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| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Special Edition) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Kate Capshaw, Roy Chiao, Stany De Silva, Lorraine Doyle, Harrison Ford
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.98
Buy New: $7.43
You Save: $19.55 (72%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $5.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  (144 reviews)
Sales Rank: 10113
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 118 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 132834
UPC: 097361328348
EAN: 0097361328348
ASIN: B0014Z4ON4
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: May 23, 1984
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Soon...Kali Ma will rule the World.... May 26, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The second instalment of the original 80's Indiana Jones trilogy returns with much of the bang an whollop of it's predecessor, "Raiders of the Lost Ark". The superb opening, a musical number "Anything Goes" in the Shanghi club Obi-Wan is a great way to roll the opening credits and it leads into a spectacular set-piece, involving Chinese gang lords, a ditzy 30's night club dancer (Kate Capshaw) and some valuable ancestral 'treasure'.
All this sets us up for a thrilling ride that sees Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) make his way to India, with two tag along helpers, his whip and trusty fedora to aid a village who has suffered at the hands of an infamous cult, bent on mining the area for the sacred and powerful Shankara stones.
Along the way, there are numerous dangers the protagonists must face (none of which I'll reveal here!), in a series of wonderful action packed set-pieces.
I must say though, I'm at a loss as to why people count this as the worst film in the original Indy trilogy. While it certainly is not as good as the incredible "Raiders of the Lost Ark", it's absolutely light years ahead of the incredibly stupid and tired "Last Crusade".
This film does do away with some of the more light hearted moments from "Raiders" and the jaw-droppingly stupid attempts at humour in "Last Crusade" and is certainly a darker film, but to me that's a good thing. There's nothing wrong with a little injection of seriousness into a rip-roaring adventure movie. In fact, as I age, I appreciate the film more and more, while subsequently feeling more and more distance from the third film in the series.
Apart from the abandonment of over the top stupid humour, gone also are the nazi badguys from "Raiders" to be replaced by the Thuggee cult. A fictitious version of an actual 18th / 19th Century Indian cult, also called Thuggee, who practiced robbery and murder of travellers during the Raj.
The Thuggees here, of course, are as about as realistic as the portrayal of the Germans in "Raiders" and "Last Crusade" or the Russians in "Crystal Skull" and serve only as a foil for Jones. But they do it well and their leader "Mola Ram" is menacingly played by Amrish Lal Puri and is the best of the Indy bad guys.
I understand that some people may not like the darker tone of the piece, but there's nothing here that is "disturbing" or "horrific" as some people have suggested, in fact, I'd say the ending of "Raiders" is far more "disturbing" than anything on show in "Temple of Doom". In anyway I find it remarkable that anyone (adult or child) could be "disturbed" by an Indiana Jones movie. I first saw this when I was 10 and loved every second of it.
"Indiana Jones" is a fitting sequel to the brilliant "Raiders of the Lost Ark", it retains the fantastic set pieces, violence, magic, incredible stunts, wit and charm that the first movie had, with some good performances from the people concerned and adds a few new things into the mix as well.
Unmissable for fans of the first film and for fans of cinema in general.
 I can't understand why people think this one is the worst... May 25, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Temple of Doom in many ways is the BEST Indiana Jones film for several reasons. It's nonstop fun and action like the others, but the fictional Thugee villains are a better alternative to the Nazis (who are also reprised pedantically in the Last Crusade) - people affected by Nazi Germany in real life may have a hard time sitting through films that feature them - though negatively and ultimately foiled. Mola Ram is the darkest, most powerful villain of all three films, and the concept of the stones is total fiction, which allows for believable and limitless possibilties in storytelling. The Ark and the Grail, though taken from real life religions, are still fictitious artifacts (Religious people can argue until they're blue in the face) but there must be care in Hollywood handling people's hallowed beliefs, as not to offend. You don't have that handicap with a fictitous Indian Cult. Also, Indy is not acting in his own interest for fame and fortune, but is helping a poor village and saving hundreds of children. That's Superman with a fedora and a whip. Plus, TOD has the best bugs, the best sets, and the bridge scene!!! C'mon!!! The chemistry between Indy and Shorty is great, and Willy wasn't a love interest at all, more of a female sidekick with a hint of romance, but she was never written as a replacement for Marion. Temple of Doom is better than you think. Watch it again. Soon, Kali Ma will rule the world!!!
my favorite of the jones's May 24, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I liked this more than the other ones, i think it was because when I saw this as a kid it scared the hell outta me, but I couldn't stop watching it for some reason. It's just a good movie.
 not my favorite, but still worth watching May 24, 2008
A must have, to complete the triple set. The story line is interesting but seams to get lost as the movie progresses, seams as though the special effects become overkill. This is one of my least liked of the Indian Jones set, but still worth watching. I still don't get why these are not made for 16x9 wide screen TV's. So people be aware, "enhanced for wide screen TVs" does not mean you get to watch a full picture on your wide screen TVs.
 Horrible transfer; not a very good movie either. May 21, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
FIrst of all, this is one of the worst looking Standard-Def DVDs I've watched on my player recently. Admittedly I've gotten used to Blu-Rays, but I also watch many newer standard-def discs and this Temple of Doom "reissue" looks like a laserdisc by comparison. The silly comic book and beautiful packaging can't disguise the fact that this is yet another disingenuous Lucasfilm offering. The documentaries are cheesy -- for a much better example of lovingly produced shorts check out Peter Jackson's King Kong 3-disc set.
In the new introduction, Spielberg pretty much admits that he didn't want to make the film and that it was Lucas's game. Temple of Doom has the same screenwriters as Howard the Duck and it shows. Personally, I think Spielberg dodged a bullet and narrowly escaped Temple of Doom turning into one of the great all-time turkeys. It is a laughably prepubescent take on action films, not to mention hinduism and India. Yet it's just not very fun either, as one suffers through the almost stupefyingly grating antics of Willy & Short Round. Harrison Ford even acts short-tempered and cranky through much of the film.
I give Temple of Doom credit for having been shot in Asia and it certainly does not disappoint as megabudget Hollywood eye candy. But this has to be considered a colossal misstep; Lucas and Spielberg were absolutely on top of the world in 1983-84 and this Indiana jones sequel is about the lamest product one can imagine them creating.
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