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With: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan (Jonathan Ke Quan), Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone, Roy Chiao, David Yip, Ric Young, Chua Kah Joo, Rex Ngui, Philip Tan, Dan Aykroyd
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Written by: Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz, based on a story by George Lucas
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Directed by: Steven Spielberg
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MPAA Rating: PG
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Language: English
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Running Time: 118
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Date: 05/22/1984
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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
We Can Be Heroes
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) is more lighthearted and fun than its predecessor Raiders of the Lost Ark; it even begins with a musical number ("Anything Goes"). It's still thrilling, but the thrills come at the expense of the quiet moments on one end, and darkness on the other. In this movie, darkness is reserved for its silly villain, Mola Ram, who hypnotizes Indy (his own darkness is gone; it now has to be induced by others). The "quiet" moments are replaced in this movie by Indy bickering with his new girlfriend Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and taking care of a cunning little kid named Short Round (Ke Huy Quan).
Even the plot, about finding some magic rocks and rescuing some kidnapped children, is somewhat lacking. The mystery and expectation are gone. The writing and dialogue this time around were by Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck, of Howard the Duck (1985) fame. But moments like the collapsing bridge, the mine cart ride, and the cave full of bugs are as thrilling -- or more so -- than anything in the first movie. It's very much worth seeing.
[See also: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981),
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989),
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).]
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