Temple of Doom is 35 years old

[Ricard 2,245]

Since there's a thread about TLC's 30th anniversary, here's another one to discuss the better film of the two  which was released 35 years ago this week.

 

And while you're at it, do not miss @TownerFan's wonderful article about Williams' masterpiece!

 

https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2019/05/24/indiana-jones-temple-of-doom-35-anniversary/

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Best score of the series. But not the best hat and jacket. I'm not a fan of the more tapered look of the hat compared to the more squarish crown of the Raiders hat. I suppose the jacket is okay, but the Raiders cut is more distinct.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

Don't be sad, Doctor Jones. You were soon be joining him.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

2 MUCH 2 DWINK DOKTAH JONZ??!!?

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Da poysun -- yoo just dwank it... da poysun wurks fahst Doktah Jonz

[publicist 4,643]

Spielberg's best comedy.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

He put TWO holes in my dress from Paris!!

[Holko 9,526]

22 minutes ago, publicist said:

Spielberg's best comedy.

Well it's not like there's much competition!

[publicist 4,643]

Double accomplishment then. TOD may lack a certain 'gravitas' which the Nazi entries have, but makes up for it with a lightness that probably no other director could have achieved while simultaneously making an epic adventure (i always found the claims of the movie being dark, cruel and racist to be complete nonsense).

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

It's not as dark and disturbing as it threatens to be.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Its more preposterous and over the top than dark and disturbing. Never has heart ripping, immolation and slave children whipped by cruel tyrants been such a joyride!

[Quintus 5,399]

Lucas was going through a divorce in 1984 so FUCKIN' BLAH BLAH SUUUUUUURE

[publicist 4,643]

Premonition of the over-concerned, over-cautious nanny society America is now. 

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

24 minutes ago, Quintus said:

Lucas was going through a divorce in 1984 so FUCKIN' BLAH BLAH SUUUUUUURE

 

21 minutes ago, publicist said:

Premonition of the over-concerned, over-cautious nanny society America is now. 

 

They were always trying to make excuses for it in the DVD documentaries. Oh the movie turned out "bad" because the boss was having personal problems. Makes for some melodrama for the doco and the chance to track the interviews with some of Williams' more grim sort of music from the movies. How dumb do these Hollyweird morons think we are to fall for that shit?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

35 minutes ago, publicist said:

Premonition of the over-concerned, over-cautious nanny society America is now. 

 

And Europe!

[crumbs 14,317]

Wowee, a 30th and a 35th Anniversary from the same franchise in the same week... you'd think it's an opportune time for score expansions...

 

[Thor 7,507]

I first saw this film on VHS in the mid or late 80s, at some friends of my parents in Denmark (I don't think I've ever seen it on the big screen). On subsequent viewings, I've come to recognize some of its flaws -- but interestingly, these flaws (primarily gung-ho, slapstick histrionics) are also a strength in a way; in their sheer sense of energy and momentum. I think it's been better appreciated in later years.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,534]

I saw it in its opening week, in London, at the Empire Leicester Square, in 70mm. I jumped out of my skin at the "hand through the hole". The next time I saw it (also at the Empire Leicester Square.) I had fun watching other people jump out of their skin.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

I don't remember the first time I saw it. I just remember it was something that was in our tape collection and it'd be on a lot in our house when I was an infant.

[John 2,032]

Great film!

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,356]

I've ranked it third in the past, and it may still be in my books, but I must say that it gets better with each rewatch.

[Fabulin 3,513]

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[TownerFan 4,983]

9 hours ago, Ricard said:

Since there's a thread about TLC's 30th anniversary, here's another one to discuss the better film of the two  which was released 35 years ago this week.

 

And while you're at it, do not miss @TownerFan's wonderful article about Williams' masterpiece!

 

https://thelegacyofjohnwilliams.com/2019/05/24/indiana-jones-temple-of-doom-35-anniversary/

 

Thanks, Ricard. I thought the anniversary was a great excuse to talk more about this absolutely brilliant JW score.

[KK 3,307]

I get the film on paper. It's a rollicking, over-the-top, cartoonish adventure. But even as someone with little patience for present day PC culture, TOD's garish depiction of Indians still makes me kind of uncomfortable. It definitely presented a problematic image for 80s American culture to swallow up.

 

Williams' score is brilliant though.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Why do the kids these days love that word "problematic" so much? What's the problem and what's the solution?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

6 minutes ago, KK said:

TOD's garish depiction of Indians still makes me kind of uncomfortable. It definitely presented a problematic image for 80s American culture to swallow up.

 

That's one of the reasons I love this film. It pissed a lot of people off when it was released and a lot of people still find it offensive today!

[Jay 37,368]

One of my favorite films to watch over and over again, one of my favorite scores of all time! 

