Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
John Williams
" oh you holy grail of Indiana Jones music, welcome! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the collector's edition
When the complete box of Indiana Jones was announced to the mass populas, no other score was anticipated more than Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It was impossible to understand how the best of Williams' Indiana Jones scores received the least airtime on CD. The mere absent themes that dominate the heart of the story were missing and the ruckus of the final fight wasn't even included at all. Now all this is restored in the sound quality we like to hear it, in the presentation we want to discover it. Welcome to the best Indiana Jones has to offer.
As we open with menacing tones, we embrace what I think is the most satisfying opening of all the Indiana Jones scores. Namely the singing of Kate Capshaw, working perfectly around the rousing opening, jumpstarting this score soon in "Anything Goes". That sprightly nature vanishes during "Indy Negotiates" (a typical Williams cue full of clever mystery, eerie strings, sombre tones and building brass). That all receives a thundering comical delight during the unreleased "The Nightclub Brawl" and the already released and serious "Fast Streets of Shanghai". The sad fact these tracks aren't mixed together is a bit of a hindrance, yet a quibble as well.
After the appearance of Short Round's theme and the Indiana Jones theme in "Fast Streets of Shanghai", we receive Willie's theme during "Map / Out of Fuel" and the absolutely riveting delight of "Slalom on Mt. Humol". The concert version of Short Round's theme (including the first appearance of the stones theme) is heard during the appropriately named track. The fact track 5 should have been mixed together to track 6 is now more of an issue here, considering it hinders the flow and the pace of the action inappropriately.
Another bonus track I was greatly disappointed at when it didn't surface on the original score was the menacing theme for Pankot Palace. But wheap no more considering it menaces aplenty in "The Scroll / To Pankot Palace". The harpsichord toying was always one of Williams' best creations during "Nocturnal Activities" (one of the most effective cues ever written I think) while "Bug Tunnel / Death Trap" is dangerous and exciting at the same time (it is also so close to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at times).
To count the omitted cues that are now added to this deluxe edition is half the album so to speak off. And another gigantic treasure to this list is "Approaching the Stones" where Williams builds to another glorious choral finale. The children's crusade march is first noticed during a dramatic conclusion in "Children in Chains", the hypnotizing singing during "The Temple of Doom" is well known, the appearance of Short Round's and the Children's March during "Short Round's Escape" captivating.
Again the mere tying together of "Saving Willie" and "Slave Children's March" could have given us another riveting experience. But both work together well when we hear the action music and rescue of Willie's, the main theme and Short Round's theme alongside the concert version of the children's march. We must admit this is not the right way to present this, but luckily the quality of the music takes you back directly to what's most important of all. Namely the classic quality of Williams' themes.
The unreleased adventurous rousing help of "Short Round Helps", the effective relentless "The Mine Car Chase", "Water!" and "The Sword Trick", they are all insanely rousing tracks that razzle dazzle you with sheer delight. And the best is yet to come. "The Broken Bridge / British Relief" has the wonderful fact that we discover another sub theme (this for the British intervention). But what's most important to remember is the fact John Williams wrote perhaps his most crowning achievement yet. The stones theme now receives an absolutely thundering choral version that will blow you away, and it is by far the most mesmerizing moment of the disc. Again this was omitted from the original album and one must only wonder why.
Of course the "End Credits" track needs no introduction although I rather wished they gave us the version that's used in the movie (and discovered on the bonus disc of this entire box). Again this is but a ripple in an entire pond but it shows that good will doesn't produce the most promising results. A fan will know what's wrong with the box and albums. Of course this is nerd's talk but it will be the nerds that will buy this in the first place, and not the mere casual buyers.
The abundance of themes and motifs in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is what five albums today can't even master. The detail, the effectiveness and the colour gives you the experience of the movie just through mere music. The astounding power of the action tracks as the most important blow out of all (the stones choral theme during the bridge sequence) makes it sound even better. It is a pure mystery why it took so long to see the expanded releases of such classic scores. But now it has finally happened and the minor (but important) quibbles of tracks separated and not mixed together doesn't take down the mere fact Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is by far the most explosive, brilliant and most effective Indiana Jones score of the entire quartet. It is what I miss the most of today's music. A sub motif here is even recognizable after a week while a main theme of today's album is even lost after a single hour. Welcome to classic Williams in his biggest Indiana Jones adventure of all.
Tracklisting
1. Anything Goes (2.48)
2. Indy Negotiates (3.58)
3. The Nightclub Brawl (2.30)
4. Fast Streets of Shanghai (3.39) Excellent track
5. Map / Out of Fuel (3.21) Excellent track
6. Slalom on Mt. Humol (2.23) Excellent track
7. Short Round's Theme (2.28) Excellent track
8. The Scroll / To Pankot Palace (4.24) Excellent track
9. Nocturnal Activities (5.53) Excellent track
10. Bug Tunnel / Death Trap (3.28)
11. Approaching the Stones (2.38) Excellent track
12. Children in Chains (2.41)
13. The Temple of Doom (2.58)
14. Short Round Escapes (2.20) Excellent track
15. Saving Willie (3.34) Excellent track
16. Slave Children's Crusade (3.22) Excellent track
17. Short Round Helps (4.49) Excellent track
18. The Mine Car Chase (3.40)
19. Water! (1.55)
20. The Sword Trick (1.03)
21. The Broken Bridge / British Relief (4.46) Excellent track
22. End Credits (6.19) Excellent track
Total Length: 75.22
As we open with menacing tones, we embrace what I think is the most satisfying opening of all the Indiana Jones scores. Namely the singing of Kate Capshaw, working perfectly around the rousing opening, jumpstarting this score soon in "Anything Goes". That sprightly nature vanishes during "Indy Negotiates" (a typical Williams cue full of clever mystery, eerie strings, sombre tones and building brass). That all receives a thundering comical delight during the unreleased "The Nightclub Brawl" and the already released and serious "Fast Streets of Shanghai". The sad fact these tracks aren't mixed together is a bit of a hindrance, yet a quibble as well.
