INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF MY UNDERPANTS

Indiana "It's not the years honey, it's the mileage" Jones is really that good. And by good I mean literally good: virtuous & righteous, the opposite of evil (if you believe in such things - which I do). In right versus wrong Indiana is the rightest. Did I mention he is also a panty wetter?! 
-By Leah Bonnema (Stand Up Comic) 

I went to see Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (or Raiders of the Lost Ark if one wants to be old school) which is being re-released this week in IMAX. I Raidered with my BFF who I have known from before I got my first period (which happened at a math meet fyi - imagine how traumatizing that was). Going to see Raiders with someone that I grew up with served to further heighten the experience of how much this movie played a huge part of my youth and my love of movies (and men in hats). Looking back I realize that I even had a section dedicated to Indiana Jones in my first one woman show that ran in NYC. 

I don't recall how old I was when I first saw this movie however I did not see it when it first came out because I was still sh&%ting in diapers. I do remember my parents renting it was a huge treat because we rarely watched television let alone a movie that was PG rated. I was probably 16 years old by the time I was allowed to watch it. That being said I remember being TERRIFIED at the intro, the spiders on their backs, the statues with poisonous darts, I had never seen anything like that before. Now of course when I have grown so accustomed to images of violence the opening of Raiders doesn't even register on the scary scale. 

Indiana Jones is an iconic role. Raiders influenced countless future movies, entire genres. Just the silhouette of Indiana and the score that goes with his character still brings chills. (He also influenced my idea of the perfect man whether I want to admit to it or not.) I remember talking about Raiders over and over and reliving moments with my parents and friends as a kid. How many times did we laugh about the scene where Indiana is confronted in the market place by the huge man with the huge knife and he just shoots him?! (Answer: a lot - it was incredibly funny and new at the time.) During this visit to IMAX I was so excited I actually squealed during certain moments. 

Indiana Jones exists in a world with a clear delineation between good and bad, between who is right and who is wrong. He literally rides a white horse at one point (when the Nazis are taking the Ark away on the truck and he goes after them). As much as Indiana is the perfect fighter for all that is good and just - the Nazis are the ultimate baddie (as my mother calls the evil people in movies and in life: He is such a baddie Leah, SUCH a baddie). And it doesn't really get any baddie-er than Nazis. 

Harrison Ford is also incredibly handsome, far more handsome than I remembered and perhaps it is because as a child I crushed on Indiana (I loved Ford in Star Wars as Solo of course but to be honest in Star Wars I related to him but crushed on Chewbacca - just being honest). He is also silly and makes over the top facial expressions and drops great one liners. It is also amazing re-watching this movie on full screen because as a leading man he is allowed to be beautiful without being perfect. One immediately notices that the actor's teeth are regular people teeth. You don't really see that anymore in the age of veneers and total eradication of anything that might be seen as an "imperfection" but really people look much more beautiful with their "imperfections" I think.

Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood is also fanfuckingtastic.  She is one of my all time favorite females roles, strong, mouthy, brave, independent, sexy. I really enjoyed getting to see her again in this role when I am now the age she was in the movie. She pulls off being sexy without making it about that. She pulls off being Indiana Jones' partner without seeming somehow lesser or needy which unfortunately often happens with female sidekick roles (just look at Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom). Well done Marion Ravenwood.

I highly recommend getting out to see Raiders in Imax if you have the chance. Relive a movie moment in time when good and evil were obvious. In my opinion it is a perfect film and I'm very glad to have had the opportunity to feel those feelings again on the big screen, reminding me why I love the magic of movies so much. 

Leah Bonnema is a Stand Up Comic. www.LeahBonnema.com
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Comments

[Bernadette Pauley (Comedian)]

Oh how I enjoy those few moments where good and evil are obvious...And how I appreciate your appreciation of good vs. evil Ms. Bonnema, it's so important to keep that dialogue going in this, The Kardashian Era.
Thank You!

[Eric Marshall (@GenericWahlberg)]

Being 42 I saw this film when it first came out.Harrison Ford was an instant idol to me. I remember wanting a whip so that I could swing from place to place.More so Indiana also defined manhood for me.He showed me that a man was rugged,strong intelligent and witty. That there is real "evil" out there"Nazis" and that you should always do whats right.
Thank Leah for this article, I think we will break out the box set and have a day full of Jones. Muah!

[Leah B]

YEAH! I hope you did indeed break out that box set and have an Indy day Eric! Thanks so much for the read and the Jones excitement! He did seem like the ideal man - always doing right in work boots! xo

[Leah B]

Good and Evil Bernie - keep fighting the good fight:) x