screw what the critics say this is a really good movie it has lots of action and is well paced and doesn't drag at all the story is a lot better than the last one it's a very entertaining film if your a fan of the movies like I am seeing "raiders of the lost ark" when I was a kid you won't be disappointed
A very good IJ movie, probably my third favorite after the first and third film. It feels like a full on IJ film, lots of action, a bit of humor, nice ending.
The only negative thing about it would be that some of the CGI was a bit iffy towards the end. However, it still worked and didn't bother me.
Would highly recommend :thumbsup:
If you've ever felt like watching a movie that is the definition of playing it safe, you should definitely give the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise a chance. There really isn't a single risk taken here, which leads to a film that is shockingly boring for long stretches. Tension or even a sense of adventure hardly ever arise in the 2.5 hours of runtime. And even the finale disappointed me, similarly to the miserable fourth part.
In spite of that, "Dial of Destiny" actually gets off to a halfway promising start. If you can overlook the fact that the deaging technology is still not truly ready, then the opening sequence during World War II is really fun. Unfortunately, it's also the last time the film is genuinely good. James Mangold is by all means a capable director, but here he fails to convey any personal style at all. The plot is pretty basic, with pretty much every twist and turn being predictable until the absurd finale.
The cast also, regrettably, didn't entirely work for me. Harrison Ford is still good, but age has definitely caught up with him. Mads Mikkelsen isn't bad as the villain either, and there are a few nice cameos as well. However, I was disappointed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, whose character Helena is terribly written and who seemed like a miscast to me. In my opinion, she's no better than Shia LaBeouf in the fourth movie. And I don't even want to mention anything about Ethann Isidore, who plays a poor man's Short Round.
It all certainly sounds a bit more negative than it actually is. Ultimately, the film has hardly any serious lows, but it also has pretty much no satisfying high points. It's all pretty mediocre. At most, the occasional fan service moment managed to elicit a chuckle from me. But for a good film, they should have taken some risks, at least at some points. As it is, I can't really recommend "Dial of Destiny".
Like a critic who starts off every review with a cheap simile, Dial of Destiny runs out of ideas very quickly and resorts to gimmicks to generate a semblance of creativity.
Do you like it when Indiana has to figure out puzzles to uncover the truth? James Mangold not so much.
Do you like it when Indiana is confronted with a swarm of beasts he has to fight to survive? James Mangold says, "Meh."
Do you like the same chase scenes you've seen in all the other Indiana Jones' movies? You're in luck! James Mangold thinks you can never have too many of those.
Terrible af. They shouldn't have released this movie.
That opening train scene was classic indie minus the shitty deep fake.
These mother fuckers are old af
I don't understand the criticism of the film, we have an action-packed adventure film. The film maintains the level and humor of its predecessors. Indiana successfully completes his adventure.
This is so bland and inessential, they might’ve as well put it directly on Disney Plus. Why are we investing 300 million dollars in an action/adventure flick starring an 80 year old grandpa? Look I have a lot of respect for Harrison Ford, but everything that’s wrong with this movie is connected to the larger issue of him and the franchise being way past their expiration date, so this never should’ve been greenlit in the first place. Nothing is offensively bad here, but it’s more a case of wrong decisions piling onto each other.
I understand Lucasfilm’s decision to hire a director who just delivered two crowdpleasers in a row, both of which were acclaimed by normies and snobs alike. Mangold understands what makes the world and character work, but he doesn’t get the soul. Right from the opening scene, the movie looks drab, underlit and generic. There’s almost no imagination to the set pieces, and some of the more impressive stuntwork is undone by poor effects work. Take the Tuctuc chase. Ford’s stunt double puts in the work for the wide shots, but when you cut to a close-up of characters in front of a green screen, you’re not exactly selling the sequence. It’s not going to stick on my brain, it’s too unremarkable. Again, what’s the point of making an Indiana Jones movie if there’s no viscera or imagination to the action?
Then there’s the story, which is also very by the numbers and low on risk. It feels like wheel spinning, which in theory could be fine (the Bond franchise got away with that for decades) but there’s nothing to hold my interest. Some of the new mechanics introduced during the third act I found to be underwhelming, and this is coming from someone who didn’t mind the inclusion of aliens in the last film. All of the new characters are boring and underdeveloped (especially the villain), despite the actors putting in decent performances. It’s quite funny how this suffers from the same problem as Furious 7, where villains will show up on the same location as our heroes despite there being no story reason for it. Occasionally there’s a brief fun interaction, or a fun set, or a good visual idea (like the final shot, for example), but that’s not enough to fill its bloated runtime.
4/10
Helena punching out Indy and not letting him die in peace is the perfect metaphor for what Disney is doing to the franchise...
This is elder abuse.
For me, the main question I wanted to know going in was, "Is this going to be better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".
Happy to report that, yes it's vastly superior in almost every area to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
But with that out of the way, does it compete/equal the originals, to which the answer for me was no.
But it had its moments and felt way more in line with "an Indiana Jones" movie than Crystal Skull and had it's share of flaws. I still think Hollywood should use younger actors or makeup/prosthetics instead of "de-aging CGI" as it continues to look horrible IMO, or at least use it the same way the used emerging CGI in the late 90's early 00's by keeping it in shadow/not the focus point.
The cast, both legacy and new are solid across the board, soundtrack and score work well, plot was a big fun dumb adventure that actually felt like following the breadcrumbs in a good way.
Not at all a bad film, but one that probably won't make my top 10 of the year, but unlike Crystal Skull this probably also won't make my worst 10 of the year either.
What a sad sack of a film. If you keep having to CGI Harrisons Ford's face onto all the stuntmen that can actually participate in the scene then that's a good sign you probably shouldn't have bothered. The opening with a de-aged Indy at the end of the war is legit fun but is full of shonky CGI (there's a bit where a totally animated Indy running across a train in silloette that I honestly can't believe made it's way into the final cut) then it's downhill fast and never lets up. I'd take Shia as a companion over the irritant that is Phoebe Bridge unlike Toby Jones who steals every scene he's in a good way.
Oh and people that moaned about aliens finale in Indy 4? Well Indy 5 is like hold my beer I can top that ending in a tardis.
The projector packed in the cinema on the last ten minutes and it was more amusing than anything that happened the film. The projector was sorted and the madness wrapped up.
I honestly preferred Kingdom of Crystal Skull. At least it had Spielberg magic.
Like its titular character, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny exists in a world that has moved on from it. What's more, even though it's a perfectly serviceable film that's got fun moments, fine acting, and some heartfelt character work, there doesn't seem to be a reason for it to exist at all. The movie is all about reliving the past (or, more to the point, trying to save it), and it starts off with a flashback action set piece that is both exciting and full of technical wizardry. Disney seems determined to perfect the art of de-aging onscreen and the effect here is the best to date. It's a throwback that works, as Director James Mangold constructs the most Indiana Jones-esque part of the movie with fast-paced action and plot development that work really well together. Once its done and we fast forward to 1969, however, the story becomes a bit of a morass that challenges even the most fervent suspension of disbelief.
