MY MOVIE SHELF: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

 

The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015.  Remaining movies: 47 Days to go: 34

Movie #393:  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Temple of Doom was the first movie I remember being really aware of news about. My age was still in the single digits when it came out and while I loved it a whole lot, my hands absolutely went over my eyes during the infamous heart removal scene. A few months later I remember being in an airport (my grandfather had just died) and seeing magazine articles about the call for a PG-13 rating because of the graphic nature of that one scene in this movie specifically. I remember being on-board with it then, as much as a child can have an informed opinion about such things, and I think its initial use and intent was well-founded. Over the years, though, the rating has become a blurred catch-all, it seems, losing almost all meaning regarding what may or may not be inappropriate for kids. That’s a discussion for another time, of course, but it all started right here with this movie, and that’s kind of fascinating.

I’ve heard a lot of opinions recently that Temple of Doom is a significantly lesser Indiana Jones adventure, but I admit I like it immensely. Perhaps it’s because the age I was when it came out, or that it had a kid my age in it (lots of kids in it, actually). It could be any number of things, but whatever the reason(s), I think it’s great. Yes, it perpetuates some needlessly negative Asian stereotypes (although at least it cast actual Asian people for the roles), and Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) is kind of a shrieking buffoon, and Indy (Harrison Ford) is kind of more sexist and misogynistic than he is in the other films, and he’s kind of passing it along to a new generation by being a sexism role model to Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), but the movie’s got jokes! And thrills! And voodoo? Whatever. It’s exciting!

There’s a plane drop in a raft over the mountains, that acts first like a sled over the snow and then falls into a river. There’s a nasty snake and brains meal. There’s a deadly collapsing room (with spikes for good measure). There’s human sacrifice, crazy bugs all over the place, lots of fighting, and a great scene where Willie yelling at Indy from the hallway is juxtaposed with him in his room fighting off an evil thug attack. Plus there’s an amazing mine car chase that I basically wanted to ride in roller coaster form my entire life. I mean, I realized it wasn’t possible, what with the missing track and whatnot, and now that they could probably recreate the feeling of it through simulation it would no longer be remotely relevant or current (the movie is over thirty years old), but it still would’ve been fun. (I still kind of want this in my life.)

Short Round is actually my favorite character in any Indiana Jones movie. I basically adopted his “you listen me more, you live longer” saying as my own philosophy because no one ever listens to me until it’s too late. That probably sounds arrogant, but I stand by it. I also really loved his father-son affection for Indy and that fact that, ultimately, it’s Short Round who saves Indiana Jones. I guess if he listened to Short Round he really would live longer. Or at least have to be saved less.

Temple of Doom is a great action-adventure movie, and an original one at that. And as Spielberg’s experience had grown over the years, the movie is better constructed and better executed than Raiders of the Lost Ark, no matter if anyone admits it or not. Even something simply like costuming the Indian villagers in all brown, drab fabrics at the beginning of the film, and bright, vibrant colors at the end makes a clear and definitive visual statement that speaks to much stronger moviemaking overall. I’m not saying it’s the best thing Spielberg has ever done, but it’s pretty damn good.

Plus, I love that Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg fell in love on the film, got married, raised a million children, and are still super happy and in love to this day. I’m an incredible softy that way.

Next, the last is not the last!

 

MY MOVIE SHELF: The Goonies

The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015.  Remaining movies: 247 Days to go: 251

Movie #130: The Goonies

I had a huge crush on Sean Astin when I was ten because of this movie (also because we share a birthday and that was magical to me back then). A smarter, older girl might have gone for Brand (Josh Brolin), but I was neither smarter nor older. And I didn’t understand why his name was Brand. But for a young girl of ten, Mikey (Astin) was a perfect crush to have; he was passionate, cute and he adorably said all the wrong things. Plus Andy (Kerri Green) said he was a good kisser, so. I may not have known what did or did not constitute good kissing, but I knew it was important.

The Goonies is a wonderful film about friendship and adventure. It’s the kind of thing that’s just a fun, family-friendly crowdpleaser, which, let’s be honest, is kind of Spielberg’s wheelhouse, even if he only wrote it. (Richard Donner directed.) Back when I was a kid, I think I felt Mouth (Corey Feldman) was the coolest, but now I think he’s just mean and obnoxious to Chunk (Jeff Cohen) and Stef (Martha Plimpton), plus I have no idea why he translates the map with an Olde English accent. Data (Jonathan Ke Quan), with his super great gadgets and obsession with James Bond, is clearly the actual coolest.

Scary Mama Fratelli (Anne Ramsey) is also great, though I never appreciated her until I was grown up. When I was young, I was way too terrified of her, which just goes to further prove how great she was as the lead criminal bossing around her sons Jake and Francis (Robert Davi and Joe Pantoliano), plus poor chained up Sloth (John Matuszak).(Sloth was very scary to me as a kid, but I also felt a huge amount of empathy for him, and so much love for his and Chunk’s friendship. Though I do wonder how his parents feel about him bringing home a stray person with severe medical needs to live with them.)

For me, though, the real draw of the film is the adventure itself. Data getting saved from impalement by his chatter teeth, the awesome and terrifying organ made of bones, and especially the crazy great water slide were hugely thrilling. Being a child of amusement parks, I never understood why they didn’t capitalize on that water slide, actually. I wanted on it in a big way — that and the Temple of Doom mine cart roller coaster. The fact that Jonathan Ke Quan got to experience both of those is not lost on me, and I’m pretty jealous, even if it was just moviemaking. (Spielberg, call me! We can all go to Six Flags or something.)

The Goonies is a film that’s great when you’re a kid, and it’s great to watch with your kids. My son has seen it several times and he loves it — it’s a powerful fantasy adventure story that’s a lot of fun to watch over and over. It’s as simple as that.