First Indiana Jones film - also the best. A fabulous film.

Rating: 10/10 (7 June 2006)

Steven Spielberg launched his Indiana Jones franchise in style with this thrilling, cliffhanger adventure movie that owes much in terms of style and pacing to the old serials of the 1930s. Bristling with imaginative escapades, exhilarating action sequences, clever plot twists and enthusiastic performances, this is perhaps the most complete and enjoyable of Spielberg's early films. Some might argue that Jaws or Close Encounters Of The Third Kind are just as good  perhaps even better  but for me this is the finest of all his films prior to Schindler's List. What also helps Raiders Of The Lost Ark immeasurably is the refreshingly tough and resourceful female character played by Karen Allen. Not only are we introduced to a great screen hero in this film, but he also gets a mighty spirited leading lady with whom to share his remarkable adventures. and that's something that far too many films lack.
Lecturer and archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) narrowly misses out on a priceless golden artifact in the rain forests of South America, being beaten to the prize by his arrogant French rival Belloq (Paul Freeman). Jones barely has the time to be bitter, for he is soon approached by an American team who want him to go to Egypt to locate the Ark Of The Covenant which, if you know your biblical stories, was the box in which Moses put the smashed, powdery remains of the stones upon which were written the Ten Commandments. Jones is informed that the Nazis have been searching for the Ark to present as a great trophy for their leader Adolf Hitler, who is allegedly a nut on the subject. Jones first heads for the Himalayas, where he hopes to get help from his old partner Abner Ravenwood. He discovers that Abner is dead, but his daughter Marian (Karen Allen)  formerly Jones's lover, and now very angry with him for walking out on her  is still alive and has vital clues to help him find the fabled prize. Jones and Marian go to Egypt, where Jones learns that his old adversary Belloq is working for the Nazis in their quest for the Ark. In a battle of wits, Jones tracks down the treasure but is once more robbed at the last moment by his slippery rival  leading to a series of incredible adventures in which Indy tries to regain the Ark from the enemy before it is taken to the Fuhrer in Berlin.
John Williams provides a belting music score that is widely regarded as one of the best pieces of movie music ever conceived. There can't be many people in the world who wouldn't hum along with the famous Indy theme. Spielberg keeps his narrative moving at a staggering pace, with barely a pause for breath between absorbing exchanges and bouts of extraordinary action. Jones is utterly perfect as Indy (hard to believe that he was the second choice to play the role after Tom Selleck, isn't it?). Allen is great as Indy's courageous sidekick, and Paul Freeman's slimy villain Belloq provides the actor with easily the most enjoyable role of his oddly quiet career. The worldwide locations remind one of a period James Bond film, but the quota of action has somehow been cranked up a level on the Bond films, if that seems possible. It's hard to say what the film's highlight is, for it is stuffed with high points  perhaps the exciting fist fight between Indy and a bare-chested Nazi giant at an airfield, perhaps the thrilling truck chase in which Indy recovers the Ark, or maybe the clever climax in which the bad guys die a spectacularly gory death on a Greek island? It barely matters, since Raiders Of The Lost Ark is, from first frame to last, one of the most thoroughly entertaining films of all-time.