The second film from the series about the adventures of a black archaeologist and adventure seeker Indiana Jones, was released in large screens in 1984. "Temple of Doom" is an American adventure film with elements of mysticism and fiction, directed by Stephen Spielberg. Although the second picture was taken in order, it is a prequel to the first film - "Indiana Jones: In Search of the Lost Ark." According to audience reviews and professional reviews, the film turned out to be a little gloomy and bloody.
The idea of the film
When producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg shot the first Indiana Jones movie, they immediately agreed that they would be making 3-4 films. Of course, if the first is successful. Since the producer insisted on this, Spielberg thought that Lucas had blueprints for the plots of the following films. However, it turned out that the second film still needs to be invented.
During this period, the partners were not at all happy times: one divorced, and the other killed people on the set. Therefore, Lucas and Spielberg decided to make the picture darker and tougher, which was subsequently repeatedly noted by critics. They agreed almost immediately - the new picture will not be a sequel, but a prequel. And that the main character will have a new companion and other principled opponents. Based on this source data and the plot of Lucas, the script was written by Willard Hayk and Gloria Katz.
Typical reviews
Many viewers noted that the picture really turned out to be a bit gloomy, especially the scene with the dungeon and sacrifices. In particular, parents who came with their children to watch a fairy tale, but received killers and followers of the Kali cult, were unhappy. Some wrote that all these horrors are more like mocking little girls who are frightened by a disgusting dish - “the brains of monkeys”.
On the other hand, many viewers noted that all horror scenes are smoothed out by well-posed tricks, Harrison Ford's charismatic play, Kate Capshaw's comedic talent and beauty and the presence of a child character - Indiana Shorty's friend, thanks to whom many scenes began to look somewhat less gloomy.
Most adventure movie buffs have noted that the Temple of Doom is able to keep you in suspense even today. The rituals of the cult of Kali, a huge number of insects and bats are balanced by completely ridiculous and not at all vulgar jokes.
Casting
The fact that Jones in the “Temple of Doom” will play Harrison Ford was not in doubt, as well as the fact that he will have to select another actress for the role of his girlfriend. For a long time, Sharon Stone was considered the main contender, but soon Kate Cape Shaw became the director's favorite. The former model and teacher did not have a large portfolio, but she took it with her charm. After agreeing with Ford, the girl got the role. According to the opinions of the audience, the actress in the film simply had nothing to play, basically she screamed and squeaked, and simply pleased her appearance.
6000 Asian children claimed the role of Shorty, and Jonathan Ke Kuan, who came morally supported his brother, got it. The audience liked the boy’s game, they noted his liveliness and spontaneity. Amrisha Puri managed to get the role of the main villain thanks to the director Richard Attenborough, who starred in the film "Gandhi". The Indian was busy filming several Bollywood paintings and was having difficulty finding time for the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Critics noted that Puri's villain turned out to be colorful, perhaps the best in his acting career.
What went in and out of the movie
While working on the first part, Lucas came up with several vivid scenes that were not included in it. For example, they planned to include Chinese villains and a Chinese positive hero in the story, in honor of the American hero of the 30s, Charlie Chan, an employee of the Hawaiian police. For some time, the director and producer thought to devote the Temple of Doom to the Chinese legend of the monkey king Sun Woo-kun. However, to organize full-scale shooting at the Great Wall of China at that time failed. Therefore, only Chinese characters remained in the picture: Shorty and Shanghai gangsters.
Lucas’s idea of a Scottish haunted castle wasn’t included in the script, as Spielberg seemed too much like his movie Poltergeisit. However, the discussion of this plot prompted the authors to partially borrow the storyline from the classic 1939 painting "Ganga Dean", which featured a secret temple of Destiny, where the sect of Indian killer fanatics worshiped the goddess of death Kali. The dark story in the film changed a bit, and it began to look more like a fairy tale, as many critics noted.
Flight to adventure
Most critics note the dynamic beginning of the picture. The film "Temple of Doom" takes place in 1935. A business meeting between Indiana Jones (Harison Ford) and Chinese gangsters in Shanghai's Obi-Wan bar did not go according to plan. After a pointless brawl, Jones, a little song from the bar, Willie (Kate Capshaw), and a Chinese boy named Shorty (Jonathan Ke Kwan) flee the city. Flying over India, the plane makes an emergency landing in the jungle. The audience also liked the plot, and the commissioning of the film of a smart and active boy who helps Indiana in everything and sincerely admires him.
After a little wandering through the jungle, the fugitives stumble upon a small village from which all the children disappeared. The owner of the nearby palace took the sacred stone and stole all the children from working in the mines. Indiana, after listening to local stories and legends, decides to help residents restore justice. Many viewers noted that the protagonist in the “Temple of Doom” was more decisive, began to speak less and act more.
Adventures in the palace
Jones and his friends head to the palace, where they are well received, treated to exotic dishes. The scene of the eastern feast made a strong impression on many spectators, especially the famous dish with the brains of a living monkey. An assassination attempt is made at night, and it becomes clear that they fell into the lair of the adherents of the bloodthirsty cult. Indiana, Willie and Shorty penetrate the gloomy dungeon and become witnesses of human sacrifice.
These scenes, where the local chief priest Mol Ram, performed by the Indian movie star Armish Puri, performed a bloody ritual, many viewers consider the best in the "Temple of Doom." However, the Indian government sharply opposed the picture, because their country, in their opinion, was shown barbaric, with monstrous religious rituals. They did not like the fact that the owner of the palace was titled Maharajas. Therefore, the shooting of "Indian" scenes had to be transferred to Sri Lanka.
The escape
Maul Ram already owns three of the five legendary stones that bring wealth and fortune. And he uses slave child labor to find the remaining two. Before Indiana in the “Temple of Doom,” a difficult task arises: to take these stones and free the children. The task is greatly complicated by the fact that the girl and Shorty fall into the hands of villains who are going to sacrifice them to the goddess Kali. The actress herself, like many viewers, noted that her character has too many lamentations and screams in these scenes, at the same time a very expressive facial expression. Kate Cape Shaw really did not like her role, but she liked the director, whom she later married.
Despite the fact that Indiana drinks “Kali blood”, which suppresses will and enters into a trance, he manages to save the children. From the audience went to the main character for his "naivety" when drinking a poisoned drink. But the trolley escape scene was liked by both critics and spectators. For filming, the director used a specially designed camera.
Professional reviews
The film received the most controversial reviews by professional critics. The attention was drawn to the abundance of violent and bloody scenes. Frank Marshall wrote that Lucas believes that the second part is the best, because it is the darkest. To create a gloomy atmosphere, the scriptwriters turned to the topic of “barbaric” Indian rituals, which not only did not like the Indian government, but also many journalists of conservative views. For example, George Will considered that the scene in which the priest rips out a still beating heart is extremist and shocking for an entertaining film. On the other hand, American critic Dave Ker wrote that the scriptwriters tried to scare the audience like a 10-year-old boy scares his sister with a dead worm.
The popular Christian Science Monitor called the Temple of Doom repulsive and trivial. However, The Hollywood Reporter magazine found the film quite acceptable. In their review, they wrote that the picture is doomed to commercial success.
Jack Valenti (who was then director of the American Cinema Association) said the Temple of Doom is a bit harsh for the picture that goes with the caption “parental presence recommended.”