Harrison Ford is 80. He looks great- not a day over the 70 years old that he's playing, in fact. But watching him punch Nazis and scramble up cave walls while keeping up with his goddaughter, Helena, who even he points out is half his age, is absurd. Her character arc is the plot's biggest surprise and forces Indy to ask some interesting questions, but it doesn't help that Phoebe Waller doesn't look the part that she's trying to play, nor does she have the gravitas to feel like the heir to Indy's legacy that the film so obviously wants her to be. And those questions that get asked? Well, they're never answered. For a movie so interested in the past, it never really wants to reckon with it.
It's more than just missed opportunities to talk about Indy's history of "grave robbing" or the casual colonialism inherent in his ethos. (Whose museums do all of those artifacts belong in, anyway?) Even Nazi ideology is once again breezed over, save for one moment when Mads Mikkelsen is at his chilling best when he needles a Black WWII vet. The worst offenses are the obvious callbacks to iconic scenes in the first 3 films. Not only do they reflect lazy writing, it feels like the entire structure of the movie was built around them. At one point Indy grouses about an experience from one of the first 3 movies that everyone watching will remember, only to have a repeat of that film's other most memorable scene take place just a minute or so later. It's beyond fan service. It's insulting hackery.
This would have been a much more impactful and meaningful film had Harrison Ford been forced into the background, if there had been a worthy heir who could have taken the lead in the adventure as he advised. This would have worked as a nostalgic film as well, as he could have found himself playing the role that his father did in (the far superior) Last Crusade. Alas, the folks at Disney's Lucasfilm division seem much more interested in trying to repeat the successes of the past than inventing something for the future. If the world really has moved on from Indiana Jones, it'll have to keep waiting for what comes next because there's no sign of it here.
A lot of people saying it is better than Crystal Skull, and they are just in denial. It’s not offensively bad or anything, it’s just boring and a chore to get through. There was legit a point about 3/4s through the movie that I had to remind myself that it was an Indiana Jones movie because I forgot why I was watching it. Dr. Jones got a fine ending in the last one and there really is no reason for them to force this old man to wear his fedora and get the whip back out, this is abuse.
Hey, you remember that joke when Indiana's son Mutt in Crystal Skull made the joke to him proclaiming, "What are you, like 80?" Well, by the time Dial of Destiny releases in 2023, Harrison Ford will be. What once was a passing jest at the character's long past prime, we've now scraped the bottom of the dig site. Just reboot and get Chris Pratt to play.
I've anticipated this movie since at least 2014 and when COVID hit, I was sure the last chance for Indy V was gone. All this to say I've been EXTREMELY hyped for this movie. It had impossible expectations to fill in but, at least for me, it most definitely did.
The de-aged Harrison Ford looks AMAZING. I loved seeing Indy fight some nazis again and it really made it feel like the original movies.
Mads Mikkelsen is obviously an amazing actor.
I also loved seeing Indy in the '60s, I feel like they acknowledged his age without making too much fun of it.
The story was amazing. I'm a sucker for time-travelling and I didn't dare hoping he would actually travel in time. 2000 years at that. Ofcourse it would have even been cooler if he ended up at a time and location of the original trilogy but that's just me.
I feel kinda bad for Shia! And for the characters in general, losing a son must be the most devestating feeling in the world. Therefore I felt genuinely happy when we saw Marion and that they reconnected.
If rumours are to be believed, the ending was rewritten. So I'm not sure at all but it did feel like Indy really intended to stay in the past. I think he would have died quickly so he wouldn't really change the past. It would have been cool if he was the skeleton buried at Archimede's grave.
I'm not sure what those final moments were about, Indy (?) picking up his hat again?
The score might go down on a rewatch and I have small complaints. I didn't understand why Fleabag would lock Indy in with some stone cold killers.
For me it's a perfect Indiana Jones movie. It had everything I could wish for and I had 2,5 hours of fun!
I just loved this final chapter.
Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, thats the truth of the matter and at least this one didn't have aliens. Honestly enjoyed it and it had the same feeling from the old movies with the Indiana Jones tune which we all love. It was a fun movie to watch and enjoy, not as ridiculous as the 2008 Indiana Jones with Shia LeBeouf that was overboard.
They tried to give this an authentic feel and with the right ingredients for an Indiana Jones adventure, honestly watch it and enjoy. I know I did.
The Last Crusade should have been the LAST crusade. This and Crystal Skull are simply unnecessary.
The first movie I've seen in a long time where I haven't been checking my watch half way through. Especially given it's over 2 hours. This was a great entry and a well crafted final chapter.
I loved every minute. If I take the nostalgia out of the first 3, I'd put this up there with them. Possibly even bestest a couple of them.
Nostalgia is a powerful force that isn't always a good representation of reality.
a great ending to a great saga, glad i could finally have witnessed a movie from a franchise as legendary as Indiana Jones, in the big screen, it was worth it honestly; not a big fan of Steven Spielberg but i love how he managed to blend history and adventure so well in these movies
loved the little hints to the previous movies here and there
also, Mads Mikkelsen was amazing as usual, and i had no idea he spoke german so well? damn
and the ending where they meet Archimedes and actually managed to travel back in time was a neat little twist to the story
can't believe Harrison Ford really pulled this one off at 80 years old, quite the feat, props to this old legend
I expected another crappy cristal skull, but this one was actually decent and entertaining. I mean, as long as you don't take the plot too seriously, it is Indiana Jones after all.
Glad I didn't read any of the reviews before watching it. Way too harsh. "It's an unnecessary movie", they say? As opposed to what, necessary movies?
when watching 2008’s Crystal Skull that Harrison Ford was too old to play Indiana Jones any more, and I stick by that statement.
CGI scenes early in the movie were clearly done by the 10th grade work experience kid. Where Indy runs on top of the train, I haven’t seen CGI natural movement and CGI physics that bad since the Garland Spider-Man movies.
The tuk-tuk scene felt like it took forever and a day, and my suspension of disbelief just couldn’t handle it. But then again, people genuinely pay to watch the Fast & Furious movies and actively enjoy them, so I guess that scene was for that crowd.
The big conclusion of the action portion of the movie felt like it was all done in green screen. Something just felt off about it all. It was a scene that could have probably been done on location too. If it WAS on location then what ever they did to it in post needs to be re-assessed.
Token snakes, token bugs. Both forced and added nothing the way they did when first used in the original movies. They don’t need to be in EVERY movie.
