Imagine yourself sitting in a theater back in 1981 when the publicity surrounding this movie was outstanding. The Paramount logo is showing and transitions into another mountain with John Williams' score in the background. You're sort of immediately hooked. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were the two Hollywood filmmakers back in the heyday of entertainment alongside one of Hollywood's top stars, Harrison Ford. Researching as to how they got the idea, Spielberg and Lucas were on a beach thinking about the music first and hiring John Williams again to work on the composition and later, they would work on the story. It is hilarious and ironic once thinking about it because today, I would have said, "What the heck? Don't you care about its characters and story first?"
Moviegoers back then went into this movie with solid expectations because of the talent involved. And, then word-of-mouth spread around because Raiders of the Lost Ark was a new genre that was introduced that maybe sold the action/adventure genre and maybe the fantasy/archeology genre. Plus, mixing religion with the themes of eternal power is a bit of a tricky stretch regarding entertainment. Adding those two elements into one crown jewel that greedy villains want to grasp and possess for eternity makes up for a man going on an adventure to return it to where it belongs...in the right hands.
In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) retrieves a golden idol in Peru with his "trustworthy" companion (Alfred Molina). After his companion dies, he is chased by a rolling boulder in an excellent opening sequence. But, when outside, he is confronted by rival Belloq (Paul Freeman) and the indigenous Hovito tribe. He escapes aboard a floatplane. When two Army Intelligence agents visit Indy and Dr. Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), they inform the professors that the Nazis are after an occult in which Abner Ravenwood, under whom Indy studied at his university, possesses the Staff of Ra which would cause the Nazis to search for the Ark of the Covenant. Indy's mission is to recover the Ark to prevent the Nazis from becoming powerful.
Indy visits his daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), from which they had a bitter relationship and she rebuffs his offer to buy the headpiece. Afterwards, Nazi commander, Arnold Toht (Ronald Lacey) and a group of thugs interrogate Marion for the headpiece and attempt to kill her but Indy saves her from harm and they become partners for the expedition. The pair travels to Cairo where they meet an expert excavator, Sallah (John Rhys-Davies). Sallah informs them that the Nazis are digging for the Well of Souls to retrieve the headpiece that could lead them to the Ark of the Covenant.
| "Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?" |
Another great element in the movie is John Williams' score which is one of his best movie compositions in history. Each piece of music captures the emotions of the scenery, situations and characters. For example, when Marion is presumed dead in an exploding truck, we hear "Marion's Theme" as Indy is sitting down drinking and grieving for her as he has lost, maybe, the love of his life. The music captures his pain real well and it is one of the few scenes in which we start to sympathize with Indy. Of course, when "Indy's Theme" comes in, the upbeat notes boast him and us into action going on for the ride and taking care of business. We get excited.
Harrison Ford is in his prime in this role and he fits the character like a glove, evoking the passion and intelligence inside and outside of the jungle. He is a professor teaching at a university in which college girls gaze at him throughout the class, notably, the girl with "LOVE YOU" on her eye lids." And, he is a skilled Bondian archeologist outside the classroom chasing down prizes for some good. I use the phrase "Bondian" in which he may have a way with the ladies, too. Karen Allen plays the best feminine character in the series as she is a tough owner and bartender that does not tend to forgive things easily but becomes a memorable damsel-in-distress to try to escape, especially "flirting" with Belloq by drinking many shots in attempting to pass him out. But, Marion and Indy have a romantic chemistry that is quite fun and memorable.
There are many great moments throughout the movie: The scene in which the Nazis open the Ark and are consumed by the ghosts of death via flames, the scene in which both Indy and Marion are trapped with snakes in the Well of Souls (scared me to death), the moment in which a swordsman want to fight Indy with his scimitar and Indy shoots him (by the way, Ford had food poisoning that day.) and of course, the moment in which Indy fights a huge Nazi on an airstrip.
There are not many movies like this anymore because Raiders set a high standard with this rousing fantasy adventure and the other best movie to do it was Last Crusade, with Sean Connery and I can make a case for The Mummy with Brendan Fraser in which it is a guilty pleasure. Many filmmakers have attempted it though, but ultimately fail. What Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan captured is the magic for knowledge, action-adventure, wit and setting. Kasdan balances the action, fantasy, romance and humor perfectly. It is one of the most stylish and fun movies ever made and it is worth re-visiting both this movie and I think, Last Crusade (which is sort of the same movie).
By the way, if the Ark still exists or maybe exists, do you think it is still evaluated by "top men"?
Comments
Post a Comment