Xilinoc
Since: Feb, 2015
09/06/2023 00:00:00
I have to agree! Really enjoyed this one, it felt like a proper and wholehearted sendoff to the character without dipping too hard into nostalgia like some late sequels have. Don\'t at all understand the hate it got (well, as far as Helena being criticized for being a woman doing things, I understand how that segment of the population got to be so hate-filled, but...)
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A thoroughly enjoyable, if imperfect, Indiana Jones Entry
Indiana Jones has a well deserved reputation as being one of the most, if not the most, iconic adventure heroes of all time. The original three films of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade are still among the best films of the 80s and largely hold up to this day (Okay, maybe not Temple as much now). Crystal Skull is, unsurprisingly, the complete outlier of the saga and doesn't hold in my opinion. So going into Dial Of Destiny I was very cautiously optimistic with this one, fearing it would be another Crystal Skull.
But what I got was a really solid, enjoyable Indiana Jones entry that serves as a good send-off to the character. Is it perfect? No; there are a few legitimate problems with it. But overall it is a movie I wouldn't mind seeing again.
Harrison Ford has still got is as Indiana Jones, even in his 80s. It really does feel like a natural, if a tad cliched, progression for the character considering what he's been through. Sure, he's more grumpy, but Indy was never the most upbeat character to begin with; he was always cynical and a bit jaded, but he was still heroic when he needed to. And what impressed me on a technical level is how Ford still was willing to do many of his own actions like riding a horse or cracking the iconic whip even at this age.
Mads Mickelson's Voller really is a great villain for the Indiana Jones series. I fully believe he was a Nazi who was unhappy with how the war turned out, and his motivations & goals are actually interesting (no spoilers!). Even Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Helena is enjoyable in her own right. It's interesting to see her serve as a foil to Indy with how she pursues archeology. She's essentially Belloq from Raiders but is still an ally for Indy (for the most part, but I'll get to that).
And the story for the movie is interesting, where I was constantly wondering how things would turn out, even when (being Indiana Jones) is apparent Indy would come out on top. The titular Dial is a solid MacGuffin and an interesting, unique device that is suited for Indiana Jones (unlike the Crystal Skull).
Now, all that being said, the movie is not perfect. As enjoyable as Helena is, she is a bit of an acquired taste; her relationship with Indy is at first hostile as she's more interested in fortune & glory, and it takes a while for her to grow out of it. Also, there's a subplot in the film where Indy is framed, but it really doesn't go anywhere, so it feels like unnecessary padding. Also, the film can feel a bit clunky at time and some characters feel underutilized.
Overall, I found Dial of Destiny and enjoyable film. It's worth checking out if you're an Indiana Jones fan, or an Adventure film fan.