They close out with a nod to the original movie, but it was built up so badly it just felt like empty platitudes than a big moment.
Overall this movie was MUCH better than Crystal Skull, but doesn’t hold a candle to the original trilogy. It does actually have the feel of an Indy movie for most of it, which is a good thing. Like Crystal Skull though, it shouldn’t have been made either. Maybe 20 or 30 years ago sure, but not now.
The second unnecesary IJ's sequel. Unconvincing CGI. Superhuman hip for a 80 years old man. So many moments and scenes copied from the original trilogy are not a homage, it's lack of ideas. There are good things but why Indiana Jones? Move ahead!! New times, new characters, new movie Idols. Let the eighties rest in peace and stop distroying our old sagas. Less remakes, less copycats, less tributes and more imagination.
I recently re-watched the whole saga because i wanted to have a fresh memory of them; and watching them now that i'm older and i have seen a lot more movies than when i was 10, i found them all boring, repetitive, badly acted and written, and many other issues. And i'm safe to say that this one not only is not the exception, but i think is even worse than KoCS. First of all, while re-watching the saga, and watching this one, i couldn't help to take out of my mind the "issue" presented in The Big Bang Theory (i know, is kinda stupid, but at the same time is not): Essentially Indiana usually doesn't alter the outcome in any way. The "bad guys" end up getting the artifact of the movie (one way or another), end up dying in a horrible way, and that's it. Here, Voller had the first half of the dial. Then Indy stole it. Then Voller got it back. Then got the second half. Travelled in time to ancient greece and crash his airplane. The only thing Indy did maaaaaaaybeeeee, was delaying the whole feat. If he hadn't stole the first half, Voller would probably had done everything sooner, but die in the same place. I don't know, maybe it's a stretch, but couldn't mind to notice the same pattern in all the movies; in some more noticeable, in others less; but still there.
About the movie itself, the story is more or less the same as the other 4 (nazis, again. Mild shock). As i said, the acting is mostly poor (even for Mads). DEFINETLY Harrison Ford is no longer in shape, form, color, sound, frequency or wave length to do an adventure movie. The few scenes were you can see him "running" (more like a fast-paced walk tbh), you are half expecting him to crumble into dust or break his hip for stepping wrong. I like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, but i found her character annoying. It could very well have been a passing torch to her, but i don't think they should continue, reboot nor remake the story. I think this should be Indy's end, even if it is not appropiate. I hope Disney gave the CGI team a fat bonus for this one, because between all the de-aging, and the scenes where they put Indy's face into someone younger; must have been hard work.
Anyways, for me is a bare 5, and i'm being generous.
Sad to hear that it is the last Indy Jones movie as it is one of my favorite adventure movies ever!
It's not the best Indiana Jones movie out (that's the third one in my opinion) but it's easily on par with the first two movies and much better than the Crystal Skull. It's just a bit too long - shortening or skipping one of the car chases would have been good.
The end was nice, but I hoped they let him stay and enjoy the past.
This was a ton of fun, and a clear redemption from Crystal Skull. The plot moves at a breakneck pace and the action is everything you could want from an Indiana Jones movie. A lot’s been said about the flashback sequence that starts the movie, and yes - the de-aging technology isn’t convincing (Indy looks a bit like a video game character in certain shots). But give me a globe-trotting adventure with ancient relics and yet another banger score by John Williams, and I’m happy.
Tried three times to see if I could like it, stopped after 40 minutes and gave it a fast forward. Not watchable, maybe for a 12 years old kid. Also too much CGI and badly implemented, no thank you. Disney did it again, screwing it.
As someone who's fascinated by the Antikythera mechanism, I found the premise of this movie interesting. They decided to bring back the Nazis as the great collectors of ancient world's wisdom, who then plan to bring it back to modern day innovations. Although the Nazis are portrayed as Indy's opponents throughout this franchise, I can't help but notice the irony.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the standout performer in this movie in my opinion. Her work here made me add Fleabag to my watch list.
I had pretty low expectations but not even they were met. And the Helena character was really annoying and actually quite horrible to be honest.
The coup de grâce for me though was the insanely week ending.
This was not the end to the Indy character I grew up loving I was hoping for.
May be the weakest in the series.
A great movie and connection to the cult character that is IJ. A must watch!!! :clap:
Would have been better if Helena wasn't an annoying douche bag for the 1st hour
I honestly liked this and had a lot of fun. The de-aging technology is fascinating, but all the high-tech SPFX detracts from the old-fashioned heart behind Indy, IMO.
[7.8/10] The first four Indiana Jones aren’t really about anything. They’re fun but not particularly deep adventure films. That's not to say that there aren’t striking moments where a skeptic witnesses the supernatural, or a father reconciles with his son. (Twice!) But for the most part, theme isn’t really the point of an Indiana Jones flick. It’s texture, character, excitement, adventure. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But if you’re going to deliver another movie in the franchise, one released a decade and a half after your last legacy sequel and thirty-four years after the character’s heyday, you need a reason for it. (Other than, you know, money.) You can't just trot out eighty-year-old Harrison Ford to do the same old stunts, with the same old tricks, and not expect the same diminishing returns. Frankly, that's one of the problems with the “not awful, but definitely pointless” outing that was The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you just like Indiana Jones and want to see him ride again, fair enough. But for my money, if you’re going to revive a franchise after a long absence, there ought to be some purpose to bring something back beyond cashing in on cheap nostalgia.
Against all odds, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny achieves that and more. Coming from James Mangold, director of Logan, the fifth film in this franchise is essentially “Old Man Indy.” The comparison to the famed Wolverine comic and adaptation is not just in the surface level similarity of presenting an iconic character in his grizzled, golden years. It comes, instead, at a deeper level, through the sense of a weary man who’s embittered and lost and feels that his time is over, suddenly finding solace and hope and an unexpected bridge to the future.
It’s startling. It’s more than a little sad. It’s different. Dial of Destiny delivers the expected fireworks and horseplay with a side of banter, as Mangold and company prove able successors to the hallowed creative team that preceded them. But they also delivered something that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas never really did for Indy; they give him grief, and pain, and, well, depth.
I didn’t expect it, but I liked it. Harrison Ford has the chops to shop a different side of Dr. Jones. And if you’re going to pick up with a character more than thirty years after they started, by god, they should be different. Seeing a version of Indy who is not the confident master of his domain, but a grouchy old man who thinks all that's behind him, shows that the intervening years have meant something. There’s something new to do with Indiana Jones, new places to take him, a goddamn arc for him to go through, in a way there’s never been before. That's worth something, and manages to justify a revival no one really needed beyond washing the taste of Crystal Skull vodka out of fans’ mouths.
