Raiders of the Lost Ark

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2007)

America entered a conservative period after the Iranian hostage crisis. Ronald Reagan became president, and Raiders of the Lost Ark became the big movie. It was set in 1936, a throwback to the serials and politics of that day. Harrison Ford is archaeologist Indiana Jones. The Jones character is a fedora-wearing, bull whip-slinging, adventurer who fights Nazis while traveling the world in search of ancient treasures. The Ark is the chest which held the Ten Commandments. The Nazis want it because legend has it that any army which possesses the Ark will be invincible. Indy's comedic instincts save the movie. The scene where he shoots the sword-wielding Arab is funny and unexpected. The close calls, narrow escapes and nonstop action is mind-numbing. The face melting is a bit much. I wanted to shut my eyes like Karen Allen.