Less then two weeks from now I would have seen Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal skull but before we get the 4th film in the Indiana Jones franchise, let’s look back at the first 3 films.  Last week we looked at Raiders of the Lost Ark and spoke about how that action film will last in cinematic history for all time.  In this article we’ll look at, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom which actually serves as a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Considered to be the darkest in the film series, Temple of Doom once again brings back the iconic character of Indiana Jones played by Harrison Ford.  Joined along side Ford as Jones is side kicks, Kate Capshaw as Willie Scott and Jonathan Ke Quan as Short Round.  Kate Capshaw who incidentally marries Steven Spielberg, the director.  Set in the year 1935, one year before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones sets forth on a quest for the Sankara Stones and to free the children of a village in India.  Starting off at a club called, Club Obi-Wan in Shanghai we follow Jones, Willie and Short Round on an adventure to Pankot Palace to fight the evil cult of Kali lead by Mola Ram, who enslaves the children to find the stone’s to rule the world with.

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Harrison Ford yet again provides and amazing performance as Indiana Jones.  A little darker and more serious following the tone of Temple of Doom, Ford plays Indiana as if he always was the character.  Stressing enough that Harrison Ford is perfect as Indiana Jones would continue to be an understatement and to continue with that praise would be time consuming.  Kate Capshaw’s Willie Scott is the complete opposite from Indy’s last love interest, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen).  Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark was your strong spirited adventurer where as Willie Scott is your stereo typical blond entertainer type.  Arrogant and girlie Willie serves as the love interest and something of the comic relief in a film that is indeed dark.  During the time of Temple of Doom’s release in 1984 Capshaw’s performance was actually considered pretty bad and some believe it was the cause of a down fall in her career, but over 20 years later nobody would even realize that piece of movie trivia.  From a younger audience like myself who was only 2 years old when Temple of Doom was release, Cate Capshaw’s performance turns out to be funny in an annoying sense and her performance works for this film.  This is also were Capshaw meets her future husband, Steven Spielberg who she’s still married to today.  Since Willie Scott serves as the unadventurous side kick, Indy’s courageous side kick in Temple of Doom is 11 year old Short Round.  Jonathan Ke Quan, also famous for the 1985 movie The Goonies, takes his place as Indiana’s side kick after saving Indy and Willie in Siagon.  One of the coolest things about being a child actor is when you get casted in big adventure movies that 20 years later people still know and love.  Strangely after starring in two very popular films like Temple of Doom and The Goonies, Ke Quan’s career basically went no where.  Even so, Ke Quan had a great part in Temple of Doom and to his credit made Short Round a fun and entertaining character watch.

Once again Steven Spielberg creates a visual world that will forever be fantastic, from the beautiful landscapes of India to the evil temple of the Thuggee and Mola Ram.  Just like most films of the 80s Spielberg makes great use of models and practical shots, for example the mini model work for the mine cart scene and the matte paintings that were widely used for a very long time before the usage of CGI backgrounds.  These are just two examples in a film that is laced with some of the most refreshing film making technique’s ever.  Along with great model work comes great action, although not very tense, it’s just a pleasure to watch.  Some of the best action in action movies are the ones that are completely fun to watch.   The mine cart chase is the perfect example, between the chase itself and watching Indiana Jones fight the Thuggee at the same time makes for fun action sequences.

As stated before, Temple of Doom is considered being the darkest film of the series since the film pertains to human sacrificing cults and child slavery.  Although dark it does form a great action adventure film even though its my least favorite of the series for a simple reason.  The mythology of India is something that I never really had an interest in where as Raiders did because I love the mythology behind Egypt.  Granted its my least favorite in the series, Temple of Doom turns out to still be one of the coolest action films of all time and it continues to prove that the character of Indiana Jones is one of the last of macho characters in movie making.

With a cast and a dark story that is adventurous and cool by my standards although lacking in intrigue myth wise, if I was to see Temple of Doom for the first time today, I’d rate it a 8 out of 10.

-Phil