Review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) by Scott W — 31 Oct 2013

This is my favorite movie of all time. The opening sequence in the South American temple has set the bar unbelievably, impossibly high that, in my opinion, nothing since has been able to match it. I love the Flying Wing fist fight and there aren't many moments in movie history better then watching Indy alone on a horse facing off against a convoy of Nazi's armed to the teeth.

The music in that scene alone is one of the best in cinema history and just when you think the scene couldn't possibly contain any more awesomeness it comes complete with an unforgettable tribute stunt to the great Yakuma Canutt.

(If you don't know who he is just do a search for his name and Stagecoach or Zorro and be prepared to be amazed!) The rest of the movie is just as explosive. Amazing set-pieces that make you feel like you are in the action, lines that were destined to become classic quotes, and I can't say enough about the amazing score by John Williams.

But even with everything I have listed here the movie wouldn't have been the same if Harrison Ford wasn't cast as Indiana Jones. This is the role he was born to play. Many of the lines and best laughs were improvised by Ford.

He makes you believe, the pace is frantic and Ford makes you feel Indy's desperation but tempers it just enough with his cool style of charisma and charming wit. It grabs you and you never get a chance to question or doubt the validity of what is happening.

When you look at Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones you see a character that you wish you could be even a fraction of that amount of awesome.