Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
Director: Steven Spielberg.
Screenplay: Willard Huyck.
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone, Raj Singh, Roy Chiao, David Yip, Ric Young, Dan Aykroyd.
“Are you trying to develop a sense of humor or am I going deaf?”
Following the massive success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, it was inevitable that a sequel would follow. No sane-minded or financially aware production company would ever dream of missing the opportunity to boost a few more zero’s on their bank accounts. As expected, the sequel made it to the screen three years later. Now, some have given this second adventure a bit of hard time but I happen to think it’s a very underrated and action packed addition to the adventures of the whip-cracking, fedora-wearing Dr. Jones that we have come to know and love.
This time, Indy is in search of the Sankara Stones – artefacts that an ancient village believe has protected them for generations and with the recent disappearance of their children, only the stones will bring them back and protect their people. As is customary, Indy agrees to the exploration, but he does so with wanted (and unwanted) people in tow.
Although a follow-up, Indy’s second adventure actually precedes Raiders by one year (essentially making it the beginning of the franchise) and this time we find ourselves in 1935. The Nazi’s haven’t occupied Europe yet but Indy is still going about his endeavours with just as much bravery and commitment as we’d expect. His (and our) adventure begins in China before moving onto India as Spielberg and Lucas leave behind the Nazi adversaries and opt for a more world exploration in the travels of our favourite archeologist. Some might argue that the Nazi’s were part of the draw for Raiders – and I’d agree with them. Who doesn’t like the Nazi’s being challenged? However, what can’t be argued, is that Spielberg still hadn’t lost his touch in concocting an exciting matinee yarn.
Even though the Nazi’s are omitted (and missed) as villains, the second instalment adds to the overall sense of world wide adventures that Indy has experienced. That being said, many viewers were not happy with this film and delivered some harsh criticism. True, it’s a little more bubble-gum entertainment than the solidity of it’s predecessor but when the character and his escapades are this much fun, it’s still very difficult not to be drawn in.
Let’s face it, Raiders was an achievement that was never going to be surpassed but I admire Spielberg and Lucas’ determination in trying. For example, the escape from a nosediving airplane by rubber dingy is genius action material, as is the roller coaster chase through the mines and the (hugely iconic) rope bridge showdown make up some of the best action set-pieces in any of the films. In fact, the opening rolling gong at the Shanghai nightclub and mine shaft chase were originally planned for parts of Raiders but they couldn’t fit it in. You could also say that the sense of humour was diminished in favour of a darker tone (leaving this to be one of the first films to ever be prescribed a newly appointed PG-13 rating).
Once again, Ford embodies the role with such commitment and believability and despite the dark tone, Spielberg still manages to be playful by incorporating damsel in distress Willie Scott (a gleefully entertaining Kate Capshaw) and child sidekick “Short Round” (a perfectly cast Ke-Huy Quan) and his action skills are, simply, at the peak of his powers.
Despite it possessing some of the most iconic scenes and confrontations of Indy’s adventures, this had been pilloried for being a lacklustre follow-up. It does have faults, for sure, but this is still one of most underrated of action adventures that Hollywood (or Spielberg) has ever produced.
Mark Walker
Trivia: The rope bridge used during the final fight scene was actually suspended up a couple of hundred feet across a gorge on location in Sri Lanka. Acrophobic Steven Spielberg would never walk over it, and had to drive a mile and a half to reach the other side. Harrison Ford on the other hand had no such fear, and would run across it at full speed.
MARKED MOVIES 
December 29, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Was at one point my least favorite in this series…then Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released. This ain’t too bad now, though a few of my Indian friends have some valid points against it. Plus, this has the best opening song and dance number of any in a Indiana Jones movie! 😉
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December 29, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Agreed Michael. It’s probably fair to say that this was my least favourite too, until…
That said, I reckon it’s still a great adventure yarn and has took a lot of criticism on the back of Raiders. There’s some fabulous set-pieces throughout and it never fails to entertain.
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December 29, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Great review, I’ve heard so many people slate this one but as soon as Crystal Skull was released at least everyone reevaluated it. It’s such an entertaining movie that is much darker than the first. That heart removal sacrifice traumatised me as a kid.
