Director: Spielberg

[mousepod]

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.