Acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino reveals why Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is his favorite film in the franchise.
Quentin Tarantino revealed why Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is his favorite Indiana Jones movie. Since bursting onto the movie scene in 1992 with reservoir dogs, Tarantino has made a name for himself not only as a talented director, but also as someone who has a deep and passionate love for cinema, and he doesn’t hide his feelings about particular films. The director recently launched a podcast with screenwriter Roger Avery titled The Video Archive Podcastwhere the two share their opinions on the films that were in the inventory of the video store where they worked and first met.
Tarantino has been shown to surprise people when it comes to his favorites, like how his favorite movies from 2013 included The Lone Ranger. Tarantino recently revealed that his least favorite movie in the franchise isn’t Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but in fact Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In true Tarantino fashion, his favorite Indiana Jones movie isn’t the traditional answer, nor is his least favorite.
During an appearance on the ReelBlend podcast, via FilmmakerTarantino has revealed his favorite Indiana Jones movie isn’t The Raiders of the Lost Ark but instead the follow-up movie, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which was a prequel. Tarantino said cursed temple is not only his favorite Indiana Jones movie but also his favorite Spielberg movie behind only Jaws. Tarantino cited the film’s role in creating the PG-13 rating as why he liked it and noted that Spielberg made such a violent film that the MPAA had to do a new rating, which Brian DePalma couldn’t even do. not accomplish. Tarantino said:
“My favorite Spielberg movie – with Jaws sculpted on his own Mount Rushmore, okay? – is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom….[it] push the limits and create PG-13! The movie was so badass it created a new MPAA rating, something Brian De Palma was never able to pull off as much as he tried!”
Spielberg was instrumental in creating the PG-13 rating, as he was both cursed temple and Gremlins (which Spielberg produced) which were criticized for the level of violence and gore but still received PG ratings. Spielberg suggested a rating between PG and R which resulted in the creation of PG-13. The first film to receive a PG-13 rating dates back to 1985 Red Dawn, directed by Spielberg’s friend and colleague, John Milius. Now history is repeating itself as many have criticized the awarding of a PG-13 rating to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which some have deemed too scary for children.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a film that divides Indiana Jones fans and its creators. Although Spielberg met his future wife Kate Capshaw in the photo, he said he didn’t like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Indiana Jones 5 is slated for a theatrical release on June 30, 2023, and is expected to be Harrison Ford’s final film in the series with director James Mangold at the helm. It will be interesting to see where this film falls in Tarantino’s Indiana Jones rankings.
Source: Filmmaker
