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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

When Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford resurrected Indiana Jones in 2008 for INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, it instantly became the most divisive installment in the entire series. I enjoyed it, for the most part, and felt that it struck the right balance of fun and nostalgia. It was an action movie that didn’t feature a single super-hero, which was a relief at that time, and though I wasn’t a huge fan of the final act, I was satisfactorily entertained. Others were not so kind. Many critics and viewers decried the alien-bearing finale and were even more annoyed by the mere existence of Shia LeBeouf’s Mutt.

At the time, it seemed fairly likely that we had seen the last of the Mr. Jones and his trusty hat. 15 years later, however, it was time to give him one last adventure.

There is something odd about seeing an INDIANA JONES saga that is NOT directed by Spielberg. Sure, the legendary filmmaker is listed as producer, but for a duo that has always been so ingrained with one another, it’s a little weird to read “Directed by James Mangold” during the opening credits. Mangold was at the helm for the excellent FORD VS. FERARRI and the even better LOGAN, so it’s not as if he was incapable of delivering a dynamic blockbuster. If this truly is the last time Dr. Jones picks up the whip, it just seems like Spielberg would have been along for the ride.

Much of the early attention bestowed upon the film was its use of de-aging to give us an opening scene involving the Indy of old. As he is prone to do, he grapples with Nazis as he attempts to reclaim ancient artifacts from the Third Reich. One of these is the titular Dial of Destiny, which is said to have been created by Archimedes and possesses mysterious powers that could possibly tear the very fabric of reality. At the very least, it would alter history, and probably not for the better.

The sequence was a great way to kick off the movie, and while I had seen many argue that the effects didn’t work, I can tell you that while watching it from home, I was impressed. As the action aboard a speeding train unfolded there was only one moment that I thought the effects were a little obvious, but given the shoddy effects I recently saw in THE FLASH, this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it blip wasn’t worth complaining about.

After the Nazi battle, we are brought to 1969 where professor Jones is cantankerous and alone. His son has tragically passed, his wife has left him, and he doesn’t have the same passion for teaching that he once possessed. It isn’t until his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) tracks him down and starts discussing the dial that we see a spark of the archaeologist of old. Helena has been trying desperately to track down the treasure, but little do they know, so is Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a German astrophysicist who crossed paths with Jones on the train decades ago. He has nefarious intentions and has brought henchmen Klaber (Boyd Holbrook) and Hauk (Olivier Richters) along with him to serve as the muscle of his potentially violent endeavor.

At times during DIAL OF DESTINY, I couldn’t help but question whether film was necessary. It was not breaking any new ground in the world of action, or even within the Indy universe. These thoughts of trepidation were immediately followed by the realization, that whether it was necessary or not wasn’t even important. I was watching one of the great characters in the history of popcorn cinema get one last chance to entertain. Ford may have lost a step physically, but that’s not a determent in any way. Sure, his stunts may still be a little ridiculous, but Ford’s dedication to the role naturally lends itself suspension of disbelief. Maybe it’s a little absurd to see him fight and flee with henchmen half his age, but, this is the same guy who found a way to survive when others had their faces melted off.

Unlike CRYSTAL SKULL, the last moments of DIAL OF DESTINY are sweet and rewarding. The closing seconds give the briefest of glimmers that this may not be the end, but if it is, there are many worse ways he could have gone out.