Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones in one last ride filled with excitement, adventure, and a great send-off to a beloved character.
Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a former Nazi who works for NASA.
The movie moves with a steady, adventurous pace that hops worldwide with that famous map travel from previous installments. It is slow enough to tell us a full story but doesn’t get bogged down with it and feels very much like an adventure movie that adds lots of fun elements to it.
The adventure definitely has some puzzle/wisdom to it like the previous films and is still worthy of being a typical Indy adventure we all love to watch with also incorporating other characters at times for some fun engagements.
There is a little bit of character development in Indy’s fifth adventure. There are lots of characters to play with and we need some depth. Indy has some pretty good dives into his life, with some explanations of the times between movies and there are a few other relations that are worth sorting out.
The acting isn’t bad and Harrison Ford is just as Indy as he has ever been and slips back into his iconic role. Ford is rugged but not more haggard and still holds the same wonder and loyalty. Ford’s delivery is brilliant and his chemistry with his co-stars is fantastic and a big part of this movie. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a welcome addition and plays cocky very well. With a tongue-in-cheek comedy, a very strong attitude but balanced back to a deeper level.
Composer John Williams’ music is always fun and the powerful symphony is there to add that kick we love in these films. That powerful orchestra does so much more in theaters as classic tunes with a few new scores are there to delight and enhance the movie.
Overall, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a fun-filled adventure that works to bring elements of the past and brings them to the present that respects but gives it luster. The pacing is very Disney meets Jones – fast, engaging, and fun with some added elements of a puzzle movie. The lighthearted spirit has helped expand the viewership of the franchise and still maintains the charm of the series. However, the movie was missing the connection and adventure edge the first three films had and the mystery was just bland and done too quickly. All in all, it’s still a fun movie and I did enjoy the easter eggs and references to past films, and without a really good villain to dive into, the movie felt more like a step than a masterpiece.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is now playing in theaters
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