Movie Review: Indiana Jones & Raiders of the Lost Ark IMAX

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott & John Rhys-Davies

Director: Steven Spielberg

In a few words...: One of the greatest films of all time in a remastered IMAX format, where Indiana Jones races against sinister Nazi forces to find the Ark of the Covenant.
 
Rating: 9.5/10 

Beware: SPOILERS AHEAD

Chronogically the second film in the Indiana Jones trilogy, the Steven Spielberg/George Lucas collaboration has long been one of my favourite films of all time - and also one that I wasn't quite old enough to see on the big screen. Well, that's changed now, thanks to Raiders of the Lost Ark getting a limited IMAX format run in honour of all the Indiana Jones films being released on Blu Ray.

Wow! Just, wow. Raiders an even more brilliant film when it's on the big screen. I'm a part of the generation who, until The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, grew up seeing Indy strut his stuff on TV, VCR or DVD only. It was the same for Star Wars, at least until 1997 when the classic original trilogy was re-released over the course of a few months. The wait for Harrison Ford's other mega star vehicle was a bit longer, but worth the wait. Well and truly worth the wait!

I think Raiders is my favourite Indiana Jones film. But that's bound to change. In fact, ask me in a week, and I might tell you it's the The Last Crusade. Or The Temple of Doom. That's the thing. Having to pick one - of the original trilogy, anyway - Indiana Jones film to say is your favourite above all others is like being asked to choose which of your three kids you love the most. Tough to do, especially because there isn't a bad film in the original trilogy (and Crystal Skull isn't really as bad as everyone said it was; it just isn't as good as the preceding trio). Suffice to say, for the moment, having just seen it on the giant screen, Raiders is winning the race. 

It's an epic film, from the first scene to the very last, and full of so many memorable moments - the opening scene with the giant boulder and the showdown between the sword-wielding Arab and Indy in the plaza, where Indy lazily shoots the man - which will be talked about in filmic circles for years to come. Also: I forgot how great it was watching Sallah and Indy together. Watching it on the big screen, I can now see why it captivated so many people upon it's release. Lucas and Spielberg are great filmmakers on their own; together, there's no touching them.

As much as I enjoy Temple of Doom for it's dark story and departure from the storyline of Raiders, I've come to the conclusion that Indiana Jones is at his best when he's facing off with the Nazis and their cronies.