So do Indy’s foils, chief among them Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Indy’s goddaughter. At a basic level, Waller-Bridge not only crackles on screen in her own right, but has great chemistry with Ford. The roguish charm she displayed in Fleabag translates surprisingly well to the four-color world of Indiana Jones, and makes her an unexpectedly convincing successor to fedora-adorned hero.
That's part of the idea here. Indy’s relationship with Helena is, in many ways, the better version of what Crystal Skull tried to accomplish with him and Mutt. The idea of Dr. Jones dealing with a member of the younger generation, one he’s obliquely responsible for, who bristles and bucks against him the way he did with his own dad, is rich territory to explore. Indy seeing a younger version of himself, but one who, in the absence of his guidance and care, is greedy and amoral and without scruples, gives both characters someone to have friction with and somewhere to go.
In many ways, this version of Indy is pulled between the future and the past. Helena represents the future, along with her young sidekick, Teddy, whose mere Short Round-esque presence suggests Ms. Shaw is more like her godfather than she likes to think. But the past is represented by the film’s villain, Dr. Voller, a paperclipped Nazi-turned-space race scientist for the Americans who Indy tangled with during World War II.
Again, Indy’s antagonist thrives on charm and presence alone. Mikkelson’s subtle but sparkling performance provides Dr. Jones with his best and most intriguing opponent since Belloq in Raiders. He too is a scientist, and archeologist, a man with the resources and ingenuity to stay neck-and-neck with Indy in the search for the titular MacGuffin.
More than that, though, he is a counterpoint and a cautionary tale. Dr. Voller is a Nazi, genre films’ convenient shorthand for “bad guy” since ages ago. And a great scene where interrogates the history and heritage of his room service attendant underscores the insidiousness of his ideology. But more than that, he wants to take things back to the past. His aim is to restore the old days, reverse his losses and return to a time when the world made sense to men like him. His whole motivation is to give up on the present, where things are different and harder for him, and try to invoke a past he idolizes and wants to preserve for a thousand years.
There’s genuine power in that idea. Indy never quite takes the bait, but as is the case for many good villains, Voller is a reflection of the hero’s worst impulses. Indy finds the present no less bitter and unsatisfying than his enemy, and while what he’d fix is different, his gripes with a world that seems to have passed him by are much the same.
For all of that highfalutin theming, Indy 5 is still a rollicking adventure. Indy punches any number of goons with great glee. In a superb opening sequence, he bluffs his way through a train full of Nazis in classic style. Trains race motorcycles that race horses that race cars that race tuktuks that race airplanes that race more motorcycles. Plenty of things explore, or are leapt off of, or otherwise provide the usual dose of enjoyable high octane fun.
Despite his own action (and train-based) bona fides, Mangold and company never quite reach the level of verve of an inventiveness of Spielberg and his team in the action department. And in places, the same greenscreen, CGI sheen that all but sunk Crystal Skull’s visuals rears its ugly head. But for the most part, Dial of Destiny delivers on the promised excitement the franchise is known for, with plenty of neat sequences, and the kind of Nazi-bashing thrills that Indy made famous.
Likewise, Dial of Destiny is pleasantly reverent of Dr. Jones’ cinematic past without being beholden to it. There are plenty of echoes of past setups. To the point, the whole film fits into the rough mold of Raiders. Indy and his compatriots decode ancient messages and make their way through riddles and traps, and chase the shiny objects of great mystic power du jour. Best of all, John Rhys-Davies’ Sallah returns with his usual flair to bring some welcome sentimentality from the old days.
But whether it’s something as simple as replacing snakes with eels for Indy to overcome, or subverting the famous gun vs. sword moment, or prompting Indy to spark off of his young surrogate daughter than his young love interest, Mangold and his team manage to bring Indiana Jones and his tropes into the modern era, without losing their gusto or making them rote recapitulations of things the audience has already seen.
At base, the film simply manages its tone well. It is hard to make a movie centered on a broken man amusing and exciting, but Dial of Destiny pulls it off. There’s just enough reminders of what Indy’s lost to give the film weight, with just enough banter and bombast to remind you that, headier or not, this is still a series of movies inspired by old adventure serials that can boast character out the wazoo. The script has plenty of clever setups and payoffs, and the playful and pointed dynamics among the characters -- from enemies to allies to one-scene-wonders -- livens the material in the same way they did for Indy’s first silver screen outing.
He’s fallen a long way since then though, and we get to see why. It’s no shock that Indy 5 did not bring back Mutt after issues on and off the screen. But I didn’t expect the film to kill him off in Vietnam. Forcing Indiana to deal with the loss of a child, one born of a rebellion he knows all too well, and having it break up his marriage is heavy stuff. The man goes from being the adored professor in a lavish home on campus to being a lonely old man, who can't keep his class’s attention, subsisting in a dingy New York apartment. The mighty have fallen. You too might wonder what today has to offer.
Ultimately, though, Indy finds what he needs to revive himself. He brings out an altruism in Helena, a willingness to act for nobility and goodness, not just lucre and notoriety. He turns a card shark into a roguish hero much like himself, with an example of what decency looks like that inspires the same in her. And she returns the favor. When the time-traveling MacGuffin cleverly leads the assembled back to the time of Archimedes, she won’t let him retreat to the past and give up on the future as he knows it the way Voller wants to. It’s one thing to ride off into the sunset; it’s another to tap out and die amid the idealized glories of yesteryear.
Her kindness, and true to the franchise’s spirit, a swift punch to the face, brings him back to the here and now. Seeing that there’s something there for him -- in Helena, in Teddy, in Sallah, and most of all in Marion -- is heartening as all get out. More than three decades later, Harrison Ford and Karen Allen are still endearing and low-key adorable together on screen, and their chemistry does a lot of the heavy lifting to show how there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for him in 1969 rather than a dead end from two-thousand years ago.
That is more than I ever expected from an Indiana Jones film. Dial of Destiny doesn’t skimp on the fun or the excitement or the four-color spectacle that Spielberg and Lucas and their collaborators made famous. But it also takes the title character, his plight, and his journey seriously in a way that the past four films never really did.
That may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If all you want is for Indy to knock around bad guys and one-liner his way through set pieces, I get it. This franchise has been good at that. But there’s something to be said for a new creative team, willing to bring the film series to different places, and to use its octogenarian star to say something about aging and wistfulness and an abiding legacy that's worth inheriting for another generation of young, brash adventurers. If you’re going to revive Indy after so long, it’s worth trying to do a little more, and this movie does.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is more than an empty cash-grab of a late sequel and more than a last hurrah for an iconic character. It is, instead, true to its hero, a film that's willing to dig deep to find hallowed treasures in places nobody expected.
'Indiana Jones and The diaper Of Destiny' shouldn't have been made in the first place.
