Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a film about an archaeologist bringing stolen artifacts back to their original owners, and rescuing their children from a cult that practices dark magic. Even though Temple of Doom is a sequel, in the story line it is the prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s surprising because I thought everyone loved this movie. When released the film was very successful with audiences. Yet the reviews were mixed and even Steven Spielberg doesn’t like his film. “I wasn’t happy with the second film at all. It was too dark, too subterranean, and much too horrific. I thought it out-poltered ‘Poltergeist.’ There’s not an ounce of my own personal feeling in ‘Temple of Doom,’ ” Yet so many people have seen and was entertained by this movie. As James Berardinelli recalls, “There are two things I remember about The Temple of Doom during its original theatrical run. Everyone had to see it – it was the must-see theatrical event of the summer – and it was hard to find someone who wasn’t disappointed.” But during my research it seemed like every article had mixed feelings. Christian Toto says it’s “everything a good popcorn should be” then a few paragraphs later says Spielberg was right about the movie being too dark. Same thing with Kathleen Carroll. “The movie becomes a little too grim and overly realistic at this point. This latest crackerjack imitation of the old-fashioned Hollywood serials runs out of steam….All in all, Spielberg has come up with another rousing piece of entertainment.” Watching it now I would have to agree. It is exciting and adventurous, but some scenes were over the line. The scene where Indy and the gang are watching the sacrificial ritual was too much for me. Also watching young children abused and held in slavery was an extreme I didn’t think would be in a movie considered a blockbuster.

That being said the sets are amazing. Spielberg was able to create diverse action because they had the budget after the first Indiana Jones. While miniatures were used for many of the sequences they built their own life sized, usable mine train that went around the entire sound stage. It’s like trying to shoot a “roller coaster ride.” Another ingenious trick to make the mine cart track more realistic was to change the lighting. So instead of building more track and using more of the budget they used technology to give the impression of a longer track. They had the money to film on location, just not the one they wanted. Most of the scenes were recorded in Sri Lanka and London because the Indian government took offense to the film’s portrayal of their culture. Nearby was the Victoria Damn in Kandy, Sri Lanka and the crew was able to hire engineers working there to create the infamous bridge fight scene which is the climax of the film. I watched this movie as a child so seeing it again as an adult I have to agree with the mixed reviews. Even though this film is a blockbuster it shows the dangerous reality of the pursuit of power.