INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
US, 2023, 154 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Ethann Isadore, Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen, John Rhys Davies, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook.
Directed by James Mangold.
It looks as though Indiana Jones has been part of our movie destinies, for more than 40 years for those who were surprised and excited in 1981, discovering the Raiders of the Lost Ark and the sequels during the 1980s. But, this is the fifth and final instalment, full of action, seeing Indy when he was younger during World War II (and CGI able to make Harrison Ford look that age), moving on to 1969 and the day of the moon landing, where Harrison Ford is able to look his age (actually filming at age 80!). But, this time Steven Spielberg, after directing the other four episodes, executive produces but hands over directing to James Mangold, who has had a 25 year plus career directing quite a range of films (as did Spielberg), some of his best being Copland, Girl Interrupted, Walk the Line, Ford vs Ferrari.
This episode goes straight into action, Indiana Jones and his British archaeologist friend, Basil Shore (Toby Jones) are caught by the Nazis trying to find the Lance that pierced Jesus amongst a horde of stolen treasures. While the Lance proves to be a fake, there is, however, half of the Antikythera, a time-warping machine, made by the Greek philosopher, Archimedes. It is meant to be a gift for Hitler. However, there is a sinister Professor on board the train, Mads Mikkelsen, and the film goes immediately into action, fights, on the roof of the train, menacing tunnels, a bombed bridge and Indy and Basil diving into a river where the Antikythera sinks. So, no Lost Ark, just are lost half of the Antikythea, Dial of Destiny. So far, so exciting.
But, the action does not let up. Who should arrive at Professor Jones’ lecture but basil’s daughter, Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (of Fleabag popularity) who contributed to the screenplay. She is strong-minded, to say the least, and her motives are less than worthy as she tries to recover the half of the dial from Indy, who is her godfather. But, who else should be in New York, but the Professor who has contributed to the rockets taking Armstrong and Aldrin to the moon. The trailer shows Indy on a horse galloping through a parade in Manhattan – and, there are shootings, Helena leaping from roof to roof, Indy on the horse… Long story short, action takes them to Tangiers, to an auction for the Dial, but auction thwarted, with a are pursued through Tangiers, and, before we know it we are in the Aegean, a diving expedition led by Antonio Banderas, Nazis in pursuit, the help of a young thief whom Helena had befriended, then to Syracuse, an expedition into the caves to find Archimedes to them and the half of the dial. What more could we want!
Of course, the Nazis turn up again, fights in the caves, and the possibility of going back in time, the Professor donning Nazi uniform, merely wanting to go back to 20th of August 1939 to thwart Hitler and invade Poland himself. It doesn’t quite work out that way and there is more action and stunt work to be seen, planes, helicopters, crashing, Archimedes, and Indy having to decide where he wants to spend the rest of his days!
Within a week of its release, the online trolls have been at it again, determined to attack, the “Dial of Disappointment”, not the way that the series should end… And even more rampaging hostility. However, this reviewer saw the film with a rather larger suburban audience than usual, who seemed to be more than satisfied with their nostalgia, with their enjoyment, and, a very nice ending, just emotionally right, as we say farewell to Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.
1. The long popularity of Indiana Jones? Adventure, action, Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones himself, fantasy?
2. Indiana Jones after 42 years, the fifth film? Fans over the decades? Expectations? Final adventure?
3. The vision of Steven Spielberg, the direction of James Mangold? The screenplay in the tradition of the other films? Action, enemies, quest…?
4. Harrison Ford, his status over the decades, filming aged 80, CGI to making look younger in the World War II episodes? Looking his age the rest of the time, a farewell?
5. The prologue, World War II, the looted treasures, the Nazis, the Lance of Jesus, Indy and Basil searching for it, Basil apprehended, questioned, tortured? Defending himself as a British archaeologist? But with Indy’s bag? Into discovering they Lance was a fake? The discovery of the Antikythera? The half? The professor and his ambitions? The officer, the gift for Hitler, Indy and the attack, the fights, the roof of the train, the tunnels…, The bombed bridge, into the water, losing the dialogue?
6. Transition to 1969, the moon landing, New York celebrations, Indy old and tired, the story of the death of his son in the war, the divorce from Marion? Alone, going to the University, the reaction of the students, the question is, Helena and her answers, meeting Helena, Basil’s daughter, her knowledge, ambitions, discussions with Indy? In the meantime, the professor in New York, his associates, thugs, going to the University, the shooting of the secretary, deaths, the pursuit of Helena, her leaving across the buildings and escaping through the procession, trapping Indy, his being taken by the Nazis? The procession, his quick action, riding the horse through New York…!
7. Helena, mercenary, wanting to sell the dial, going to Tangiers, in league with Teddy, the option, the gangster and his pursuit, Indy arriving, the dial, the escape in the Chase? The Prof, the pursuit?
8. The information, the plains, getting to the Aegean, the boat, the Capt, the diving, the deals and Indy is dread of snakes, finding the half of the dial? The professor, the thugs, their boat, the shootings? Teddy and his ingenuity, the escape?
9. The action in Syracuse, getting the information about Archimedes, going into the caves, the scorpions, the dangers, finding Archimedes tomb, the dial in the skeleton? Taking it? The professor taking Teddy, is using his wits, but the capture of the dial?
10. The theories of time warp, time travel, the professor and his ambitions, donning the Nazi uniform, wanting to go to the invasion of Poland, to supplant Hitler? Teddy, stealing the plane, the pilot waking up, the pursuit, the landing? Helena, the escape, climbing aboard the plane? Indy, wounded, the professor and his hopes, the conflict in the plane, the shootings, the crash?
11. Archimedes, the siege of Syracuse, the Romans and the centurions, Archimedes and the plane, the situation on the shore, the battle going on, the planes flying over, the Romans thinking they were dragons, the crashes, the dial, Archimedes and the mystery, Indy and Helena talking to him in Greek? The explanations? Indy wanting to stay in the past, his quests, Helena punching him?
12. Back in New York, recovering, Helena cheery, Teddy, Marion returning, Salah and his children, going to get ice cream, husband-and-wife reunited, the nice ending, the touch of tearfulness, a good farewell?