Unnecessary and flawed? Certainly. Fun Harrison Ford action with a dose of absurd the series is famous for? Absolutely.
This was a fun ride
well, I'm only a few minutes in and I (as a German native speaker) am pleasantly surprised that the Nazis are actually speaking quite well German.
Movie Nazis usually speak with an horribly broken accent. This much effort to detail grants at least an open mind on my part.
The only positive I can mention about this movie is that ancient Syracuse looked nice.
When I first heard they were making another one of these, I groaned. When I saw the title, I buried my head in my hands. Indy’s last adventure, 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, didn’t leave me with much hope for the franchise, and that first impression - an abrasive, clunky moniker - stunk with precisely the same odor. Man, do I really want to put myself through this again? The first three Indiana Jones films are an indelible part of my cinematic childhood. What’s the point in dragging their names back through the mud? I don’t really need to see an eighty-year-old Harrison Ford don the fedora and try to move like a younger man. Do I?
Well, curiosity sometimes makes us do funny things. Nostalgic fondness, too. And, despite my better judgment, I did indeed take the time to breathe deep, hold my nose and sit through the ’23 model. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s not half as bad as I’d feared. Several important lessons have been learned from that preceding misfire, and while I wouldn’t go so far as to put this on the same pedestal as the first three (not even Temple of Doom), it’s still a great relief. Good enough that I felt no embarrassment about watching, at any rate, though I remain unconvinced about the need for its existence.
Like most of the other Indies, even the good ones, the plot involves an international MacGuffin hunt. Our hero has, and then loses, possession of an ancient mathematical artifact that can somehow transport skilled users through time and space. Something of an analog flux capacitor, in other words. Indy thinks it belongs in a museum, but a small pack of Nazi leftovers (including ringleader Mads Mikkelsen) sees it as a means to revive their evil empire. During the pursuit, we catch up with several recurring members of the broader Jones family (many offscreen), cross paths with the Apollo 11 astronauts, endure a thrilling tuk-tuk chase in Tangier (easily the film’s best scene) and meet a feisty prodigal goddaughter. Who, for what it’s worth, represents one of the more valuable items learned from Crystal Skull. She’s no force-fed Shia Labeouf. The stakes aren’t so artificially high, either, with less supernatural mumbo jumbo and (thank goodness for this) more practical effects. The CG in Dial of Destiny is a crutch, an enhancement, not the constant center of attention like it was in Crystal Skull.
So, yeah, Indiana Jones 5 is better than the abomination that came before. I might even say it’s a mildly above-average old-timers' action movie. It doesn’t feel so much like a classic adventure serial, though, lacking the magic that made the first trilogy sing, and I think the dial itself is partially to blame. There’s just no romance in chasing a wholly-invented artifact; not like there is for an ark of the covenant or holy grail. Those probably never existed either, but generations of treasure-hunters clearly felt otherwise and their documented, accumulated conviction lends a certain, tangible sense of history and authenticity that’s missing here. Archimedes’ dial may be shiny and bright, but in comparison to the genuine article(s) it’s just fool’s gold.
put a chick in It and make her gay
Was better than I expected. Especially Indy was great, it reminded me a lot of the old films. Even the action and story were quite good.
The problem was the character of Helena, who functioned like a huge anchor dragging the whole movie down. I don't know how they managed, in a movie with literal nazis, to have a character you will dislike more. She gets a bit better towards the end, but it actually feels wrong and out of character.
Same shit, slightly different story. Very predictable, I knew what was coming before it arrived and I wasn't even paying attention cause I tuned out after 5 minutes.
A very generous 4/10
It could have been even more interesting if they explored the past instead of spending 95% of the film chasing each other everywhere. It's about time travel, from the title itself, and Indy exploring and witnessing the past is the greatest adventure and closure for the franchise. You have to ask yourself, are there archaeologists and treasure hunters who would never explore history if given the chance?
Never was one to get bored that mich wgile watching a movie.
Story made little sense to me. Characters appeared out of nowhere and relationships changed faster than in a teenager drama.
Usually I am not one to spot bad CGI but that was glaring. I could literally differentiate between the CGI/rotoscoped front and the scenery in the beginning.
Sad :( I usually liked the Indiana Jones franchise except for this entry.
boring, too much cgi, stupid story with some old characters thrown in. accents are terrible and just no reason to revisit this one. avoid
This should have been a cartoon at least the chasing scene in Marocco looked like it.
Really the second part of the dial has been waiting a few meters below from where the first part has been found and nobody ever thought to check there!!?
:heart:x7
This is so much better than Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). So much better. But the time travel still should have been left out. The first segment of the movie with the de-aged Harrison Ford, looked really good and was very much Indiana Jones at its best. Waller did a good job with her character and was very glad to see her attitude turn around in the end.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
How to ruin a great franchise 101.
2/5 stars for the third act and the opening train sequence. Apart from that it was a disaster. Every frame Elena was in was so cringe. This is what happens when u force a character and try to make it look cooler than the original. We're watching it for Indiana Jones not some fucking wombat.
This had everything an engaging story, indy fighting nazis, specially liked the time travel part. This would still be a decent movie if you just replace Elena with a side character who is not trying to oversmart indy in every scene.
Awful movie. I tried sitting through it , but stopped watching after 1 hour.
The de-aging looks awful.
The stunt scenes by a 70 year old man looks unbelievable.
The storyline is weak.
The cinematography is not engaging.
Too many plotholes - To name a fewIndiana Jones is presumed to be the murderer but he boards the plane and goes to a different country. When he visits the hotel it's night, when he comes out of it just after 10mins , it's day time?
I give it a 1/10 because there is no option for 0
The Sicilian geography is wrong as usual... Anyways, good the beginning, we can expect such ending from Indy (or more Arizona Goof in fact), decent soundtrack. It suffers however of plenty of the issues found in modern adventure movies, which are the decontextualized long action scenes around some exemplary cities in Europe, and the treasure "not so well hidden" in a touristy place open to the public. Overall a tad better of the photocopy superheros.
It was …. OK. So many continuity questions that’s all we were talking about when leaving the cinema . For instance how do you watch a van drive off, go off to find your own transport but get to the destination 30 mins before the van?
Worst than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It doesn't feel like an Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Ford is a spectator of the action in the background who goes from one place to another without much meaning. Sorry, but the movie is not only a universe away from the original trilogy, it's also lacking in the set pieces from the fourth.
The second time Disney Lucasfilm took a hero from my childhood and practically destroyed them right in front of me. So it might be odd for me to remark that It's not completely bad. But if you've seen literally any other Indiana Jones, yeah. Don't watch this one. It's 100% milquetoast. Every creative decision was the safe one. The CGI they've implemented seems more to show off "the latest and greatest" the tech has to offer, but it's still not even great and when I noticed it, it took me out of it. We'll see more of the seams in probably a year or so, and it will probably be laughably bad.
