“Temple of Doom” focuses on classic adventure and pulp storytelling. The film’s characters are chosen for their fit within the genre, and not to hit diversity checklists. There is no attempt to shoehorn modern identity politics or pander to contemporary social trends at the expense of story or character.

Traditional masculine heroism is celebrated (perhaps too much for current year taste-makers). The film upholds conventional gender dynamics. Religion and family values, though filtered through a 1980s lens, are treated as adventure backdrops rather than targets for subversion. The attitude borders on campy stereotyping, not on intentional undermining of Western or other cultural traditions.

There’s little evidence of enforced ideological consensus. While non-Western cultures are painted with a broad brush, the movie doesn’t preach contemporary moral lessons or bully alternative viewpoints. Characters may lack nuance, but not for reasons related to modern ideology; if anything, it’s the old-school pulp simplicity at play.