Review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) by Ben G — 13 May 2013

Behind all of the action packed fun that has kept this movie alive and fans enthralled for so long, is incredible film making. Kasdan and Spielberg create many scenes in the movie, some on larger scales than others, that evoke the theme of irony.

Perhaps suggesting the irony of Hitler's interest in an ancient Jewish relic, but probably suggesting something much closer to universal truth about the duality of human nature and scientific study.

From the get-go, this irony presents itself. Within the first twenty minutes, as Indy is flying away from an ambush of natives, he sees the pilot Jock's pet snake Reggie. "Come on! Show a little backbone, will ya!" Jock says jokingly.

On the surface it's a pun foreshadowing Indy's encounter with the very dangerous asps in the Well of Souls, but deeper down it is hinting at theme of the movie as a whole. This comes full force about half way through the movie right before the real action begins.

Indy confronts Beloq in a cantina in Cairo. Indy sits enveloped in the shadows while Below looms over him in the light. "You and I are very much alike. Archeology is our religion, yet we have both fallen from the pure faith.

Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am but a shadowy reflection of you. It would take only a nudge to make you like me. To push you out of the light," Beloq says. In this harshly ironic moment, Kasdan's script convinces the audience that this film goes beyond its adventure serial tribute surface.

Serious thought is put into the movie entire. This is what most movies attempting to rip off Raiders missed. The movie is not great because of Harrison Ford's looks or the action or the one liners like "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.

" , the greatness comes from moments like these and the brilliance and originality that makes the whole experience a breathing, organic entity, not just some cookie cutter adventure tale.