There's a chase scene that takes too long, the god-daughter is terribly annoying, scene to scene it's pretty dry, and the villains are always right behind the heroes because movie. Lots of dumb "coincidences" where things line up because the characters need a reason to continue to follow the plot. When our heroes solve puzzles and riddles they just instantly know the answer. And the Nazis instantly take the solution, which in a cat and mouse way is reminiscent of the old films but the silliness of the chase in Dial of Destiny is so implausible at points it just makes you roll your eyes. This not to mention that the writers expect you to thread together some important plot points and developments by your own assumptions and it's just lazy.
I think the biggest highlight is the climax, I'm glad the writers actually did something with the McGuffin. But if course, out of every interesting scenario that could have happened, they picked the milquetoast one. There's maybe 2 jokes that landed for me across the whole movie. I dunno. More than anything I appreciated the score, which of course John Williams does his thing and slams it out of the park. I suppose I also appreciated some fight scenes and the sound work surrounding those.
I have a lot of negative things to say but I didn't walk out of the theater before it was over, and my family overall said they thought it was better than expected, so in an act to be objective I'm just gonna leave it at a 5. Maybe I have rose tinted glasses, but I think Crystal Skull was better? Also there's no Shia La Bouf. Don't even bother getting excited to see him. He's written off. Would have honestly rather had him star in a reboot, but he doesn't even make an appearance. But he could have! The plot could have taken so many more interesting turns with the elements in this story, it's practically a shame that this is the one that got weaved together.
In short, I think Hideo Kojima said it best when he tweeted: "Went to see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."
The story was interesting. The first 20-30 minutes were hands down the best part of the movie. The train scene was badass. Overall this movie would have been much better if that had cut the role of Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller). The character was just annoying. Easily the worst part of the entire movie. Unfortunately, after she shows up 30 minutes in she never left.
Clearly one of my favorite from this franchise! I'm maybe less enthusiastic by the end, "too much" from my perspective... but it's a personal taste.
Plots of the movie:
Dial of Destiny not up there with the original trilogy but I still really liked it. Entertaining story, exciting locations and set-pieces and good chemistry between Ford and Waller-Bridge. The story get‘s a bit silly towards the end imo but the actual ending and an unexpected guest appearance definitely made up for it. It‘s honestly quite sad that this will be the last time we‘ll get to see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones but I guess all‘s well that ends.
Where is Shia la Bouf?
Good fun movie. Great entertainment all the way through. I enjoyed the antics of Indiana Jones and his accomplices. :thumbsup_tone1: Well worth a watch.
I turned this off after 40 minutes. I realized, the story is crap and I do not care what happens. None of the characters besides indiana were likable. The story is bland. They made this just to make money, it's not for the fans of the original 3. The guy who plays the villain is terrible.
Don't subject yourself to this!
The movie is good but they shouldve trimmed the runtime cause it felt long and I know what episode it made me feel like that. Its that Moroccan Auto chase.
I find it somewhat difficult to express exactly what one feels about this movie. This should and ought to be the absolute last time we see Harrison Ford as Indy. And the movie shouldn’t have been made at all. It feels like a slap in the face for us nostalgics who have followed Indiana since the ’80s.
Movies that once had mystery, joy, humor, and longing. Instead, we now see a worn-out Harrison Ford, who is over 80, which in itself feels completely wrong for an action movie. The characters in the film also feel subpar and quite dull. The plot is also boring, to say the least.
“Mainstream” might be the best word for this film. The essence has been brought somewhat back to life, but it’s been 15 years since Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and this. Which was far better quality. They should have ended it there. I don’t recommend this movie for anything more than nostalgic purposes. 5/10 rating.
It's all CGI ffs. Considering Hollywood isn't in the business of making films anymore but money, this one is acceptable, but will join the long list of easily forgettable films. I didn't like Helena throughout the film, she has no charm and she's poorly written, Indiana looks like he's forced to do everything he does. Could've been 15 minutes shorter also
Was it better than the last one? Yes. Was it as good as the old ones? No. Not really sure this needs to exist in the franchise, but it was a fun adventure nonetheless.
Rating: 3/5 - 75% - Worth Watching
"Give 'em hell, Indiana Jones!"
Before I start, I am reviewing this now because I completely forgot to review it, and no, I am not even joking, lol. I was super busy then and had a lot going on that this film left my memory for a while. I remember now, one year later. Again, movies should be timeless and be talked about anytime rather than seen as outdated. But for this instance, I just forgot it, lol. It happens.
Anywhere, to the review,
Watching Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was a depressing experience. I had high hopes director James Mangold would give Indy his grand send-off after his brilliant 2017 film Logan. But here is a movie with some of the worst tropes in modern big-budget films. It is overly long with terrible pacing, a bloated budget, uncanny de-aging on older actors, and soulless attempts at nostalgia.
An iconic character reduces to a sad and pathetic has-been with no friends or family, the punchline to all jokes about his age and his miserable state. It is the same thing that Disney has done to Hans Solo and Luke Skywalker. Why do they keep doing this? It is getting disrespectful to the characters.
People have described this as “FuN”; I wonder what movie they saw because it is so dull. The action scenes are bland and not exciting, and since our main hero is in his late 70s, it limits what they can do with him in the action without it being too ridiculous. The only tension I felt throughout the film was when a 70-year-old Indy got punched in the face by the baddies. I thought those punches would be more deadly, lol.
The score from the legendary John Williams needs to be improved here. And why did this get an Oscar nomination for best score? I do not remember anything from it. When the iconic theme started playing, it was so empty and flat.
Mads Mikkelsen is once again playing a villain in a big-budget movie, and I wish Hollywood knew what to do with him and not safely cast him as another evil character. Mads himself is good in the film because Mads Mikkelsen has never delivered a poor performance in anything. He is such a talented performer, not only in acting but in gymnastics and dancing. He joins Giancarlo Esposito and Ben Mendelsohn in being typecasted to play the same character in everything.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helen Shaw, I have never hated a character more than her. I hated her more than the main villains. The way she treated and talked to Indy. What an unlikeable and annoying character she is. Of course, the actress is not to blame here, but the writing is. So, do not mistake this as an attack on the actor. It is the character I am attacking.
Antonio Banderas is here, and he did not do anything. I will leave it as that.
