Lively, sexy and spirited action/adventure (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (29 May 2004)

Smarting after the failure of his World War II comedy "1941", film-maker Steven Spielberg was looking for something that would restore the magic touch he'd showed in previous efforts such as "Jaws" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". He and "Star Wars" creator George Lucas then came up with an idea about an adventuring archaeologist called Indiana Smith, casting Tom Selleck in the role. The character was later renamed Indiana Jones, and after some wrangling with the producers of "Magnum P.I" (with whom Tom Selleck was contracted) the part was recast with Harrison Ford, already a big hit with audiences as Han Solo in "Star Wars".
It's 1936, and fedora-hatted, whip-wielding archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) treks through the South American jungles seeking a golden idol. In obtaining it, he survives the pitfalls of a booby-trapped temple (including poisoned darts, a bottomless pit and a huge rolling boulder) only to lose his prize to his arch-rival, suave Frenchman Belloq (Paul Freeman).

Back in the States, working his day job as a college professor, he is approached by the US government who tell him the Nazis are on the point of discovering the Ark of the Covenant, a religious artefact of considerable destructive power. Jones is assigned to find the Ark before the Nazis do. He secures the help of bitter ex-flame Marion (Karen Allen) and salty old friend Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) but finds himself in over his head before too long...
What drives "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is its spirit and sense of adventure. Many of the action sequences (despite featuring their fair share of blood) have a very lighthearted feel to them, particularly the famous scene where Indy, facing off with a massive swordsman, casually shoots his foe than engage in a protracted fight. Later action scenes including a fight under a moving plane, and a finely constructed horse/truck chase sequence, are fluidly paced and exciting. John William's score (including the highly memorable theme tune) accentuates every scene brilliantly.
Mixed in with the action are elements of mystery, romance and gory horror. Although the Jewish Spielberg was to give a more serious depiction of the Nazis in later films "Schindlers List" and "Saving Private Ryan", here is content to portray them as simple-minded, comic-book baddies. Knowing Spielberg's background, you can sense just a little sadism in the ways the villains are dispatched, particularly in the film's bloodbath finale.
Harrison Ford became a pop cultural icon with his portrayal of Indiana Jones, with trademark hat, whip and ready wisecrack. He embodies the reckless, savvy but relentless hero as he's thrown from one situation to the next. Jones is strong, but he's not invincible and visibly endures considerable pain through the course of his adventures. This creates an identifiability with the hero, which strengthens the characterization.
Karen Allen is a superb heroine, pristinely beautiful without being too glamourous. It's a pity her initial hard-drinking persona degenerates into mindless screeching but Allen still holds up very well, and has a great chemistry with Ford.
The direct opposite of the rough and ready hero, Belloq thwarts Jones in the film's opening scenes and later leads the Nazis in the search for the Ark. Paul Freeman plays the villain well with a suave, gentlemanly relish. Backing him up is Ronald Lacey as creepy, lisping Nazi agent Toht.
Thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end, "Raiders" was followed by two sequels for Indiana Jones in 1984 and 1989.