13 minutes, 47 seconds

13 minutes, 47 seconds

Apr 21

That’s about when the Raiders of the Lost Ark march first soars, in the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

I noticed it because I’ve been thinking that what precedes it ranks among the best things both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have EVER done.

I don’t know that there’s a more note-perfect, clever, intricately paced action sequence, anywhere, in any other movie. The only competition would probably be something from the Star Wars films, or another Spielberg production–they are, after all, the masters.

We are jaded, hateful geeks, and so it is easy to snark upon both of these men, who many say (including me) have stumbled well past their prime. (Lucas, moreso than Spielberg, IMHO.)

And yet, there was a time when they could craft exquisite gems out of an old showtune in Mandarin Chinese, a tiny vial of green liquid, and a big rolling gong.

Leave a Reply