Raiders of the Lost Ark

Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (also sometimes known as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen
Rank: 66

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure, and I'm pretty sure that is why it is on AFI's list. It has everything: a sexy hero, beautiful and exotic settings, religious legends brought into reality, amazing music, fun dialog, and a terrible enemy.

Set in 1936, Raiders uses Nazis as the enemy. Nazis symbolize an unyielding evil and there are few people who would sympathize with a Nazi or anyone who follows Hitler. They are portrayed as mindless shells of men who are not quite human, have no consciousness of humanity, and are like programmed droids set to do der Fuhrer's bidding. When Indiana Jones fights the Nazis, we feel as though we are right there with him, giving evil a swift kick in the ass.

Spielberg does a fantastic job with this film. His use of shadows is brilliant, almost as though the shadows themselves are their own character. And the music! John Williams, who also composed for Spielberg on Jurassic Park, Jaws, and many other of Spielberg's films as well as composing for the Star Wars series and many other great musical works, has made for the Indiana Jones series some of the most memorable music in Hollywood's history. (He also happens to be my favorite film composer.)

I do believe that Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure, one that I can escape into easily any time I watch the film. The only thing that scares me are the snakes. "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"

Trivia:
•Currently in the works is Indiana Jones 5, and as of now the official title has yet to be released.

Movies to Go: 97

P.S.- Sorry for the delay in posting. I was without internet connection for four days. Looks like you will get a two-fer today because I watched the next movie last night and will hopefully have the post up this afternoon.