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I just can't get enough of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

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  • Klosterheim
    Persistent Member
    • Mar 23, 2013
    • 1121

    I just can't get enough of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

    I have been watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Netflix, a few times.

    It seems so different on modern television. It is different than on DVD as well.

    Has anyone here ever thought like they were watching a really big live stage show when they see it?

    It seems like a play to me now, like on the other side of the lava pit, there would be a bunch of theater seats.

    Especially the part when Indy first swings over to retrieve the stones. I realize it is a sound stage, yet I am fascinated by it.

    ---------

    (also, I often how the audience in Club Obi-Wan could watch the whole Anything Goes show, when an entire dance segment takes place in a hidden show room, adjacent to the main stage where the tables are located)
  • Bruce Banner
    HULK SMASH!
    • Apr 3, 2010
    • 4327

    #2
    It's my second favourite of the Indy movies after Raiders. Always enjoyed it.
    Looks great on Blu-ray, too.
    PUNY HUMANS!

    Comment

    • rykerw1701
      Persistent Member
      • Aug 27, 2007
      • 1026

      #3
      I think it's underappreciated. Aside from Kate Capshaw's constant screaming, it's really a great movie. It gets lost a bit between Raiders and Last Crusade, both of which I like better, but I still really enjoy Temple of Doom.

      Comment

      • Hedji
        Citizen of Gotham
        • Nov 17, 2012
        • 7246

        #4
        You got me with this thread.

        It's the best Indy sequel, easily. It is so fun and carefree. To me it plays like a Jonny Quest episode... I guess Short Round is the sidekick with skills like Hadji. I can never get tired of the film, and I think Ford was terrific in it. I know for many years, people would point to it as the worst of the trilogy, but I think that is beginning to change. A lot of complaints are leveled at Kate Capshaw's performance, unfairly so in my opinion.. She's annoying because she's supposed to be. She's the opposite of Marion Ravenwood, and that's the point. Capshaw herself is nothing like her character.

        The humor in the film works for me, better than Last Crusade, which I enjoy, but not as much.

        This was also unofficially the last John Williams score from his Golden Era of 1975-1984. And boy does he knock it out of the park. If you've never heard the full score on it's own, in chronological order, I highly recommend you get it. It is perhaps John Williams' most frantic, energetic, over the top, sweeping, epic, romantic, action-packed, choir heavy, percussive, just plain bonkers score ever. And that's a good thing.

        I also cannot get enough of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

        Summer of 84 was great with Indy, Gremlins, and Ghostbusters. For me, Temple of Doom was the winner of that line up.

        Comment

        • Klosterheim
          Persistent Member
          • Mar 23, 2013
          • 1121

          #5
          Wonderful! Fantastic stuff.

          Indy is very heroic in this film. He really makes a stand for what is right.

          Comment

          • Mikey
            Verbose Member
            • Aug 9, 2001
            • 47243

            #6
            I'm not a big fan of the Indian Jones movies but Temple is my favorite out of the lot.

            Always thought Kate Capshaw was very hot in it too

            Comment

            • Nostalgiabuff
              Muddling through
              • Oct 4, 2008
              • 11290

              #7
              apparently so did Spielberg as he married her afterwards

              Comment

              • drquest
                ~~/\~~\o/~~/\~~Shark!
                • Apr 17, 2012
                • 3742

                #8
                The opening scene of Temple of Doom is my absolute favorite! Lots of stuff going on, shot wonderfully and has a backstory that most movies can only dream about, and it wasn't even the plot of this movie. Lao Che and Indy's old friend that dies are introduced so quickly and I always wanted to know more about what brought them to this point. Short Round was awesome, and I enjoyed Kate Capshaw as well.
                Danny(Drquest)
                Captain Action HQ
                Retro shirts and stuff
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                Comment

                • Hedji
                  Citizen of Gotham
                  • Nov 17, 2012
                  • 7246

                  #9
                  The opening...

                  Not only do I applaud Lucas for writing a dance number to start the film, but Williams' orchestrations of Anything Goes are divine. It truly sounds vintage of the era, and not sort of kinda close enough like the "Star Spangled Man" song from Captain America.

                  It truly is a James Bond style opening. The audience catches the ending of the previous adventure, which leads to the new one.

                  Mola Ram is an awesome villain too.

                  So the question is.... Is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom a horror movie? It certainly has elements.

                  Comment

                  • rykerw1701
                    Persistent Member
                    • Aug 27, 2007
                    • 1026

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Hedji
                    The opening...

