Raiders of the Lost Ark

During its filming, it was undoubtedly a groundbreaking film that redefined the genre and became iconic. It is possibly only surpassed by Pulp Fiction in terms of the number of imitations and copycats. Today, signs of wear and tear are apparent - the special effects have aged, the pace is weaker compared to the subsequent films, and there are far fewer lines and jokes than those remembered by the old-timers. However, Spielberg's traditionally precise direction, great cast, and entertaining, charismatic characters are still present. Last but not least, there is John Williams' music with its famous theme, which has become the signature of the entire series. For a long time, I believed that this movie "must" be impressive for anyone who hasn't forgotten their childhood and adolescence associated with dreams of romantic adventures. Then, through my children, I became acquainted with the perspective of the new generation and experienced disillusionment. For them, the world of Indiana Jones was only tolerable, as they looked for their favorite heroes elsewhere. Overall impression: 75%. (07/01/2019)

Anyone who doesn't take this brilliant ride through the history of adventure and stylistic tropes as an absolute gem is ripe for a psychiatrist. Spielberg and Lucas created a new form of entertainment that, with any luck, won't get old even after 1000 years. An example of a fully effective application of outdated genres and references to a dominant and entertaining filmmaking style, a playful and engaging combination of myth with real thematic background. Excellent music and camera, an awesome Harrison Ford and very possibility the most iconic character in cinema history, and so on, and so on… (31/01/2022)

The film that forever changed the adventure genre and added more mystery to it than ever before in this first installment. However, even after many, many screenings, I still have a problem with its restrained pace and I will never include it in the group of the best films in history. Not that Ford's star doesn't shine like never before, but both Raiders of the Lost Ark and later Temple of Doom will always be in my eyes mainly warm-up acts to The Last Crusade. That doesn't change the fact that Indy is one of the most charismatic and likable movie heroes. (30/04/2006)

I still remember that fateful day when my and Indy’s paths first crossed. It took place when I was less than seven years old at summer camp. It was a rainy afternoon and there were no outdoor activities. So that the teachers could have some peace, they put on a video for the horde of children. But unfortunately they had nothing animated at hand (causing a wave of tangible disappointment among us little kids) and thus we had no choice but to watch something from a well-worn cassette. At first, some movie started, but they soon stopped it (the biggest mystery of my life to this day; what movie was that?). They fast-forwarded the cassette to half way. Then some strange movie with a gentleman in a cowboy hat started. To make it stranger, it was dubbed by a single adult who was difficult to understand. At first I was terribly disappointed, but then the ball boulder rolled out, the main theme tune sounded, and... And nothing was ever the same again. I met the love of my life (I’m sure my wife will forgive me). This cinematic experience has been surpassed in my eyes just by one movie; and no, it wasn’t Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The day after the screening, the weather was beautiful, but while we were whistling the main melody, we forced the teachers to show us the second movie. The reactions to the soup scene were... But that's another story. (20/08/2006)

If you're seeing the movie for the 100th time, you can peel off any piece you want and still enjoy it. Last time we watched the movie we watched it through the lens of when is the last time Indiana washes up throughout the entire movie. If we assume he showers at Omar's after he's learned the length of the cane from the old man, the last time we see him smelling good (apart from the Washington epilogue) is when he and Omar infiltrate the Nazi camp in disguise. We can't blame him, of course, for not showering in that camp, or during the all-night dig, the subsequent escape from the closed crypt, the battle at the airplane, or the subsequent car chase (so far a pretty intense 2 days), but the fact that he says the hell with it even in the safety of a friendly pirate ship and then just takes a sporadic sea bath while chasing a submarine only to continue chasing Nazis to the center of the island gives the film a whole new reading. The most nerve-wracking scene in it is the one where Indy climbs into the white linen bed in his disgusting sweaty shirt, and Marion's silent agony at the final ritual is definitely grounded in who she has to be chained to the same bedpost with. Yuck. Well, as the popular rapper Tyler Durden says, "I wonder what we're gonna learn tomorrow." (30/08/2021)