Directed by: Steven Spielburg

Written by: George Lucas and Willard Hyck

The Temple of Doom actually takes place chronologically a year or two before the events that transpire in Raiders of The Lost Ark.  The story begins with Jones (Harrison Ford)  negotiating a possible trade for an ancient artifact with a group of Chinese Gangsters.  The gangsters double cross him, and attempt to poison him.  Jones escapes while accidentally taking lounge singer named Willhelma (Kate Capshaw) with him.  On a plane across the mountains, it is abandoned by it’s pilots and left to crash.  Willy, Indies friend, a kid called Short Round (Jonathan K. Quan), and Jones escape; finding themselves in a village somewhere in India.   They discover the village has suffered the disappearance of their children, as well as their sacred stones of worship.  The trio goes to the Temple to investigate the validity of the villagers concern.  Their discoveries can only be defined as horrifying.  What they find are children held captive by a creepy voodoo prince, a dark sorcerer removing the hearts of men with some sort of magic, while wandering through a booby trapped Temple that contains only death and danger.

The second addition to the Indiana Jones trilogy starts off on a much darker note than Raiders.  The first scene with the Chinese gangsters sets the tone for the rest of the movie.  As usual Jones’ life is in peril, but this time it seems everyone is literally out to get him.  The title is no misrepresentation, everything about this film alludes to an impending sense of doom.  The main character’s are all constantly coming within an inch of their deaths.  Each scene sends fear into you because you know nothing is what it seems.

The further development of Jones in this film has subtle examples tossed in throughout the movie.  The further display of Jones being both an academic and an action hero is explored more, not to mention Jones’ knack for being a ladies man as he seduces the lovely Willy played by Kate Capshaw.  The beautiful Kate Capshaw is not just a prop for Jones, as she provides a very thin line of sexual tension that often borders comedy more than seduction.  Her character Willy is the greatest symbol of turmoil but also counters as an excellent breath of comedy relief.  Short Round is pure and simple comedy, though he does occasionally exist as the voice of reason between Jones and Willy, which in itself is humorous considering he is a child.  These sarcastic and humorous character’s are necessary to counter the dark nature of the film, so it doesn’t overwhelm you entirely.

Visually, the sense of India is really captured in this movie.  The trip to the Temple prepares you for a world that exists in the middle of a wild kingdom where no one is around to police their behavior and thus explains how a place like The Temple Of Doom can exist and enslave children.  The cut off existence from the rest of the world coupled with the ominous feeling the Temple presents with it’s dark foods and overwhelming sense of dread make for a very real sense of danger.

The Temple of Doom proved that Indiana Jones movies do not have to be carbon copies of each other, but can retain their character’s main theme’s and make any brand of action-adventure movie they feel like.  The most intriguing thing about Indiana Jones movies seems to be the way it separates itself from our world but at the same time makes you feel a part of it.  So long as there are more stories to tell, Indiana Jones is a character that will last forever.  Four out of Four Stars.

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