‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ is Still So Fun
Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark | Credit: Paramount Pictures
Our hero, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), is tasked with finding the Ark of the Covenant before it falls into Nazi hands.
This movie rocks! I remember loving it as a kid, and it still brings me such joy as an adult. This is another great Stephen Spielberg and John Williams team-up. Somehow, this duo has managed to produce some of the most iconic movies and music that still influence culture and movies today. It’s amazing that we’ve gotten so many incredible stories and scores from these two, and I would absolutely count Raiders in that category.
When you’re in the mood for a good, old-fashioned, globe-trotting adventure, this film absolutely fits the bill. The action takes you to a few different countries, each providing a different setting and different obstacles in the way of our protagonist. And it’s so much fun to be on this ride with Indiana Jones.
One of the reasons why this franchise works so well and has stood the test of time is because of who Indy is. He’s not the macho action hero that we see in so many films today. Instead, he’s just a regular guy with a lot of knowledge and skills, who finds himself in these really dangerous situations.
Indiana Jones is really good at his job—the film intentionally shows us his competency in this first bit of action that we encounter. As Indy is attempting to break into the cave to steal the gold icon, he has to make his way through a series of traps, which he is able to overcome. Of course, everything eventually goes wrong, but that also allows us to see him adapting and improvising. This sets the tone for the entire series and helps us to trust this protagonist whom we have never met before.
This protagonist is also flawed. One of the biggest things that Indy complains about is snakes. He hates snakes, which is a really unfortunate phobia to have when you’re traipsing around the world looking for relics in caves and such. Indiana is also a bit of a grump for a lot of the movie, which I think makes him even more relatable. I’m not that into history, and you definitely won’t find me at an archeological dig, but I definitely get hangry when I haven’t eaten for a while, and I get grumpy after being in the sun for too long.
Though Indy has some advanced degrees and is a talented professor, he’s incredibly relatable. And that helps these movies stay relevant and rewatchable all these years later.
Karen Allen in Raiders of the Lost Ark | Credit: Paramount
Another aspect of Raiders that I really appreciate is Marion (Karen Allen). She is Indy’s love interest, but she’s so much more than that. From the first minute that we meet her, we know that there’s something different about her. She’s a tough lady who is able to drink hardened men under the table, which is no small feat. She is also a small business owner, running a successful pub (until Indiana Jones shows up).
Marion also contributes to the plot. She is able to hang with Indy and even teaches him a thing or two throughout the film. While she still does have some of the requisite damsel-in-distress moments, she is also able to fight when she needs to. She’s a much more well-rounded character than I would’ve expected from the main female lead in an action movie.
Though Raiders of the Lost Ark came out over 40 years ago, it still continues to deliver laughs, action, and characters that you want to root for. The use of as many practical effects as possible and the really smart editing choices mean that this film still looks great in 2025.
Rewatching this film again, it’s no surprise to me that this is one of the most iconic film franchises of all time. While the sequels (except for The Last Crusade) failed to live up to this entry, it doesn’t diminish the accomplishment of this film.
Plus, it’s a reminder that punching Nazis is cool no matter the time period. A lesson that is more relevant today than it should be. Thanks, Indiana Jones, for that reminder!