Review of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) by Marco F — 12 May 2013

The great film critic Pauline Kael described RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK as a product invented by Paramount's marketing department. That's very good criticism- but unfortunately, that criticism came from an ancient relic- someone who mentally lived in the days from the 1910's to the 1960's when Hollywood was run by competitive, flamboyant studio executives with huge egos- men who would take chances and do something different just to outdo the other studios in Hollywood. She just couldn't accept that when this film was released, Hollywood was run by corporations who only cared about making money and their approach to making films was, as a result- much more conservative and financially driven psychologically. I wish Hollywood was still like it was in those golden days up until the studios were bought by corporations- when Hollywood was driven by passion and enthusiasm.

But it isn't like that anymore. On Kael's basis, this is certainly one of the greatest products any marketing department have ever come up with. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is, in my opinion the most entertaining roller-coaster ride Hollywood has ever produced- an endless stream of imagination, special effects and stunts. Few films are as exhiliarating and as fun to watch as this one. I will admit that the film isn't very ambitious in what it sets out to do. It just wants to entertain. And it succeeds- magnificently.

There is more excitement in the first 10 minutes of this film than 90% of other action/adventure movies in their entirety. The film's main character, Indiana Jones, goes to South America to steal a golden idol and sell it on a market in Morocco. He has to go through endless traps, pitfalls and other death-defying obstacles to get this valuable item. This one scene is filled with such creativity and energy that you never know what could come up next- Steven Spielberg knows this, and exploits that feeling of uncertainity all the way throughout so cleverly, that it's nearly impossible not to be wound up and be involved in Indiana Jones's exploits in this film.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is a great film- one of the best action-adventure films ever made, maybe the best film of its kind ever made. If she looked at all the spawns of this film made since RAIDERS was released in 1981, Ms. Kael might have had a higher opinion of this film. Almost all of those films will date in some way- but this amazing movie will never age. Even decades, centuries from now- it will remain a timeless classic, one to treasure for the ages.