Classic film making at its best.

Rating: Null/10 (13 January 2013)

The summer of 1981 was not a memorable season save for one thing; this outstanding movie. Following in the footsteps of classic serial's that used to run in movie houses, combined with the finest film making techniques utilized in epics and dramatic classics through out the era of film making, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is more than just an homage to film's of yesteryear viewed by youngsters in movie houses across America. It is the reinvention of the classic adventure.
Here we see massive and delicately crafted sets and locations. We see marquis players mixed with solid character actors. We see old fashioned cinematography coupled with effects shots to bring this high adventure film to light. There's action, there's romance, there's intrigue, there's good verse evil, it's a period piece, it's got comedy, it's even got Nazis--classic bad guys from the golden age of Hollywood.
The world renowned Stanford based archaeologist Doctor Henry Jones is consulted and contracted by the US Army's Office of Strategic Services to search for a relic that Hitler believes will help him conquer the world. We're there with and his friends as he grapples and races against Axis to obtain a supernatural artifact from the time just before the Roman Empire. The national socialist regime in Germany believes such a find will help win the war.
This is my favorite Indiana Jones film simply because nearly everything you see in it is real, and the acting just below over the top, while at the same time being both energetic and detached to bring us a classic adventure film. There are real convincing characters mixed in with caricatures. It's a fine combination of film making styles; a classic adventure style mixed in with a near comic book style, mixed in with classic epic film making techniques. The cost was high, but the payoff was worth it. Appropriate lenses for the right shots, truly giving us the right visual feel for the film. Truly outstanding work here in terms of bringing all technical and creative story elements together. You can rarely find a match for it in the same genre.
It is a bit over the top here and there, but overall, when you sum up the scenes and the entire story and visual experience, it is a masterpiece. You can see that a lot of money was put into this project, and it shows on screen; i.e. lots of tender loving care for a classic film that mimics appropriately her "sister ships", so to speak.
Technical notes; the one thing that's bothered me about this film are the squibs for the gunfights. Particularly the full automatic fire as they were mis-timed. There's a miniature effect's sequence during the chase that's a little ho-hum. I think we the audience were still used to real cars being driven remotely off cliffs, then set ablaze or to explode while in mid flight (classic Hollywood). The backers paid extra for thousands of extras, and that's a major plus, giving the film authenticity and weight. Also, the stunts are real. Whether it's Nazi soldiers on a truck, or Harrison Ford in a pontoon aqua bi-plane, a chase through suburban Cairo or an actual U-boat as it squares off with a merchant on the high seas. Save for two or three effects' sequences, all of it is real.
That, verse the last installment where the commies were the villain of the day, and nearly every shot was digitally rigged in some way. The unspoken agreement between film maker and audience member was broken by not showing a heightened reality that is "Raiders of the Lost Ark", but a CGI experience that is "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". This is the lesson for the film makers. But, that's another film for another review.
The reactions from the actors are real in a story that is far fetched. The places and dressing of everything in the shot, as well as the shot itself, sells us the story and imagery we view on the screen. Marry some first class music to it, scored by the inestimable John Williams, and you have yourself one incredible film.
A terrific film with high ideals and themes, set amidst a tumultuous time in European and world history.
Definitely one not to miss.
Enjoy!