Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – S. Spielberg

Purportedly my Dad’s favourite movie, but it had been yonks since I’d seen it.  Harrison Ford, right in the midst of his Star Wars stardom, created another classic character, Indiana Jones, the archaeologist, treasure hunter, and all round adventurer of the 1930s (from the story by George Lucas himself and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan).  As I watched the opening sequence, which sees Indy hoping to steal a golden idol from a hidden and very booby-trapped cave, I thought “It’s for kids!” and “Wouldn’t my boys enjoy this!” but then, there’s a fair bit of violence, some of it gruesome and gory.  In fact, the film apparently barely dodged an R rating.  Common Sense Media recommends this for Age 11 and I think that’s probably apt – it is very much a boy’s own adventure.  Which is not to say that feisty Karen Allen doesn’t try to hold her own as Jones’ love interest and a bit of an adventurer herself (but the script keeps tying her up and putting her into frilly dresses and negligees).  The plot has Indiana heading to Egypt to dig up the Lost Ark of the Covenant (containing the original pieces of the stones on which the 10 commandments were written).  But the Nazis got there first, with their French archaeologist (and Jones arch-nemesis) to guide them.  They match wits and Indy finds himself in some tight spots (with snakes) and even loses the Ark to Hitler’s crew.  But all’s well that ends well and produces three sequels.  This turns out to be one of the highlights of Steven Spielberg’s directorial career – still high gloss and manipulative of the audience but with a true sense of fun and wonder.