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December 29, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Cheers Vinnie! I think that’s a very fair comment. Once people realised how abysmal Crystal Skull was this was seen in a more positive light. To be honest, I was always a fan. Very underrated!
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December 29, 2015 at 7:03 pm
I was always a fan as well, something about the darker and more mystical tone always interested me. Though as I mentioned earlier the sacrifice scene still creeps me out.
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December 29, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Same here, man. I enjoyed the mystical tone and I was freaked out by a few scenes when I was younger. In fact, I think when I was about 7 or 8 years old, this was my favourite film. 🙂
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December 29, 2015 at 7:11 pm
I can remember the Indiana Jones movies being a staple of my childhood. My parents grew up watching them, and my late grandfather was a huge fan. It seemed inevitable that I would love these movies.
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December 29, 2015 at 7:27 pm
That’s just it! They’re so good, it’s a generational thing. I think many families are the same!
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December 29, 2015 at 10:05 pm
There’s something for everyone to enjoy in these movies.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Absolutely mate! That’s why they’re timeless.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Rip-roaring adventures never get old but instead remain timeless.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Indeed, sir! Indeed!
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December 30, 2015 at 5:54 pm
I like being referred to as sir, it gives me a sense of suave sophistication, wouldn’t you agree Mark?
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December 30, 2015 at 5:54 pm
Well, absolutely sir! That’s why I call you “sir”. You’re a suave and sophisticated type of chap… sir! 😉
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December 30, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Haha, thanks man. I like to imagine myself as a James Bond style guy, with a martini in one hand and a beautiful lady on the other. A man can dream, can’t he?
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December 30, 2015 at 6:05 pm
It’s funny you mention Bond. He gets a little mention in my next post. Not much of Martini man, myself but, yes, a man can certainly dream. 🙂
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December 30, 2015 at 6:33 pm
Oh I look forward to that post then. One day I could be a millionaire playboy.
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December 29, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Good stuff Markster! bIg fan of this one too although it is definitely a notch below Raiders. Temple has so many memorable scenes. The opening nightclub sequence, the insane bridge scene.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Cheers bro! There are so many great scenes in this but that rope bridge? Man, that’s top drawer stuff.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:49 pm
“He no nuts. He crazy”
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December 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Haha! Fortune and Glory, kid! 😉
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December 30, 2015 at 4:31 am
Nice review Mark. I definitely think Temple of Doom has gotten a critical reevaluation recently, probably due to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Not as strong as Raiders or Crusade, but I still have a lot of love for Temple of Doom. Plus I’ve always had a lot of fun watching the dinner scene.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:48 pm
I feel the exact same, Charles. I really do enjoy it and even though I feel it’s hugely underrated it doesn’t quite match the 1st or 3rd instalments.
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December 30, 2015 at 6:28 am
I Love this Installment for obvious reasons; India’s No.1 villain Late Mr. Amrish Puri played the role of Mola Ram. They were not allowed to shoot in India & Sri Lanka provided for the locations. Indie in India was a massive success. I can still watch Temple of Doom multiple no. of times.
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December 30, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Nice info, man! I too, can (and have) watched this so many times that I’ve lost count. Some of the criticisms directed at it are understandable but I can easily overlook the faults it was. It’s great entertainment.
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December 30, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Nice one Sir Markus. It’s been so long since i’ve seen this series it might be time to reacquaint myself. I do remember walking out of The Crystal Skull and feeling like I had just watched a really terrible sci-fi channel special, though. And that people really weren’t pleased in general with that installment.
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December 31, 2015 at 11:24 am
Thank you, sir! D’you know I remember walking out of The Crystal Skull and being pleasantly surprised. What was I thinking?! It was only once the dust settled that I realised how terrible it was. I’ve always been a fan of Temple of Doom though.
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December 30, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Hear hear! Glad to read you think this stands up. Chilled monkey brains and all! Ha ha!
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December 31, 2015 at 11:35 am
I reckon too many people are too harsh on this. It’s a leave your chilled monkey brains at the door kind of film. 😉
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September 15, 2023 at 4:26 pm
[…] suppose the final say comes down to where it ranks within the franchise. Is it as good as Raiders, Temple of Doom or The Last Crusade? No, it’s not. But it’s a vast improvement over Crystal Skull and an […]
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