Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Power of Persistence

I’m sure everyone at one time or another has seen the 1st movie involving archeologist Indiana Jones. I’m sure they have all been amazed at the stunts, music and action in the tale of his search, but there is another strong theme in Raiders that is a very important lesson for people to learn. In fact, the earlier one learns this lesson the more likely they will succeed later in life.
The year was 1981, Personally I was only 5 years old when this came out, but I still remember seeing it in the theatres. At that time I was more concerned about closing my eyes when the skeletons came on screen, but as I grew, the lessons in this blockbuster became much clearer to me. The interesting dynamic in this film regarding the lesson, is that for the first time, we see a theme that is equally adhered to by both the good guy and the bad guy. In this aspect, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most tremendous teachers in our darkened theatre.
Lets look at the pre-theatre analysis. We’ve got a strong title, easily getting the boys excited about going to see it. This is important, we want this movie to appeal in majority to adolescent boys, that is in great part due to the persistence theme, there is nothing more fragile then the teenage boy’s ego, and as many times as it gets assaulted in Jr High and High School, they need to know how to be persistent. Not much on the surface to appeal to the girls, in fact, as I write this it appears we have our first movie that doesn’t have an immediate draw to the finer sex. Just as well, as we all know girls mature quicker than guys, so maybe they don’t need this lesson as much as their male counterparts.

The movie begins, and we are in South America, we follow a shadowy figure who is rugged and good with a whip. Suddenly, the guides are frightened by a statue and run off screaming. First lesson, if you are in the jungle and your guides run off, don’t run with them, continue on your own, what’s the worst that can happen to you? So, they continue on and come to a cave, Indy enters with one other guy, they go to the cave and Indy sees his prize, the treasure he has been looking for, and when he finally grabs it, the entire cave starts to collapse around him. Here we learn that sometimes even when you think you’ve reached your goal, it may not have been all that you thought, something to keep in mind.
We rejoin Indy running for his life and reaching a chasm, with the other man standing on the other side. Here Indy decides to throw his treasure to his “friend”, in exchange for getting across the chasm. Of course, Indy being the trusting soul tosses the treasure, only to be abandoned by his “friend”. Another instance where one must truly know his friends, so that they won’t be abandoned at the first sight of a shiny object, or pretty face. Again, showing his resolve, Indy could have just resigned himself to his fate, treasureless and stuck in a cave, but instead he risks everything and jumps the chasm, in order to continue his existence and reclaim that treasure.
He does reclaim the treasure only to face a giant boulder trying to squash him like a pancake. Again undaunted Indy escapes the boulder, only to run into his arch enemy, Belloq. Belloq too, wants the treasure, but he has an army of natives with spears to back him up, Indy must give up the treasure, and then runs for his life. Note here, that if one is persistent and smart, they can get the treasure with considerable less effort then others. Its that whole brain over brawn thing.

Next time we get to the ark, I’m going to skip a bunch of the movie here, but in summary, Indy is asked to go find the Ark, in another part of town, Belloq has also been asked, or really hired, to go get the Ark as well. Thus our ‘race’ begins. We have 2 men, with different motives, but both with the same goal. This is the point where our lesson truly begins; persistence is a great trait to have, but in its pursuit, you walk a fine line between success and failure.

Where the Miracle of Daniel Larusso Continues...

We reach the night before the karate tournament, and it happens to be Daniel’s birthday. Most would expect a card or other miniscule gift from Mr. Miyagi, but this is our Hero were talking about, so what does he get, a car. Not just any car, but an antique car, probably worth a fortune. Why does he get this, no one knows, but he thanks Mr. Miyagi with the “best friend” line we have already discussed. Hell, Mr. Miyagi would be my best friend too, if he turned me into a karate machine and gave me an antique car, in spite of my annoying and rather stupefying behavior. But this is what we are talking about, what more proof do you need that in spite of your current condition great things can still happen to you.
Back to Ali with an I, she has finally come to her senses and is no longer talking with Daniel, because of his behavior and accusations of cheating following the spaghetti incident. It takes her friends to explain to our simple minded hero how she feels and what she did after Johnny kissed her, for Daniel to see the errors of his ways. As we all know, since this is Daniel, he does not need to make a grand production, or even grovel to get her back. Nope, all he does is say, “Hey I’m a jerk. I’m sorry.” Boom, he’s back in the saddle again. Will miracles never cease? **Note- this scene also contains the most uncomfortable kiss ever filmed. So vulgar in fact, I couldn't get it on YouTube do to the complaints about it being inappropriate content.**
We’ve reached the climax of our movie, and we are now at the tournament.

Remember up until this point, all the fights that Daniel has been in have basically been hand to hand combat with no rules or “points” associated. As luck would have it the tournament has referees and rules. In this format, suddenly Daniel is unbeatable. Of course, this is after he runs out of the ring like a scared cat in the first round. So, Daniel continues winning matches, but manages to still get kicked in the face by one of Johnny’s thugs. But since it was an illegal hit, it doesn’t count as a point so Daniel still advances, divine intervention, I think not. And all of this st to the hippest of songs, "You're the Best"!



Daniel arrives in the semi-finals and is scheduled to face Bobby. Bobby feels he can beat him fair and square, but is influenced to resort to his underhanded methods and kicks his foot into Daniel’s knee. Instead of gloating about the damage he’s done, suddenly Bobby has a heart and apologizes to Daniel as he is whisked away on a stretcher. At this point it appears that we won’t get to see the final showdown between Daniel and Johnny. But this is our hero we’re talking about, the man who doesn’t know how to quit when he is ahead. Sure he can’t walk, but gosh darnit, I have to go get beat senseless by Johnny or my life wouldn’t be complete. So, Miyagi decides that if this idiot wants to be killed, why should he stand in his way. Miyagi does his magic rub down on Daniel’s leg, and sends him out to impending doom. But as with everything involving our hero, things just seem to work out. Johnny and Daniel fight, and in spite of his broken leg, and dirty tactics by Johnny, which would be perfectly legal in this same showdown on the beach, they fight to a 2-2 tie, next point wins. ("Get him a Body Bag!!!") At this point Daniel can barely walk, he’s crying, and is pretty much done for, so what does he do, something else that solidifies his place in the nerd hall of fame. He stands up on one leg, lifts his arms as though he had a cape on, and stares at Johnny. Well, in any other case, the ultra-cool karate expert would simple kick Daniel’s leg out from under him and punch him in the throat, but this is Daniel’s world and the rest of us are just living in it. So naturally Johnny freaks out at this new stance, and allows himself to get kicked in the face, handing the championship to Daniel. Literally, Johnny hands the trophy to Daniel, and tells him, “you’re all right”. Suddenly Daniel has won over his sharpest critic with one swift kick in the face.



In future episodes of the Karate Kid, we see Ali with an I finally come to her senses and dump Daniel for a college jock, only to have Daniel get lucky with a really hot Japanese girl, who then dumps him to go to dance school, finally leaving Daniel with a nice girl reminiscent of the girl he left in New Jersey. We also see Daniel continue to piss off the toughest meanest guys in the city, only to eventually beat them with some unorthodox stance that paralyzes them with fear. In any case, Daniel and his dorky, negative self reigns supreme, while all things good continue to happen to him.
So to all of you who feel down on your luck, feel like only bad things happen to you, have no luck in love, or just are downright depressed with life. Pop in the story of Daniel Larusso, and feel born again. For there is no one on this earth that should not be successful in life than Daniel Larusso, but he is. Therefore, shout this mantra at the top of your lungs, “If it can Happen to Daniel, It can Happen to Me.”