Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
I'll probably get flak for this, but this is my favorite Indiana Jones film. I even think it's on par with Raiders of The Lost Ark in greatness. I still have no idea why people don't like this film. Fans of the series tend to vote this one as either the worst (moreso before the last movie came out), or the second worst in the series. In my opinion, to put the mediocre Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, which tries way too hard in its effort to be a retread of the first film, is scandalous. If the point of the franchise was to bring back the feel of old 1930s serials, this one does it best. The serials from back then operated on the cliffhanger idea, where after 10 minutes or so, you'd have a cliffhanger and have to come back to see another movie next week in order to see what happened next. The hero would find a way to escape from the most insane situations, and most of the ways wouldn't make much sense if you thought about it. Alas, for some reason, that's one of the biggest complaints people have about this fantastic film. "Oh that raft falling from the plane would result in their deaths! This is lame!" Really, who are these sticks in the mud?! Just enjoy the movie for god's sake! It's not supposed to be doable. It's supposed to be a thrill ride, not a physics lesson!
Another problem people have with the film is Willie Scott. She's not Karen Allen from Raiders. She's not a hellion; not a very strong woman. She's a screeching, annoying damsel in distress. Well... How many strong female characters were there in 1930s serials? I'll tell you. Not many. These people would really hate Flash Gordon. Anyway, yes, she's annoying. However, she made some of the funniest scenes in the movie, which again, some people have gone out of their way to hate.
Come on, people! How can you hate that scene? As a kid, I thought it was hilarious! I still do! Some even go as far as to be offended by saying that this isn't what they eat in India. Who cares?! It's a movie, not a documentary! (Or at least I would hope not.) Do you get offended at the stereotypical black characters in comedy films? The portrayal of Mexicans in westerns? Get a life!
Others hate Short Round. This one is easier to understand, I suppose. There is a legion of film watchers out there who hate kids in movies not meant especially for kids. I'm not one of those. Short Round plays a part in this film. He's there for the same reason some companions are in 1980s Doctor Who episodes. To either get captured or cause problems. Without them, the movie wouldn't be as entertaining. I guess what I'm trying to say is stop taking the movie so seriously. It's not bloody Citizen Kane, nor is it trying to be.
I first saw the films when I was probably around 8 or 9. I'd seen Last Crusade a few times before I saw this one. I suppose my dad thought that one was more appropriate for my age, which I agree with. I saw this one and Raiders at about the same time. I almost put both on this list, but I decided not to cheat yet. (I sadly will later in the list.) This one means more to me. I watch it more. I quote it more. It's got better setpieces, in my opinion. Seeing the film at 8, my dad covered my eyes during, what is now one of my favorite scenes. Mola Ram taking the beating heart out of the human sacrifice, and having it beat harder and burn up in his hand as the sacrifice is lowered into a pit of lava. I've always loved that scene, because it's awesome! To an little boy, that's cool... So is the rope bridge, the exotic dinner sequence, the tunnel of bugs, the room of spikes... Willie being terrorized by animals in the campsite! So many great sequences. And let's not forget one of the most bizarre opening sequences in the history of film!
The movie is one of the few I still count as making me want to get into making films. (Something I've abandoned for the time being, but plan to get back into some day once I write a good script.) I should mention that the film isn't completely original. It's based on a really good adventure comedy from 1939 called Gunga Din, starring Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. That film deals with British colonialists in India being attacked by the Thugee, and I definitely recommend giving the film a look, as well as the other two (I refuse to count Kingdom of The Crystal Skull) Indiana Jones adventures.
No comments:
Post a Comment