16. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Dir. Steven Spielberg
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most perfectly paced action films ever made. Present day genre filmmakers should be studying this film to learn exactly how to plot, pace, and execute their action films. Like a masterclass piece of classical music in which every note is written and played with a mathematical and soulful precision, every part of Raiders is perfectly orchestrated and executed. This film marks the high point of Spielberg's and Lucas's careers, and will forever remain a bellwether of grand, pulpy adventure.
In what surely ranks as one of the most famous opening sequences of all time, Spielberg and Lucas unleash an incredible character in a fantastic and exotic locale, and then they let this character interact with the environment while the tension builds and the action unfolds. Geography, and the use of space and time, is something that is of the utmost importance to action cinema, but unfortunately these aspects are often left to chance, at best, or totally forgotten. Not so with Raiders. The opening action sequence works because all of the action relies upon the geography of the set. We see things through Indy's eyes, and then these things come into play. Everything is shown - the set up - and then everything gets used to great effect - the payoff.
Another great thing about this film is that it is not non-stop action. For every adrenalin-pumping feat of daring-do there are moments of dramatic character interaction, mystery, conspiracy, and discovery. Spielberg and Lucas do an amazing job of mining the best elements of yesteryear's literary pulp-adventures. We get the globe trotting scholar-cum-adventurer (brains and brawns) on a quest teeming with romance, religious superstition, the supernatural, Nazis, booby-traps, and ancient civilizations. I know the comparison is cliche, but for Raiders it is apt beyond all else; this film truly is a roller coaster ride. A damn well-built one at that. This is the “Colossus,” the "Giant Dipper," of Hollywood action cinema. A timeless classic of its genre.
Props must also be given to Harrison Ford. Who would have thought that he would be able to top his cool-factor as the galactic-smuggler, Han Solo? Well, with Dr. Jones he does, and he has a darn good time doing it. I don't know of any trivia surrounding Ford's casting, but I cannot imagine this part being written for, or played by, anyone else. It is as if he is tapping into the very essence of the character's mythology, and is channeling the spirit of this fictional hero. While watching Ford on screen, I immediately forget that I am watching him, or Han Solo, and all I can see is Indiana Jones. This is one of my favorite performances of all time, and rightfully so. Indiana Jones is an incredible character, in a fantastic adventure, wrapped up in a film that is simply remarkable.
