The series just got worse and worse with each passing film. I love Temple of Doom, but it's got some serious problems. The portrayals of Indian people and Hinduism are pretty insulting. The tone is all over the place, with junvenile gags in one scene and child slavery/torture in another. Willie is just plain annoying, and the plot is maybe the simplest of the series.
But on the plus side, it is non-stop excitement for much of its running time. No other Indiana Jones film has been as consistently thrilling. There's a fight scene at a club, car chases, shoot outs, mine cart chases, plane escapes in mid air, sword fights, and finally, a battle on a collapsed bridge. Im never bored while watching Temple of Doom. Even the slower parts are rife with either atmosphere or humor.
A beautifully shot film too. Spielberg and Slocombe created some of the most gorgeous and striking imagery of the series with Temple of Doom. It's supposed to be a descent to and a return from hell, and it comes across wonderfully in the final product.
And yeah, I may be one of the few, but I also loved Shortround. Like any good sidekick, he's there for the Hero to protect, while also saving his ass when things go to shit. The chemistry between the actors made a convincing father and son relationship, while the sidekick concept is another nice homage to the older film serials.
A heavily flawed film, but Temple of Doom will always be my favorite for just how fun it is compared to the rest in the series.