Review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) by Stephen Z — 05 Aug 2014

When it comes to famous action heroes, there is no one more famous than Indiana Jones (except maybe James Bond). Debuting in "Raiders of the Lost Ark", Jones has become one of the most iconic characters in cinema, not only for his trademark fedora and bullwhip, but for his edgy, yet charming personality. And so it was that the dream team of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas struck gold yet again.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is quite possibly Spielberg's best film. The great thing about this film is how great it is as a period piece. "Raiders" takes you back to the 1930's culture. But this isn't your grandpa's movie; there is a lot of action here. There are so many suspenseful moments, that if you were any further on the edge of your seat, you would fall off. "Raiders" has this inexplicable charm that keeps your eyes glued to the screen every second, and this is largely due to the films lead.

Much of "Raiders's" success can be attributed to Harrison Ford's tremendous acting. Though already famous for his role as Han Solo in Star Wars, Indiana Jones may be Ford's most iconic role. But just like Han Solo, Harrison Ford's Jones is a charming, witty bad-boy that you can't help but root for.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is among Spielberg's best works for a reason. It has great action and fantastic twists and turns. It has that old-world charm, while still being a sci-fi flick. And who could forget that giant, rolling boulder? "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is everything an adventure film should be and is why this film is a must-see classic.