George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have created a lot of iconic films in their lifetime thus far, but one of their most iconic ones is the one where they decided to re-invent the action-adventure genre with Indiana Jones. The Indiana Jones series soon flourished as audiences were captivated by the humour, the action, the music, the sound effects and the charming adventurer himself played by Harrison Ford. Three films followed Raiders of the Lost Ark, with the latest one coming out back out in 2008 which appeared to be the final instalment in the series, but Ford wanted to tell one last adventure as the titular character and that brings us to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Does it capture the same feeling as the originals? Is this truly the end of Indiana Jones? I believe this is his last chapter, and it certainly does capture the spirit of the classics.
Indiana Jones is back with his fedora and bullwhip, despite being out of action for a while. He is forced back into tomb raiding and relic hunting thanks to his goddaughter who turns up at the university he is currently retiring from. Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays Helena Shaw, the goddaughter in question. Helena knows Indy can help her with locating the Archimedes Dial, a device that can allow the holder to travel in time through time fissures. Hot on their trail is a Nazi scientist who works for NASA, Jürgen Voller, played by Mads Mikkelsen. Voller and his compatriots want to go back and win World War II, which leaves Helena and Indy to stop them before they can change history. The premise is a typical Indiana Jones story. This series has previously played with the supernatural, the biblical and even extraterrestrials, so time travel isn’t exactly something the series would consider impossible.
The travelling, exploring and puzzle solving is all here and the hallmarks of the series are all present in the film, which helps give the film a kick of nostalgia but it is great to see the feisty energy of Helena balance with the world-weary antics of Ford’s Indy. Helena is a bit of a grey character, her intentions don’t appear to be noble or morally acceptable but she continues to prove herself against anyone who stops her. Waller-Bridge is a great addition to the cast and the other characters are just as fun, from Boyd Holbrook’s henchman to Antonio Banderas who plays Renaldo who assists Indy and Shaw at a pivotal part of the film. The story moves swiftly and the action is spread out over the film. Filmmaker James Mangold has captured the spirit of the previous films with ease and by the end of the film you’ll get goosebumps as history literally comes alive. It’s a fun film and fans of the series will have plenty to enjoy with this film.
Bringing the series into the 1960s presents a lot of opportunity to capture the essence of the era, and the film does explore the space race and the shift in culture as technology is blossoming and these themes are also at the heart of the film. Indiana Jones is someone who feels out of time and his love of relics and artefacts makes him a character who refuses to grow in the modern world. It is interesting seeing a different side to the character, whereas the previous film saw the character battle fatherhood, he is now reflecting on his life, his careers and his achievements as he contemplates what is important to him. So yes, this is a great action film but there are deeper meanings and themes in the film but it’s just great to see Harrison Ford back as one of his most popular characters.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an old school blockbuster. It is a formulaic film but this helps it capture the nostalgia and sense of adventure that the series is made famous for. John William’s score, the classic sound effects and the globetrotting all reinforce that this is an Indiana Jones film. Harrison Ford goes out with a bang with a plot centred on time travel and living in the past. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is fantastic as Helena and Mads Mikkelsen does what he does best as the villain. This is what you want from an Indiana Jones from, and it does not disappoint.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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