I used to enjoy reading movie novelizations. I enjoyed digging deeper into the film by reading what was going on inside the minds of the characters and reading the parts that ended up on the cutting room floor. I recently came into a copy of the movie-tie in to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. While everything from the movie was present, there were minor differences (Willie does not cause Indy’s gun to fly out the window of their moving Duesenberg while being pursued by a group of Chinese gangsters). One major difference (and definitely a scene that had to be cut from the film that established the PG-13 movie rating) involved phallic symbolism that would have disturbed me as an 11 year old.
My favorite part of any novelization is getting to see inside the minds of the main characters. What makes them tick? What are their real motivations for the actions they perform? When (if ever), does Indy change from an archaeologist who is out to achieve “fortune and glory” into something more?
There was a lot of humor inside the inner workings of Dr. Jones’ companions: the sulry nightclub singer Willie Scott who is accidentally thrust into the adventure and Indiana’s 12 year-old bodyguard, chauffeur, and Man Friday, Short Round. I loved reading about the young Chinese orphan’s penchant for thievery, religious idoltry, movies, and sports of the 1930s. Very entertaining read.
Sounds interesting, believe it or not, I’ve never read a novelization of the Indiana Jones Movies…
This was the first I have read and I will gladly loan it to you. Interestingly, it was written by James Khan, the same gentleman who wrote the novelization for Return of the Jedi.
I think books should be rated like movies: G, PG, PG-13, R, even NC-17 if need be. it makes me shudder to think of some of the things my kids could innocently stumble upon in the library.
good point, taylhis… wonder who we should lobby that suggestion to or if it has been attempted in the past. Music definitely has been of late.