Should have been re-released in cinemas last year!

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2008)

Raiders Of The Lost Ark is an extraordinary action adventure film. It will probably never be bettered. The opening sequence is gripping and the introduction of Doctor Henry 'Indiana' Jones is the best since James Bond's character in Doctor No. Harrison Ford is sensational in this film, this is quite simply the best action hero he has ever played. I love his Fedora hat, leather jacket and cracking bull whip.
Raiders from start to finish produces a ton of classic scenes, no one will forget the classic switch of the bag of sand for the Hovito Idol, or the Bar room brawl/gunfight in Nepal...and what about the locations and the set pieces! No CGI desert backgrounds here, just the glorious enjoyment of huge Nazi excavation sites to unearth the enchanting but mysterious power that is The Ark Of The Covenant. The fight scene between Indy and the huge German soldier underneath a rotating Nazi plane is one of the best fight sequences I've ever seen, plus the Truck chase in the desert with Indy on horseback is a joy to behold.
The script is excellent. Lawerence Kasdan deserves a special mention for producing good memorable dialogue. The supporting cast are superb, Karen Allen is extremely attractive as the feisty Marion Ravenwood, even though she has a tough exterior (demonstrated by that classic punch to Indy's face) She somehow hinted in the following scene that she had been vulnerable when she was first involved with Jones and wasn't as tough. Paul Freeman is terrific as Belloq, i think that he plays him with a sinister charm and has some wonderful dialogue 'Your going to give mercenaries a bad name!' Steven Spielberg's direction is the same magic he weaved with both Jaws and Close Encounters, this was a man who wanted to make a great memorable picture during production in 1980 and he has stated himself that it is the one film that he can look back on and watch with an audience or his own children and truthfully admit to enjoying it as much as anyone else. All power and credit to Mr George Lucas as well, his ideas and scenarios at the time were about how to create special effects that lifted a scene and blew an audience away (like the Ark's power unleashed at the climax) and not about how to make an empty green screen into a CGI cartoon.
Special honorary mention to the great John Williams. Sir, your film score for this movie is absolutely stunning and glorious. Indy's theme is instantly recognised whenever it plays. It is one of the most famous soundtracks for a film character in Movie history...i salute you Mr Williams, you are a genius!
Raiders Of The Lost Ark is one of the greatest Action Adventure films ever made...to be honest it really is the best adventure film. Welcome to the world of Indiana Jones!