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Movies / On DVD / Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

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Reviews Counted:65

Fresh:36

Rotten:29

Average Rating:3.8/10

Consensus: Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor, and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: Action-packed and adventure-filled, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is director Steven Spielberg's loving homage to the Saturday matinee cliffhanger serials of his childhood. When the Allies discover the... Action-packed and adventure-filled, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is director Steven Spielberg's loving homage to the Saturday matinee cliffhanger serials of his childhood. When the Allies discover the Nazis are planning to use the Lost Ark of the Covenant as a weapon, the U.S. government enlists archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) to locate the biblical treasure chest where the remains of the broken tablets of the Ten Commandments were placed. En route, Jones and his feisty ex-girlfriend, Marion (Karen Allen), must escape the clutches of evil Nazis, duplicitous "natives," and a nest of venomous snakes--not to mention the wrath of God. The groundbreaking special effects and furious, never-ending pace make for a stylish whirlwind of a movie, topped off with a fabulous sense of humor. This bare-knuckled, barnstorming, pot-boiling, eye-popping bucket of Technicolor popcorn became Paramount Pictures' highest-grossing film, and deservedly so--RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is quite simple one of the most enjoyable movies ever made. [More]

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina

Director: Steven Spielberg

Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Lawrence Kasdan
Story: George Lucas, Philip Kaufman
Producer: Frank Marshall
Composer: John Williams
Studio: Paramount Pictures

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Reviews for Raiders of the Lost Ark

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
1 2 >> >|
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Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
02/13/04
Almar Haflidason
Almar Haflidason
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: American Cinematographer | comment Comment
09/18/08
American Cinematographer

Once a classic, always a classic

Full Review Source: Movie Habit | comment Comment
05/22/08
Matt Anderson
Matt Anderson
Movie Habit

Raiders of the Lost Ark holds up as a spectacle film, spooky funhouse ride and rollicking adventure yarn. Steven Spielberg was, then and now, the finest director of grand-scale Hollywood blockbusters.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
05/21/08
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
Slant Magazine
N/R

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Full Review Source: Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD | comment Comment
05/19/08
Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD

...among that rare breed that have their tongue planted firmly in their cheek but never ridicule the action-adventure style. (2008 reissued edition)

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
05/07/08
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: DVD Beaver | comment Comment
03/07/05
DVD Beaver

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Full Review Source: CinemaZone.dk | comment Comment
08/19/04
CinemaZone.dk

The engrossing feature-length making-of covers the whole trilogy, and despite being fairly standard in its style, it is something any fan will watch more than once.

Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
04/25/04
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

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Full Review Source: DVDnett.no | comment Comment
04/17/04
DVDnett.no

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Full Review Source: Movie Gazette | comment Comment
03/19/04
Gary Panton
Gary Panton
Movie Gazette

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Full Review Source: JackassCritics.com | comment Comment
02/18/04
Mike Long
Mike Long
JackassCritics.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Cinema Laser | comment Comment
02/11/04
Derek M. Germano
Derek M. Germano
Cinema Laser

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Full Review Source: DVDActive.com | comment Comment
02/11/04
Richard Schuchardt
Richard Schuchardt
DVDActive.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: DVDork.com | comment Comment
02/11/04
Ryan Keefer
Ryan Keefer
DVDork.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
02/07/04
ComingSoon.net

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Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
02/07/04
Reel.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Cinescape | comment Comment
02/05/04
Cinescape
N/R

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Full Review Source: Moviehole | comment Comment
02/05/04
Moviehole
N/R

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Full Review Source: DVD Authority.com | comment Comment
02/05/04
Matt Brighton
Matt Brighton
DVD Authority.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
1 2 >> >|
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Latest News for Raiders of the Lost Ark

July 28, 2008: Lucas Considers a Fifth Indiana Jones Opens in new window
George Lucas is bringing Clone Wars to a theater near you, getting down to work on the Tuskegee Airmen-inspired Red Tails, and -- oh yeah -- contemplating a fifth Indiana Jones... More...

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The artists behind this year's freshest film share their story with RT, with exclusive contributions from Andrew Stanton, Ben Burtt, Jim Morris, Lindsay Collins, Angus MacLane,... More...

May 21, 2008: Indiana Jonesin': How Does the Latest Chapter Measure Up?
Everyone has their favorite Indiana Jones movie -- and their own thoughts on if Raiders of the Ark is better than Last Crusade. (Sorry, Temple of Doom -- there's no contest). ... More...

May 12, 2008: RT on DVD: Indiana Jones Box Set, Narnia in Blu-ray, and a Porn Virus Epidemic?
Spaced, the UK cult hit series, is finally headed to the States this summer - but guess what's here now? A 3-disc Indiana Jones DVD collection and Narnia in Blu-ray! (Plus, we... More...

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