This film is probably the one I remember seeing first out of all of the Indiana Jones films. As a kid, I was no doubt drawn into the adventure due to the inclusion of a kid with whom I could relate to in some way, even though the kid was about eight years older than me. Didn’t matter. He was relatable to me since I was also a kid. Having this fondness for the film at a young age may have skewed my perspective because I personally love it. And it surprised the hell out of me when I began hearing negative comments about the film as I got older.
I’m not sure what is specifically reviled about this entry. One guess I do have is how the film is extremely unbelievable at times, whereas Raiders could feel fantastic but remained relatively grounded. However, I argue that those moments are exactly in line with the adventure serials that the concept was based on. The hero performs some impossible feat only to have the serial end on a cliffhanger. Realistically, you know damn well that man is dead. Yet, in the follow-up serial, the hero has miraculously survived his incredible stunt. And the audience is just meant to believe it. I get it. Given the fantastic nature of these films in the first place, I don’t think it feels that far removed. But we’ll get around to all that.
Temple of Doom kicks things off with an elaborate musical number of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes performed by Kate Capshaw in Mandarin. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Let’s talk about Kate Capshaw for a moment because she won this part over Sharon Stone. Granted both actresses were relatively new to the scene at this point in their career, this film would have been completely different with Sharon Stone. The character of Willie Scott was that of a self-absorbed performer that has clearly been pampered all of her life. So when she is thrust into a situation she is unfamiliar with, of course she’s going to whine. I know that one of the film’s criticisms is that Willie is so annoying. But guess what? Kate Capshaw is playing that character to perfection, and I can’t imagine Sharon Stone pulling that off. Willie was meant to be a direct contrast to Marion Ravenwood in every way, and it’s apparent. This is who the character was, like it or not.
When the film truly begins after the opening credits, we learn that this film is actually a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, not a sequel. According to George Lucas, he didn’t want Indy fighting Nazis again and I think that was a smart move. If all Indy did was fight Nazis, his adventures wouldn’t feel as expansive in my opinion. This shows that his exploits can take him anywhere and the world is his oyster. The showdown at the club is a fun introduction into the film and even sets up a villain, Lao Che, that could have returned at some point.
While I don’t need to praise Harrison Ford for his portrayal of the character in this film, I do want to mention his attire in the opening scene and how reminiscent it is to that of a certain James Bond. While I have no proof of this connective tissue, the opening scene does play like an old Bond film in some ways. And considering that’s what Speilberg was chasing when Indy came along, it makes one wonder if this scene was inserted to play out that dream in some aspect. I don’t know. I might be reaching here. In any case, Ford is on top of his game.
The escape from Club Obi-Wan leads our protagonist to his pal, Wan Li, better known by his nom de plume Short Round, played wonderfully by Ke Huy Quan. Seeing how this was his feature film debut and what a solid performance he gives, it should be no surprise that Ke won an Oscar this year. He has proven himself a solid actor, even if he’s only remembered for this film and the Goonies. Yes, people have rediscovered he was also in Encino Man, but that doesn’t count. It’s a shame Hollywood treated him with such disregard as a kid, yet his triumphant return to the screen has proven how much people love him. I truly hope we see more of him on-screen in the future. And not just in some forced Short Round spin-off on Disney+. Speaking of which, go check out American Born Chinese featuring Quan. He plays a character that reflects his own personal struggles as an Asian actor and it hits hard.
Shorty gets Indy and Willie to the local airport where Dan Aykroyd has chartered a flight for Indy already. Why is Dan Aykroyd in this movie? Beats me. I guess he and Speilberg enjoyed working with each other after 1941. Anyway, the plane is hijacked by Lao Che’s men showing that he controls Shanghai, so much so that he willed his henchmen into the plane before knowing where Indy was headed. Either that or Dan Akyroyd is a traitor. I’m inclined to think the latter.
To be fair, there was more to this scene that actually explains everything in greater detail and even gives us some additional information about the character Wu Han who was killed back at the nightclub. I’m not sure it was ever filmed since I’ve never seen any footage, but in the original script, as our trio head for the airplane, Indy asks Short Round if he had the tickets. Shorty responds, “Sure Indy! Three tickets. You, me, and Wu Han.” Indy then has to inform Shorty that Wu Han isn’t coming. Short Round takes the news in stride and confidently assures Indy that he’s his #1 bodyguard now. The extra ticket is then given to Willie, explaining that everything was planned accordingly but things went awry. Even when the man plans, things fall apart.
The next sequence is probably the one that gets the most flack. Of course, I’m talking about the leap from the airplane in a life raft. Sure, Mythbusters proved that everyone would have died. But one: this is fiction. And two: this is a scene that you would absolutely find in the old adventure serials I mentioned before. I guess we should also complain that the plane even exploded because that wouldn’t happen either, right? What are you here for if not death-defying thrills and scenes of pure escapism? Do you really think Willie would have learned Mandarin? I think not but I believe it because the movie told me to. Trying watching Disney’s Pocahontas with that kind of mindset. You’ll question EVERYTHING you believe.
