Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Is Complicated but Classic (2024)

Before the fourth and fifth film in the Indiana Jones series, fans mostly agreed on which movie was the worst. Yet Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has a complicated legacy that goes beyond fan opinion. It's the most important chapter as far as defining who Indiana Jones is and what makes him a hero. However, in trying to capture the sensibilities of the old Republic serials that inspired the character, the film veers into deeply problematic territory.

The Temple of Doom is a prequel and chronologically Indy's earliest adventure (the opening to The Last Crusade and The Young Indiana Jones Adventures notwithstanding). George Lucas and Steven Spielberg set the story earlier in time and half a world away from the nascent Third Reich -- also ensuring Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood can't return. Christian mysticism is replaced in the story by a fantastical interpretation of the Thuggee cult, who believe in violent devotion to the Hindu Goddess Kali. The film is darker and scarier than its predecessor Raiders of the Lost Ark, which helped Temple of Doom create the PG-13 rating. But with then-groundbreaking visual effects and Harrison Ford at his best, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom became a massive box office hit, and continues to have a lot going for it.

The Controversy Around Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Can't Be Denied

While Some Complaints Are Overblown, Others Are Still Important

The Temple of Doom was banned in India when it was released in 1984, and a protest in Seattle decried the film's depiction of the nation and its people. There is no denying some parts of The Temple of Doom are racist, though likely unintentionally. The most enduring problem with the narrative is how it's plainly a "white savior" story. Indy and Marian's replacement, Willie Scott (played by Kate Capshaw), bumble their way into a community stricken by famine and poverty. In fact, Indy, Willie and Ke Huy Quan's character Short Round are saved by colonial British forces.

The movies that inspired Indiana Jones were rife with racism and exoticism, and for some viewers The Temple of Doom is as well. Most famously, the dinner scene at the Maharaja's Palace invents disgusting dishes, presented as traditional Indian cuisine. However, it's quite clear that Spielberg, Lucas and others are attempting satire. Earlier in the film, the villagers offer Indy and Willie food, which the latter refuses. Indy comments about their generosity and how Willie is "insulting them and embarrassing" him. The butts of the joke in that scene are Willie and Short Round, whose Western approach to "food disgust" prevent them from eating. The subtext is lost on the audience, at least according to actor Roshan Seth in an interview with Empire:

The banquet scene was a joke that went wrong. I got a great deal of flak for it because people kept saying, "How does an intelligent man like you agree to be in a film which shows Indians dining on beetles and eels?" Steven intended it as a joke, the joke being that Indians were so f*cking smart that they knew all Westerners think that Indians eat co*ckroaches, so they served them what they expected. The joke was too subtle for that film.

The "white savior" complaint rings true, but this appears to be done because of the approach the movie takes towards Indy's state of mind. It's unlikely that Spielberg, Lucas or screenwriters Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz meant to denigrate the Indian people or their culture. In trying to tell the story of what changed Indiana Jones from a greedy grave-robber to a heroic figure, the film perpetuates some of the worst racist tropes in 20th century cinema. It's a regrettable part of The Temple of Doom's legacy, but it's not the only part of it. Understanding what the filmmakers got wrong doesn't preclude audiences from celebrating what the movie gets right.

How Indiana Jones Becomes a Hero in Temple of Doom

The Theme of Fortune and Glory Is a Commentary on Cultural Theft

Unlike in the other films, Temple of Doom's version of Indiana Jones doesn't care what does or doesn't belong in a museum. All he wants is to find some lost artifact that will bring him "fortune and glory." The film opens with such a job -- which has gone horribly awry. In that first scene, Indy threatens Willie, who's ostensibly an innocent bystander. The Shankara Stones are an important historical find, and one that would likely earn a substantial fee from the British Museum. Indy finds the stones, has them in his possession and could leave the Kali temple unmolested.