[Ollie 1,059]

The 2nd best IJ film and score.

 

i saw this opening night and the theatre was jammed packed. It was one of the more memorable experiences I’ve had in the theatre. The audience was into this film from start to finish. 

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I really love the whirling strings when they rotate that thing on the table when negotiating for Nurhachi.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Nao... yoo givv mi da dyemund

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

Lao!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Hehehe yoo keep da gerl. I bai anuthuh!

[publicist 4,643]

1 hour ago, KK said:

TOD's garish depiction of Indians still makes me kind of uncomfortable.

 

I think that not even Indians objected to such comic book portrayals. The film even has good and bad indians, so that evens it out.

[Fabulin 3,513]

.

[publicist 4,643]

Germans were not as squeamish.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

21 minutes ago, publicist said:

 

I think that not even Indians objected to such comic book portrayals. The film even has good and bad indians, so that evens it out.

 

Evil Religiously extremist slavers and good, helpless Indians why need a White Saviour to bring back their children!

16 minutes ago, publicist said:

Germans were not as squeamish.

 

I'm sure to find you squeamish, that is not your reputation!

[KK 3,307]

Squeamish, maybe. But despite all the Nazi jokes, everyone can agree that Germany is a respectable world power with respectable people across most fields of industry, art and science. India doesn't afford the same luxury sadly, especially in the PR department. So I wouldn't blame a notoriously conservative people for scoffing at the extreme bastardization of existing customs and traditions at the expense of the average white consumer's laugh.

 

And while its intentions may have been faultless, TOD just continues a trend of glitzy 80s Hollywood of instructing the average American on how to think of Indians (who never had a great reputation in the West to begin with), just in worst extremes possible. 

 

And are the "good" Indians supposed to be the meek stone-worshipping villagers who fall in worship to the incoming white man? Or the other "Hindus" (who have a reputation of being conservative vegetarians in reality) who were vacuuming monkey brains?

 

- KK, who really hates how "political" this post sounds and wishes this movie didn't trigger him like it does

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

So how would you solve this movie's problems?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

17 minutes ago, KK said:

KK, who really hates how "political" this post sounds and wishes this movie didn't trigger him like it does

 

Heart ripping, isn't it?

 

[Ollie 1,059]

Kali ma!!!

[publicist 4,643]

23 minutes ago, KK said:

Squeamish, maybe. But despite all the Nazi jokes, everyone can agree that Germany is a respectable world power with respectable people across most fields of industry, art and science. India doesn't afford the same luxury sadly, especially in the PR department. So I wouldn't blame a notoriously conservative people for scoffing at the extreme bastardization of existing customs and traditions at the expense of the average white consumer's laugh.

 

And while its intentions may have been faultless, TOD just continues a trend of glitzy 80s Hollywood of instructing the average American on how to think of Indians (who never had a great reputation in the West to begin with), just in worst extremes possible. 

 

And are the "good" Indians supposed to be the meek stone-worshipping villagers who fall in worship to the incoming white man? Or the other "Hindus" (who have a reputation of being conservative vegetarians in reality) who were vacuuming monkey brains?

 

- KK, who really hates how "political" this post sounds and wishes this movie didn't trigger him like it does

 

Gee KK, it's a bit like The Honorable Texas Oilmen Syndicate raising grave concerns about how J. R. Ewing is bastardizing their public image. It's a comic book movie and even the less bright american probably wasn't seduced into thinking he just saw an accurate portrayal of modern India. Your reasoning is probably not wrong per se but it's a teensy bit snobby preaching down to the less enlightened from the elevated position of one's own armchair pulpit.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

It didn't even have Indian wobble heads! It not so bad.

 

Or offensive blackface!

 

 

[John 2,032]

Alec Guinness in Lawrence of Arabia is more culturally offensive than anything in Temple of Doom!

 

Is there something you don’t understand, @The Illustrious Jerry?

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

And Mr. Yakamoto or whatever from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

 

"Mish Gorightry!"

 

There is legitimately offensive stuff and then there is a movie series like Indiana Jones where the tone doesn't even remotely lend itself to offending. 

[Ollie 1,059]

And to think, they were actually going to cast a Japanese actor in that role. 

 

 

 

[Chen G. 3,949]

2 hours ago, John said:

Alec Guinness in Lawrence of Arabia is more culturally offensive than anything in Temple of Doom!

 

As Faisal he’s fine. Try more Omar Sharif as Yuri Zhivago or Guiness as the Indian doctor in A Passage to India.

[mstrox 6,651]

Happy 35th to the best Indiana Jones movie and score.  Yours truly, mstrox

[Fabulin 3,513]

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[mstrox 6,651]

Happy 25th anniversary to Baby’s Day Out, btw