Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Finding himself in a new era, approaching retirement, Indy wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival, Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artifact doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
- Released: 2023-06-28
- Runtime: 142 minutes
- Genre: Action, Adventure
- Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Kretschmann, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Antonio Banderas, Olivier Richters, Mark Killeen, Martin McDougall, John Rhys-Davies, Anthony Ingruber, Alaa Safi, Harrison Ford, Corrado Invernizzi, Toby Jones, Nasser Memarzia, Karen Allen, Francis Chapman, Anna Francolini, Gabby Wong
- Director: James Mangold
Comments
- PCC0921 - 26 June 2024
Denouement
The fifth Indiana Jones movie is the best it can be, especially since the main character, is an 80 year-old, archeologist/action-hero, in a film, that has a lot to make up for. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), is better than the fourth film, so it ends up being a slight apology-film, for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2005). This film is as good as the second film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), but nowhere near meets the quality and entertainment level, of the original film or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). This film does accomplish being a satisfying finish for the franchise, but it passed through, rather quietly. It's almost an after-thought.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), does have the same problems, that audiences in the past always feared, about some of the plotlines of the other films, drifting too far into the fantasy, science-fiction genres. The original film didn't really drift into the supernatural stuff, until the very end of the film, which gave the audiences an excellent pay-off, but kept things grounded more in the real-world. The same goes for the third film, with that very biblical ending. One of the reasons the second film and most definitely the fourth film, weren't as well liked, was the films went a little too far into the science-fiction sector of fantasy (In the case of the second film it was more occult magic) and avoided the real-world.
For some reason, the audiences, who saw the original films in the 1980s, didn't like the idea of their favorite character dealing with other-worldly things. They felt Indiana (Harrison Ford), should be more-grounded on Earth. Trust me, I know. I was one of those people in the 1980s, worried about this stuff. I heard it from many friends a class-mates too. It was even worse in 2005, when Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2005), came out with the alien technology angle of the plot. I'm here to say, that the 2023 film, didn't bring those fears to my attention this time. I didn't care about the, obviously fantastical, plot of this film. It was more, being a witness to film-history and seeing Indiana Jones/Harrison Ford's swan song.
PMTM Grade: 7.1 (C) = 7 IMDB. - drakeking1 - 11 June 2024
Whip-Smart: Indy's Triumphant Return
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" is a thrilling addition to the beloved franchise that manages to recapture the enchantment of the original trilogy. As a fan, I found myself immersed in a nostalgic journey that felt both familiar and fresh. The film honors the spirit of Indiana Jones, delivering an adventure that is true to the character's roots, with just the right mix of action, humor, and archaeological intrigue.
The movie stands out as a significant improvement over the previous installment, "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and it's evident that the filmmakers have listened to the fans. It's a cinematic experience that understands what made us fall in love with Indy in the first place and builds upon it without relying on past glory.
In essence, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" is a testament to the timeless appeal of its whip-cracking hero. It's a film that can be enjoyed for what it is-a captivating escapade that reminds us why Indiana Jones remains an iconic figure in film history. The magic is indeed back, and it's a ride well worth taking.
