While it certainly isn’t free from flaws, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is mostly a well-crafted film that serves as a loving and grand send-off to one of cinema’s most beloved heroes.
Overall Score: 9/10
Image: Lucasfilm / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
“A final triumph… Indiana Jones, out with a bang, back in the saddle!” Indeed, Helena Shaw. Indeed. Everyone’s favorite archaeologist/professor is back for one final adventure, and boy, is it a grand send-off.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sees Indy and his goddaughter in a race against time to find a long-lost artifact that could alter the course of history. Along the way, the pair run into former Nazi Jürgen Voller, who they must stop at all costs from reaching said artifact before they do.
Oh, where to begin? I suppose I should start by saying that aside from a few flaws (which we’ll get to later), Dial of Destiny is essentially a perfect Indiana Jones movie. It’s got everything required of it and everything you could ever want: fun and edge-of-your-seat action sequences, mythical artifacts, thrilling chases, hidden tombs, dark and mysterious caverns, etc. Heck, even the Nazis are back! But most importantly, the film remembers to have fun and not to take itself too seriously. And honestly, it does a fantastic job of recapturing the adventurous spirit of the original trilogy.
Also, Dial of Destiny gives Indiana Jones a brand-new and proper arc. While yes, Indy will forever be known to audiences as the most beloved fictional globe-trotting archaeologist/hero/adventurer, this movie deepens and further enriches his character, effectively portraying him in a light we haven’t quite seen before. Here, he’s presented as an older and more reluctant Indiana Jones — a man who thinks he’s past his prime, is estranged from his loved ones, and is filled with grief and regret. But through reuniting with his goddaughter, Helena, and setting out to find the titular dial, Jones rediscovers the magic and sense of adventure which once dominated the better part of his life and learns to slowly open himself up to the people he cares about most once again. It’s a pretty compelling arc, and when coupled with Harrison Ford’s brilliant, emotional, and dedicated performance (which may arguably be his best yet as the character), it makes this version of Indy feel all the more grounded, relatable, and, ultimately, human.
Aside from Ford, I should also add that the rest of the film’s cast is outstanding too. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is tons of fun as Helena Shaw, a character she’s perfectly able to instill with the right amount of charm, slyness, and wittiness. It’s also always great to see Toby Jones and Antonio Banderas on-screen, and here, both provide solid work with their respective brief and minor roles. And sure, while some may see Ethann Isidore’s Teddy as a rip-off of Temple of Doom’s Short Round, I’d argue that he still works as a sidekick for our protagonists. And finally, Mads Mikkelsen is excellent as Dial of Destiny’s Nazi baddie, Jürgen Voller. As with many of his other performances, Mikkelsen portrays Voller with a sense of ambition, extreme intelligence, and sophistication. He doesn’t even have to do that much to sell the character because, like always, he’s just that good.
And on one last short but very positive note, John Williams, the GOAT, has done it again! At the age of 91, the legendary composer has once more delivered a fantastic and sweeping score that mixes new and familiar themes and should, in its own right, be considered a masterpiece. And because Williams’ work is so phenomenal (go and listen to the beautiful "Helena’s Theme” if you don’t believe me), I sincerely hope it won’t be overlooked at next year’s Academy Awards. Seriously, please give this man another nomination!
However, before I end this review, I should point out that while Dial of Destiny is mostly a flawless film, it still has at least two issues that warrant discussion. First, a specific character seemingly takes a deadly hit during the opening sequence but pops up later as if nothing had happened. How and why they survived is never alluded to, and I wish the filmmakers had provided an explanation for this glaring oversight. Second, there’s one villainous henchman who, early on, is set up to be someone who will suffer an inevitable and horrible death. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t follow through on this, and the character’s actual demise ultimately left me feeling a little disappointed.
But at the end of the day, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a loving and triumphant final adventure for Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones. And while it admittedly isn’t perfect, I believe that its many virtues mostly make up for its minor flaws. Is it the best Indiana Jones film ever made? Probably not. But I’d argue it’s better than Temple of Doom and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In fact, I’d say it’s right behind Raiders of the Lost Ark and Last Crusade in terms of quality. And if this really is the last time we’ll see Indy on the big screen, I think it’s only fitting that he gets to go out with a bang.
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