Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The highly second installment of the archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is entitled Temple of Doom, once again a piece of art from Steven Spielberg and John Williams. Though Williams delivers a somewhat complex and at times difficult piece, it is still hugely enjoyable. But for some reason it can not deliver what Raiders of the Lost Ark did. This because the album is 30 minutes shorter in length then The Lost Ark and 20 minutes then it's follow up The Last Crusade, also because the main theme gets lesser appearances (this is good and bad in some ways) and because this is the weakest album of the three. But still this score has some moments of pure Williams' magic. What The Temple of Doom delivers is state of the art action music. As difficult as it may sound, the craftsmanship and sheer geniality isn't far away. But not every person will like it, that's a fact. I also said that the main theme, the Raiders March isn't much used through the score, which is sad, but that also means that other themes get priority and that Williams doesn't need it all the same.

'Short Round's Theme' is a good example of this but also minor themes are heard like Willie's theme (the women for those who forgot) and the Children's March, which is stunning in every word. That march gets awesome renditions in the tracks 'Slave Children's Crusade' and 'Finale and End Credits'. Other tracks due include some moments that won't be loved by any person, still the effect it brings during the movie is sensational, 'Nocturnal Activities' creates the running around sneaky feeling through the pizzicato way and 'The Temple of Doom' has the complete ritual singing as we can hear during the scene. 'Slalom on Mt. Humol' is impressive through power but sadly is a bit on the short side. All in all, the score is worthy of praise but difficult to get hold off these days, so pick it up if you spot it. I would recommend it especially if you're accustomed with Williams' orchestrations and methods. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is perhaps the weakest score of the three, some moments do still stand as Williams' magical movie music.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom "Expanded DVD Rip"

As said, some albums deserve a larger release, others a shorter then they already have. But Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is one for the larger release, its by the way also an extremely difficult soundtrack to get, since there is a Japanese version you can order for an insane price, even considering its the short release. So inevitably bootlegs began to surface, with 2 CD deals and even with SFX attached to them which makes you wonder if you want to hear that or simply listen to the film version while playing the film. There is another way, a DVD rip namely and then you come to this version here, at times the ending is so fast in its out fading that you notice it, but if this is the only thing wrong with it, then you notice about 20 seconds of material in an otherwise almost free SFX listen. Yes, there are several tracks not included on this version, well noticed readers will see that for instance 'Fortune and Glory' is not included, or various tracks are separated, others attached to tracks, and this and that. Every CD comes with a different version, and so is this one. But lets not spoil the fun shall we, because consider simply that the expanded tracks in film order make also that the original ones already released suddenly take a life of their own when hearing them again. Like 'Fast Streets of Shanghai' suddenly sounds so strong and wonderful with its main theme versions when hearing before that the darker background music (still so effectively glued to its scene in the mind only) with the song version working its magic in 'Diamond Deal / Antidote'? Yes, then the track takes another life, and the fact to hear something still so Williams classic like. Another nice extra is 'Pankot Palace / The Dinner' with its wonderful devious never to return fanfare for the palace itself. Even appearing once, you know it by heart still at the end of the movie or CD. Of course 'Nocturnal Activities' and 'Bug Tunnel & Death Trap' are sounding as ever so cool still after all these years. I begin to wonder if the threatening action motif in the death trap sequence isn't the same theme of the palace, but simply changed in ladders? That's for the musicians out there!

More new stuff is with 'Ceremony', basically restating the moody choral chants of 'Temple of Doom' but then not so effective anymore. But who would think 'Stealing the Stones' would create such an impact on you instead. Here true choral mass starts to give such epic qualities, it reminds yourself immediately back to Raiders of the Lost Ark and its epic qualities. 'Drinking the Blood' then at the end has different Williams like material, hearing here almost Phantom Menace like choral 'Duel of the Fates' notes, but again, simply see the time in between these 2 scores. 'Short Round's Escape / Rescue' is a new unreleased track and mixes the action heroics of Short Round with the more brooding choral hymn of the ceremony (and at times even the music itself which throws from one genre into another due to the mixing and possible brief SFX), again the moments here are worth it, but sadly mixes itself with a brief silence in 'Slave Children's March', while an free flowing experience in the film would have untouched it. 'Underground Chaos' comes after the wonderful march and throws in basically true Williams action music, basically complex and one theme after another. 'The Mine Car Chase' is still wonderful stuff after all this time, but the real treasure (lost) is 'Water & The Bridge', bringing a wonderful suspense by light drums, a final heroic fanfare for the army at the end as the truly sensational choral theme of the children's march, making it superficial to mention it should have been on the original release. True, this version can't offer a complete free flowing experience due to occasional short fade out's, perhaps a not glued together effort in 1 occasion and occasionally a SFX here or there, but you get a whopping 30 minutes of new tracks, of which 10 should be included in the classic repertoire of Williams of which there stands already now 1. So my friend Derrick who made the rip should be commented and not faulted for his actions, because he made of Indiana Jones a better score, and another classic entry in the series.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: ****
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom "Expanded DVD Rip": ****1/2

\도도1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Anything Goes * (2.50)

2. Fast Streets Of Shanghai (3.38)

3. Nocturnal Activities (5.54)

4. Short Round's Theme (2.28) Excellent Track

5. Children In Chains (2.41)

6. Slalom On Mt. Humol (2.22)

7. The Temple Of Doom (2.58)

8. Bug Tunnel And Death Trap (3.29)

9. Slave Children's Crusade (3.23) Excellent Track

10. The Mine Car Chase (3.39)

11. Finale And End Credits (6.18) Excellent Track

* Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter

Correct Order: (1 - 2 - 6 - 4 - 3 - 7 - 5 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11)

Total Length: 40.21

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom "Expanded DVD Rip"

1. Anything Goes * (2.50)

2. Anything Goes Fanfare (0.12)

3. Diamond Deal / Antidote (6.04)

4. Fast Streets of Shanghai (3.39) Excellent Track

5. Slalom On Mt. Humol (2.21)

6. The Trek (2.28) Excellent Track

7. Pankot Palace / The Dinner (1.45)

8. Nocturnal Activities (5.53)

9. Bug Tunnel & Death Trap (3.27)

10. The Temple Of Doom (2.58)

11. Ceremony (2.00)

12. Stealing The Stones (1.54) Excellent Track

13. Children In Chains (2.40)

14. Drinking The Blood (4.02)

15. Short Round's Escape / Rescue (5.11)

16. Slave Children's Crusade (3.22) Excellent Track

17. Underground Chaos (4.36) Excellent Track

18. The Mine Car Chase (3.38)

19. Water & The Bridge (7.34) Excellent Track

20. Parade Of The Slave Children (4.54) Excellent Track

21. Finale & End Credits (6.19) Excellent Track

* Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter

Total Length: 77.57

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===