Raiders of the Lost Ark Review: The Thrill-Ride That Defines Adventure
9/10 — Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Pros
- Brilliantly staged action
- Harrison Ford's star turn
- Williams's iconic theme
Cons
- Dated cultural depictions
Archaeologist Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, races Nazi agents to find the Ark of the Covenant in 1936. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas modelled it on the adventure serials of their youth.
What works
The action is inventive and clear, from the opening boulder chase to the truck sequence, and Ford is a perfect blend of charm, grit and vulnerability. Karen Allen’s Marion is a feisty match, and John Williams’s march is unforgettable. The melting finale is gloriously gruesome.
Where it falters
Some of the depictions of non-Western characters are dated, and Indy is arguably a passive figure in the finale.
Verdict
One of the great adventure films, as fresh and fun as ever.
