Sunday, May 8, 2016

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)


Archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

Highly successful homage and rejuvenation of the old-fashioned adventure movie genre, complete with all its antics (and a silly story), but upping the ante concerning speed, wit, and professional handling in all departments.

Halliwell***: "Commercially very successful, this attempted wrap-up of the Saturday morning serials of two generations ago spends a great deal of money and expertise on frightening rather than exciting us. Second time round, one can better enjoy the ingenious detail of the hero's exploits; still, there are boring bits in between, and the story doesn't make a lot of sense."

Maltin****: "A roller-coaster ride of a movie, rekindling the spirit of  Saturday matinee serials but outdoing them for genuine thrills and chills...Perhaps a bit too much at times, but why carp?"

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