Temple of Doom is generally regarded as a pretty good movie, I certainly consider it one, but I'd say it is definitely the worst of the original trilogy of Indiana Jones movies, primarily due to the presence of Kate Capshaw's Willie Scott. She's one of the most flat out grating characters ever to be put to film, and her presence really brings the movie down, making it almost objectively inferior to the Raiders and Crusade.
All other differences in quality usually come down to a question of preference, some fans dislike the darker tone, or prefer the locations or plot lines in the other films, and some prefer the style of Temple of Doom over Raiders and Crusade. But almost everyone can agree that Willie is a truly awful character, terribly written, terribly acted, and the least likeable love interest in any of the movies (which is pretty impressive, since one of them was a nazi). Even so, ToD has many good qualities that elevate the movie and make it enjoyable, but you still have to get past Willie.

Well, they were probably not fed well. I am assuming they only ate bugs? I highly doubt they spend time working out neither (because they use child slaves to do all the labor). Now you would have me stumped at how that head guard was so strong.
For weak children, it is strength in numbers. If you saw all of them coming at you at once, without any weapon, I highly doubt you would stand a chance.
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They ripped people's hearts out and beat little kids with whips. Mola Ram chants "kill the pig, flay his skin." That is beyond anything in the joke of a film known as Last Crusade.
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

That those Thugeees that get their asses kicked by a little kid and are overpowered by a bunch of weak child slaves?
What a joke.

The sadistic cruelty of the Thuggees makes it a better movie, because it gives the audience a reason to care about Indy escaping from the Temple, it's not a boring kiddie campfest like Crusade is (I will never forgive Spielberg for the Mickey Mouse joke).
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

I read somewhere that critics and general audience thought it was to dark and to cruel. It wasn't as fun as the first one.
Spielberg agreed and that's apparently why he did a third one.
I have to agree. It is a good movie but it's over-the-top sadistic and cruel. Painful to watch.

Willie is a lot like Joan in Romancing the Stone, in that she was ill prepared for the adventure and physicality of what befell her. Except Kathleen Turner's screaming was nowhere near as annoying as Kate Capshaw's.
The point isn't whether WIllie's reactions are realistic. The point is that she makes the film unwatchable for a lot of viewers. I just want to go "click" and shut it off.

WILLIE is indeed a different kind of character, compared to Elsa or Marion. And its nice sometimes to have a change, and to depart from the easy formula.
For once, the girl is not a femme fatale, a double-agent or an adventurer. Willie is a night-club singer, not made at all for that kind of adventure.
And, unlike what is often said about her, she shows guts and courage.
A superficial and selfish person at the beginning, she ends up punching guys, protecting short round and helping the best she can.
Yes, she complains and scream, but she still does the job, joining in this nightmare to help Indy and to free the children.
Its a far more interesting character development and evolution than for Elsa or Marion.
I might add that one of the reason she screams more than the other ladies is because the events of the Temple of Doom ar the most terrifying in the entire franchise. I guess anyone would have shouted as loud as she did. And I guess not everyone would have keep on facing them as much as she did.

Marion voluntarily got involved with Indy's adventure
Did she invite them thugs to her bar where she was nearly killed?
Nope, and she still wasn't annoying as that pain in the ass Willie.

She's certainly flawed but it's Alison Doody I have to hit the mute button on, horrible actress. Listening to her speak is flat out painful (doesn't help that she was given cringe worthy dialogue to work with).
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

If someone says she's annoying, how can that be incorrect?
Many of the complaints about Willie have nothing to do with comparisons to Marion. She's annoying because I need to mute the tv or FF through her scenes. I cannot bear to listen to her. Period.
That's not a comparison to Marion. YES, Willie IS annoying.

No she wasn't. People just compare her to Marion from
Raiders
. The difference between them was that Marion voluntarily got involved with Indy's adventure in the first movie, whereas Willie got dragged into the situation she found herself in.
Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?

The woman was annoying.

You would have to understand the "stones" as comparable to Hindu mythology. The stones are actually comparable to the Shiva Linga. It is believed that stones are represent of Shiva and by touching them, you would be blessed. It is a Pagan belief system.
THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR. COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!

I watch that part over and over and I do not think he actually tries to save the guy. It is a bit neutral. He holds onto the rope to get away from the crusher. If you look at it, the rope is the only way to get away from it. That and he likes to swing from ropes in movies (signature Indiana). The crusher is pretty high up from the ground and so he could not just jump down, nor stay on the ledge for too long. That rope was his only way of stabilizing himself and transporting himself to the next safest place. It just so happened that that guard was holding onto that same rope and he makes a gesture like "Oh wait, I was possessed too. I did not mean that. HELP ME!"
THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR. COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!

it sort of ruins the character a bit
It sure does.
He's supposed to be more of a rogue and yet he tries to save the life of a guy who tried to kill him from the crusher.
This is the guy who in Raiders shoots the swordsman before he's even attacked, and lets the big guy get chopped up by the propellers.
And Raiders Indy would never have had a kid for a sidekick.

Simply put, it is inferior to Raiders in a few departments. It's certainly not a bad movie, but it's not a great one either.
I do appreciate that it's a prequel, although it sort of ruins the character a bit with Indy encountering these supernatural villains before the events of Raiders. The whole point of the first film was that Indy didn't really believe in the "power of God" or magic scrolls or any of that. So as a companion to the first film, it doesn't make much sense. However, the opening in Shanghai with Jones escaping from the mob boss is classic, thrilling stuff.
The general issues with the film are Kate Capshaw's character (an annoying, dumb screaming blonde with a bad 80s perm), Short Round the annoying sidekick, and the movie being too kid oriented with saving the child slaves (which seems to clash with the darker moments). The whole plot with the stones seems rather uninteresting and lacks the mystique of the Ark from the first. Also, the scene with the pilots jumping out the plane instead of just killing Indy in his sleep, and the raft landing on the side of the mountain was rather unconvincing. It's full of moments like that.
However, I must give Temple of Doom bonus points for introducing new villains and not just rehashing the Nazis like Last Crusade did. And the climax on the bridge is thrilling. For what it's worth, I think it's as good as the third one.
~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

Temple of Doom works as a horror adventure film but not so much as a pure Indiana Jones film
Really ?
What is exactly a pure Indiana Jones film ? And who decides what it is ?
Just because Raiders was a "from the university to the desert with the nazis", some people expect every Indiana Jones movie to be the same, and get confused with any other kind of story.

I dislike Phantom Menace, I HATE Last Crusade. To me Marcus and Henry bumbling around like idiots was worse than anything Jar Jar Binks ever did, in fact I assumed that Lucas based Jar Jar Binks off of Marcus and Henry in Last Crusade.
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

I take it, you've never seen
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
?
Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?

There is not a movie on the face of the Earth that I hate more than
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
I feel I get dumber every time I watch it.
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

Crusade however is one big pile of sh!t.
No.
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
is.
Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?

I love both Raiders and Temple but I gotta be honest Raiders is the better movie. I might even make an argument for Temple being more entertaining but overall Raiders beats it.
Crusade however is one big pile of sh!t.
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

Temple of Doom works as a horror adventure film but not so much as a pure Indiana Jones film plus aside from some of the annoying characters, the pacing drags in-between adrenaline-fueled segments and it only really stands out with the various one-liners and gorgeous cinematography near the end.