your seat, then you found it. Watch it and let your own imagination run wild like the kid you use to be.
