Temple of Doom is also a prequel to Raiders Of The Lost Ark, which means that Indy being confronted by TWO swordsmen takes place before the famous incident in the marketplace. Indy's gun could've come in handy several points through Temple, and thus it's his first choice in Raiders when a sword-bearing enemy comes across him.
Another is ripping out a beating heart. It's all about perspective. When we see it done the first time, it's from the followers' viewpoint, who believe the victim's heart is being ripped out. When we see it tried again, it's from Willie and Indy's perspective, who realise the whole thing is a sham, and don't fall for the trick.
This movie chronologically takes place before Raiders of the Lost Ark. Where happened to Short Round, Indy's KID sidekick, in between the two adventures?
