The Darkest Indiana Jones Adventure
In this episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast, hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell dive into the controversial second installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). This prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark takes our hero to Shanghai and then India for what many consider the darkest chapter in the series.
The hosts explore how the film’s darker tone was influenced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s personal lives at the time, with both going through difficult periods that affected the creative direction. Despite being considered the black sheep of the original trilogy, Temple of Doom has gained appreciation over time for its unique qualities and memorable moments.
Nathan shares his childhood memory of seeing the film in theaters and covering his eyes during the infamous heart-ripping scene—the very scene that, along with Red Dawn, prompted the creation of the PG-13 rating that changed Hollywood forever. Both hosts give the film high marks (8-8.5 out of 10), placing it just below The Last Crusade in their rankings.
Key topics discussed:
- How Temple of Doom works as a prequel set in 1935 (before Raiders)
- The incredible Shanghai club opening sequence and its filming challenges
- Short Round as one of the best sidekicks in the series who sadly never returned
- Kate Capshaw’s performance as Willie Scott and her real-life sedatives for the bug scenes
- The film’s cultural insensitivity issues and how they were meant to be portrayed
- Why the mine cart chase might be 20% too long but remains iconic
- Practical effects including stop-motion animation and early compositing techniques
- Indiana Jones’ character as more of an anti-hero than classic hero
- The brilliant suspension bridge finale and Mola Ram as a memorable villain
In their deep cut recommendations, Nathan suggests exploring Bollywood classics like Om Shanti Om featuring Shahrukh Khan, while noting that Amrish Puri (Mola Ram) appears in the classic DDLJ. Krissy recommends checking out Ke Huy Quan’s (Short Round) recent renaissance, including his Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Whether you’re covering your eyes during the heart scene or laughing at Willie’s dinner reactions, Temple of Doom remains a unique, polarizing adventure that helped define 80s action cinema.
