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Raiders of the Lost Ark 10 out of 10
Running time: 1:55 MPAA rating: PG (Violence, mild language.) Peruvian rating: Apta para Todos
Cast:
Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul
Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred
Molina, Wolf Kahler, Anthony Higgins. |
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I don't think it's a hyperbole to say that Raiders of the Lost Ark is the best action/adventure film every released. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's baby has it all: action, adventure, archaeology, smart dialogue, perfect pacing, classic performances, amazing score, tight and expert direction... if there's an adventure movie every filmmaker should see before he or she tries to do their own, it would be this one. Before the 1981 release of this film, the James Bond films dominated the action genre. It's safe to say, though, that the old 007 movies pale in comparison to Indy's first adventure, and might even seem slow and not tense enough. Harrison Ford's performance is a classic, as well as John William's perfect soundtrack, and the movie has the perfect blend of humour, action and tension that any 21st century action film would desperately want to achieve.
The film takes place in the 1930s, and opens with our hero, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) inside a a ruined temple trying to find an old artifact as he tries to avoid traps, pitfalls, arrows, spikes, tarantulas and falling boulders. He does find it, but ends up losing it to old rival Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman), and escapes, disappointed at being unable to retain the prize. When he arrives at his university, though, he finds out through old friend Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) that the U.S. government wants him to find the Ark of the Covenant, and is willing to pay a lot. Indy's searching for the Ark reunites him with an old flame, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who has a vital piece for finding the old artifiact, which used to belong to her father. The both of them end up in Cairo, where Indy teams up with an old friend, Sallah, (John Rhys-Davies) who gives him information about the Nazis, who are too looking for the Ark, and are being led by Bellow. It becomes a race, then, between Indy and Bellow to find the Ark, but the latter manages to trap Indy and Marion inside an old temple after he takes the ark. But Indy isn't finished, and, after escaping from Belloq's trap, a chase ensues involving planes, trucks, ships, and a submarine, and in the end, yes, the Nazis end up with the Ark, but everything doesn't turn out as planned...
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in its performances. Harrison Ford as Indy is perfect; the part was once considered for Tom Selleck, but I just can't imagine anyone else playing the part. Ford is perfect as a rough, tough scoundrel with a heart of gold, and the best part is that, unlike other films, the hero in this one is not a perfect, invincible superhero with giant muscles and tons of witty one-liners. This guy gets punched, kicked, has problems with women, and wears old and worn-out clothes. This makes rooting for Indy easier for the audience, and ultimately, also makes the film more believable and exciting because one never knows if Indy is going to escape alive or die. Reportedly, Raiders was inspired by the old, 1920s and 30s serials which has tons of cliffhangers and suspense, and it tells: the film is full of cliffhangers and dangerous situations, which increase the tension and makes the audience feel at the edge of their seats, never knowing if our heroes will escape alive.
The rest of the cast is also perfect and, although they don't give any award-nominated performances, I just can't imagine anyone else populating this film. Karen Allen as Marion plays the part of toughness and spunk; she's not the typical damsel-in-distress, and plays the part making sure the viewer knows she's one of the toughest characters in the movie. Additionally, she has palpable chemistry with Ford, and her romantic scenes are neither cheesy nor corny. Paul Freeman as Belloq is also perfect, and has an excellent mix of elegance and menace. John Rhys-Davis as the always-reliable Sallah is great, and Ronald Lacey as evil Toht is excellently creepy and evil-looking. Other actors giving supporting performances include Denholm Elliot as Brody, and a very young Alfred Molina as the guy who accompanies Indy in the first scene of the movie, and they're all perfect.
But Raiders is also an exciting, adventurous ride of a movie. The pacing is perfect, and there's a perfect mix of character development, dialogue scenes and action sequences, making the film really entertaining and well-paced, with the dialogue never bogging down the action or vice-versa. Additionally, all the action is masterfully shot and edited, and Spielberg or editor Michael Kahn never use techniques such as hand-held shots or quick cutting which have become so common nowadays and which, when used abusively, turn the action monotonous, difficult to follow and, ultimately, boring. Also, like I said before, since the individuals and heroes populating the film are flawed, credible individuals, it's really easy to root for them and feel they're really in danger, which makes the movie even more tense and exciting, and makes the viewer care for the characters. (The scene in which Marion "dies" is a perfect example.)
The film's score is also perfect. Everyone that knows I'm a Star Wars geek (just take a look at this site's url!) would also know that John Williams is my favorite composer of all time, not only because he composed the music for all six Star Wars films, but also because he has made tons of memorable and exciting themes throughout the years. The Raiders theme is a perfect example, and the score for this film and the likes of Superman or E.T. have become classics. It's just impossible not to hum the main theme while watching the film, and, overall, the score is perfect in all the film's scenes. (The ark theme is also pretty memorable.)
In technical terms, yes, the film does have special effects, but since Raiders is more of an adventure/action film based on old serials, it didn't have such a need for models or explosions as, for example, Lucas' Star Wars films. Practical effects are used throughout the film, and they're all expertly realized. Ford did many of his own stunts, and the ones he didn't do were realized with the help of a stunt double. Since almost everything we see on-screen is actually there (you know, there's no digital stuff) it's easier to believe everything that's happening, instead of saying "oh, that's a neat effect." One of the final scenes of the film has the most effects and, although they're not perfect, they're perfectly believable and make an intense climax.
Ultimately, it's impossible not to recommend a film like Raiders of the lost Ark. The movie has it all: comedy, action, amazing characters, an interesting plot, historical facts, great-paced-and-shot action sequences, a smart script and a likeable hero. Even though I greatly enjoyed the sequels - Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade - none of them managed to be as enjoyable and exciting as the first installment. I bet there's virtually no-one reading this review who's never seen or even heard of this film, and I also bet there's no-one who hasn't enjoyed it. Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of those films which will remain a classic for years and years, and that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, tastes and sizes. I just hope that next year's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will be able to at least match the level of quality of this first installment.
©2007 Sebastián Zavala - GG site