Raiders of the Lost Ark is a great action movie, and though I feel The Last Crusade was the ultimate Indiana Jones adventure, Raiders is still a definite classic.

The beginning scene with Indiana Jones searching for an idol in a temple full of traps sets the movie off to a great start. The scene with the giant boulder has become a classic. The other stunts in this movie are not quite as over-the-top nerve-wrenchers, but scenes such as the truck chase have become movie staples in their own right.

The score to this movie is one of my favorites of all time. This is John Williams at his best, as the music fits the characters and situations perfectly.

The cast is strong. Harrison Ford is the perfect man to play Indiana Jones since he has such a natural charisma about him. I loved Marion Ravenwood. It was wonderful to see a love interest portrayed as a strong woman, rather than the typical damsel-in-distress mold. From the moment she was introduced out-drinking men in a bar in Nepal, I knew she was going to be a great character. Karen Allen is perfect in the part. Even when she is scared out of her mind, Karen still exudes a true sense of confidence and self-empowerment.

The story here is what sets this movie apart from other action movies. The nazis are after the Ark of the Covenant, which supposedly has great power from God which would make any army that is in possession of the ark virtually indestructible. The Hebrew bible contains many of the greatest stories of all time, so it’s great to see one of those stories used so well as a story element in a Hollywood blockbuster.

Yes, it’s a little dated. But this is still a great fast paced action film.