I have to mention the shaman in the village of Mayapore. D.R. Nanayakkara was a Sri Lankan born actor who had been in over 40 movies before landing his final role in Temple of Doom. It still blows my mind to this day that he didn’t speak a word of English, yet you’d never know it because he perfectly mimed Steven Speilberg line readings. I would say there are instances where you could possibly get a sense of that but barely. He was an actor who may not have known the language, but he understood the craft and it shows.
The scene in the jungle where Willie is being traumatized by the wilderness is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. Not only because of Willie’s outrageous reactions to the animals around her, but also because of the argument between Indy and Short Round over cheating. They pay Willie no mind at first thinking she’s just overreacting then get lost in their own business that she could have been dying and they wouldn’t have realized. I don’t know why, but it cracks me up every time.
The dinner scene in Pankot Palace is another highlight. I remember being fascinated and equally grossed out by this scene as a kid. The snake surprise is when I would have left the table. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. The spike room is another scene that gets my blood pumping. It’s a great blend of thrills and comedy where the tension never lets up, even though you know our heroes are going to make it out. I know my wife loves me and all, but I would be dead in that situation. So props for Willie being a trooper and facing her fears. It was some character growth for her, and to some degree for Kate Capshaw. It seems she had to be drugged to do ANY scenes involving bugs which apparently did the trick. She also had a scene involving a large snake that Speilberg cut because she was terrified of the prospect. I guess we know why she married him.
Let’s talk about the film’s primary villain, Mola Rom played by Indian actor Amrish Puri. Here was another actor who had been acting for some time, yet primarily acted in Hindi films. Unlike D.R. Nanayakkara, Puri had been cast in one Hollywood production two years prior with Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. It seemed the casting director’s had approached Puri for the role, but he initially refused to audition. Eventually, he came around and because of that, we have one of the most iconic villains ever put to celluloid. Mola Rom is the BEST villain in the entire franchise. I can hear some of you already scoffing at such a claim. But when you can tell me what makes Belloq or Donavan or even Irina Spalko the superior villain, then I’ll reconsider.
The sacrifice scene is one of those I struggled to watch as a kid because it was incredibly gruesome for a child. But I was also fascinated by it. I knew it wasn’t real, but the scene where it happened sure looked real to this 5-year-old’s eyes. It was that scene that was the arguing point for many parents calling for an additional rating between PG and R. While the PG-13 rating has become the golden staple for big studio blockbusters, I would argue that its implementation is as arbitrary as an NC-17 rating. No one was letting anyone under the age of 17 into an R-rated feature, anymore than they were letting 5-year-olds into PG-rated features, unaccompanied by an adult. Furthermore, what constitutes an R-rating can vary from what I’ve heard. And filmmakers have made cuts to their pictures only to finally resubmit the original cut and have it pass the rating board. It’s inconsistent and ridiculous. But this is a topic worth discussing on a different pod.
The escape from the mines is thrilling to me. Watching Indy beat the hell out of these guards who have been abusing these children is cathartic in some way. If you have any kind of sympathy, you kinda want to join in and help. Then we get the mine cart chase that will no doubt be a point of contention. But as I’ve pointed out, it’s meant to be exaggerated and I find it equally thrilling despite knowing they should have died at numerous points throughout. Once they escape the deluge of water, we get the exciting bridge sequence which gives me anxiety. I’m not a fan of heights, so that entire scenario is not one I could manage mentally. But I don’t have to. Indy has it covered. It may have seemed crazy at that moment. But it worked.
One scene that bugs me a little is the scene before Indy reached the bridge when he’s encountered by three guards with swords. With a cocky smirk, Indy goes to reach for a gun only to realize his holster is empty. Now, this is a direct callback to the scene I loved in Raiders. However, the attitude Indy displays gives the impression he’s been in this situation before and knows the easiest way to handle it. However, based on what WE the viewers know, he HASN’T been in this situation yet, therefore it doesn’t make sense. It’s a minor gripe for a tiny Easter egg, but both filmmakers should have known better than that.
John Williams once again scores the film beautifully. We obviously hear the return of the Raiders theme, but it weaves into new themes without missing a beat. Short Round’s Theme is probably the standout here that really defines the film. However, the opening march to the Slave Children’s Crusade is a banger in another amazing composition.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is an amazing follow-up to Raiders of the Lost Ark that may not be as good as the original, but is a solid entry nonetheless with many memorable moments and characters.
If you want some extra details about a darker version of this film, I highly recommend the video below from the YouTube channel Hats Off Entertainment. Channel host Joe Ramoni did a fascinating deep dive into lost material, and you might even find some additional videos on his channel that catches your eye.
Pencil & Paper Productions 