Raiders of the Lost ArkFor me, it simply does not get better than this film. In fact, the best movies have only been AS good as Raiders of the Lost Ark. From beginning to end, Raiders embodies the very spirit of excellence and remains the definitive action-adventure spectacle of our generation. From director Steven Spielberg, based on a story by George Lucas, Raiders is easily one of the greatest films ever made. It was absolutely revolutionary for it's time, paving the way for a myriad of inferior epigone's that are still being made 25 years later. But no pale imitator can compare to mastery at play in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Harrison Ford's sardonic humor, cocky self-assuredness, sagacious self-awareness, and undeniable charm made the character of Indiana Jones absolutely unforgettable. A college professor who's also a treasure-hunting archaelogist? I'll buy that! He sells Indy in a way that I truly feel no other actor could have, instilling within him such a genuine presence that he quickly became my favorite film hero. Nary a scene is filmed nor word spoken that doesn't have purpose. The dialogue is razor sharp, brimming with wit and intelligence. And the story is undeniably engrossing, having the most memorable depiction of an Old Testament Wrath of God ever captured on film. Few movies with Nazi's are as fun as this one. It's simply a joy to watch them get their comeuppance time and time again by a single bull-whip carrying archaelogist. Truly, I don't think I could ever get tired of Indiana Jones wiping the floor with them. And the sheer gravitas of what's at stake in this film is awe-inspiring. Hitler was purported to have actually sought religious artifacts, and had he come into possession of the Ark of the Covenant, the armies of darkness would've marched all over the face of the earth.. . and now I'm quoting the Last Crusade. Forgive me, but these films are infinitely quotable, a testament to the brilliant minds behind the writing.
But that's not all, everything about this film is deserving of praise. From the skillful directing at the hands of Steven Spielberg, back when he had everything to prove. . .to the iconic, timeless Raiders March that John Williams must have composed after some divine chorus of angels inspired him. Then there's the cinematography which is consistently effective, no matter what the context of the scene or the location, and the editing which is precisely as unobtrusive as it needed to be. . .allowing us to feel the intensity of the action without forcing it down our throats. And the players! Everyone here is at the top of their game, particularly Paul Freeman as Rene Belloq. .easily the best villain Indy's ever encountered, since the two of them are more alike than they seem. In fact, it would only take a nudge to push Indy into the darkness where Belloq seems so comfortable and god help me, I'm quoting the film again! And then there's Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, a resourceful, strong, independent young woman who is the only love interest of Indy's I could ever truly believe. And as for the special effect, god! Remember the days before computer graphics when sets were actual physical places? And stuntmen were required for life-threatening activities? Everything looked so authentic back then, and when fantastic fictional worlds were presented on screen, you actually felt like you were transported to a far away land instead of merely playing an over-budget videogame. Well, the world Raiders inhabits is brought to life with special effects so astounding that you barely notice they're being implemented. That's because the world Steven created feels real, lived-in, dangerous, and exciting. And although you would never mistake it for OUR world, it bares enough in resemblance to a possible history that it's easy enough to suspend our disbelief.
Is there more to say about this film? Almost certainly. But I'll save you the needless hyperbole and tell you, flat out, that this film is as close to perfect as you're likely to see. Raiders of the Lost Ark is and will forever be an enduring classic, not to mention one of my top 3 films of all time.
Rating: A+