Since Raiders of the Lost Ark, we’ve followed Indiana Jones on his many adventures. During this time, the famed professor/archeologist/explorer has traveled to Peru, Nepal, Egypt, China, India, Portugal, Italy, Austria and more. We’ve seen him age from 13 years old (flashbacks of course). We’ve seen him as a son and as a father. We’ve seen him win at love. And lose. We’ve seen him afraid of nothing … except snakes. We’ve seen this trusting man be betrayed numerous times. And despite it all, all that he wants out of life is to just put those darn artifacts in a museum.
Harrison Ford has taken us along on these journeys since 1981 first searching for the Art of the Covenant. Three years he tackled the “Temple of Doom” and in 1989, we met his father during the “Last Crusade.” While this threequel felt like a complete trio of tales, Ford dusted off the fedora in 2008 or what was to become Indy’s last adventure in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Directed by Steven Spielberg for the fourth time with a story co-written once again by George Lucas. With much fanfare, many of us flocked to the theaters to see what we hoped would become another classic. While the movie started out great, it all came crashing down with inclusion of aliens and sci-fi material leaving us feeling sad. The saga ended on such a sour note.
Now, back for a fifth time, Indy sort of finishes what he started with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. While the music sounds familiar (It is once again scored by the legendary John Williams after all), this is quite the different production this time around. While Spielberg was set to direct the fifth film, he passed the torch to James Mangold and this is also the first film that Lucas has not had a hand in the writing of the story. (The two did act as executive producers though.)
I’m sure plenty of critics and movie-goers alike will be looking to find fault with this final (?) film in the series. At my screening, one guy told me ahead of the film that he was arriving with low expectations but hoping for the best. I think that this wait-and-see attitude is a sentiment of a lot of people. After the viewing, a couple of people told me that they ended up liking the movie more than they thought they would. For me, I loved it. All of it. THIS is the film that Crystal Skull should have been. A great send off to a great film franchise.
Despite the changing of the guards so to speak, Dial of Destiny feels like old times. That might have to do with the fact that a couple extended flashbacks scenes feature a much younger Jones with the magic of CGI. (Too bad the CGI doesn’t work with audio. His gravelly voice still sounds like an old man.) Right after the title disappears from the opening frames of the movie, the adventure begins. The action doesn’t stop until many, many minutes into the story.
The movie begins in 1944 during World War II. Jones is there alongside fellow archaeologist, Basil Shaw (Toby Jones), looking for the Lance of Longius (the spear that is said to have been used during Jesus’ crucifixion). The two get tangled up with Nazi soldiers aboard a moving train. It’s fantastic.
Fast forward to 1969 and Professor Jones is unenthusiastically retiring from Hunter College in New York. No longer full of vim and vigor, Harrison Ford bravely shows that his body is no longer in Indiana Jones shape. He’s old, crotchety and faced with divorced papers from Marion (whom he married at the end of the Crystal Skull movie). Before his day is done though, he is approached by Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Jones’ goddaughter and daughter of Basil. He hasn’t seen her in years and learns that she has become an archeologist herself.
The off-putting but annoyingly bright woman has a lead on where to find the missing piece to Archimedes’ Dial. (The rest of the dial has been stored safely at the college.) The dial was invented by ancient mathematician Archimedes who believed that it could located fissures in time. But wouldn’t know it, the two are attacked by henchmen of a former nemesis of Jones, Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) from 1944. As it turns out, this is all happening during a parade for the astronauts of Apollo 11 and madness ensues. It’s crazy fun which leads to a cat-and-mouse tale and another exploratory adventure for Indy.
Sure, the plot points get a little ridiculous at times, it wouldn’t an Indiana Jones movie without them. But the story is told swiftly with humor and some surprises along the way including meeting petty thief Teddy (Ethann Isidore), deep-sea diver Renaldo (Antonio Banderas) and Indy’s old friend-turned-cabdriver, Sallah (John Rhys-Davies). Despite all of this, Indiana is portrayed pretty realistically. He still has skills (like whip-cracking), but he’s old. He isn’t looking for any of this. All he wants is a quiet night home in his apartment.
Harrison Ford proves that he can still be a leading man of popcorn flicks and he is supported by a great cast. The movie is rated PG-13, but it isn’t gory like the earlier films and most of the violence happens off screen. It’s a family-friendly film that doesn’t feel like a family-friendly film. It’s epic and should not be missed.
Main Image: Disney/Lucasfilm
Leave a comment