How I came to appreciate Temple Of Doom:

Years ago, when I first decided I wanted to be a writer, I read William Goldman's "Adventures In The Screen Trade" (Goldman wrote Butch Cassidy, The Princess Bride, and a ton of other movies). In that book, he says that his favorite all-time movie is Gunga Din.

So I watched Gunga Din. And loved it.

In many ways, Temple of Doom is a massive homage to Gunga Din.

I feel like I completely get what Spielberg was going for in this movie. He wasn't trying to recapture the swashbuckling style of the first Raiders movie, he was trying to evoke a mood that came from a different style of matinee fare - and I think he succeeded.

If anyone wants to have a double-feature screening of Gunga Din and Temple of Doom, just say the word. I'll supply the popcorn.

I dunno, I think Exorcist II was the worst sequel of all time.
Ugh.

blueerica - Ain't nothing wrong with an extended list. :)

Bird.

Or is grease the word today?

Oh, you're right, G.C. I have to assume Exorcist 2 was the worst sequel, but I walked out 3/4 thru, so it might have gotten somehow excellent in the last 20 minutes. ;)


mousepod, you're on. I think Temple of Doom is irredeemable. But if I watch Gunga Din first and then find it a fitting homage that makes it a decent film, I'll bow down to you and eat Indy's hat.

Interesting tidbit from Entertainment Weekly on Temple of Doom: it's Spielberg's least-favorite of the three, and he reportedly said he made The Last Crusade as an apology for ToD.

Whatever. He's also disavowed Jaws and replaced guns with walkie talkies in E.T. Spielberg is too easily swayed by what other people think of his stuff, so I don't really take his hindsight opinions very seriously.

I think it was right of him to disavow Jaws. White sharks are still being hunted today because some people were so affected by the film.

Yeah, walkie-talkies replace guns. So very lame of him.

See Gunga Din. It's fun! I also think Spielberg got some inspiration for TOD from The Perils of Nyoka.

So that's what the kids are calling it these days...

When did he disavow Jaws? Oh pulease, I don't even believe it.

Of course, he was the a-hole who not only changed CE3K, he purposely put in a scene he hated at the time to make the stupid changes he really wanted (which were beyond lame in the first place).

So yeah, he blows like the wind. But if he made Last Crusade to apologize for Temple of Doom, I applaud that move.


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Also ... he didn't exactly replace guns with walkies ... he offered an option where there are walkes instead of guns, and left available the option where guns are still guns.


Considering he permanently deleted scenes from other movies, I consider this compromise in E.T. acceptable. The change was not rammed down the world's throat.

I'm having difficulty finding it, but a couple years ago he said something to the effect of, "Given the chance, I woudln't make Jaws again. It was too terrifying for people."

It's one small step above permanent editing, but it's still a case of caving to the "Won't somebody please think of the children!" crowd and just proves he has no spine when it comes to defending his own work.