Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: An imposing adventure flick that’s not as good as I had recalled it to be. Torn down in blues from a practically atrocious first act, it does take some time for the sophomore contestant to evolve due to its darker, unconventional, and paradoxically sillier side of exploring an ancient folk tale. It’s a product that is regretfully rushed with too much exuberance but fortunately, satisfying in a bizarre sort of demeanor.
But one other flaw cannot go without say before I move into why I think Temple of Doom is still, at the very least, solid.
WILLIE SCOTT IS THE WORST THING TO HAPPEN TO THIS FRANCHISE EVER (besides Crystal Skull as a whole of course). Yes, she is worse than the aliens, worse than witnessing Shia LaBeouf swing from tree vines with some monkeys, and more aggravating then watching a legendary hero survive a nuclear bomb by taking shelter in a refrigerator. This is because Willie, unlike those moments, is a gnawing leach you have to deal with for the entire freakin’ film! If a living entity could harbor the word “annoying”, it’d 100% be Willie. Why is she even in this movie? Do we really need a spoiled, obnoxious, damsel in distress? SHE ADDS NOTHING TO THIS FILM BUT PAIN AND SUFFERING! I AM TRIGGERED!
Calm yourself Evan. We can get through this. Remember how awesome everything else in this movie is. Remember. Okay.
Regardless of the…flaws…in Temple of Doom, there’s no denying that this sequel has some of the finest moments in the franchise. From the spine-chilling heart rituals, to the breathless mine cart sequence, and even to that fabulously tense, iconic bridge segment, there’s a handful of merit to be found within this entry.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a radical decline from Raiders but hey, it’s still a swashbuckling blast for the most part. And that’s the key aim of this franchise to be honest. To unreservedly allow the audience to have a ball.
Verdict: B-
And yes, Short Round is the MVP this time around.
“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” is now available to rent and buy on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.
Burning the Celluloid 
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