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List Price: $19.99 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 2884
Released: May 13, 2008 |
| Our Price: $11.47 |
| Used Price: $5.27 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is no ordinary archeologist. When we first see him, he is somewhere in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, running a booby-trapped gauntlet (complete with an over-sized rolling boulder) to fetch a solid-gold idol. He loses this artifact to his chief rival, a French archeologist named Belloq (Paul Freeman), who then prepares to kill our hero. In the first of many serial-like escapes, Indy eludes Belloq by hopping into a convenient plane. So, then: is Indiana Jones afraid of anything? Yes, snakes. The next time we see Jones, he's a soft-spoken, bespectacled professor. He is then summoned from his ivy-covered environs by Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) to find the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis, it seems, are already searching for the Ark, which the mystical-minded Hitler hopes to use to make his stormtroopers invincible. But to find the Ark, Indy must first secure a medallion kept under the protection of Indy's old friend Abner Ravenwood, whose daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), evidently has a "history" with Jones. Whatever their personal differences, Indy and Marion become partners in one action-packed adventure after another, ranging from wandering the snake pits of the Well of Souls to surviving the pyrotechnic unearthing of the sacred Ark. A joint project of Hollywood prodigies George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with a script co-written by Lawrence Kasdan and Philip Kaufman, among others, Raiders of the Lost Ark is not so much a movie as a 115-minute thrill ride. Costing 22 million dollars (nearly three times the original estimate), Raiders of the Lost Ark reaped 200 million dollars during its first run. It was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), as well as a short-lived TV-series "prequel."
Description of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Special Edition):
It’s said that the original is the greatest, and there can be no more vivid proof than Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first and indisputably best of the initial three Indiana Jones adventures cooked up by the dream team of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Expectations were high for this 1981 collaboration between the two men, who essentially invented the box office blockbuster with ‘70s efforts like Jaws and Star Wars, and Spielberg (who directed) and Lucas (who co-wrote the story and executive produced) didn’t disappoint. This wildly entertaining film has it all: non-stop action, exotic locations, grand spectacle, a hero for the ages, despicable villains, a beautiful love interest, humor, horror… not to mention lots of snakes. And along with all the bits that are so familiar by now--Indy (Harrison Ford) running from the giant boulder in a cave, using his pistol instead of his trusty whip to take out a scimitar-wielding bad guy, facing off with a hissing cobra, and on and on--there’s real resonance in a potent storyline that brings together a profound religious-archaeological icon (the Ark of the Covenant, nothing less than "a radio for speaking to God") and the 20th century’s most infamous criminals (the Nazis). Now that’s entertainment. --Sam Graham
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Special Edition) Reviews:
Behold the Ark! 
2009-09-22 - This is one of the earlier Spielberg films that I truly admire. Along with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, Duel, Schindler's List, Empire of the Sun, Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade, [Indiana Jones & The] Raiders of the Lost Ark is one that I can watch straight through. It has almost everything you can hope for: great action, spectacular cinematography, lovely sets, and some iconic shots and quotes. I'm not really a fan of John Williams (his excessive use of the trumpet is overrated), but his catchy theme for this movie really hits big-time. There are some quarrels I had about this movie (like Marian being the typical damsel in distress), but other than that, I find this to be a very fine movie. I still prefer The Mummy when it comes to this sort of genre, but Raiders is no doubt an ultimate classic in this case.
Rush to it and dream
2009-09-12 - The beginning of the myth, of the legend of that Indian Jones. Worth seeing again today and funny like hell, except if you are afraid of snakes or spiders. Steven Spielberg and his friend George Lucas are obsessed by Hitler and the Nazis. They situate the film in 1936, In Egypt where the Germans are looking for the Lost Ark of the Temple of Jerusalem. Indiana Jones is not only an adventurer, sorry a university professor turned adventurer during his vacation, but he is also the good guy who is fulfilling a quasi-divine mission, that of saving a Jewish mythical artifact from the hands of the Nazis because it is too valuable to let it rot in bad hands, but also because it is said it may give eternal life to the person who would control it. With that in mind and with a little bit of romanticism and sentimentalism he is able to complete the mission, to destroy a few German Nazis along with it and to sow the seed that will produce the Junior who will take over four films later to assume the continuation of the myth in the 21st century. Of course what is essential and unique in this film is the action, a perfectly gratuitous action that is shown only for our pleasure and in no way for our reflection or moral improvement. And it works perfectly well along that line. Still quite enjoyable today nearly thirty years later. A student recently pretended that good special effects were not common in that period and before. This film proves he is wrong. Special effects were maybe less technical, certainly less computerized than today, but they were just as creative and inventive as today, with a lot less technical means, hence with a lot more sweat and grey matter.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID
All these years later it's still great
2009-08-19 - Anyone who hasn't watched this movie in some time should take the time to watch it again. And if your kids haven't seen it then maybe it's time to introduce it to the younger generation, presuming they're old enough to follow the plot and withstand some of what they would perceive to be the scarier scenes.
