Many people have varying opinions about the second Indiana Jones Movies titled Temple of Doom, Some love it as another action packed adventure flick that is unique and thrilling while some dislike it for it’s annoying characters and poor representation of Indian culture. It’s arguably the most debated movie in the Indiana Jones saga, but personally I believe that while the people against the movie are not wrong in a lot of cases, I honestly still had a thrilling experience even with many things that do keep this movie from reaching the same level as Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Taking place in 1935, one year before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) finds himself in a pickle with a crime boss and manages to escape with a reluctant nightclub singer named Willie (Kate Capshaw) and a little but smart kid Indiana calls Short Round (Johnathon Ke Quan). Soon the team finds themselves in India where they are tasked by the villagers to find a stone that was stolen from their shrine. They make it to Palace run by a seemingly nice host but soon find out the palace’s dark secrets as undernetith it there is a cult who makes human sacrifices and forces children to be slaves and mine for materials. Can Indy and his pals retrieve the stone and stop the cult from continuing the sadistic things they do?
This movie’s story has a different style and tone compared to Raiders of The Lost Ark and it might have something to do with the fact that the original writer for Raiders, Lawrence Kasdan, refused to write for the prequel which led to him being replaced by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz. the difference is made clear because the movie itself goes for a much more darker and shocking tone with addition of some saddening and even violent scenes that will no doubt leave an impression on the audience. These scenes were so dark and terrifying that it lead to the creation of the PG-13 rating and honestly I wouldn’t blame them. If you thought the first film had some dark scenes that involve magical forces, this movie includes the additions of a cult that hypnotizes people and uses voodoo dolls to inflict pain on peoples bodies. These things seem far fetched for an Indiana Jones film and it would feel like the filmmakers are jumping the shark, but in a strange and unusual way it actually works as it still makes the story and the adventure memorable. It’s not al dark and gruesome though because the film tries to keep a lighthearted tone with plenty of comedic moments. True, the comedic moments may be hit or miss with most of the misses being from Willie being in peril or in uncomfortable situations, but the movie mostly stays afloat with its campy and undeniable passionate energy that is infectious. It may be a step down from Raiders, but this is still probably the Indiana Jones story that I as well as many other moviegoers probably remember the most.
The characters much like the comedy is very hit or miss, but they aren’t the worst characters i would pick to be apart of this interesting journey. Indiana Jones played once again by Harrison Ford is still just as charming and likable as he was before and his comeback lines and charisma still remain fun and enjoyable even when he’s in perilous situations. Wille played by Kate Capshaw and Short Round Played by Johnathon Ke Quan from Gonnies Fame are side characters who for some audiences seemed to be annoying from them and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see that. Willie constant screaming and underdeveloped relationship with Indiana did get old after a while. Short Round can also be a bit annoying too but he actually does get more tolerable as the movie plays on. Luckily I found the side characters more entertaining than annoying but it is true that they do ride over the annoying line most of the time. Mola Ram as a villain doesn’t leave a memorable impression dialogue wise but his actions speak a different tone as he can do some very nasty things to our main protagonists. This film could have benefited from stronger side characters, but our main hero is interesting enough that the film does get a slight pass into having characters that are charming enough even with some hiccups.
The visuals are no doubt very well handled and the action sequences never fail to impress me. The film starts out on a riot with an opening musical number that caught me off guard as the film suddenly shifts into an action sequence out of nowhere. In fact a lot of the action sequences are quite spectacular with some of them including a staged fight scene on a unstable bridge and a wild ride through a mining cave. The evil lair of the cult showcases a lot of traps and scary scenery with sharp contrasts of reds and blacks. The scarifies the cult makes have really frightening imagery that could possibly scare younger people in the crowd. Aside from that though there are some nice shots of India that show off parts of the Indian culture with scampy clothes and their many animal companions. These may be some of the most memorable visuals you’ll ever see in an action and adventure flick but be warned that younger children or even teens might not be ready for the horrifying moments when they happen.
The music is once again helmed by John Willams who previously scored Raiders of the Lost Ark, Williams brings out all the stops by not only including the main Indiana Jones theme but also a ton of booming choir music that makes things even more epic than they really are.
Director Steven Spielberg and storyteller George Lucas went all out with a movie that divides many but still leaves quite an impression on moviegoers of all types. Some argue its a very messy movie and its tonally all over the place which I think is true in some cases, but I have to admire that this movie did everything it could to not be just another rehash of what was already done with the first Indiana Jones movie. I’d much rather watch a unique movie that goes all out with itself rather than a safe movie that doesn’t take any chances. Do I have problems with Temple of Doom? Absolutely. However, I’d be more than proud to admit that I still really enjoy coming back to watching this bold if all over the place experience that leaves a new impression on me every time.
(Final Grade: B+)