Before seeing Dial of Density, I wondered how they were going to address Indy's son, Mutt Williams, because if you did not know after the release of the last Indy movie, Shia LaBeouf (who played Mutt) said some harsh words about Indy 4 and director Steven Spielberg. He pissed off a lot of people in the industry. He since then distracted himself from Hollywood. Also, his controversial behaviour in the headlines has made his chances of a return very slim. But how they handled his character by killing him off-screen is a massive mistake. Why could they just recast the part? By killing his character off, they are suggesting that nobody could play this part, but Shia, which is not true because he sucked in the last one and is easily replaceable. Mutt's death is the reason that Indy is depressed and alone (with his wife Marion leaving him). His death puts a black cloud over the film. Shia haunts this movie, and it ruins it all. It is such a stupid decision to kill the character.
I know I have been very negative throughout this review, but that is only out of disappointment and anger at the missed potential. But is there anything that I did like? Well, yes, yes, there is.
Harrison Ford is great here, and he does care about this character. There has not been any other actor that has so many iconic characters in cinema history than Ford. Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Rick Deckard. His final scene in the movie is both emotional and bittersweet. I may have disliked the film, but if Mr. Ford is happy with it, I am over the moon for him.
The cinematography looks stunning here, with the lighting and use of shadows that make it visually pleasing.
The final action climax is the only thrilling aspect of the film because it is going in an unexpected direction. I lifted my head out of a sleepy slumber from the rest of the movie and said to myself, “Oh, where is this going?”
John Rhys-Davies returns as Sallah, and, as usual, he is always a joy to watch.
Overall rating: I only watched this at the cinema to see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones one last time. Despite everything I have said in this review, I appreciate that I got the opportunity to see him hang up the hat and whip. The adventure is over, but it is a journey of a lifetime, and that is unforgettable.
Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones and always will be. Thank you, Mr. Ford.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” revives the beloved archaeologist for yet another adventure, tapping into a rich vein of nostalgia that is sure to delight fans of the original series. Harrison Ford’s return as Indiana Jones brings a familiar charm and rugged charisma that is both comforting and exhilarating to watch. The film’s nostalgic elements, including John Williams’ iconic score and numerous throwbacks to earlier films, offer a delightful journey down memory lane.
However, despite its engaging start and thrilling action sequences, “Dial of Destiny” struggles with its pacing and length. The film tends to loop over similar plot points and challenges, which can feel redundant and unnecessarily drag out the story. This looping effect, combined with a runtime that feels overly extended, may test the patience of even the most devoted fans. While the visual effects and set pieces are impressively crafted, they are sometimes overshadowed by the movie’s tendency to meander without advancing the plot significantly.
In conclusion, while “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” successfully captures the essence of the franchise’s early charm, its impact is diluted by its excessive length and repetitive narrative structure. Fans returning for a dose of nostalgia will find joy in Harrison Ford’s performance and the adventurous spirit that initially defined Indiana Jones, but may feel the wear of its prolonged and looping storyline.
Had some fun moments and shockingly didn't feel that overlong. 20 min shorter would have worked quite a bit better imo, though. Didn't expect much, and it lived up those meagre expectations. Silly escapism w cheap nostalgia. Still, I enjoyed seeing JRD quite a bit. 5.7
Things I liked:
- The premise (it's more bonkers than the aliens in the four movie, but it somehow works)
- Harrison Ford's acting (he's not actually phoning it in this time!)
- Mads Mikkelsen is great at playing the bad guy
- The musical homages to previous Indy films (such good memories)
Things I didn't like:
- The runtime is way too long (they could have trimmed at least 15 minutes, if not more)
- Indy is sidelined for far too long (outside of action scenes, oddly enough), then they had the gall to complain when he actually started doing archeology more than halfway through the movie
- The villain's henchmen (there were too many of them, and they were annoying)
- A LOT of the CGI is pretty rough (what did the $300 million go toward if it looks that bad?)
- The musical homages to previous Indy films (makes me wish I were watching one of the good ones)
At least this one felt more like an Indiana Jones movie than the last one, but between the bloated runtime and sidelining of the titular character, this movie should have become a novel, or stayed as an idea in someone's head.
:heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart: - Great and action-packed. Recommended
10:heart:- Masterpiece :100:
9:heart:- Excellent
8:heart: - Amazing :ok_hand:
7:heart:- Great :sun_with_face:
6:heart: - Good :thumbsup:
5:heart: - Average :head_bandage:
4:heart: - Bad but watchable :octagonal_sign:
3:heart: - Bad :sob:
2:rage:- Awful :face_vomiting:
1:face_with_symbols_over_mouth: - Bull Shit
Way too long for what it was.
The beginning de-aging scene went on way too long, then the rest of the movie went on too long.
Instead of making this movie, Harrison Ford should have just sold the legal rights to use of his face. Then they wouldn't have had to rush out this substandard product in an attempt to profit before he died.
With the rights to his face, they could have taken their time and came up with a good script and made an enjoyable Indiana Jones movie. He wouldn't even have had to be in it at all. They could even keep churning out the movies long after his death.
In this scenario, he could die but Indiana Jones would live FOREVER!
Glad I saved it to watch on one of those lazy days.
My only interest was to finish the saga and had low expectations.
Poor story, the sidekicks are annoying, LOTS of poor CGI, which was a surprise, and some old characters just to make an appearance.
Suddenly his son is dead, on the brink of divorce, no context to the plot, no explanations, it all seems poorly though of.
Not a lot going for it, and a long long long way from the Indiana Jones we know and love.
This is where it should end for harrison. He did an amazing job the past years.
All the anti-Disney, anti-SJW, "my favorite rage-bait YouTuber told me to hate it" vitriol that still surrounds this movie makes me love it even more.
Rollicking good fun. This is the Indy of old. 8/10
honestly better than I expected, I enjoyed the time travel aspect
I really enjoyed this movie, however, I feel like a lot of its potential was cut short. The cast was great, and realllyyyy loved seeing Mads Mikkelsen and Harrison Ford interact, they were my favorites. When you watch the movie, pay attention closely and you might see what I mean by: this movie was cut too short. There’s also parts that seem to be on a high note and then they just randomly drop.
Overall it’s a good movie in my opinion, watch for yourself and make your own decision.
I didn’t enjoy this like I did the original trilogy. Should have stopped the franchise then.
Better than the 4th thanks to Phoebe, very below the initial trilogy. And still, honestly, not needed at all
Now I've watched every Indiana movie again. Honestly I wasn't let down unlike most modern movies where they spoil it with too much drama or cgi. Had that usual dry humor, action, adventure and a bit of history. Ending wasn't the usual but it wasn't a major let down. I lied the tuktuk racing obviously had some rushed cgi graphics, I think the way of all modern movies is to wreck things with minor cgi glitches though.
