Ever since we first saw our titular hero Indiana Jones back in 1981, he has since been a fan favorite. With his four films just having been put on Disney+ in the UK and with the upcoming release of his next and final adventure ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’, I thought it would be a good time to go and look at the franchise in build up to the newest installment. Let’s start with 1981’s ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ask the question.
Is it a timeless classic??
Let’s get into it.
Starring Harrison Ford as the titular hero himself Indiana Jones aka Henry Jones Jr. The film see’s Indy go against the Nazis in 1936 to find the lost ark. Along the way he encounters foes such as Belloq played by Paul Freeman and stumbles across old friends such as Marion (As played by Karen Allen) and Sallah (Played by the wonderful Jonathon Rhys-Davis). The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and many consider it to be a masterpiece, myself included.
But why?
Let's start with Indiana Jones and the casting of Harrison Ford. Harrison is perfect for this role, some may argue even more so than his casting as Han Solo. He commands the screen with such enthusiasm and you can see as you watch it his love for the role. Indiana is also a fully believable character throughout. He is charismatic and funny yet considering he is the central protagonist he is not seen to be a perfect hero.
Indy goes through the film (and subsequent) with many flaws. He doesn't have the perfect shot (Except for that one iconic scene) and whilst he is very good at what he does he doesn't always win. Quite often in a battle we see him get bloodied and bruised and often quite tired. A prime example in this film being when he is under the fighter jet in mid fight with a Nazi, he’s on top of a plane and asks for a minute to catch his breath.
It's moments like these that make him believable not just as the main character in our story, but as a person. He’s often getting thrown around in set pieces such as the truck sequence towards the ending of the film or the bar fight at the start. This even comes across in the style of the character. You see him in many outfits in the film, yet you won't see him go from bloodied and bruised in a fight to then shiny and new again. You see the character progress again adding to its believably.
From Indy to Marion, To Sallah to Belloq. Each character is believable and given room to breathe. We get quiet moments between Indy and Sallah that show their friendship. We then see moments between Belloq and Marion that show there may be more to Belloq than a villain. Spielberg allows us time to get to know each of our protagonists and their adversaries so you feel invested in its story and it works wonders. What also helps is Spielberg's choice of casting. Every cast member knows their characters fully and you can see they fully live and breathe them. It makes the film even more compelling.
One of the biggest parts of this film that works is its set design and action set pieces. Everything is practical. Whether it's a bar in Nepal or a town in Cairo, nothing has big special effects (Either of the time or redeveloped since). Take the action set pieces of today, whilst a lot are practical, a lot are helped by special effects. Either because they are set in space and have to be or because it helps make the scene believable. However in this film, you see everything is practical without any hints of effects. Take the scene towards the end of the movie, Indy is chasing the Ark trying to get it back, going from horse to truck, getting thrown off and holding it via his whip and getting bloodied and beaten on the way. The fact this is all primarily practical effects helps make the film feel even more real and compelling. You’re having fun as you’re believing it's happening as you watch it.
Now no film is without its criticism and this is no exception. Its main one being if you take Indiana out of the movie, it stays the same. The Nazis still find the ark, they will still open it and be devoured and that's not untrue. The criticism is completely valid and I do understand it. There are many counter-arguments against it which I won't go into here. What I will say though is despite this criticism, it does not make the film less enjoyable and that's thanks to the film's set pieces, its design, its action, its casting and its heart.
Overall, would i call Raiders of the Lost Ark a timeless classic. Yes, i would. Whilst its not without its valid criticism. I think its stronger points far outweigh the negatives. It's a film that every time i put it on I have the same amount of fun as the last. It's a film that will be remembered for years to come.
What do you think of the film? Do You agree? Are you excited for Indy’s latest adventure, let us know!
Come back on the 20th of June for our thoughts on The Temple of Doom where we will also start to rank the films.
Until then, Stay Safe, Look After Each Other.
Harry x