Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost ARK

Product Description Indiana Jones braves snakes and Nazis to find the biblical ark of the covenant. Amazon.com It’s said that the original is the greatest, and there can be no more vivid proof than Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first and indisputably best of the initial three Indiana Jones adventures cooked up by the dream team of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Expectations were high for this 1981 collaboration between the two men, who essentially invented the box office blockbuster with ‘70s efforts like Jaws and Star Wars, and Spielberg (who directed) and Lucas (who co-wrote the story and executive produced) didn’t disappoint. This wildly entertaining film has it all: non-stop action, exotic locations, grand spectacle, a hero for the ages, despicable villains, a beautiful love interest, humor, horror… not to mention lots of snakes. And along with all the bits that are so familiar by now--Indy (Harrison Ford) running from the giant boulder in a cave, using his pistol instead of his trusty whip to take out a scimitar-wielding bad guy, facing off with a hissing cobra, and on and on--there’s real resonance in a potent storyline that brings together a profound religious-archaeological icon (the Ark of the Covenant, nothing less than "a radio for speaking to God") and the 20th century’s most infamous criminals (the Nazis). Now that’s entertainment. --Sam Graham Additional Features This is hardly the first time that Raiders and the other two original Indiana Jones movies have been released on DVD, but a raft of new special features will sweeten the pot for those who already own it. Principal among them are an introduction with Spielberg (who discusses his vision for a globe-trotting, James Bond-style action movie in the mold of an old Republic serial) and Lucas (who came up with the title character); an "appreciation" of the trilogy with many of the actors and others who participated in them; a mini-doc detailing the "melting face" effect seen in the thrilling ark-opening scene, plus storyboards and a photo gallery. -- Sam Graham