After the appearance of Short Round's theme and the Indiana Jones theme in "Fast Streets of Shanghai", we receive Willie's theme during "Map / Out of Fuel" and the absolutely riveting delight of "Slalom on Mt. Humol". The concert version of Short Round's theme (including the first appearance of the stones theme) is heard during the appropriately named track. The fact track 5 should have been mixed together to track 6 is now more of an issue here, considering it hinders the flow and the pace of the action inappropriately.
Another bonus track I was greatly disappointed at when it didn't surface on the original score was the menacing theme for Pankot Palace. But wheap no more considering it menaces aplenty in "The Scroll / To Pankot Palace". The harpsichord toying was always one of Williams' best creations during "Nocturnal Activities" (one of the most effective cues ever written I think) while "Bug Tunnel / Death Trap" is dangerous and exciting at the same time (it is also so close to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at times).
To count the omitted cues that are now added to this deluxe edition is half the album so to speak off. And another gigantic treasure to this list is "Approaching the Stones" where Williams builds to another glorious choral finale. The children's crusade march is first noticed during a dramatic conclusion in "Children in Chains", the hypnotizing singing during "The Temple of Doom" is well known, the appearance of Short Round's and the Children's March during "Short Round's Escape" captivating.
Again the mere tying together of "Saving Willie" and "Slave Children's March" could have given us another riveting experience. But both work together well when we hear the action music and rescue of Willie's, the main theme and Short Round's theme alongside the concert version of the children's march. We must admit this is not the right way to present this, but luckily the quality of the music takes you back directly to what's most important of all. Namely the classic quality of Williams' themes.
The unreleased adventurous rousing help of "Short Round Helps", the effective relentless "The Mine Car Chase", "Water!" and "The Sword Trick", they are all insanely rousing tracks that razzle dazzle you with sheer delight. And the best is yet to come. "The Broken Bridge / British Relief" has the wonderful fact that we discover another sub theme (this for the British intervention). But what's most important to remember is the fact John Williams wrote perhaps his most crowning achievement yet. The stones theme now receives an absolutely thundering choral version that will blow you away, and it is by far the most mesmerizing moment of the disc. Again this was omitted from the original album and one must only wonder why.
Of course the "End Credits" track needs no introduction although I rather wished they gave us the version that's used in the movie (and discovered on the bonus disc of this entire box). Again this is but a ripple in an entire pond but it shows that good will doesn't produce the most promising results. A fan will know what's wrong with the box and albums. Of course this is nerd's talk but it will be the nerds that will buy this in the first place, and not the mere casual buyers.
The abundance of themes and motifs in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is what five albums today can't even master. The detail, the effectiveness and the colour gives you the experience of the movie just through mere music. The astounding power of the action tracks as the most important blow out of all (the stones choral theme during the bridge sequence) makes it sound even better. It is a pure mystery why it took so long to see the expanded releases of such classic scores. But now it has finally happened and the minor (but important) quibbles of tracks separated and not mixed together doesn't take down the mere fact Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is by far the most explosive, brilliant and most effective Indiana Jones score of the entire quartet. It is what I miss the most of today's music. A sub motif here is even recognizable after a week while a main theme of today's album is even lost after a single hour. Welcome to classic Williams in his biggest Indiana Jones adventure of all.
Tracklisting
1. Anything Goes (2.48)
2. Indy Negotiates (3.58)
3. The Nightclub Brawl (2.30)
4. Fast Streets of Shanghai (3.39) Excellent track
5. Map / Out of Fuel (3.21) Excellent track
6. Slalom on Mt. Humol (2.23) Excellent track
7. Short Round's Theme (2.28) Excellent track
8. The Scroll / To Pankot Palace (4.24) Excellent track
9. Nocturnal Activities (5.53) Excellent track
10. Bug Tunnel / Death Trap (3.28)
11. Approaching the Stones (2.38) Excellent track
12. Children in Chains (2.41)
13. The Temple of Doom (2.58)
14. Short Round Escapes (2.20) Excellent track
15. Saving Willie (3.34) Excellent track
16. Slave Children's Crusade (3.22) Excellent track
17. Short Round Helps (4.49) Excellent track
18. The Mine Car Chase (3.40)
19. Water! (1.55)
20. The Sword Trick (1.03)
21. The Broken Bridge / British Relief (4.46) Excellent track
22. End Credits (6.19) Excellent track
Total Length: 75.22