I loved the time period and finally aging Indy to match Harrison Ford's true age. Even though this doesn't rise to the action pieces of the first three films it still is an enjoyable and well made movie. The Indy films have never taken themselves too seriously so as long as you eat your popcorn and just let the story go on it a good time. I especially enjoyed the ending. Harrison Ford emotional depth is so powerful and the sweet callback between him and Karen Allen was sweet and felt like something the characters would actually do. I felt the movie is finally going to let Indy retire in peace. There will never be another Indiana Jones!
Indiana Jones versus Hannibal Lecter, now where is that movie?
"Oh, you guys didn't like that whole alien thing? Well, fear not, we got here for you some nifty time travel stuff that we're sure you're gonna love and it will totally make up for last time."
— Disney execs (probably)
This was an interesting watch, but killing off his son and having some random ties to characters that haven't been set up yet was so strange
Like most people, I was afraid that this would become another Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but I’m so glad that it didn’t. Sure, this movie has its flaws, but at the bottom line it’s just amazingly fun and, more importantly, the send off that Indy deserves. With its goofy action and a lot of call backs, it made me feel like a kid again. And that’s all I wanted.
I have lots of concerns about this film. I’ve been an Indi fan for years, however there is far too much CGI for my liking , all a bit comic book like. Not the real gritty story and action that we’d normally get. I’m left feeling a little disappointed :frowning2:
So in the beginning of the movie "Wombat" just casually gets random completely innocent people killed, laughs about the fact that her godfather gets framed for it, cheats, steals - and who knows what else -, and by the end we're supposed to like her?
Movies like this were written by people who think that Paulie in the Rocky movies had redeeming qualities :rolling_eyes:
Other than that, the plot of the movie was fairly stupid.
Some decent “Indy” moments. But was there any part of the movie not filmed on green screen? Should've brought back Mutt instead of this obnoxious new lady, terrible character
Great movie out of this world concept, but it will put an idea in your mind. but the CGI was hilarious... They really went all out ...
I still give this 5 stars because I love Indiana Jones, my dad showed me the trilogy a few times when I grew up and it will always have a special place in my heart. I think it's a great last movie, combining Indiana Jones with time travel (which I also love).
I like Indy and Marion getting back together, giving Mutt's character a respectful and even painful ending, the younger Indy in the opening scene, Mads being an amazing villain,... so much stuff to love, it was worth the long wait.
Even though I love all of the above, I would have liked it more if Indy stayed in the past, I found it frustrating that Helena knocked him out after we hear him being so passionate about staying there.
Loved this, felt like the original series. Hope there’s more to come!
Feels needless, but 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' still gave me suitable entertainment.
I'd personally rank it higher than 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', though to be honest I feel similarly about all five films from this franchise - evidently, given I've rated them all 7/10. I wasn't someone who grew up with this series and when I finally did watch it well over three years ago I didn't connect to them massively, so this fifth installment isn't too far adrift from the original trilogy. If this was much shorter, I may have even liked this more if I'm to be truthful.
So yeah, I found the run time to be excessive. It's actually paced relatively well, I'm just not convinced the story itself needed to be told over almost two and a half hours. There is good action adventure in this and the music is done nicely, that theme even gives me goosebumps despite my lack of strong affection for the films.
Cast-wise, it's positive. I'm not that much of a fan of Harrison Ford if I'm honest, don't get me wrong I have literally zero against the guy either but from this franchise and that certain other space franchise (I forget the name...) he has never stood out to me strangely. In these and those, I prefer others. Admittedly, I wanna check out his other work away from these sorta flicks. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is very good, as is Mads Mikkelsen. Ethann Isidore and Boyd Holbrook play their parts too.
Overall, it's worth watching. The opening and closing sequences are my favourite bits.
It’s an entertaining enough film, could have been trimmed down a bit. Unfortunately, still doesn’t live up to the quality of the original trilogy.
GARBAGE,TRASH,REFUSE,WASTE,DOG SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merchandising movie. Nothing new, lots of CGI
For the love of god let poor Indy retire in peace. He has entertained us enough.
testing testing please let me test
Raiders of the Lost Ark is close to masterpiece level. The subsequent films of the original trilogy are also very good and are staples of my childhood. Then the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came out and I felt similarly towards that as I do with the Star Wars prequels and sequels. On one hand, it felt unnecessary after the fact but when going through it I was excited to have another adventure with my on-screen buddies. After the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I wasn't champing at the bit to go on another adventure with Indiana Jones but I was willing to give it another go around.
With all that said, the Dial of Destiny is a better film than the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The story is better. The adventure is more fun. It is not better than the original trilogy.
Positives: I thought the story was pretty good, Harrison Ford was really good when he was able to play his age, I found Phoebe Waller-Bridge a lot of fun and she injected some whimsy that I liked, and I'm always Mad about Mads Mikkelsen.
Negatives: The runtime is 2.5 hours, the de-aged Harrison Ford was very off-putting, the treatment of Antonio Banderas's character was uneven and a little disrespectful when I think about it, and the seemingly over-reliance on CGI.
I feel I have to mention the beginning. I really hated the de-aged Harrison Ford. It felt like I was seeing an Indiana Jones on a video game. It looked good, but it's not perfect and until it could be perfect I'll always argue that it's creepy. I loved watching the old Indiana Jones, so I wonder if they could have set up the story without having to actually see the events that happen with the train that set up Archimedes' Dial. The filmmakers didn't go that way, so we'll never know for sure.
Overall I give this a Fair rating. I wouldn't recommend rushing out to watch it, but if you have 2.5 hours and want an easy watch then, sure, go ahead and check out Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Review by Just Entertain Us PleaseBlockedParent2023-11-01T18:06:45Z
Personally, I don't understand all the hate around this final installment in the series. I thought this was a pretty good Indiana Jones movie, all in all, and I've watched them in the theater since they first came out (except this one).
Yes, the beginning has some de-aging and it's not great - but you get used to it pretty fast and I was seeing old Indiana Jones in no time. Yes Harrison Ford doesn't do his own stunts anymore but he's pretty old to be jumping horses through downtown New York. Lots of CGI in this one, but that's where we are today - you don't see hardly anything but CGI these days so why should this film be any different?
The story is pretty outlandish, but then again the first one that everyone loves had spirits jumping out of an mythical box so you have to suspend your disbelief if you want to watch shows like this.
If I were to rate this in the series as a whole:
#1: Raiders of the Lost Ark
#2: Last Crusade
#3: Dial of Destiny
#4: Temple of Doom
#5: Crystal Skull (mostly because Shia LaBouff sucked)
I get that some people, particularly with Temple of Doom, will disagree with my ranking but they are mine, not yours.
I went Into DoD with a ton of trepidation, all I heard was how bad it was in places like Trakt, but in reality it surpassed my expectations by a pretty large amount. They had a nice nod to all previous characters (except Brody, that was disappointing to me - I know the actor is dead but a mention would have been nice). I think this was a good final movie for Indie.