Indiana Solo and the Temple of Bespin: Introduction

The aim of this blog is to list the similarities between two movies, namely "Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984).

Let's start off with the basic similarities:

Second Instalment of Franchise:

Both Empire and Doom are the initial followups to what would end up being two very financially successful motion picture franchises. Their respective predecessors are "Star Wars IV: A New Hope" (1977) and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981). If these sequels hadn't succeeded, it is believed that their franchises would have died.

Harrison Ford

Ford portrays Han Solo in Empire and Indiana Jones in Doom. Both are heroic characters. Han has expertise in smuggling and as a space pilot. Indy has expertise in archaeology and grave robbing.

George Lucas / Lucasfilm Ltd.

Both movies are Lucasfilm Ltd. productions, with "story by" and "executive producer" credits going to George Lucas. George is the creator of both franchises.

Neither are directed by George Lucas

Empire is directed by Irvin Kershner, Doom by Raiders director Steven Spielberg

Music composed and conducted by John Williams

Williams was already a regular collaborator with Spielberg and had scored the initial instalments of both franchises.

Reputation as "dark" instalment:

In a behind the scenes interview shot in 1983, Spielberg warned that they weren't making "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Roses."

Steven Spielberg: "George was going through a dark period. He certainly inspired [Irvin] Kershner to shoot a very dark second act in the first Star Wars trilogy and he wanted the second Indiana Jones to be very, very, dark." [from empireonline]

George Lucas, original creator of the Indiana Jones concept, felt this second installment 'had to have been a dark film,' as Empire Strikes Back was the dark second chapter of Star Wars. [from suite101]

In addition to Ford, Lucas and Williams, IMDb lists 69 other names common between the two movies:

IMDb: Most Popular People Credited in "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)" And Credited in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)"
Being a Lucasfilm Ltd. production, many post-production crew regulars from Lucas companies ILM and Sprocket Systems populate the list.

Both won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

ILM won a lot of those in the eighties.
Both also nominated for score

Both opened in theatres the second last Wednesday in May (21st and 23rd)
Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK was the studio used for both.
Both are shot in colour 35mm in the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio and were released in 70mm in select theatres.

In the next posts the Visual/Plot similarities will be listed:

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Introduction