Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the latest film entry in the franchise that continues the adventure of the titular hero with Harrison Fold picking up the whip for one last time. After the sour reception that was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the new film is the first in the franchise not being directed by Steven Spielberg. The reins have been passed onto director James Mangold, who has found a way to bring the same themes and a sense of adventure from the previous entries. While some of it manages to capture the same magic as those films, there are certainly some aspects of the film that are different from the rest of the pack. Despite a few hiccups, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is worthy to be a great addition to one of cinema’s most iconic franchises.
The film starts with an extended opening that takes viewers back to a younger Indy during the final days of World War II where he faces off against Nazis alongside his dear friend Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) where they leave with the famed Antikythera, also known as the Dial of Destiny. The action shifts to 1969, where we find an aging Indy on the verge of retirement until the arrival of his goddaughter Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) who ropes him into another adventure. Following in the footsteps of her father, Helena is on a quest to find the famed Antikythera that he has desperately searched for before his passing. On this expedition, Indy and Helena go from Morocco to the seas of Greece to find the artifact alongside Helena’s young sidekick Teddy (Ethaan Isidore). They soon find themselves on the run from different parties, including former Nazi scientist Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a foe from Indy’s past who plans to change the course of human history with the help of the ancient dial.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has plenty of action despite Ford playing an older Jones and having a new cast of characters to play with. The de-aging may be off-putting at first during the opening prologue, but it works well enough to be a classic sequence that rips right off of the franchise’s earlier films. The first half of the film is pure Indiana Jones as the character is thrown into a wild goose chase on the streets filled with incredible action sequences. They are fun and light thanks to the smart direction of Mangold and the cinematography done by frequent collaborator Phedon Papamichael. The pacing is a little slow towards the middle of the film, but it does rely heavily on the strong dynamic between Jones and Shaw. Some unique choices are made through the third act that may divide some audiences, but it does keep things entertaining right to the end.
Ford’s return as Indiana Jones is fitting as the film takes advantage of his age as he is tired and frail as he looks to leave his earlier adventuring days behind him. We see him be quite the opposite of his younger self as he is more rough around the edges, being a more different kind of character both emotionally and physically. It helps as he shares screen time with Waller-Bridge, who acts as a counterpart to him who craves adventure. She can be quite annoying at times with her slippery character, but Shaw is fun and energetic as she chews up the screen. Her young costar Ethann Isidore also lights up the screen as he and Shaw have that similar chemistry that Indy and Short Round had in the original films. Mads Mikkelsen also has a great presence as the film’s antagonist a Nazi commander looking to change history and is as cold-blooded as they come.
Much like the earlier films, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny does play on classic tropes like how the ancient dial becomes the movie’s MacGuffin that drives the plot. There’s globe-trotting, puzzles, Nazis, and an age-old mystery to solve. Certain things are familiar to fans of the franchise, but it doesn’t always rely on Easter eggs to keep the story interesting. The emotional beats of these beloved characters bring it home and create a sense of nostalgia that these films are known for. The story mixes with the new and the old to appease fans and newcomers alike, but at the end of the day, it is a classic Indiana Jones film that audiences will enjoy.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a grand old time in the cinema as audiences will be taken into an adventure filled with action and intrigue. While it may not hold up like the original trilogy, it does get close to capturing the essence of what made those films great in the first place. Fans of the franchise and classic adventure films will find a lot to love about Indy’s final adventure. It is a great send-off to one of Ford’s most famous characters and even hearing the original score by John Williams will have everyone enjoy this nostalgic trip. Filled with heart and humor, this is one not to be missed as it brings Indy’s cinematic journey full circle.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is now playing in theaters.
