Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Parents say
Based on 108 reviews
Kids say
Based on 240 reviews
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Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is a rip-roaring adventure with lots of hand-to-hand battles (fists, swords, whips) and plenty of guns. There's not too much blood and gore (though many young children are likely to be scared by a climactic face-melting scene, as well as one in which a man is killed when his head hits a plane propeller), but it's still way up there in the body count department. Much of the thrill of this beloved movie is in the fright factor, so cadavers, snakes, spiders, and villains (mostly Nazis and Nazi sympathizers) also abound. Characters demonstrate perseverance, teamwork, courage, and integrity, although the film is insensitive toward people of color who are shown as being violent, uneducated, and barbaric. A couple of scenes feature drinking, including one in which a main character knocks back a dangerous amount of alcohol to win a contest. And there's a bit of language, including one "s--t."
Community Reviews
High adventure, but some violence and cartoony gore.
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The Ending is a Short Horror Film
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What's the Story?
After a mission in the jungle at the start of INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) forks over a valuable relic to dastardly French archeologist Belloq (Paul Freeman), under threat of death. Indy 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 -- which purportedly contains the remnants of the Ten Commandments. He reconnects with former girlfriend Marion (Karen Allen), and they end up in Cairo, where they battle all manner of villains -- Nazi and otherwise -- as they search for the Ark.
Is It Any Good?
When director Steven Spielberg and writer-producer George Lucas set out to re-create the serial adventure movie of the 1940s, they forged a masterwork. The key to the success of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is Ford's Indiana Jones, the archaeology professor and grand adventurer who seems perfectly at home as both a mild-mannered Clark Kent type -- right down to the glasses -- and a larger-than-life hero. Ford played a similar character in the Star Wars series, but here he's front and center. With Raiders, Ford established himself as one of the greatest action-adventure heroes of all time.
Despite the movie's quality, it's fun to note the small continuity and effects errors. If you go back to the film, you and your kids can make a game of picking out where even the best filmmakers make little mistakes. But it will be important to discuss how, despite its entertainment value, the film has aged poorly in terms of how it depicts people of color, most of whom are shown as violent and barbaric.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Indiana Jones stands for in Raiders of the Lost Ark. If he's a good person, why does he break the rules? Is that OK? What separates him from the "bad guys"? Are real-life villains as thoroughly evil as the ones in movies?
Why is Indy so popular as a hero? Why is it so hard for other movies to duplicate the formula of the Indiana Jones series?
What makes for a good action film? Is action more important than plot?
Where and by whom should historical artifacts be preserved? Should they remain in their countries of origin, or should they be taken to museums or institutions in countries like the United States and England?
How do the characters in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? What about courage and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 12, 1981
- On DVD or streaming: October 21, 2003
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, History
- Character Strengths: Courage, Integrity, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 115 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: October 2, 2022
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