40 Years Since its Release, ‘Temple of Doom' is Still Underrated

An Esquire piece, titled “Steven Spielberg Once Disowned The Temple of Doom. It's Better Than He Thinks,” celebrates the 40th anniversary of the underrated ‘Temple of Doom’ and tries to reassess its positive imprint in film history, despite Spielberg’s reservations.

Quentin Tarantino would be happy to read this. A few years ago he proclaimed his love for ‘Temple of Doom’ on the Reel Blend podcast with his Cinema Archives buddy, Roger Avary:

Because... [Spielberg] was full of piss and gauge, alright, on the case of back-to-back 'Jaws' and 'Close Encounters,' now he figures he could do no wrong, pushes the envelope, creates PG-13! The movie is so f****** badass, it created a new level in the MPAA! Something Brian De Palma's never been able to do as much as he's tried!

It was at Spielberg’s suggestion that the MPAA introduce the PG-13 rating in 1984. For good reason, ‘Temple of Doom’ is one unhinged and insane movie. The heart removal scene alone would have all but guaranteed the film an R-rating if it were released today.

Spielberg hasn't been shy about his initial disappointment with "Temple of Doom.” The filmmaker told the Sun-Sentinel, back in 1989, “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.”

‘Temple; of Doom’ is the only one of the four films after "Raiders" that feels like its own movie. What makes it such as indelible experience to this day is its fearless nature, and how it refuses to replicate its predecessor. It subverted fans’ expectations — opting for a gloomy, relentless tone.

Indy movies lessened in quality after ‘Temple.’ "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is pretty much perfection, one of the best action films of the 1980s. "Temple of Doom" is closest to the pulpy style of the serials that inspired Spielberg to make ‘Raiders’ in the first place. "The Last Crusade" is too lighthearted. ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ was a watchable attempt at reinvigorating Indiana Jones for the 21st century. Finally, last year’s ‘Dial of Destiny’ felt like a hybrid rehash of all of them, except for ‘Temple.’