Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny marks the final instalment in the adventure franchise that began in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark. James Mangold directs this film taking the reins from Steven Spielberg. It brings back Harrison Ford as our archaeologist and adventurer in his late 70s and contemplating retirement. Joining him is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, a journalist and novelist who becomes his new sidekick. We also see Antoni Banderas portraying his friend and rival, a treasure hunter. At the same time, Mads Mikkelsen takes on the role of an antagonist who is a Nazi war criminal and occultist with an insatiable desire for the mythic Dial of Destiny that holds immense power to reshape history.

The movie pays homage to its predecessors by incorporating references to characters, locations, and artifacts. Alongside these elements, it injects energy and humour through Waller-Bridge’s sharp-witted and sarcastic performance, impressive action sequences and stunts. The story delves into Indiana’s struggle with aging.

Nevertheless, The Dial of Destiny has flaws that prevent it from soaring to the heights of its predecessors. The storyline is quite complicated. It seems unrealistic, with many coincidences and contrived situations. The movie’s tone feels inconsistent, shifting between serious, silly, and sentimental, without a sense of coherence. While the direction is competent, it lacks the style and vision often associated with Spielberg’s work. The musical score is decent enough but fails to leave a lasting impression. The cinematography comes across as lacking inspiration. As for the production design, it’s decent. But it’s not remarkable. The special effects vary in quality. At times they can appear cartoonish. The editing feels choppy and unpredictable, affecting the flow of the film. The pacing is sluggish and uneven throughout. And the dialogue tends to rely on clichés and predictable lines.

The Dial of Destiny cannot be considered a disaster; however, it falls short of being a masterpiece. It ends up being a forgettable farewell to a character and franchise. Some moments provide fun and excitement, but some feel boring or disappointing. It neither tarnishes nor elevates Indiana Jones’s legacy—it simply exists in a way that may please existing fans without attracting ones. Personally speaking, I found myself pleasantly entertained by it.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your local movie guide for show times.)