Aug 11, 2004 06:02 PM
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(Updated Aug 12, 2004 02:15 PM)
?Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom? is second in Indiana Jones trilogy. The series is about an archeologist, Indiana Jones, and his quest for ancient relics. Twenty years ago, Steven Spielberg brought George Lucas? story live in a grand way on the silver screen. Soon after it?s release, the movie became a top grosser on box office.
The archeologist teaches in a university when he is not fighting off the Tribals/Nazis/Creepy insects and reptiles in order to get away with an object of historical importance.
~:o:~The Story~:o:~
All Indiana Jones movies start with a thrilling chase. This time the opening scene of the movie is set in a nightclub at Shanghai, where Indiana Jones is dealing with Chinese Gangsters who try to poison him. After few minutes of bullet firing and chaos at club, he manages to get an antidote from them and gets the dancer Willie and a street urchin(Short Round) as a bonus, while running away. The trio land up in a remote Indian after a plane crash on The Himalayas. The village wears a very gloomy look. The children of the village have been taken away by the dark forces, after the religious stone of Lord Shiva is stolen from the village.
According to a legend, there were three stones of Shiva, which when brought together will make the owner very powerful. The villagers request Indiana Jones to help them. Indiana Jones and his friends reach the Palace of Pankot to talk to wicked Maharajah and get the matter resolved. On his arrival, he is greeted by mysterious Prime minister played by Roshan Seth and maharajah turns out to be a young boy in early teens. After dinner festivities, the curious Dr. Jones accidentally witnesses a man being sacrificed for Goddess Kaali on an altar right under the palace. And then begins the exciting chase in the labyrinths of an underground world.
Does Dr. Jones come out alive from that place?
What was that secret cult?
Who was the mysterious Prime minister?
How did an innocent boy turn into a wicked maharajah?
Does Indiana succeed in finding the children?
Does he get the religious stone?
To know answers to these questions, watch ?Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom?. (Did I sound like ?Jan-ne ke liye phir milenge Hum log? :o) )
~:o:~My views~:o:~
The movie as a whole is very thrilling. The mine-cart chase is very well executed. The action sequences will keep you on edge of your seats. Dr. Jones is so obsessed with his hat that in a particular scene, when the door was about to close, he risked his life just to get back his hat from the other side of the door. Almost in all three movies, this was repeated with a little difference in the settings.
Harrison ford is a perfect choice for Indiana Jones. His crooked smile adds a classic touch to the character.
Short round, the kid, was a comic relief.
Willie had a typical bollywoodish role. She plays love interest of Dr. Jones and manages to get herself captured at a crucial moment.
Roshan Seth has a small role. Amrish Puri looks scary as the priest, but fails to impress.
The plot was not interesting if compared with the other two Indiana Jones movies. Major plus points of the movie are the action sequences. The movie won an Oscar for Best Special effects.
One thing I strongly disapproved was the gross depiction of cuisine at Maharajah?s palace. India is not full of people with revolting eating habits, even way back in 1935. May be the idea was to add a hint of evil. But still I hated it.
~:o:~Facts~:o:~
It took one whole year for Lucas to pen the story of this adventure of Indiana Jones
The major part of the movie was shot in Sri Lanka.
The rope bridge was constructed in Kandy, Sri Lanka, especially for this movie.
The box office collections declared ?Temple of Doom? as one of the top 10 movies of the decade.
~:o:~Cast and Crew~:o:~
Dr. Jones:Harrison Ford
Willie:Kate Capshaw
The Priest:Amrish Puri
Prime Minister:Roshan Seth
Director:Steven Spielberg
Executive Producer:George Lucas
Writers:George Lucas, Willard Huck and Gloria Katz
