Just a note before I get into it fully, this is the first time I’ve written a film review like this for a film I’d already reviewed (and entirely forgotten I had) so this has ended up being something of a re-review, but as I’d written it I thought I’d post it anyway as some of my opinions have changed and different things stood out this time round – you can read my previous review by clicking here.
For as long as I can remember Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom has always felt like the problem child of the Indiana Jones series (particularly of the original trilogy), but in rewatching now I tried to approach it with an open mind.
Set before Raiders Of The Lost Ark it instantly does something that caused bigger issues for George Lucas a decade or so later in that, as a prequel, we obviously know that whatever happens here our titular hero (Harrison Ford, once more on top form) is at little actual risk.
Along with this his introduction here feels more like James Bond than the adventuring archeologist we met in the previous film, which just sets a bit of an odd tone.
The odd tone problem then continues throughout as we meet somewhat inexplicable love interest, Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw, who spends most of the film screaming, stumbling and general being a nuisance) and young sidekick, Short Round (Ke Huy Quan, who does a great job with his slightly strangely drawn character).
This sets the feeling that the film should be more aimed at kids, particularly as it goes on and the plot reveals itself, but also that it wants to maintain the tone of the previous film and it never quite balances the two – and that’s before we get to the surprisingly graphic human sacrifice scene which certainly feels at odds with the child friendly tone elsewhere.
Along with this the main plot makes Indy come across as far more self serving (at least until the end), with villains comprised largely of racial stereotypes and far less well drawn than Belloq and the Nazis (though Thuggee priest Mola Ram has a terrific look when in full regalia, he remains solidly problematic), that makes our hero far harder to get behind.
On top of all this the film has strangely racist tone for the time with Indy as the western, white saviour to a group of exceptionally stereotypical ‘poor Indian villagers’, while the villains are all equally as racially drawn – something common to the kind of adventure serials Indiana Jones is inspired by but this was made in 1984 not the 1930s.
All that said, watching it now, the human sacrifice scene is captivating in how it’s put together with a good level of action adventure scares, while the mine cart chase that follows is absolutely terrific and has rightly become iconic (even if it feels custom designed to become a ride at Disneyland).
The rope bridge scene however, while almost equally iconic and, at first, very well done, ends up just going on a bit too long, a criticism I might level at the film as a whole.
As said Ford’s performance remains outstanding and, in many ways, he holds the whole thing together through sheer force of charisma and good looks, while there is an extra level of interest added to Quan’s appearance following his exceptional turn in Everything Everywhere All At Once and he makes for a generally entertaining sidekick.
I’d also note that, for this watch, I was going with the 4K blu-ray release in DolbyVision which, far more than with Raiders, seemed to make some of the more effects heavy shots and elaborate sets feel like something from a mid-budget Doctor Who episode, rather than a Hollywood blockbuster, no matter how well Spielberg and team might have used them.
Ultimately then Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom misses the mark just a bit too often for me and remains something of a tonal mess while being slightly overlong, though some aspects remain truly thrilling and iconic… and I can’t help but think a Lego version of the titular Thuggee temple would go very well alongside the equivalent set from Raiders.
Tommy Girard 
I agree with most of what you have said here but now with Dial of Destiny folding ever so slightly the Temple into the timeline (no spoilers here) I’d say the one at odds in the series is The Crystal Skull as it is the only bad movie in the mix. Temple had its flaws but I was one of the kids it was aimed at and I loved it so much. Hardeep my Indian neighbour and I would watch it over and over and she would laugh at how dumb the stereotypes were. How dumb we were for being scared by Molar Ram and The Thugee cult. So I’m not saying it’s right, just it’s a fun film