The best of the trilogy.

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 2002)

This film will certainly be remembered as one of Spielberg's best because it is filled with the exhilarating fun at which the man has proved himself to be a master. A previous reviewer seemed to state that it doesn't have much appeal in England. I don't see why that should be, because BBC1 have just shown the trilogy on Thursday nights and many of the main roles in Raiders are played by British actors. The character Indiana Jones performs a transformation quite akin to Superman - from quietly spoken college lecturer to tough adventurer. The music by John Williams is fantastic and exciting action sequences are never far away. The role of Jones fit Harrison Ford like a glove and Ronald Lacey was perfectly cast to play the Gestapo villain. My favourite character, though, was Belloq, a big break for Paul Freeman. A suave and utterly selfish rival archaeologist who would appear to be an intellectual match for Jones. Part of the success of the Indiana Jones movies can probably be explained by the diminishing quality of the James Bond films around this time and the desire by audiences to see other escapist entertainment.