Raiders Of The Lost Ark by Mike Booth

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first of a quadrilogy of films that span almost three decades in reality, and over 2 decades in the films. Here, in the first of the quadrilogy – although many still refer to it as the first of the trilogy, after original three films made in the ‘80s. This is because they do not count the fourth film as part of the series, due to the fact that most people think it is not as good as the others by a long way, and is set so far in the future – Indy (Harrison Ford) is battling the Nazis in a race against time to find the Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis, led by Toht (Ronald Lacey) and the French archaeologist Belloq, Indiana’s rival, repeatedly take whatever it is Indy is doing – be it a golden monkey statuette at the start of the film or his ideas and plans of where the Ark is.

The film is engaging, and although quite a loot of time is spent setting the scene and introducing the plot, this passes quickly and is more than made up for by the action and tension in the other half of the film. Ford’s performance is good, and the rugged, rough-and-ready persona of Indiana leaves Ford totally in his element.

This is as great film for all the family, and one that I'm sure will go on being loved for many years to come.