Raiders anniversary

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Today marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (12 June 1981).  This is my favorite film in the trilogy series, which is why I think it is the best.  So many classic scenes and characters: Harrison Ford as Dr. Indiana Freaking Jones! Melting Nazis! Asps! (Very dangerous--you go first).

Digression: I think somewhere in the black hole that is my family's VHS collection lies this film.  I'm not sure why I don't have a DVD of it even though I count it as one of my all-time favorite films.  Five or six summers ago I went through a George Lucas/Harrison Ford binge by watching the (original) Star Wars trilogy and the (originally a trilogy) Indiana Jones movies at least twice.  I was struck by how Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl borrowed from Raiders scenes.  When it comes to the female lead:
1) Both are damsels in distress, but not so completely and utterly useless.  Marion Ravenwood wields a mighty frying pan, and Elizabeth Swann at least attempts to get that sword off its mounting when the pirates are pursuing her in her mansion.
2) Both are forced by their respective captors to wear dresses...  Marion a white (wedding?) dress, Elizabeth a dark ruby-black dress ("it matches your heart!" she spatters.)
3) ...then allowed to eat with their respective captors...
4) ...then conceal a dinner knife and distract their captors by acting against their true feelings... Marion pretends to get drunk (cuz, you know, them women dunno how to hold their liquor); Elizabeth acts the lady
5) ...then seize what seems like the opportune moment to take the knife and threaten the man with it, but it doesn't help in the end.
6) Both their fathers had an big influence in shaping the future and character of their love interests/the male lead and protagonist.

I didn't know this until I came across this article, but Dr. Jones' seems to be based at least in part by a real life archaeologist.  Aside from Sherlock Holmes, who was loosely based on the real Dr. Joseph Bell,  I cannot readily come up with a hero who is equal parts brain and brawn, scholar and adventurer.  (I'm sure there are other fictional men and women out there but my brain is just too much in a fog and I feel like shoehorning a reference to the illustrious detective).  Both even have iconic hats!  Although that has more to do with actor Basil Rathbone than the original book description.

I know I'm on thin ice if I even suggest that I enjoyed Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; but I think that, even after that, adventure's name is "Indiana Jones".  And yes, if when the fifth film comes out, which was once rumoured to be set in/around the Bermuda Triangle, you can bet your bullwhip that I'll go see it in theaters and still keep Raiders on my favorites list.