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Created Dec 10, 2008 08:17PM PST • Edited May 27, 2010 10:08PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Perfect 5.0

   Raiders of the Lost Ark was an homage the adventure comics of the 1930s but little did George Lucas and Steven Spielberg know that they were reinventing the adventure genre. Their hero, Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., with his brown leather jacket, beat up fedora, and kangaroo-hide whip would not only take us on some of the most fun and exciting journeys we would ever take but he would also later become an icon in film history. Indiana Jones was already Harrison Ford before production even began. In fact, Ford was Steven Speilberg’s first choice but George Lucas wanted to use someone else due to the fact that Ford had already worked previously on two of Lucas’ films (American Grafitti, Star Wars). All kinds of stars were considered for the role. Nick Nolte, Chevy Chase, Steve Martin but the one who looked like he was going to get the part was Tom Selleck. However, due to filming conflicts with Magnum P.I., Selleck turned down the role and it went to Ford (praise the lord). Raiders of the Lost Ark wasn’t intended to be the great film that has been hailed as throughout the years. Even Spielberg himself said he made the movie as a “B-film” and never thought it would’ve been as accepted and loved as it has been over the course of time. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, allow me to enlighten you…
   
   “Renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, Dr. Indiana Jones, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the Ark of the Covenant, which is believed to still hold the ten commandments. Unfortunately, agents of Hitler are also after the Ark. Indy, and his ex-flame Marion, escape from various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo.”
   
   
   Written by Colin Tinto {cst@imdb.com}

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   For a movie that wasn’t supposed to be taken seriously, the acting is quite superb. All of the characters are great in their own rights and each with their unique qualities. Indiana Jones with his sly words and investigative ways always finds himself in a bad situation where he ends up acting a little goofy but it’s always enjoyable watching his great escape. Marion Ravenwood as the damsel who causes quite a bit of distress to those who rub her the wrong way. She is a great female character much like Princess Leia of the Star Wars films in which she can stand her ground and fight but at other times she seems helpless and awaits her knight in shining armor (or fedora). All of the characters are fantastic because the actors playing them not only knew how to play them, but they had fun doing so. That’s what makes for great acting and a very enjoyable film.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Really Great 4.5

    Raiders really has just about everything you could want from an adventure movie. The hero with no fear (excluding snakes), the beautiful woman, the group of baddies, a wild and crazy journey from the jungle to Egypt and all kinds of action and humor along the way. The direction was perfect, as the movie grabs your attention right from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the end credits start to roll. John Williams’ score is phenomenal and is always fitting for every scene in which it can be heard. The visuals are stunning. For it’s time, it must have been something else to see all of the stunts, special effects, and even the wide shots showing off Egypt’s scenary. To this day, I believe the Indiana Jones films have some of the best looking shots and locations (from a realistic standpoint) in the history of cinema. Another thing I enojyed thoroughly about Raiders of the Lost Ark is the fact that the dialogue spoken is simple, to the point and is easily understood. No big complicated words that can throw a child or (no offense) an uneducated adult a curveball making them miss out on the fun of the movie.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Perfect 5.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.7

    With all of the adventure and fighting going on in Raiders, the violence factor is very low. While the body count is relatively high and the big showdown at the end of the film can be seen as gruesome and nasty, it’s presented to us in an almost comedic manner that makes you just kind of chuckle lightly as you watch it play through.
    
    Sex is hardly a factor in Raiders of the Lost Ark as well. Athough Indiana Jones is a GUY, and by that I mean he’s a pervert like the rest of us fellas lol, his sly advances are normally shot down in a way that can’t help but be seen as funny or hilarious.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.0

21. Reality

    Surreal 3.0

    An average, everyday archaeologist/professor goes out on incredible journeys searching for anicent artifacts that have supernatural abilities makes for quite a story and in this case, a perfect movie. However, to try and imagine a real-life Indiana Jones in the real world seems to be a bit surreal. While the characters all appear very realistic, one guy taking on the Nazi regime all by himself with little or no help is something that is difficult to be taken seriously for me.

22. Circumstantial Surreal 3.0

23. Biological Surreal 3.0

24. Physical Surreal 3.0