Review of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) by Art S — 17 Aug 2014

I recall that there was controversy at the time of release about whether there was too much gruesome violence (hearts ripped out, people burned alive) in what was otherwise a family film. Indeed, Spielberg (and Lucas) presumably increased the attraction to kids (and parents of kids) by creating a new sidekick for Harrison Ford's titular archaeologist in the form of a wise-cracking Chinese boy named "Short Round".

Together they try to get a sacred stone back from an evil Kali-worshipping Indian cult. However, the tone feels all over the place: you've got a certain amount of grimness in the topic (and in Ford's perpetual scowl) paired with some comic relief (love interest Kate Capshaw's tiresome antics) and some videogame styled thrills (a roller coaster ride through some mine shafts).

Of course, Spielberg and Lucas may have been craftily aiming for young teens who might identify with the kids who take part in the action and also feel that they've gotten away with something when they see the more violent scenes and the (out-of-place) sexual jokes.

Because truly there isn't that much for adults here (as much as I might have wanted it not to be so). See Gunga Din (1939) instead - it has all of the same cultural stereotyping and insults but a much more rousing and grown-up sense of fun.