Films Of The 80's: Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Rating: 10/10 (12 May 2006)

Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981): Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, Denholm Elliot, Alfred Molina, Wolf Kahler, Anthony Higgins, Vic Tablian, William Hootkins, Don Fellows.. Director Steven Spieldberg, Screenplay/Story George Lucas 1980-1981 saw various thrilling fantasy/adventure films, including The Empire Strikes Back, Excalibur, Clash Of The Titans and this Spieldberg/Lucas collaboration "Raiders Of The Lost Ark". What more can be said about this classic of American adventure cinema ? In the simplest terms, this type of movie appealed to the archetypal heroes and villains we have grown up with in comic books, Westerns, space operas, and according to Joseph Campbell, humanity' earliest myths and campfire stories. It made audiences excited about the movies again, rooting for the hero again, booing the incredibly evil villain again who no doubt will get his comeuppance, and this film has a huge following. There is even a new Indiana Jones movie in the works. This is the first of the Indian Jones Trilogy (Temple of Doom and Last Crusade) which continued through the 80's. Harrison Ford will always be remembered for the role of Professor and Archaeologist Indiana Jones, a swashbuckling type, complete with brains, brawns, sleuth skills and a whip. His only weakness ? He's deathly afraid of snakes! It's the 1930's. Indiana's father, another famed archaeologist, has searched for the Biblical Ark of the Covenant all his life. The German Nazis are also actively searching for it. Indiana is sent on a mission to stop the Nazis and find the Ark of the Covenant so that it could be protected by America. He meets up with the beautiful and strong Marion Ravenswood (Karen Allen) and with the highly intelligent and exotic Salla (John Rhys-Davies) and embark on a dangerous quest to find this elusive holy relic which is rumored to have cosmic powers. There is never a dull moment in this film. Shot on location in North Africa, Egypt and South America, this film manages to keep us at the edge of our seats as we see the struggle between Jones and the Nazis, finally coming to a climatic finale in which the Ark is opened. The special effects are rather tame now, but even so, they produce a powerful spell that works well for this movie. It's a classic. With music by John Williams, stunning cinematography and fine acting, this film is sure to keep anyone young at heart and thirsting for today's movies to be more like this.