Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert, Symphony Hall, Birmingham - review

One of the highest-grossing movies of all time, the Steven Spielberg flick starring Harrison Ford tells the tale of archaeologist Indiana Jones, who battles a group of Nazis searching for the Ark of the Covenant.

Its array of iconic moments were shown on a huge screen above the Symphony Hall stage while a full symphony orchestra played the entire beloved, acclaimed soundtrack by John Williams alongside the film.

A feast for the senses, the movie’s twists and turns were enhanced by the live music, which was faultlessly performed by the scores of excellent musicians playing everything from a harp, to violins, cellos, drums, and brass.

A large variety of fans turned out to see the show, from young children to the elderly - one man in the audience even donned an Indiana Jones hat.

And laughter could be heard echoing around the city centre venue throughout the light-hearted adventure movie, while a pin could be heard drop as the audience sat glued to the screen during the more tense of moments. It matters not how many times you have seen the Indiana Jones films - they still remain among the greatest of movies.

Personally, I found the live screening experience intriguing, as it showed just how much goes into the music behind the film - as though it is an iconic soundtrack, it often gets forgotten while the audience is engrossed in the movie itself.

It was also interesting to see exactly which instruments performed the different parts of the music, as for those with little classical knowledge like myself, it can often be difficult to tell.

A wonderful evening for all the family and a great immersive experience of a truly tremendous film and soundtrack which has without doubt stood the test of time.