Steven Spielberg is a once-in-a-generation talent. Directed episodes since its early days night gallery And Colombo till here west story And The Fablemans, Spielberg is a genius behind the camera. He is also the father of the modern blockbuster, and is a film that is often highlighted when discussing Spielberg’s commercial cinema: Raiders of the Lost Ark,
Starring Harrison Ford as intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones, raiders Follows a fedora-wearing adventurer in a race against the Nazis to retrieve the legendary Ark of the Covenant, which is said to make any army invincible. The film is an almost universally beloved classic, appearing on many “best of” lists and is considered a groundbreaking entry in the adventure and action genres. yes, almost everyone loves Raiders of the Lost Ark … Except me.
Look, I never cared about it Raiders of the Lost Ark, I’ve watched it several times, mainly because, on paper, it should have been the perfect movie for me. As a child, I wanted to be an Egyptologist; I like fedoras and whips (don’t ask); And Spielberg is one of my favorite directors. and yet, raiders It remains elusive and foreign to me, a taste I have never acquired. In fact, over time I have come to dislike it. here’s why.
It all started with a birthday party…
I can detect my dislike Raiders of the Lost Ark Till middle school. “David,” my younger friends said to me, “you must see this movie about this history guy who jumps huge rocks and kills Nazis.” I will not lie; “The movie is about a history guy who goes over huge rocks and kills Nazis” is a pretty weird pitch, so keep looking. Raiders of the Lost Ark It became a priority for me. I distinctly remember going to Blockbuster (remember them?) looking for it, but found that there were no copies available for rental.
Thus began my love-hate relationship with this film, as for some reason or another, I found myself unable, then unwilling, to sit down and watch it. When it came on television, it had already started – I can’t watch properly half Of a movie, can I? When it was available at Blockbuster, I was in no mood for it. slowly, raiders Became like a legendary piece of entertainment – very important to watch on any average Friday night, but not important enough for me to abandon my previously established plans and, you know, actually go to that damn- Let me look at the blame.
It took me almost a full year to see it, and let me tell you, I felt Excited, At last I chose the right opportunity to see raiders:My 11th birthday. I even bought my first fedora for a watch party and invited some of my friends, I was sure the watching experience would be amazing. Except that wasn’t the case.
The movie starts off great, with a previously teased boulder scene that sent me and my pre-pubescent friends into a frenzy. With such a powerful start, my young mind thought things could only get better, proving that kids will think the stupidest things. Because raiders It didn’t get any better for me; Quite the opposite, in fact. And as each of my friends fell under its spell, I became more and more angry. his magic wasn’t working Me, birthday boy. This movie should have been good Me , I Chose it! But all I got from it was confusion and disappointment, and when it ended, I appreciated it because it was over, not because I enjoyed it. This was my party, and I could hate one of the most popular movies of all time if I wanted to.
We have a classic issue here “Never meet your ideals.” I let so much time pass that I turned the movie into something it wasn’t. I had almost confirmed it in my mind, and the more time passed, the higher my expectations became. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this supposedly incredible film was nothing more than a high-quality B-movie with better action, but an equally nonsensical plot as you would find in the average science fiction double feature. Find.
first impression lasts forever
My partying ended, I left middle school and grew in age, if not in height, but in my dislike. Raiders of the Lost Ark left. Subsequent watches revealed new things and the more I understood about cinema, the more I could appreciate it. raiders‘ Strengths – Admittedly incredible score, rather impressive practical effects, symbolism, etc.
Although age also strengthened my initial opinion of the film, I soon realized that most people didn’t share it, and I couldn’t understand why. For me, raiders It was a decent entertaining film, but it was far from the adventure masterpiece everyone claimed. And with each new re-watch, my opinion changes from “It’s okay” to “It could be better” to “Are we watching the same movie?” Went till. To me, it seemed like we didn’t belong.
Harrison Ford is not as great as Indy
Maturity and self-awareness made me realize that this is one of the main reasons for my dislike Raiders of the Lost Ark The thing is, I don’t find Harrison Ford attractive as an actor. I enjoy roles where his tough, rude, borderline unresponsive personality is used well, turning into something of an anti-hero. blade Runner or my personal favorite, what lies Beneath, But when I like a movie Raiders of the Lost Ark It tries to tell me that this guy is the epitome of charm and a hero who should be admired, but I don’t buy it.
Ford’s on-screen image is too different for me to be attracted to. Every decision he makes for Indiana Jones seems distasteful to me. What others see as devilish charm, I see as annoying arrogance. When other people say, “This is a real man’s man,” all I can think is, “Jesus, what a thing.” donkey, The flaws of Indiana Jones’ character become more apparent with each new sequel, as he becomes more distant, less of a character and more of an icon. For me, Indiana Jones lacks the thing that makes Spielberg’s heroes so strong: humanity. Although he’s far from perfection, Jones is not meant to be relatable – he’s the guy men want to be with, and women want to be with, their idea of heroism rather than an actual hero.
Spielberg has always found strength in the invisible and the untold – even if it means hiding the shark most of the time. jaws Or the look on Meryl Streep’s face as she fights an internal battle Post, However, no such restraints are present in Indiana Jones, a character who is more about what is on the surface rather than what is beneath because there is nothing beneath. Roger Ebert once said that movies are “machines that generate sympathy” and that’s my biggest problem with Indiana Jones. I don’t feel any sympathy or empathy towards him, not even raiders ends and he appears to be learning from his mistakes, because I know he has four (!) other movies doing the same crap over and over again.
Nostalgia can only go so far
Indiana Jones is a character that thrives on nostalgia, but as almost every major reboot has proven, nostalgia is tenuous at best and dangerous at worst. To romanticize anything is to deprive it of the realism necessary to maintain its validity. Jones, and in detail, Raiders of the Lost Ark, are cinematic totems who live and die by the audience’s love for them. Even when re-watching the film, they are not necessarily watching it, but rather reliving their memory of it.
Of course, this logic could fit me too – I’m not watching the film, but rather reliving my hatred of it. Still, there’s a middle point between my dislikes. Raiders of the Lost Ark And your passion for it, that gray area where most movies exist. For me, this is where Indiana Jones belongs. This franchise has lived someone else’s life for too long, experiencing glory and accolades it never received. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that – more power to you for making your way to the top, Raiders of the Lost Ark, But I tell it like it is, and among cinematic masterpieces, the only fedora appearance should be Rick Blaine’s.
Raiders of the Lost Ark Streaming for free on Disney+, Paramount+, and Pluto TV.