Eagerly anticipating this week ... (6-24)

Eagerly anticipating this week ... (6-24)
Luca Guadagnino's Challengers (2024)

4/28/2024

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Spielberg reasserts himself with tremendous boyish adventure

 

Wonderfully crafted poster with lots of details and the irresistible title art for Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark

Archeologist, teacher and adventurer Indiana Jones is briefed by US intelligence services that the Nazis are searching for the mythical Lost Ark in Egypt, believing that it will make their army invincible. - But not if Jones finds it first!

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark is written by Lawrence Kasdan (Dreamcatcher (2003)), with Philip Kaufman (Rising Sun (1993)) and George Lucas (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)) contributing story elements, and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 5th feature it is.

It is a pure breed of film, a rare experience in excitement, fun and imagination; thrilling, colorful and crammed with fantastic action sequences and magnificent music (score by John Williams (The Post (2017))), as well as unforgettable, charismatic performances by Harrison Ford (Ender's Game (2013)), Karen Allen (Year by the Sea (2016)) as Marion Ravenwood and Ronald Lacey (Valmont (1989)) as the ultra-evil German Toht. 

The scenes that will etch themselves into your memory for all their unique charms, ingenuity and general awesomeness are pretty much standing in line in Raiders of the Lost Ark.


Related posts:

Steven SpielbergThe Fabelmans (2022) or, My Wonderful Upbringing

2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
The Post (2017) - Spielberg returns to mastery with a thrilling salute to the virtues of real, critical, brave journalism
2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V]

Lincoln (2012) - Spielberg's inspiring presidential portrait stands tall 
War Horse (2011) - Spielberg visits WWI with problematic horse drama  

The Adventures of Tintin/The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011) - Affinities for Tintin, earlier Spielberg and film will decide your experience of this 3D mo-cap adventure
Super 8 (2011) - Abrams' nostalgic family crowdpleaser (producer)

The 2000s in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Munich (2005) - Spielberg wrings a brilliant spy thriller from fraught real-life massacre and its aftermath

Top 10: Best HBO titles 

2001 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Band of Brothers - TV mini-series (2001) - WWII-sacrifice and -comradeship portrayed with skill and integrity (producer) 

Top 10: Best future-set movies 
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - A robot fairy tale with both heart and mind
Amistad (1997) or, Must... Free... Slaves! 

Hook (1991) - Arr, Spielbergian folly 
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Spielberg's grand production of boy-in-China-during-WWII is a misfire

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (story) 
Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) - Fear takes many forms in tragedy-struck anthology

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Spielberg's greatest accomplishment
1941 (1979) - Spielberg's bizarre 'comedy spectacular' sinks like a rock  

Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Duel (1971) - Spielberg's truck terror is ideal afternoon fare
 

 




 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 18-20 mil. $ (different accounts)

Box office: 389.9 mil. $

= Blockbuster (returned 20.52 times its cost)

[Raiders of the Lost Ark was released 12 June (North America) and runs 115 minutes. Spielberg was reportedly paid 1.5 mil. $ for directing, while Lucas got reportedly 2.5 mil. $ for his inputs, plus a gross percentage for Spielberg and a profit participation for Lucas, likely running into a huge multi-million dollar backend payment for both. Ford was paid 5.9 mil. $ for his performance, while Alfred Molina received 2.5k $ per week. Shooting took place from June - September 1980 in England, France, Tunisia, Arizona, Hawaii and California, including in San Francisco. The film opened #1 to an 8.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it climbed the charts again after a few weeks and regained #1 in its 6th week, spending most of the following 9 weeks at #1 and a total of 40 weeks in the Top 10. It was the highest-grossing film of the year, grossing 212.2 mil. $ in North America (54.4 % of the total gross). Several re-releases continued to grow the total gross, and VHS and later DVD and Blu-ray releases further increased to amazing profitability. The film was nominated for 9 Oscars, winning 5; for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Sound, Editing, Visual Effects and a Special Achievement Oscar for Sound Effects Editing. It lost Best Cinematography (Douglas Slocombe (Nijinski (1980))) to Vittorio Storaro for Reds, Director to Warren Beatty for Reds, Score to Vangelis for Chariots of Fire and Picture also to Chariots of Fire. It also won 1/7 BAFTA nominations, was nominated for a César award, a Golden Globe, won a Grammy and a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. The film spun a franchise with the next film, with Ford, Spielberg and others returning, being Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). IMDb's users have rated the film in at #60 on the site's Top 250 list, sitting between Wall-E (2008) and The Lives of Others (2006). Spielberg first returned with E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982). Ford first returned in Blade Runner (1982). Raiders of the Lost Ark is certified fresh at 93 % with a 9.0/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]


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