                    Not only do I applaud Lucas for writing a dance number to start the film, but Williams' orchestrations of Anything Goes are divine. It truly sounds vintage of the era, and not sort of kinda close enough like the "Star Spangled Man" song from Captain America.

                    It truly is a James Bond style opening. The audience catches the ending of the previous adventure, which leads to the new one.

                    Mola Ram is an awesome villain too.

                    So the question is.... Is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom a horror movie? It certainly has elements.
                    I think it's a Christmas movie. You know, like Die Hard.

                    Comment

                    • Hedji
                      Citizen of Gotham
                      • Nov 17, 2012
                      • 7246

                      #11
                      And Spielberg's 1941?

                      Comment

                      • PNGwynne
                        Master of Fowl Play
                        • Jun 5, 2008
                        • 19445

                        #12
                        I need to rewatch this, haven't seen it in decades.
                        WANTED: Dick Grayson SI trousers; gray AJ Mustang horse; vintage RC Batman (Bruce Wayne) head; minty Wolfman tights; mint Black Knight sword; minty Launcelot boots; Lion Rock (pale) Dracula & Mummy heads; Lion Rock Franky squared boots; Wayne Foundation blue furniture; Flash Gordon/Ming (10") unbroken holsters; CHiPs gloved arms; POTA T2 tan body; CTVT/vintage Friar Tuck robes, BBP TZ Burgess Meredith glasses.

                        Comment

                        • Nostalgiabuff
                          Muddling through
                          • Oct 4, 2008
                          • 11290

                          #13
                          it's a darker movie in the series for sure, but I always loved it too

                          Comment

                          • Hedji
                            Citizen of Gotham
                            • Nov 17, 2012
                            • 7246

                            #14
                            Besides the already mentioned amazing opening sequence, some of my favorite highlights are:

                            The sequence in the airplane cockpit over the Himalayas - "You call him Dr. Jones, DOLL!" And Indy has no idea how to fly.

                            The Indian Village - first arrival is legitimately unsettling with the smoke in the air, the parents all wailing and touching Indy, and of course, Williams' haunting choir.

                            The Elephant Trek - THIS is just High Adventure in exotic lands at its finest. So many beautiful scenes in this sequence. Short Round's theme is a joy.

                            The Warning Altar - To this day, when Indy finds the blood on the altar, and gets that deadly serious expression and says, "Don't come up here!" to the others, it is truly chilling. And you've real bats in the sky behind him in the shot. Amazing.

                            Approaching the Stones - Indy using his whip, down to the stones, and the wonderful lighting effects as they're brought close. Indy is sweating like a pig as he puts them in his bag. Williams' music crescendos to the point of delirium.

                            Blood of Kali - The entire scene with Mola Ram... the blood (yecch), and whipping poor Short Round. It doesn't look like acting.

                            Exchange of Hats - The Raiders theme is played on cello as Indy and Shorty give each other their hats back and Indy apologizes. I get a lump in my throat EVERY time.

                            The Brawl - Nobody does fist fights like Indiana Jones. This is where Last Crusade dropped the ball, and the tradition. The Thuggee opponent is of course the same actor who played the Nazi mechanic who Indy fought in Raiders.

                            Can I just take a moment and say that the Slave Children's Crusade is one of my favorite themes in John Williams' entire oeuvre, and that's saying something. Sweeping, epic, exotic, adventurous... fortune and glory in the form of music.

                            Whip Action - The best whip use is in TOD. Hanging the assassin with the ceiling fan, swinging during the shootout in the mines, disarming the Thuggees of their swords.

                            And that brings me to

                            The Rope Bridge - I think it's one of the finest, tension building sequences in film history. Williams brings the exotic percussion and whips it up to an almost intolerable level of tension. Indy telling Shorty to hang on in Mandarin. Indiana Jones with the torn shirt and Machete is soooo iconic. I've watched this sequence a zillion times, and it never loses impact.

                            The Finale - I love happy endings. You can't not smile when Indy brings the kids home to the village. (Watch just before the big kiss and you'll see Harrison flinch in anticipation of the water from the elephant about to hit him.

                            End Credits - Listen carefully... you'll hear Short Round's Theme and Indy's Theme played together as though they were meant to fit. It's a wonderful suite of the major themes, and one of the Maestro's best.

                            Comment

                            • Hedji
                              Citizen of Gotham
                              • Nov 17, 2012
                              • 7246

                              #15
                              D0F92996-74E8-44A4-A030-2AFBDE89C4CD.jpg

                              Hey, guess what film just happens to be celebrating its 35th Anniversary ?
                              Last edited by Hedji; May 23, '19, 7:14 PM.

                              Comment

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