Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Turns 30

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom turns 30 years old this weekend. Some movie houses in larger cities are commemorating the release of the film by showing it all Memorial Day Weekend. Temple of Doom is both compelling and repelling, and accomplishment in its own right. The movie is dark, conceived at a time when both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were going through divorces which may have played into the sometimes frightening tone of the film. Spielberg later apologized for some of the aspects of of the film which led to the category of PG-13 being created. Child slavery isn't a very popular topic and TOD displays the oppression in spades. Critics pretty much wrote scathing reviews of the movie because the subject matter is sometimes hard to watch let alone enjoy.

But other than the seemingly non-stop Kate Capshaw screaming which gets on my nerves, I kind of like the film. It is daring and definitely brings a counterpoint to the comic book hero stylings of Indiana Jones. Sometimes going against the grain isn't always a bad thing.

American Graffiti: More Interesting Than Entertaining

I watch George Lucas's American Graffiti about once a decade. Yesterday was the day. Considered an American classic film, I found it to be more of an interesting film than an entertaining movie as the stories of high schooler's lives about to be forever changed interweave over the course of one night. The non-stop vintage rock and roll soundtrack provides a backdrop. The film meanders giving bits and pieces in seemingly random order. The performances are a mixed bag with some being stronger than others. As intended, the film seem almost a documentary rather than a movie that builds to a pointed conclusion.

Of course, the surprise success of the low budget American Graffiti gave George Lucas the means to go on and make Star Wars and from there, the rest is history as they say. My conclusion is that I have liked previous viewings of American Graffiti more than what I saw yesterday for which I felt like I was getting an exercise in film making rather than an entertaining movie. Maybe next decade, that opinion will change again.

Watching Indiana Jones The Night Indy Comes Home

You can pick the reason why but on the night before we are to pick up our new puppy "Indy", I decided to watch Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Indiana Jones has nothing to do with puppies I don't think.

Puppies don't have anything to to with Indiana Jones but for some strange reason, the circle fits. Our new little puppy is named "Indy" after Indiana Jones. A great movie (which I have seen at least 20 times). And a great new dog. Tonight, couldn't get any better.

A Golden Retriever puppy just like Indy

The Star Wars Bar Scene - A Flight Into Sillines

There is no doubt, the original Star Wars movie (Episode IV - A New Hope) is one of the great movies ever, a classic in every sense of the word, and a model of clear concise storytelling. Add to it the special effects created for the movie, long before the digital age, and you have got a movie experience that is really something special. Granted, the acting leaves something to be desired in places except the craft masters of Alec Guiness and James Earl Jones but it doesn't detract from a great movie that I sat and watched yesterday for probably the tenth time.

But each and every time, one scene bothers me, and bothers me, and bothers me some more. It's that bar scene when our heroes first encounter Han Solo. This scene, with its gazillion weird characters, each one more garish than the next, accompanied by some really hokey music seems like an exercise for George Lucas's ego and when it comes down to it, just plain silly. It isn't dramatic, it doesn't add a whole lot to the story, but in the end, just seems like about 5 minutes of just plain non-sense. Weird looking characters do not necessarily make good characters. The bar scene screams with George Lucas saying "look at what I can create that you people have never seen before." I got news for you George. I didn't want to see it 40 years ago and still don't want to see it now. The encounter with Han Solo and Chewbacca could been handled so much better and far more compelling.

Yep, as an admirer of the original Star Wars, that bar scene does everything possible to sabotage a great movie. Luckily it's short enough and I can create my own intermission by going out and raiding the refrigerator while its playing.

Within the last week, Lucasfilm (now Disney) released still another package of Star Wars movies in blu-ray. I'm not sure of the latest count but this may be the fourth or fifth package that's been made available just for blu-ray.. I guess they'll keep trying until everyone has one. And once again, individual movies are not available. You either buy Episodes I - III (which are a tough watch for a number of reasons) or the original Episodes IV -VI. Given a choice I would only by Episode IV and V - the original Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. These are the only two great Star Wars movies though if you wanted some questions answered, you do have to buy Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. You just have to but up with annoying scene stealing Ewoks.

So I think a little later today, I'll go over and buy the last package Star Wars IV - VI. I'd feel much better about it if I didn't think I was being strong armed into buy a movie I really didn't like simply because it's part of the package (see Indian Jones - they did the same thing with that one).

Barney Stinson's Ewok Line

Over the years it has been hard for me to put into words that while I have held Star Wars Episode IV, V, and a part of VI in such high regard, I sluff of with disdain the other part of episode VI and the first three prequel episodes. What George Lucas has done with the Star Wars franchise simce "Luke, I am your father" is a sad case of epic movie making gone very, very wrong. And it all starts with Ewoks.

But leave to the character of Barney Stinson, masterfully portrayed by Neil Patrck Harris, on How I Met Your Mother to eloquently, concisely, and graphically explain how Star Wars got derailed with his Ewok Line presentation. It makes complete sense

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Temple of Doom: How Bad Was Kate Capshaw?

So here's the question of the day in the midst of today's Indiana Jones Labor Day Marathon. Is Kate Capshaw's ear splitting shrieking performance in Indiana Jobs and the Temple of Doom the worst female acting job in movie history? Well, I'm not expert on these things but in my book (or blog as the case may be) it is definitely in the top 3 worst performances. 

Through some subsequent reporting we've come to learn that both Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were in various stages of getting a divorce from their wives during the filming of Temple of Doom. And we know Spielberg was smitten enough to eventually marry Capshaw, but really... how can the two cinematic geniuses sit through a showing of this movie without shaking their heads. Temple of Doom wasn't a complete failure of a movie but Capshaw did her best to do her worst and take it down a few notches.