I can't believe it's been years since I've seen this. But this afternoon I popped in the dvd and once more enjoyed a helluva ride with Indiana Jones in the first and absolute best film of the franchise...from back before it was a franchise. Yeah, there are some liberties taken and moments of really pushing the envelope of credibility, but after all these years this is still a solid, rollicking adventure deserving of classic status. A damned fine made-for-fun movie that can easily stand against today's cgi laden spectacles. I remember seeing this new at the University Theatre in Toronto in 1981---and it stills feels just as fresh and riotous as it was then.
I watched this the other day. I love it when that guy's face melts... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3ythpzsu18
Even though it came out in the summer of 1981, I first saw it in the theater on New Years Day in 1982. I wish movies nowadays stuck around in theaters a little longer. I remember ET was played locally for over a year.
True. Unfortunately the sequels were far worse offenders in that area, such as riding a blowup raft from the peaks of the Himalayas down into the jungles of India in about two minutes. And the "Nuked the Fridge" scene.
Some fond memories of childhood, but I never rewatch this movie anymore. Doesn't seem to have the impact it used to. I prefer to kind of keep it in the fog of good memories instead of ruin it. RAMA
I guess it kind of wears off if you've watched it a million times. I still love the guy getting run over by the truck though
Watching a film numerous times will obviously diminish its impact. I don't generally watch films like that, even films I really like. And, of course, if you're already familiar with a film then it will never be quite the same as when it was new. But that doesn't mean you still can't enjoy it. And for me Raiders Of The Lost Ark is one of those films.
I still heart Raiders. Though it sorta blew my mind when someone pointed out that the end of the movie still would've happen even if Indy wasn't involved in anyway. Which is sorta funny.
I've seen this in a theater 10 times now, and God knows how often on TV. I still love it. But now I can't stop myself from reciting the dialogue along with the film.
Funnily enough it was a Chuck Norris film my dad was browsing on TV yesterday that spurred me to watch Raiders. We were commenting on unlikely stunts and action/adventure films and Raiders came into the conversation. I then realized it had been years since I'd watched it even though I have it in my video library so we watched it this afternoon. Note: the Norris film was uninspired and tedious which led us to recalling action/adventure films we thought were good.
Well, it has been pointed out that Indy was entirely ineffectual, really. Ironies. But the ending, having the hero tied up for the climax, never appealed to me, even as a kid. The real climax is the truck chase. The best chase ever filmed.