Straight out with it:: I have never sat down and watched an Indiana Jones movie. But, with Indy 4 coming to a cinema near me later this month, now seems a fine time to catch up. And, happily, the good old Beeb are showing the first three on successive Sundays; so last night, I sat down and watched Raiders of the Lost Ark (without any popcorn or Chocolate Orange, alas, but I managed).

Do I need to bother with a plot summary? It's 1936, and Indiana Jones (who, let's say, is the kind of archaeologist one would not imagine bothering to wait around for geophysics results and stuff like that) goes off to Egypt to stop the Nazis (aided by Indy's nemesis, the archaeologist Belloq) finding the lost Ark of the Covenant. Along the way, there is much adventure, before the baddies all get zapped by a deus ex machina (or is it a machina ex deus?).

No, the plot doesn't bear much scrutiny; but it's not that kind of movie. Watching Raiders, I found myself grinning a lot -- not because I thought the film was corny, but at the sheer joy and exuberance of it. It's as though Lucas and Spielberg realised exactly how daft the whole genre was, but were determined to celebrate it regardless. The main criticism I'd make is that, for such an apparently feisty heroine, Indy's old flame Marion has too little to do, unless you count being captured and rescued. As for the rest, I think it's best just to enjoy the ride.

Join us next week on IndyWatch for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom...