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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 1984 film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Story
This felt like less of a story and more like a bunch of set pieces strung together. I’m sensing a theme that Indy has very little agency in his own movies. The hidden cultist plot crosses over into blatent racism.
Score: 0
Characters
This was Indiana Jones in his element. He spoke the language and knew the history. It was nice to see him seem intelligent. Short round was adorable and Willie was loud. I liked the relationship and emotion between Indy and Short Round.
The rest of the cast was a weird combination of Bond rejects and random cultural clichés thrown at the screen.
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
The dialogue runs from absolutely ridiculous to quippy and fun. Not much is actually deep or meaningful.
Score: 0.5
Visuals and Music
Other than a few abuses of blue screen, it really paid off for them to film on location. Absolutely gorgeous scenery. The action set peices are a little over the top, but that makes them fun.
A lot of the music from the first is reused but remixed wonderfully. The darker tones of the temple scenes are well done.
Score: 1
Fun
I enjoyed the movie for nostalgia and because it’s a fun romp. The cultural nonsense is weird and led an entire generation to think that Indian food included chilled monkey brains and live eels.
What the hell was up with the Voodoo doll? That’s not Indian but West African. I think they’d have been better off saying it was a British demon cult.
The kids liked it but said it was scary. (Probably didn’t appreciate the constant pausing for me to rant.)
Score: 0.5
Overall
With elements that made the first one a great movie, this one fails to do anything but string together some impressive action scenes and wildly insulting cultural fabrications.
Final Score: 2.5 Stars out of 5