Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - Review

“Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?” a review of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

When I was a child, I went through several phases when it came to what I wanted to be when I grew up. Astronaut, musician, zoo keeper, I could go on. There was one that stuck with me for a while though. I didn’t want a boring job; I wanted to go on adventures. I wanted to be an archeologist. I wanted to be Indiana Jones.

I’m actually not the biggest fan of action films. Films that rely on high-speed chases and explosions often leave me feeling cold. I enjoy character development, emotional plots, plot twists that leave me deep in thought long after I’ve finished watching. Despite this, Indiana Jones is a franchise I still love nearly thirty years since I first watched the first film. From the moment you see Indiana (or Indy as he is lovingly referred to), you know he isn’t just any hero. Sarcastic, witty and sporting a fedora and a whip, Indy takes us on a journey filled with danger, suspense, and comedy.

The film is incredibly fast paced and full of booby traps, ancient temples and, much to Indy’s dismay, snakes. Set in the 1930s, the film follows Indy and his ex-partner Marion as they search for the Lost Ark of the Covenant, desperate to find it before the Nazis who are also searching for it can.

The pacing is something I love about this film. There’s something so nostalgic and exhilarating about watching Indy escape from impossible scenarios just in time. Whilst this could be seen as one of the reasons for the lack of development of supporting characters, I actually don’t mind. Sure, Marion can somewhat fall into the “damsel in distress” category occasionally, but her tenacious and fiery nature are a true match for Indy’s own. Sure, sometimes the situations seem ridiculous and impossible, but the film is self-aware, and Indy himself remarks on this, as he quips “I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go”.

It’s difficult not to love Indy and Marian. Indy is a reluctant hero, his iconic look and quick wit making him hilarious and completely compelling to watch. This is a brilliant performance from Harrison Ford, who comes across as charming, nonchalant and incredibly funny, whilst Karen Allen plays Marion in a spirited and sharp way, and the chemistry between the pair, despite their difficult shared history, is incredible to watch.

The score is fantastic, with the music being instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever watched the film. The writing is brilliant, and the humour is one of my favourite things about it. I will never forget how hard I laughed the first time I watched Indy come across a sword wielding adversary, who he simply shot before casually shrugging off the encounter. The perfectly timed dry wit of this film makes for a hilarious watch.

It's not all humour of course, and the stakes are high. I truly felt on the edge of my seat the first time I watched this film as a child, desperate for Indy to save the day and stop the bad guys. This brings us onto the villains; there’s nothing quite like a shared enemy to make an audience unite with a hero, and this film has plenty. From Indy’s arch rival, French archaeologist Dr. Rene Belloq who works with nazis, to more minor villains such as guides who trick Indy, this film is full of characters you can’t wait to watch get what’s coming to them.

Sure, this isn’t a completely perfect film. By todays standards, the way Raiders portrays foreign cultures is less than ideal, with some of the tropes used now being insensitive and out of date. With that said, Raiders of the Lost Ark is an incredibly adventurous, escapist journey which encourages us to ask questions, explore the world and search for…. well, I’ll let Indy explain what we should be looking for.

“Fortune and glory, kid. Fortune and glory.”

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

Share Article: