Cast
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Harrison Ford
as Indiana Jones
Kate Capshaw
as Willie Scott
Ke Huy Quan
as Short Round
Amrish Puri
as Mola Ram
Roshan Seth
as Chattar Lal
Philip Stone
as Phillip Blumburtt
Roy Chiao
as Lao Che
David Yip
as Wu Han
Ric Young
as Kao Kan
Chua Kah Joo
as Chen
Rex Ngui
as Maitre d'
Philip Tan
as Chief Henchman
Dan Aykroyd
as Art Weber
Akio Mitamura
as Chinese Pilot
Michael Yama
as Chinese Co-Pilot
Crew
Director
- Steven Spielberg
Producer
- Robert Watts
Reviews
Potential Kermode
**The best film in the series**
_Raiders_ was great but suffered patches of slowness where the momentum was damaged - I know people who actually fast forward Raiders when Indy and Sallah discover the Well of Souls and begin watching the film again at the plane fight sequence.
_Temple of Doom_, however, is a non stop rollercoaster ride - a thrilling, violent and funny adventure. Spielberg's best action film, in my opinion. Violence, horror, sentimentality, thrills, comedy - _Temple_ has it all! _And more_!!!
John Williams provides a superb Indian infused score performed beautifully by the ever reliable _London Symphony Orchestra_ probably my favourite musical score of the series too. Indy takes a severe beating in this adventure, famously losing his shirt sleeve in the process - whereas in the toned down Raiders rehash, _Last Crusade_, he merely gets a bit of dust on his hat.
A great whirlwind of energy this film is. Love it!
- Potential Kermode
Feb 13, 2017
Gimly
Simultaneously both more grim and more silly than the Indiana Jones films either side of it, _The Temple of Doom_ was my favourite of the series as a kid. As an adult though, it seems it is objectively the worst movie in the trilogy, but damn if there isn't a lot of memorable parts to love about it.
_Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
Oct 18, 2017
John Chard
Spielberg on devilishly OTT form!
Prior to the long mooted and eventual release of part 4, Temple Of Doom was often thought of as the weakest part of the series, yet it actually appears to me to be maturing nicely with age. With honest appraisal I see the only crime that Temple Of Doom can be charged with is is not being as good as Raiders Of The Lost Ark. But since few films can match that movie's classic status I find it churlish to do the second film down for it.
Temple Of Doom is a frenetic roller-coaster ride, full of enough crash bang wallop fit to grace any action adventure in the history of cinema. The set pieces are pure outrageous fun; life raft escape from a crashing plane, mine cart thrill ride & a bridge sequence that is pure boys own brilliance. And while the film finds Spielberg cramming the action with a darkly sinister streak (hence the PG13 rating), we find that the fun still far outweighs any horror that junior viewers might get from certain scenes.
The film also finds Ford giving his best performance as Indiana Jones since the plot calls for a more humane Jones. In fine physical shape, his witty interplay with Short Round is coupled with a textured feel of friendship that plays real well up on the screen. Kate Capshaw was always going to struggle to get close to Karen Allen's wonderful turn as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders, for where Marion was feisty and tough, Capshaw's Willie Scott is more scare-d-cat and reliant on Indy's guile to save her from peril, but she does OK and looks gorgeous into the bargain.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was a massive hit at the box-office and firmly bought Spielberg the time to then go out and make two dramas in Empire of the Sun (1987) & The Color Purple (1985). He would then return with the third Indiana film to finish what was then a marvellous trilogy; of which Temple Of Doom is the prime piece of meat in the delightful (original) trilogy sandwich. 8.5/10
Dec 24, 2018
Kamurai
Decent watch, might watch again, and can only recommend for people who are already big Indiana Jones fans.
This is a much cheaper movie than it's prequel, not in budget, but in writing and characters. With the trade out in female co-leads, Willie is an annoying if not irritating character and the movie might actually be improved if you just edited her out of the movie.
Short-Round is fun, but not to any degree to go as far as saving the movie. The atmosphere of the movie is darker than it is funny where it matters.
I'm not saying it's a bad movie by any means, but I'm not a big Indiana Jones fan and this is definitely the worst of the 4 movies.
Aug 17, 2020
CinemaSerf
Sadly, this chose to go down the route of child stardom - which you either love or hate. Though "Short Round" (Ke Huy Quan) wasn't as irritating as many; he was still pretty persistently annoying and for my money helps make this quite a bit weaker. Aside from the elephant, this also lacks the depth of casting that the first of the films had - Kate Capshaw is almost slapstick as "Wille Scott" and the story isn't so hot, either, as our intrepid explorer has to try and track down some ancient stones that - along with their stolen children - are crucial to the agrarian lives of many peaceful citizens. The roller-coaster finish is still the stuff of Hollywood legend, though - and the films is a classy, well put together tale of clashes of culture with a healthy dose of mysticism, colonialism and Ford certainly has charisma to spare. Good fun, just not quite "Raiders".
Jun 8, 2023
Thematic Analysis
This high-octane Adventure/Action film balances spectacular sequences with character-driven moments. Unlike many films in the genre, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom distinguishes itself through its exceptional pacing and meaningful stakes for its protagonists.
Director Steven Spielberg brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 1984, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its critical acclaim reflects its artistic achievements and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom took approximately 13 months from pre-production to final cut.
- With a budget of $28.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
- The final cut of the film runs for 118 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 156 minutes long.
- The cast underwent specialized training for 7 weeks before filming began.
- Several scenes were filmed in multiple locations to capture the perfect setting.
- The film contains approximately 1699 individual shots.
Historical Context
- In 1984, when this film was released:
- Economic policies were shifting toward deregulation in many Western countries.
- MTV launched, changing how music was marketed and consumed.
- Independent cinema was growing in influence, challenging the dominance of major studios.
How This Film Stands Out
While Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.
Unlike Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which focuses more on action than character development, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom offers a fresh perspective through its innovative visual language and narrative structure.
While films like Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Raiders of the Lost Ark explore similar territory, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.
This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.
Details
- Release Date: May 23, 1984
- Runtime: 1h 58m
- Budget: $28,000,000
- Revenue: $333,000,000
Where to Watch
