Review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) by William C — 04 Aug 2015

Raiders of the Lost Ark, a start to a massive franchise of movies and one of the most consistently liked movies ever. With big action, sly humour and of course top acting from Harrison Ford, it is hard not to dislike this movie and it's many qualities. That all said I do still feel this is slightly overrated, not in a way where I think it is bad and others good, only that I feel it is not the most perfect film ever.

As said Harrison Ford is our star man playing well Indiana Jones, he makes the archaeologist look like an action man and also can have a few laughs too, just don't involve snakes. As for the rest of the cast well it kind of splits, Karen Allen I wasn't so sure on, she isn't bad but I just couldn't believe her well enough. Actors such as Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davis and Ronald Lacey make it even more fun and also sinister, the film knows how to get the right balance of good and evil.

As for the man directing the whole thing, Steven Spielberg, well for me he does a good job but not a great job, he is consistent but I didn't think it was overly awesome. And now for what I consider this movies biggest flaw, the script. It is just not that good and although fans of the movies will say that it is what makes this so good, I can only disagree as I feel the whole story from George Lucas is the best thing, not the screenplay from Lawrence Kasdan. And on that, the story, and what a gem of a plot we have here, unravels nicely but never gets too slow, the action is well timed and the comedy in-between is unique.

With the script maybe being my only problem, then the score is just a little chip in the whole work, a kind of slight inconvenience(at times). I have never heard a score that is so good but then suddenly so annoying, when the action comes around I dislike it, but when the others scenes that have John Williams score in come, they are good, it is quite strange. I must also add here in terms of technical things, the locations and sets are stunning, well designed but not too corny either, a big well done to the team on that one and also to the cinematography from Douglas Slocombe who's skill this movie owes a lot to as well.

Listen this film may be flawless and I might be missing something, or maybe my review just seems a little too mean. The movie is very entertaining don't get me wrong and I would re-watch this many times but I just feel I am among the minority who don't think this is that that great, even though I think it is great even. Nevertheless this is the kind of film anyone can enjoy, any age, any film genre fan, all can have fun watching this legendary piece of cinema. On that previous point, some viewers may get scared by the numerous fake dead bodies, so always remember that before you have nightmares.

One thing I often see about this film is people saying it is the first of it's kind, and I agree it is but another point to make on that is that, when you set a benchmark for film like this, your movie although the first of it's kind, must also try to be the best of all that follow it. Basically what I'm trying to say is, don't watch this like your still whatever age you were when it first came out, I mean for newer fans they have many adventure film for this to compare to, and I find that it is Spielberg, Lucas and Phil Kaufman's(who helped with the whole story and script) job to make this one of the best even in the future.