Quentin Tarantino is known for his bold takes, but you may not be prepared for his views on theIndiana Jonesmovies. Tarantino became one of the defining filmmaking voices of the 1990s with his subversive and original movies,likePulp FictionandReservoir Dogs,building on established genre elements but exploring new storytelling techniques.
Tarantino’s approach largely comes from the fact that he is a student of cinema,with a wide knowledge of movies of all types. As such, he has developed a unique taste in movies that sometimes differs from general opinions. This has includedTarantino praisingJoker: Folie à Deuxdespite the negative critical reception.
Of course, he also doesn’t hold back in being critical of perceived classics, including hisdislike of Alfred Hitchcock’sNorth by Northwest. However,when it comes to one of the beloved movie franchises of all time, Tarantino’s opinions on the best and worst entries are certainly not shared by everyone.
Tarantino Calls Temple Of Doom The Best Indiana Jones Movie
WhiletheIndiana Jonesmovie seriesis often viewed as a franchise that peaked with the first outing, Quentin Tarantino actually prefers Indy’s second, more controversial adventure. On theReel Blendpodcast, Tarantino dropped his bold opinions on the movies, namingIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomas the best of the franchise.
He also suggested it has the best opening sequence of all theIndiana Jonesmovies, sayingRaiders of the Lost Ark’s first scenecomes down to the iconic boulder moment and not much else. However,Tarantino’s real admiration forTemple of Doomcomes from director Steven Spielberg taking real chances:
[Spielberg] was full of p*** and gauge, alright, on the case of back-to-back Jaws and Close Encounters, now he figures he could do no wrong, pushes the envelope, creates PG-13! The movie is so f****** bada**, it created a new level in the MPAA! Something Brian De Palma’s never been able to do as much as he’s tried!
Indeed,Temple of Doomwas a much darker and more violent movie, which pushed the boundaries of the PG rating. It also caused considerable controversy for its depiction of India. While it is seen as a solid sequel, few fans consider it the best of the franchise.
Whileit is difficult to argue that any of theIndiana Jonesmovies topRaiders of the Lost Ark,Tarantino does have a point withTemple of Doom. It is the movie in the series that really stands out as Spielberg pushing the envelope and being a little dangerous, even if it doesn’t always work.
It is also true that the opening nightclub sequence ofTemple of Doomis a fantastic set piece, featuring a song and dance element as a sign of Spielberg’s ambitious approach.
Tarantino Called The Last Crusade “Boring” And Liked Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull More
Even more surprising than Tarantino’s favoriteIndiana Jonesmovie are the sequels that he dislikes the most. While Tarantino’s appearance on the Reel Blend podcast was before the release of thefinalIndiana Jonesadventure,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,among the Spielberg-directed movies,Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadeis his least favorite:
That’s such a boring one. It’s boring! And [Sean Connery as Henry Jones Sr. is] not an interesting character. The joke is made immediately. It’s like “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.”
Tarantino admits that he prefers the much-malignedIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkulltoThe Last Crusade. Considering why he likesTemple of Doomso much, it is not surprising that he doesn’t have much love for the safer third movie, which leans into what worked with the original.
However, even with the jokey nature ofSean Connery’s Henry Jones Sr.and the familiar plot,The Last Crusadedelivers some more terrific set pieces that are far superior to the overblown CGI antics ofKingdom of the Crystal Skull. Regardless, Tarantino’s views highlight how theIndiana Jonesfranchise has remained so popular for so many decades.
