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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review: Enjoyable & Satisfying!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review 2023

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has been one of my most anticipated films to be released for years now. I grew up with the franchise, and I’m sure most people did. Moreover, I believe James Mangold (Ford vs Ferrari and Logan fame) is a highly skilled filmmaker who deserves more recognition as such. I thought this movie would be a brilliant match, to be honest.

And while I have some nit-picks throughout Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, I found myself enjoying this adventure. It’s very different from the original trilogy and even from the last Steven Spielberg joint, but it possesses a different kind of fun that kept it entertaining.

Harrison Ford is brilliant in the film. I was really struck by how emotional of a performance it was. It’s so clear that this a role he is devoted to, because every time he wears the hat he reminds us of how good of a performer he is. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also an incredible addition to the team, she challenges the reality of Jones in a fun tongue-in-cheek way. Mads Mikkelsen is great as always, it’s what he usually does in these American movies where he plays a villain.

In terms of scale, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a massive movie. The set pieces are meticulously crafted, and the action truly shines. It maintains a high level of excitement throughout, and I was impressed by its overall consistency. However, there was perhaps one sequence that felt slightly out of place and unfortunately underutilized Antonio Banderas’ talents.

The music from John Williams, as always, is sweeping. It brings such a nostalgic feel but energizes it with a nice, retiring feel that fits both Williams’ style and the narrative itself.

Furthermore, as an adventure, it’s pretty fun. The opening sequence is a delightful display of classic Indy fun. The de-aging effects are undeniably impressive, although it’s worth noting that when the character opens his mouth and talks, it somewhat diminishes the effect. The film does have some logical inconsistencies scattered throughout, such as how certain characters manage to survive certain situations or how wanted criminals can travel freely. Nevertheless, it retains the enjoyable sense of wonder that the franchise has always been cherished for.

I would personally say that, overall, this movie is a slight decline in quality compared to the original films. The shot composition, in general, feels somewhat messy. As enjoyable as this movie is and as satisfying as it is as a conclusion to the Indiana Jones arc, it lacks the pure cinematic magic that the OGs possessed.