Temple of Doom: Still Holds Up...But Whew, That Tone!

Okay, so I just rewatched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and man, it's a rollercoaster. I still think it's a blast, especially the mine cart chase sequence – pure Spielbergian spectacle. Willie Scott, though...whew. Look, I get she's supposed to be a foil for Indy, the damsel in distress opposite his rugged adventurer, but she's just SO over the top screechy. I can appreciate the character arc, but the first half, it's kinda unbearable tbh. Short Round, on the other hand, is pure gold. 'No time for love, Dr. Jones!' is iconic. I seriously want a Short Round spin-off. Worldbuilding-wise, the Pankot Palace and the Thuggee cult are fascinating. The visuals are so dark and atmospheric, especially the chanting scene when they're sacrificing the guy. Creepy as hell, and super effective. I also gotta give props to the production design. The whole Kali worship thing and the Sankara Stones are really intriguing. I wish they'd delved deeper into the cult's history and the stones' power, would've been cool. I also thought the action sequences were good, not just the already mentioned mine cart scenes. Overall, it's a darker, grittier Indy flick than Raiders, which some people dig, others not so much. Personally, I think the tonal shift is interesting, even if it occasionally veers into uncomfortable territory (eating the chilled monkey brains, anyone?). It's a fun movie and I can see why people love it, and I enjoy it as well, but lets be real, its got some issues too. Anyway, what do you guys think? Am I too harsh on Willie? Do you find the darkness adds to the film, or detracts from the Indy spirit? Let me know!