 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Review Date: September 12, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1981
Common Sense Media says
A thrill ride and a half.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that kids will see lots of hand-to-hand battles (fists, swords, whips) and plenty of guns. Nothing graphic, but still way up there in the body count department. Much of the thrill of this movie is in the fright factor, so cadavers, snakes, and nasty villains also abound. Perhaps its no surprise that this cinematic thrill-ride inspired a real-life roller coaster. The film had fast-food chain tie-ins when it premiered, as well.
What's the story?
After a heroic jungle rescue, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) forks over a valuable relic to the dastardly French archeologist Belloq, under threat of death by a band of spear-wielding natives. Jones is then sent by the U.S. military to outdo the Nazis in a race to find the secret resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Jones stops in Nepal to retrieve a medallion from Marion (Karen Allen), his ex-girlfriend. The medallion is the key that tells where the ark is buried. Escaping Nazis, Jones and Marion head for Cairo, where they battle all manner of thugs. Jones eventually discovers the resting place of the Ark, but it is immediately stolen by Belloq, who now works for the Germans. Left for dead, Jones and Marion escape and, after a series of fights and chases, take the Ark to sea. The Nazis steal the Ark right back, though, and Jones and Marion must try to stop them from opening it.
Is it any good?
When director Steven Spielberg and writer/producer George Lucas set out to recreate the serial adventure movie of the 1940s, they forged a masterwork of action-adventure. INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK includes what may the best opening 10 minutes in movie history, and another scene that is among the most imitated. An exhausted Jones stands watching a bad guy twirl swords threateningly, then with a shrug, coolly shoots him (rumored to be a spur-of-the-moment acting decision on Ford's part because he was exhausted at the end of a long day of filming.) The key to the movie's success is Ford's Indiana Jones, archeology professor and grand adventurer, who seems perfectly at home as both the mild mannered Clark Kent type -- right down to the glasses -- and the larger-than-life hero. Ford played a similar character in Star Wars, but here he is front and center. With Raiders, Ford established himself as one of the greatest action-adventure heroes of all time.
Despite the superior quality of the movie, it's fun to note the small continuity and effects mistakes. Medallions appear and disappear, guns fire seven bullets, the glass separating a hissing snake and Karen Allen is clearly visible. And the biggest goof of all: how the heck does Jones stay with a submerging submarine for hundreds of miles? (Spielberg claims key scenes got lost in editing.) If you go back to the film, which you and your children will almost certainly want to do, it's fun to pick out where even the best filmmakers make little mistakes.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about action movies as a genre. Are they limited in any way?
What makes for a good action film?
What are the female characters often like? Is action more important than plot?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
July 15, 2010
AGE
fun for preteens and up
love danger and advencher this will blow your mind away not my fav but it is a mix of nashanol tresher and pirets of the carebbean and a pinch of star wars but a cup of fun but deservs a PG-13 but grat movie but not famly fun
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AGE
Who cares if "all of the other kids" have seen it!
I wish I would have checked this site before watching this movie with my 5 and 7 year olds. Most of their friends had seen it and other mothers told me it was fine for my kids. Not so. My kids were scared by the "creepiness" which occurs when Indy is inside the tomb and at the end when the Ark is opened and people literally MELT. They were afraid to be alone for a couple of days after watching this movie. I felt like a fab parent. :(
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AGE
this movie is great! the melting faces at the end rattled me but all in all i loved it!
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AGE
great but too violent
This is a very violent and bloody movie with nonstop violence some language. And excessive drinking. There is a very graphic gunshot scene where blood goes all over the place. Gret but not for younglings.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 15, 2010
AGE
very good action movie i watch it when im bored though
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Kid, 12 years old
January 23, 2011
AGE
Too much violence is what I hate about this movie! I swear I will never watch another Indiana Jones movie again.
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Kid, 11 years old
January 13, 2011
AGE
10
i think its awsome
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AGE
perfect for teens not for kids
Wayyyyyy too much violence... a scene has it where indiana and marion are in bed...Indiana fighting Nazis....Make little boy costumes, which i think tells little boys to watch it... but i liked it
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Kid, 12 years old
August 23, 2010
AGE
Violence (R): Lots od dueling with fire, guns, swords, and fists.
Sexual Content (PG):
It's clear Belloq wants to trick Marion into having sex with him.
Language (PG-13): Alot, even for a Jones movie.
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AGE
definitely would NOT be PG in our times,would be rated PG-13
awesome movie
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| Topics: | adventures, history |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Steven Spielberg |
| Cast: | Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 115 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 1, 1981 |
| DVD release date: | October 21, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | parental guidance |
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