George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's classic movie did not invent adventure, as it was largely inspired by old serials, pulp magazines and B-movies, but it certainly revamped our conception of big screen adventure. Even "Star Wars" from a few years before wasn't as relentlessly exciting, and one could argue that very few movies have been since either. Not that they haven't tried to crack the "Indiana Jones" formula countless times. But none of the knockoffs possess the wit, the energy nor the thrills of the 1981 film and its sequels.
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" doesn't waste any time and grabs your attention right away, starting right smack into danger and adventure as Dr. Henry Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) and his cowardly assistants discover an ancient temple in the Amazon rainforest and enter it to retrieve a priceless golden idol. All the elements are in place already: exotic locales, historical artifacts, lethal traps like statues shooting poisonous arrows and, in the middle of it all, good old Indiana Jones. He's one of those iconic characters that have truly made their mark on popular culture. You hear Indiana, you don't think of the state, but you instantly picture the hat, the whip, Ford's wicked grin... You hear, "I hate snakes", or "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go" or whatever your favorite line is. You see Indy running away from that huge boulder, or matter-of-factly shooting down that show-off Arab with the big sword... I really enjoyed the Temple of Doom, watching "Raiders" again, I was still totally taken away and I appreciated the film.
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