This movie, in whatever format it now appears - Blu-ray, Special Edition DVDs, the older DVD, even VHS, is still worth the time. The story is still great. Harrison Ford, who looks young in this movie now that I'm about 28 years older than the first time I saw the movie - clearly deserved to accolades the movie brought him all those years ago. This is just a super movie that provides pure entertainment - the kind that removes the reader from reality for a few hours. And sometimes that's just what a movie should be.
Do you think Illinois Nazis are looking for the Ark as well?
2009-07-14 - As a child of the 80s, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was the epitome of movie making. Two big directors, a huge star, Nazis, the unknown, a spooky finale, action, adventure, humor, far away lands - this movie, this one singular film had it all. This film had something for everyone; man, woman, and child could all sit around and be amazed by Indy's adventure. Everything about this film is addicting. Watching it then, and even today - Indiana Jones' theme music stuck with me for hours afterwards. This film is more than just a casual view; it is a part of history in the making. The cult icon that Spielberg and Lucas created breathed a celebrity life into the world of archaeology, but also has handed the world a character that felt real and exciting. With that said, re-watching this staple of my youth today, in 2009, it became a far different cinematic experience. "Raiders" is an important film, it is still an amazing film to watch, it is still two hours of entertaining adventure, but does the DVD do it justice? Is "Raiders of the Lost Ark" only really meant to be enjoyed on VHS? These questions arise from crisper images shouting through my player at night, the lack of detail around the edges (don't be ashamed of the VHS fuzz), and how bright this dusty hero should have looked. I am not judging quality here, but Indy will always remain a VHS protagonist in my book.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" as a stand-alone film works better than anything that could be released today. It takes the adventurous introduction of a man in search of a gold statue and juxtaposes it with an image of Indy as a teacher. It is a film that even after numerous viewings, the deadpan humor of Harrison Ford remains funny and repeatable in a group of friends. This, unlike "Crystal Skull" relies on Indiana's skills, it takes us to places that actually could exist, and builds a mythology that is real. We were not overwhelmed with CGI or great effects, these were the days of stuntmen and real explosions - this was made during a time where realism took precedence over computer. Yet, isn't that the mantra of Indiana? Isn't the idea of this film to inspire youthful minds to become archaeologists, to make them aware that modern technology could take a backseat to a fedora and/or whip any day? There is this classic nature of both this character, but of the way Ford portrays him. Ford gives us this hero that is literally an everyman - he bleeds, he has fears, he punches when he should run - these are all great relatable features that still makes Ford's Indiana Jones so iconic. The costume works, but it is the level of strength that Ford brings that makes me replay my VHS over and over.
What else makes "Raiders of the Lost Ark" perfect? The Nazi element, the idea that Hitler was searching for more than just total world domination was brilliant. Lucas and Spielberg took a trusted villain, a villain from the classic radio era, and made him search all over the world for this Ark of the Covenant. The spiritual element within this film is not overbearing, mostly explained, and it again gives us a task that may not be too out of reach for the average viewer. Watching it today, older, wiser, and somewhat more film skilled, I loved learning that Karen Allen could drink like it was her job. I never did catch the romantic twist forming between Belloq and Allen, but it seemed more relevant as I am older. Our man Dietrich was both hysterical and utterly evil; one of my favorite scenes was when he tricks us into hanging his coat. Brilliant. Proving again that "Raiders" takes you on this journey, a journey that could have been stale and caper-ish, and delivers a story that seems bold, refreshing, and new each time that you watch it - no matter what age you are.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is a timeless film. I cannot wait to watch it again - every element from the design, to the characters, to the finale is perfect. Despite the passion that I have for the VHS version, the DVD does thankfully make this film more accessible to the modern masses. This was created during the time where Ford was making skilled movies, a trait that he seems to have forgotten today. Do not watch this series backward, do not begin with "Crystal Skull" and expect "Raiders" to be the same. It is a retro film, a film about using skills sans computers. It is near perfection from everyone filming, writing, and acting within it. I would recommend this film to anyone looking for creativity, excitement, and/or a time where cinema was fun.
I miss these days.
Grade: ***** out of *****
A lot of holes in retrospect 
2009-07-06 - I watched the movie with my 10 year old son recently. Yes, it's a fine, action packed movie, but in 25 years it's definitely dated. Although an action-fantasy, there are an alarming number of non-sequiturs in the movie regarding the reason/logic of events. Cultural stereotypes are also an issue. The violence is also "ramboesque" in places. The humor somewhat masks these issues, but they're clearly apparent. Raiders is more a homage and testament to the art of the hollywood blockbuster, and I'm not sure where that ranks in the realms of true art as compared to the halls of titillation. Food for thought.
