Sir Evan's Weekly Movie Recommendation

Raiders of the Lost Ark (****) 1981

Rated PG

Starring Harrison Ford & Karen Allen
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by George Lucas & Lawrence Kasdan

A film like Raiders of the Lost Ark can leave a lasting impression on a 9-year old, or anyone for that matter. Although I didn't realize at the time, it sparked in me a spirit for adventure I have never been able to shake, as I'm sure it has done for many individuals over the years.

It was a typical, Summer afternoon in Virginia... hot, humid, and sweltering. My friend, Wingate, was over (yes, that's really his name). Tired of playing "war" and causing neighborhood mayhem outside, we came inside to escape the heat for a while. My Father suggested we watch a movie, since our excitement level was running high. And in his brilliant, Fatherly wisdom, he choose a movie he knew would captivate our attention from beginning to end. From the scene where Indiana Jones, fedora-wearing adventurer and archaeologist, runs from a massive, rolling boulder and narrowly escapes an onslaught of poison-tipped arrows, to the scene where he boldly chases after a Nazi convoy on a white stallion, I was hooked.

The film takes place in the late 1930's, during Hitler's expansive search for Biblical artifacts. Dr. Indiana Jones, a college professor and renowned adventurer, is enlisted by the United States government to locate and secure the long lost Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can get their hands on it. They fear with a relic as powerful as the Ark in the Nazis' possession, nothing will stop them from marching over all the armies of the world. Dr. Jones, more interested in fortune and glory and the historical significance of the Ark than in do-good idealism, travels from the snowy climate of Nepal to the sands of Egypt in his search for the Ark. But Nazi agents are always close behind, and Dr. Jones, as usual, finds himself in way over his head. He will have to use every ounce of strength and resourcefulness he can muster if he hopes to win the chase!

In many ways, the movie speaks for itself. From the very first scenes, it grabs viewers and doesn't let go. Raiders, later changed to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, for continuity with the three sequels that followed, is movie magic. Somehow, Spielberg and Lucas managed to craft an adventure film that went both with and against the grain. Inspired by old-fashioned serial films from the 1920's, Raiders has a familiar feel with its over-the-top action and campy style, but by 1981, this type of film was less common. The 70's introduced an array of bleak, dark, and brooding films, heavily influenced by the political climate of the decade, so when the "Blockbuster Duo" introduced Indiana Jones to the world, people flipped out. It was new, fresh, and much-needed. Here was a movie designed to simply be enjoyed.

So if you haven't seen any of these films, start with the first (and in this writer's opinion, the best). But make sure you allow enough time to watch from start to finish. Believe me, if you have to stop in the middle, it's going to drive you crazy. Raiders of the Lost Ark is a true, movie going experience. Hang on and enjoy the ride!

Here follows the reissue movie trailer, which I find a little better than the original, theatrical version. And for more information on the series, check out the official website!