MIDDLE-AGED MATINEE! #3 - 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'

'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' (1984)

Welcome back to "Middle-Aged Matinee!", the article where I discuss films from the year of my birth, 1984! In this review, I'm taking a look at the second film in the "Indiana Jones" series. Director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas returned to direct what would become the darkest entry in the series, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"!

When Spielberg was hired to direct "Raiders of the Lost Ark", Lucas told his friend that he would have to sign on for three movies as Lucas had ideas for two more entries. However, when Spielberg returned to develop the sequel, he soon learned that Lucas did not actually have any ideas for sequels and that they would have to develop a second entry from scratch.

The original idea involved the Monkey King as a plot device and a massive chase along the Great Wall of China. However, it soon became apparent that China would not allow them to film in the country, so they had to go back to the drawing board. At another point, Lucas suggested that Indy investigate a haunted castle but Spielberg was against this idea due to the possibility that it could be too similar to "Poltergeist".

Eventually, they came up with the idea that Indy would end up in India and would investigate a cult and have dark themes such as child slavery and a poor village with a stolen stone. It was these darker elements and tones that made original "Raiders" screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan turn down the job of writing the screenplay. Lucas then turned to Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck (whom he worked with on "American Graffiti) to pen the script and the second movie was officially off to the races.

In the final film, Indy (Harrison Ford) does end up in India alongside his kid sidekick Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) and singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) after a daring escape from Shanghai. They end up in a poor village where Indy learns that their sacred stone was stolen by a nearby palace. They also learn that the kids in the village have disappeared as well.

Indy decides to travel to the palace because he thinks that the stone may be one of the five Sankara stones said to have magical properties. While he wants the stone for fortune and glory, his more heroic attributes appear when he learns the terrible truth behind why the children have disappeared.

Indy must face off against an evil cult in 'Temple of Doom'.

So, first thing, I must talk about what I don't like about the movie. My only real complaint with the movie is Capshaw as Willie. The character is easily my least favorite of all of Indy's love interests due to the fact that I don't think she really adds anything to the movie. She mostly just runs around and screams a lot.

Also, I will go ahead and say that while the darker tone of the movie does not bother me, it is an element that has turned some fans and critics against the movie. I only point that out because I do understand how the movie would turn some people away. I mean, this is the movie where a character rips out someone else's heart.

Beyond any of that, though, I absolutely love this movie. There is plenty of action and great special-effects that harken back to the Saturday morning adventure serials that inspired this film series to begin with. It also has pretty strong performances. I mean, even Capshaw gives a strong performance in spite of the fact that I hate her character.

Quan is a scene-stealer as Short Round with plenty of funny scenes in the film that was also the actor's big screen debut. He also acts as a voice of reason for Indy at times, as well. In other words, he at least has more to add to the film's story than Willie does and I wouldn't have minded if the movie just had Indy and Short Round as our main leads.

Of course, a good hero isn't anything without a good villain. Eventually, it is revealed that the leader of the evil Thugee Cult is Mola Ram, played to devilish perfection by Amrish Puri. Ram is a truly vicious villain as he not only leads a cult but also uses child labor in order to seek out more Sankara Stones and Puri, an actor known for playing villains in Hindi films, definitely understood the assignment.

Finally, there is Ford as Indiana Jones and there is really not a lot to say here. Indy is not just one of Ford's signature roles, Indiana Jones IS Ford's signature role. In this movie, Ford is just as comfortable in Indy's fedora as he always has been. In fact, he was pretty much in his prime for this movie.

Yes, the movie is darker. Yes, the movie has the most annoying female lead. However, it also has great action and it has great performances. Most importantly, though, it is another worthy entry in the "Indiana Jones" series and if you haven't watched it, you should correct that mistake.

It may be the darkest entry, but 'Temple of Doom' is still a worthy entry.