Film Review: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ Pure Adrenaline Rush With Some History Thrown In

Ethann Isidore, Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (L-R) star in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (Photo Credit: Getty Images).

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(“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” trailer courtesy of Lucasfilm)

Age ain’t nothin’ but a number.

At least that’s what the late, great R&B songstress Aaliyah said back in 1994.

However, that was almost 30 years ago.

Back then Harrison Ford was in his 50s.

Now, the action star is in his 80s.

Nevertheless, Indy’s (Ford) age does not stop him from keeping pace in the adrenaline rush known as “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

In “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” archaeologist Indiana Jones finds himself smack dab in the middle of World War II.

Unfortunately, the Nazis have snatched up Indy and his main man Basil as they attempt to commandeer a lance that was used to pierce Jesus Christ almost 2,000 years prior.

But the great Indiana Jones cannot let the evil Nazis capture him without a fight to the death.

In “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) finds out the real prize that the Nazis want is not the lance that pierced Christ.

It is a dial that would allow the owner to control time and place, which would make them more than just a leader.

Obtaining the dial would make the possessor a god because the owner could then go back in time to change the course of history.

That is something that is especially desirable for Nazi Germany because the possessor of the dial could go back and change the mistakes that Adolf Hitler made during World War II.

However, Indy is not as convinced about the dial as his friend Bas is.

Indy can move on with his life and finds himself retiring as a college professor 20 years later at another time of upheaval in the world.

While man has gone to the moon, many men and women in the streets are more concerned with going to the Vietnam War.

Nevertheless, Basil spends the rest of days attempting to learn more about the dial and trying to locate both pieces before it gets into the wrong hands.

Basil talks about it so much that his daughter (Indy’s goddaughter) Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge: “Solo: A Star Wars Story”) has become obsessed with the dial, and other artifacts, too.

But while her father and godfather wanted to preserve ancient artifacts, and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, Helena has other plans.

Likewise, Dr. Voller (Mads Mikkelsen, “Doctor Strange”) wants the dial as well.

Voller has helped America put man on the moon.

But he has a checkered past that not too many people in the American government know about.

However, Indy knows exactly who Dr. Voller is, and he knows that if Voller can connect both pieces of the dial, the world will be far worse off than it is now because history, up to that point, has proven that the moral arc of the universe has bent towards justice and righteousness in many ways.

But if Indy can crack his infamous whip and whip some people back into shape, maybe he can enjoy retirement and ride off into the sunset.

However, Indy must first ride through parades, protests and subways stations to get away from his adversaries before he can keep those opponents away from the ancient artifact.

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” has the perfect director in James Mangold to marry the action with the historical.

Mangold’s filmmaking skills and track record, which includes superhero movies like “Logan” and “The Wolverine,” adrenaline rush action movies like “Knight and Day” and historical dramas like “Ford v Ferrari” and “Walk the Line,” are all encompassed in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

Both “Knight and Day” and “Ford v Ferrari” contain fast-paced action, which is very prevalent in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

The fighting scenes during World War II on top of trains contain split-second decisions that could result in the deaths of Indy and Basil or their Nazi enemies.

The chase scenes throughout New York City, especially on the subway train tracks, emphasize the importance of speed and time.

And the climactic finale of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” comes down to the wire as the two sides fight to maintain history or to rewrite history for the worst.

While Ford does still have the star power at this stage in his career, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” gives others room to shine brightly too like Waller-Bridge and young Ethann Isidore, who portrays Helena’s friend, Teddy.

Young Teddy is that child hustler in the hood who can get over on his older counterparts because of his charm, innocent look and the naivete of his victims.

He helps Helena on her mission to capture both parts of the dial and helps in the fight against those foreign enemies hellbent on reversing the fate of Germany in the war.

In “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Mikkelsen plays Dr. Voller with such a steely evil that his demeanor is reminiscent to a KGB officer in the old Soviet Union.

It is as if he has no heart and no soul, just a malevolent determination to further the mission of his old homeland.

However, Indy does have heart.

And he has a real reason to want to turn back the hands of time if he gets his hands on the dial.

But things have a way of happening the way they should, and despite getting a little long in the tooth, Indy goes out when he is meant to go out.

Hopefully, he can go out on top.

 

REGAL RATINGS

FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT

THREE CROWNS=GOOD

TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE

ONE CROWN=POOR

Todd A. Smith
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