3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The very definition of a heroic movie icon, December 8, 2007
This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
Hollywood, Universal Studios, movie heroes, and modern classics - when these are mentioned, somewhere in the mix is the scene we have all viewed at some point or another - the archaeologist dressed as a lion tamer running from the huge rolling ball. Harrison Ford, along with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, have done more than bring us a fantastic action/adventure that truly entertains, but they have created something that has gone down in cinematic history as a cultural movie icon - the creation of one of the greatest on screen heroes of all time - Indiana Jones. If you have never seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, you are missing arguably not just perhaps the best Indiana Jones movie, but one of the best modern classic films ever to hit the big screen.
Indiana Jones is almost like James Bond in a sense - he is smooth, inventive, tough, cool with the ladies, and visits the most exotic of locations - perhaps even more exotic than what Bond is used to. Armed with a gun and bare fists, its the whip that has become the trademark for Indiana Jones. It's something that could come off as silly, but it worked so well, and it appears that nobody else dares to take the risk of copying in other films out there.
The hero isn't the only thing that makes this film work so well, it's the artificats. The very beginning of Raiders is extremely engaging, pitting Indiana and some of his "not so loyal buddies" into a South American cave occupied by booby traps and big spiders. The artifact Indiana is seeking is a golden head, but it's just an opener for what is yet to come - The Ark of the Covenant - and I can't think of any greater artifact one could want. Historical information is shed on the Ark throughout the film, and to make matters very intense, Indiana's nemesis "Beloch" and his Nazi allies want the ark for themselves. It becomes an all out war between both parties, filled with incredible action and adventure.
As a whole, Raiders is amazing entertainment. It has a wonderful story, highly memorable characters, romance, action, adventure, archaeology, and teriffic pacing. I don't think there is one scene in this movie that is not interesting. Probably some of the best things about Raiders is the action and the characters. The fights are memorable such as Indy vs the big Nazi guy, and the incredible truck chase scene that follows. The characters deliver lines one after another that fans will (and do) quote for times to come. If that's not enough to satisy, the story is so much fun and engaging as well.
I think everyone loves this movie, no matter who you are. This is the kind of movie that goes beyond what kind of genre film you enjoy, its easily in a list of some of the best films of all time that are must see.
Acting - 4.5
Action - 5
Characters - 5
Story - 4.5
Overall - 5
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Raiders of the Lost Ark, February 26, 2008
This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
America entered a conservative period after the Iranian hostage crisis. Ronald Reagan became president, and Raiders was the big movie. It is a throwback to the serials and politics of 1936. 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 it will be invincible. Indy's droll instincts save the movie. Shooting the sword-wielding Arab was unexpected. The close calls and narrow escapes are numbing.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The greatest adventure film of all time!, October 16, 2007
This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
It ever there was a solid 5-star film, this is it.
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is a semi-ethical archaeologist who is commissioned by the U.S. Government to retrieve The Lost Ark of the Covenant from an Egyptian tomb before the rotten Nazis can get their hands on it. The sacred and dangerous Ark gets bounced around here and there and so does Jones.
This film has it all -- the flavour of an old-time Saturday matinee cliffhanger serial, but also offering superb color cinematogragraphy, incredible sets, perfect casting, and on and on. I can hardly say enough good about it.
If I have an issue, it's that you apparently have to buy the Indiana Jones Boxed set (3 movies) to get this one in the Region 1 release. So that's sort of a stinky bummer. The other two movies are okay, but not of the caliber of this one.
To me, this is one of the top films of all time of ANY genre. You can watch this one with equal glee over and over.
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