rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1981
Directed by Steven Spielberg; produced by Frank Marshall; written by Lawrence Kasdan
Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina, Frank Marshall
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
Steven Spielberg's 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' is probably the ultimate
adventure film, the best popcorn film out there, entertaining and exciting
the entire time. It has the perfect hero in Indiana Jones with the perfect
actor to play him, Harrison Ford. Karen Allen as Marion is the perfect
leading lady and of course the Nazis are great villains. Then make the
location Cairo and the thing they are all looking for the Ark of the
Covenant, that thing Moses kept the Ten Commandments in. It just doesn't get
better than this.
What can I say more? One terrific action scene falls into the next one. I
mean, this film contains everything you could find in an action film and it
is all done in the best way possible. You will smile most of the time, often
laugh, always be thrilled. The film is serious in a way but not too serious.
It knows exactly what it is. The choice for the Ark of the Covenant as the
main subject is perfect in multiple ways, especially in combination with the
Nazis as the villains. I mean, it sort of is the greatest good versus the
greatest evil. The way 'Raiders' uses the known things about the artifact
gives us a brilliant closing sequence.
I want to say more but the film is too good to take certain moments. Every
member of the crew has done its job superbly to create the world Indiana
Jones inhabits. The main location is Cairo, but we also enter South-America
and Nepal, not because it was really necessary, but because it makes the
film even more exciting. Cinematography, art-direction and set decoration
and especially the visual effects are superb. Put executive producer George
Lucas and director Steven Spielberg as leaders on the project and you have
your ultimate adventure.