Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Year Released/Rating: 1981 PG

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman

Genre: Action Adventure

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it!

Trivia:

• The original name of the lead character in the script was Indiana Smith. His name was changed to Jones on the first day of production.
• In the submarine pen, the German who comes upon Indiana says, in German, "Good day" "Tired? Why do you sleep? Wash yourself! And straighten your shirt, so that you don't look like a pig at your court martial..." "Stand up... [straight]" He is cut off by Indiana's punch.
• Although the Nazis speak German in many scenes, most of the lines were dubbed for the German versions of the film because the actors spoke very bad German with a very strong American accent. Some lines were simply wrong. On the recent DVD release, no German lines are wrong. The majority of the German lines seems to be spoken by native German speakers with a slight south German accent.
• In filming the Well of Souls sequence, the producers scoured every pet shop in London and the South of England for every snake they could lay their hands on. Hence there are snakes that are identifiable from many different geographical areas. However, once all the snakes were on set, it became clear that there were not nearly enough of them, so Steven Spielberg had several hoses cut into lengths, and these were used as well. Looking closely, you can tell which are the real snakes and which are not. A sheet of glass separates Harrison Fordand the arched (and highly dangerous) cobra when he falls in. The snake actually did spray venom onto the glass.
• The submarine pen on the island where the Ark is taken and finally opened is not a set, but in fact an actual German U-Boat pen left over from World War II in La Rochelle, France. Producer Robert Watts was amazed at how preserved the submarine pen was (even down to the graffiti on the walls) that he described it as "a actual set in existence".
• Body Count: 67 (including the monkey).

Summary: Archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

Review: 

One of my all time favorite movies.  How can you not love Indiana Jones?  This is just a fun action adventure movie.  We introduce the twins to it last year and they loved it.  A must see for everyone.

Best Bits: 

• Belloq: What a fitting end to your life's pursuits. You're about to become a permanent addition to this archaeological find. Who knows? In a thousand years, even you may be worth something.  Indiana: Ha ha ha ha. [under his breath]  Indiana: Son of a bitch.
• Sallah: Indy, there is something that troubles me.  Indiana: What is it?  Sallah: The Ark. If it is there, at Tanis, then it is something that man was not meant to disturb. Death has always surrounded it. It is not of this earth.
• Indiana: Do we need the monkey?  Marion: I'm surprised at you. Talking that way about our baby. He's got your looks, too.  Indiana: And your brains.
• [Upon opening the Well of the Souls and peering down]  Sallah: Indy, why does the floor move?  Indiana: Give me your torch.  [Indy takes the torch and drops it in]  Indiana: Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?  Sallah: Asps... very dangerous. You go first.
• Indiana: Meet me at Omar's. Be ready for me. I'm going after that truck.  Sallah: How?  Indiana: I don't know, I'm making this up as I go!