But as he walks away, he hears the sound of children taken from the village. Short Round wakes him from the Black Sleep of Kali -- again affording him an opportunity to escape with the stones. Yet he goes back to free the children in a purely selfless act that's one of the original Indiana Jones trilogy's highlights. White savior trope aside, it's a powerful moment in Indy's development as a character. He could escape and tell the British what he's seen, trusting them to break up the operation. Instead, Indy, Willie and Short Round risk their lives to save the kids.

Beyond that, what makes Indy truly a hero in Temple of Doom is that he returns the last Shankara Stone to the village. When he does, the village is green and thriving again. In the film it's because of the "magic" of the stone; the implication of this scene, however, is that robbing a culture of physical connections to their history harms its people profoundly.

Why Short Round Is Important to Indiana Jones's Character

Ke Huy Quan's Hero Is the Best Part of Temple of Doom

The best addition Temple of Doom makes to Indiana Jones canon is the character of Short Round, played by Ke Huy Quan. While every kid wants to be Indy, Short Round allows them to see themselves in his world. He is a mostly fearless kid, and he's as capable as anyone in the films. From driving the getaway car away from the interestingly titled Club Obi-Wan to whooping the Maharaja's behind in the third act, Short Round is every bit the hero Indy is.

Short Round is the one who saves Indiana Jones from the Black Sleep, burning him with a torch after professing what all the fans feel: "I love you, Indy!" The character's presence also foreshadows the person that Indy will become by the end of Temple of Doom. Indy is trafficking in archaeological artifacts for criminals. Yet he meets this kid all on his own, and instead of just leaving him -- or worse, using him -- Indy brings him along.

While not the best parental figure in cinema, Indy takes care of the young man. While it’s a shame Quan never returned for a future film, perhaps it’s because after this, Indiana Jones found Short Round a safe, normal home with a family who loves and cares for him. He's a great character on his own and also perfectly paired with Willie. Both provide comic relief, and both prove crucial to the whole group getting out of the movie alive.

The Temple of Doom Is Still a Classic Adventure Movie

With Proper Context, This Indiana Jones Adventure Gets More Right Than Wrong

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a visual effects spectacle. There's the gruesome gag of Mola Ram pulling out a beating heart. Then there is the impressive mine cart chase (a recycled sequence dumped from Raiders of the Lost Ark). Indy, Willie and Short Round on the cliffside as water pours out of the cave is a difficult shot. Mola Ram and his goons getting eaten by alligators is surprisingly effective. And one will never forget the heroes -- and therefore the actors -- having to deal with hundreds of insects as they make their way into Mola Ram's temple.

Those effects are just one of the many reasons to appreciate this Indiana Jones movie. While there are numerous problematic tropes Temple of Doom does more well than it does badly. The characters are richly developed and ultimately pure of heart. The film's climax underscores the importance of returning cultural artifacts to the people they belong to. Most importantly, Indy learns there are many things in life more important than fortune and glory.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is available to own on DVD, Blu-ray and digital, and streams on Disney+ and Paramount+.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

PG

Action

7

10

In 1935, Indiana Jones is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a rock stolen from them by a secret cult beneath the catacombs of an ancient palace.

Director

Steven Spielberg

Release Date

May 8, 1984

Cast

Harrison Ford , Kate Capshaw , Ke Huy Quan , Amrish Puri , Roshan Seth , Philip Stone , Roy Chiao , Ric Young

Writers

Willard Huyck , Gloria Katz , George Lucas

Runtime

1 hour 58 minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

Production Company

Paramount Pictures, Lucasfilm

Pros

• Short Round is one of the best characters in all the Indiana Jones films.
• Indiana Jones goes on a true "hero's journey" on his quest for fortune and glory.
• Temple of Doom is a visual effects masterpiece that holds up today.

Cons

• The film tries to satirize racist tropes and ends up falling victim to them.
• The Temple of Doom is unquestionably a "white savior" narrative.
• British colonialists are treated as heroic.