Not much to say here really … we all know the iconic scene that introduced Indiana Jones to this franchise. There is so much iconography on show in the first twelve minutes of this film; the rolling ball, the poison darts, the hat, the whip etc. I was ten at the time I first saw Raiders and it has to be one of the most enjoyable films I’ve seen. Watching it now it still fills me with nostalgic awe and magical wonderment. Despite recognising the irony of Spielberg’s pulp nostalgia, Raider’s still effortlessly transports me to the fantastical world of swashbuckling archeaology in the thirties.  This scene (and yes, perhaps I am taking liberties calling this large 12 minute chunk a “scene”, it’s more a sequence of scenes), set deep in the Mayan jungle, can stand alone in its own right.  It is a so well defined and the boundaries are layed explicit for all to see.  The pacing, the production design, the lighting, the direction, and Harrison Ford; what’s not to like.  You can view the scene here.

Raiders of the Lost Ark