June 06, 2005

Raider's of the Lost Ark (1981)

IMDB

Like all of you, I've seen it a million times. I was 12 when it came out--the perfect age for it. This viewing was to introduce my nieces and nephews to it. We did a double feature with Mystery Men, which I didn't watch all of (and thus am not reviewing at this point).

Some thoughts and points of interest:

First use of the now-cliched Nazi's interested in evil old-world supernatural powers, replete with moral ending where the Americans are left standing after the Germans (and evil French sympathizers) are burned by the wrathful god of the Torah (that'd be Old Testament, cross lovers).
2. First appearance of the enormously skilled Alfred Molina ("Throw me the idol. No time to argue. Throw me idol, I'll throw you the whip!").
3. Speilberg wasn't afraid to get a bit gruesome at times. I wonder if he would do the same today? Would the skin-melting be as graphic? Would the flying wing scene end with the splattered blood? Many action movies these days are based on the concept that the characters are stretch Armstrong, and won't break or bleed when beaten.
4. Karen Allen was really great in this film, and played the now-forgotten balancing act of a tough, independent woman who despite being rescued by Indy quite a few times, seems like she's gotten herself out of quite a few scrapes on her own. Owning a bar in Tibet? In character math Lara Croft = (Marion Ravenwood + Indiana Jones) * James Bond.

Where we saw it: DVD (Seen It Before) | We deign to rate it: 92 outta 100
Posted by Martin at 07:38 AM | Comments (0)
Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?