Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – A Final Adventure of History and Time

To be is to see, and to see is to escape.  This statement rings true, especially in the world of film.  The awe and spectacle of a motion picture ranges from emotional moments, bombastic action, and alluring imagination.  No matter the journey, there is hope for a fun experience.  In this review, I look at the latest entry in a famed franchise.  In this fifth entry, it becomes a mix bag of familiar tropes and characterization.  Even within predictability, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny shows the lasting of memories in a simmering spectacle.

The story follows famed archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) as he embarks on another adventure.  In his final act, will this time be his downfall or an enlightenment to all his past travels.  At the heart of this film is the fortitude of our titular character.  In the beginning, we get a lengthy prologue that showcases Jones (in the past) as he gets entangled with the Nazi’s in the final days of WWII.  Circumstances (of this prologue) showcase an artifact (McGuffin) that becomes the central crux of the film.  From here, we flash forward to the late 1960s (present day), as we are introduced to an older Dr. Jones living in New York City.  Through the drop-in method, we see a fragile character dealing with certain fallout (in his life) about to retire from his stint as a university professor.  After some general dialogue and expositional scenes, he gets pulled back into an unwanted adventure of the familiar kind: retrieving an ancient artifact known as Archimedes’ Dial (McGuffin).  As we head into the second act, it becomes a journey that mixes characterization (of Jones) within the aspect of the adventure (spectacle).  As the film maneuvers through exotic locales, the linear directive indulges within aspect of nostalgia with an older Dr. Jones.  Within the familiar stunts, chase sequences and one-on-one confrontations … there is a certain suspension of disbeliefs that must happen to endure the adventure.  Even for some convenient plot points, there is a throughline that makes everything interesting and fun.  As we watch Dr. Jones team up with his goddaughter, Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) to go after this legendary item, the overall sense of the film becomes a banner for this being ‘the last time’.

As the two continue to investigate ancient buildings and locales, the journey weaves through adventure tropes and the characterization of an elder statesmen.  As the ominous truth (of the dial) is slowly revealed, the heavy foreshadowing adds another layer of consequence to villains (of the film).  With the McGuffin taken for evil means, we head into a third act that will have the audience at a crossroads of unbelievable circumstances.  With everything on the line, the journey becomes a meaningful stature to Indiana Jones’ career, leading into a humbling climax and a warmly epilogue.  Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a final chapter of mixed results.  If you are a fan of the character, adventure films or historical premises, I say check it out.  There is fun to be had on the big screen for the adventurer in all of us. 

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)