Review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) by Dylan D — 17 Dec 2013
Raiders of the Lost Ark certainly stands as the consensus favorite amongst the four Indiana Jones films, and why not? The movie is magical to say the least, a picture in which the entire production gels into a spectacle of sight and sound both, a movie that succeeds not only during the watch but ingrains itself into the conscience thereafter.
It's a series of unforgettable moments, lines, and events, not to mention its brilliantly catchy and adventuresome music that's every bit an icon even apart from the movie as it is within it. Raiders is pure Adventure cinema and escapist entertainment at its pinnacle, the finest in fast-paced and exhilarating movie watching whether it be one's first or one hundredth time seeing it.
It's a movie overflowing with spirit and excitement, classic heroes and undeniably devious villains. It's comfortable, always thrilling, regularly humorous, consistently enthralling, and subtly emotional.
It's perfect from its lead character down to the last little bit of dust and sand off in the corner of the screen. Director Steven Spielberg shoots the movie in a style that accentuates every moment, that makes the action rougher, the romance sweeter, the comedy more humorous, the spectacle larger, the intimate moments smaller, and the story more gripping.
Combined with Composer John Williams' unforgettably triumphant, sweeping, and epic score, every scene is accentuated beyond the action and characterization and into something of this world but almost above it, an experience that transcends what cinema truly means and the typical experience one gains from it.
It's practically a journey to another place and time, placing audiences right there with the characters in the cave and waving their fingers as Indy prepares to swap the idol for a bag of sand, under the desert floor with Indy and Marion as they effort to escape a snake-infested tomb, and tied to a pole with the heroes and witness to the power of God revealed.
Perhaps no other movie so expertly blurs the line between escapist entertainment and total immersion into a movie quite like Raiders. Indeed, of the four, this is most spirited, memorable, and prized movie, but is it the overall best? Certainly, Spielberg, Lucas, and Ford could not top this.
..could they?
This review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) was written by Dylan D on 17 Dec 2013.
Raiders of the Lost Ark has generally received very positive reviews.
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