RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1992)

Neha says

Raider’s of the Lost Ark (1981) marks the successful collaboration between box-office czar’s Steven Spielberg and George Lucas but that cinematic milestone is defined by the universe they create- a universe that’s a strange potpourri of historical fiction with the Nazi’s playing but obviously the bad guys; supernatural mystique; geeky archeological mumbo jumbo; rustic landscapes rich in ethnic diversity as tribals, Americans, Germans, Egyptians and even an Afro-American add color and texture to Indie’s adventures and have all of these elements collide head-on with jaw-dropping action set pieces, globe-trotting adventures that take us from the jungles of South America to the desert outskirts of Cairo and aboard a pirate ship where we cheer our whip-lashing, fan-boy-delighting hero Indiana Jones empowered not dramatically but by the screen persona and dry wit of a Harrison Ford who owes Spielberg an arm and a leg for this career-defining opportunity and what we have is a true blue action masterpiece that takes the experience of FUN to a whole different level. The fun comes from watching Indie outsmart his adversaries, particularly his arch-rival and fellow French archeologist Rene Bellog (Paul Freeman) in this race to unearthing the lost Ark, “a radio for speaking to God” that’s eluded man for 3000 years. And while Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) plays Indie’s love interest and partner, the romance is most memorable for its “kiss with a funny twist” in Act 3. The joy lies in how Indie navigates his way through death traps, his Achilles’ heel-snakes, lethal spiders and poisoned dates to name a few. Sometimes the solution is as elemental as using a shot gun when a scary, sword swishing, hired Nazi goon goes all Godzilla on him and sometimes as he so rightly puts it he has to “make it up as he goes along” but each time the unexpected Indie maneuver elicits a chuckle and the witty undertones wonderfully offset by the high-stakes, stunt-driven thrills on display, heightened by that brilliant soundtrack leaves you wanting more. Think of Indie as a prodigy from the genetic pool of the best icons out there-he’s got the ruggedness of a cool cowboy, the quick thinking and clever art of deductive reasoning of a Sherlock Holmes, the invincibility of an archetypical comic book superhero, the air of detachment of a James Bond. So it’s no surprise our Dr. Jones (1) is every woman’s dream and (2) every young fan-boy secretly wishes to grow up and become more like Indie.

Ira says

When your hero almost dies in the opening scene and comes out of it with the skin of his teeth and a droll sense of humor intact, you know that the excitement is just about to begin. And when unexpected laughs and those cliff hanger moments just keep on rolling during the first ten minutes and all the way through you know this is going to a total ride. And that, we can be rest assured is what Spielberg gives us. Suspense, mystery, action and romance come together in this nail biting, well-made, first film of the hugely successful Indian Jones franchise that immortalized ‘Indy’ Jones as the professor/ adventurer/archaeologist/action hero and obtainer of rare antiquities, who had both, the brains and the brawn. Well, ladies too. (Remember the student who wrote the words “love” and “you” on either eyelid early on in the film? Nice touch.)

The first of four in the series, and still one of the highest grossing films ever made, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a commercial pot boiler and as fun today as it was in 1981. The narrative traces Indy’s attempts to recover an ancient chest where the Jews locked the ten commandments and which holds a god-like power within it and the plot is filled with chases, fatal escapes, exotic locations and non-stop, and I mean non-stop, action. I loved the sound score, the always-moving camera and the energetic, crisp pace of the film. And I liked that along with a series of heart stopping moments, while characters are on the run, spouting cool one-liners, and moving across all sorts of explosive, far-flung areas spanning England, Nepal and Egypt, they are helped by a solid plot that has enough tension, surprises, meat and drama. Archaeological and political intrigue, an overriding Nazi threat, and broader religious, occult overtones add weight and plenty of international flavor. Performances are wild, fun and often funny and have the same racy energy, tone and mood the film does.

While our hero Indy is played with a cool, nonplussed, macho confidence by Harrison Ford (still known the world over for this, his most famous and popular role) leads the way with his iconic clothes and trademark whip and hat but, he isn’t alone in the game. Arabs, French, and Germans join in the fun and Indy finds a worthy opponent and nemesis in Belloq played with a sinister finesse by Paul Freeman, and a hard-drinking, hard-talking, hard shooting, skinny former lover, and heroine in Marion played with spunk by Karen Allen. Spielberg’s establishing film in a hugely successful franchise plays out as it should, an exciting treasure hunt, but with well-developed characters at its centre, and keeping you thoroughly engaged and entertained from start to finish, it stands the test of time. The best thing about it? It never forgets its hero and neither can we. So matter how crazy or dangerous things get in the film, whether on horseback, hanging from a truck or swinging by a rope, you can count on one thing; Indy Jones will save the day. ‘Making it up as he goes’ as he says. And well, as long as there aren’t too many snakes around.